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Nursing News
UR Nursing in the News
What’s new in the School of Nursing? Here are some recent media reports involving UR Nursing faculty, staff, and alumni.
The School of Nursing was featured prominently in a WXXI/NPR story delving into how the COVID-19 pandemic had inspired a new generation of future nurses. The in-depth multimedia package examined how and why nursing school enrollments were trending upward amid a nursing shortage exacerbated by a worldwide pandemic. Reporter Beth Adams interviewed two UR Nursing Accelerated Bachelor’s Program for Non-Nurses (APNN) students, Andrew Pierle and Christian Tarantola (seated at right), as well as Dean Kathy Rideout, EdD, PPCNP-BC, FNAP, and URMC Chief Nursing Executive Karen (Davis) Keady, PhD, RN, NEA-BC. The story was later highlighted on WXXI’s Connections radio show, with Keady appearing as a guest. To listen to the original radio story or view the entire package, including a video of UR Nursing students in action, visit:
https://www.wxxinews.org/ health/2021-11-09/covid-19-fueled-nursing-shortage-but-also-inspired-new-generation-of-nurses
Photo courtesy of Max Schulte and WXXI Public Media
Rideout was also the subject of a feature story in the Rochester Beacon after announcing she would be stepping down as dean in 2022. The story, titled “A Strong Voice for the Nursing Profession,” focused on Rideout’s many accomplishments as dean as well as her full-throated advocacy for the field of nursing.
Erin Baylor, ’97N, ’98N (MS), DNP, RN, PNP-BC,
ONP, an assistant professor of clinical nursing and director of simulation at the UR School of Nursing, was interviewed in July for a pair of local TV news stories covering the school’s first-ever poverty simulation event. The simulation allowed APNN students to experience what it is like to live as part of a low-income family and gain a greater understanding of the daily challenges and barriers faced by residents living in poverty. APNN student Rabia Cav was also interviewed for the stories. Instructor of clinical nursing Jennifer Zugnoni, MNE, RN, BSN, and APNN student Shauna Topian were featured in two TV local news stories in November showcasing how nursing students were preparing to begin their careers amid a global pandemic and a national nursing shortage.
Kathy Mulholland Parrinello ’75N, ’83N (MS),
’90 (PhD), chief operating officer and executive vice president of URMC and Strong Memorial Hospital, was quoted in a pair of stories in the New York Times: an October article on health care workers getting vaccinated ahead of a state deadline, and a December story about hospitals in the state being overwhelmed by a surge in COVID cases. Associate Dean for Education and Student Affairs Lyd-
ia Rotondo, DNP, RN, CNS,
FNAP, was interviewed for a Spectrum News story in December about a generous $1 million gift made to the School of Nursing. The anonymous donor earmarked the gift to support the expansion of Helen Wood Hall (see story, page 8).
Loretta Ford, EdD, RN, PNP, NP-C, CRNP, FAAN,
FAANP, founding dean of the UR School of Nursing, was featured in December on the PBS program, Growing Bolder, celebrating the inspirational stories of men and women who are redefining the possibilities of life after 50. Ford, who discussed her role in the creation of the nurse practitioner role in the 1960s, celebrated her 101st birthday on Dec. 28.
NEWS University of Rochester School of Nursing Honored as Apple Distinguished School
The University of Rochester School of Nursing has been recognized as an Apple Distinguished School for its innovations in teaching, learning, and creating a digital learning environment to better prepare the nursing workforce of tomorrow.
Apple Distinguished Schools are centers for innovation, leadership, and educational excellence. They use Apple technology to connect students to the world, fuel creativity, deepen collaboration, and make learning personal. After completing a rigorous application process, the UR School of Nursing was notified in August that it had earned the distinction for a three-year period: 2021 to 2024.
The school, only the fourth school of nursing in the country to receive the distinction, was formally presented with the award by an Apple representative in an on-campus ceremony in October.
“We’re thrilled to have received this acknowledgement from Apple,” said Kathy Rideout, EdD, PPCNP-BC, FNAP, dean of the UR School of Nursing. “Our school has a long history of cutting-edge nursing education, and the work of our faculty and education innovation team have done to transform the delivery and transfer of knowledge to future nurses is just the latest extension of that proud legacy.”
In December, State Sen. Edward Rath presented the school with an official proclamation on behalf of the New York State Senate, recognizing the School of Nursing for the honor.
“The community thanks you for the hard work, vision and leadership, and quite honestly, the outcomes that you’re going to be creating right here at the U of R School of Nursing,” Rath said.
The school’s iROC (Redefining Our Classroom) initiative leverages technology to shift the traditional classroom into a dynamic learning environment. Across the spectrum of UR Nursing programs, the school’s academic leadership team has succeeded in integrating active learning strategies with the use of tablet technology, as well as other experiential learning activities, such as simulation, to give students new tools in preparation for a rapidly changing profession. The initiative aims to revitalize the way we teach and better prepares students for a successful career in health care, honing their critical-thinking and clinical judgement skills.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the UR School of Nursing drew upon its years of work with educational technology to create a seamless transition to remote learning. The school first piloted its iROC initiative with the RN to BS program in 2018, using tablets to expand the reach of its program and provide adult learners with a high-tech, high-touch experience. The initiative later expanded to the Accelerated Bachelor’s Program for Non-Nurses (APNN) and master’s level programs.
The UR School of Nursing has been recognized as an Apple Distinguished School for its innovations in teaching, learning, and creating a digital learning environment. A representative from Apple visited the school in October to officially present the distinction to School of Nursing leadership and members of the education innovation team. Pictured from left to right: Instructional designer Joseph Gomulak-Cavicchio, Education Innovation Team coordinator Tara Serwetnyk, instructional designer Kaitlyn Burke, Apple representative Ian Camera, Dean Kathy Rideout, and Associate Dean for Education and Student Affairs Lydia Rotondo. & State Sen. Edward Rath presented a proclamation to the School of Nursing on behalf of the New York State Senate, recognizing the school on its status as an Apple Distinguished School. Rath was joined by Patrick Hopkins, co-director of the Accelerated Program for Non-Nurses; Lisa Brophy, assistant dean for education; Serwetnyk, Rotondo, Rideout.
NEWS University of Rochester School of Nursing Receives Fifth Consecutive Health Professions HEED Award
The University of Rochester School of Nursing has received the 2021 Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. This marks the fifth consecutive year that the UR School of Nursing has been chosen for this honor.
The UR School of Nursing is among 51 health professions schools from around the country selected to receive the only national award recognizing medical, dental, pharmacy, nursing, osteopathic, and allied health schools that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion. This year’s recipients were featured in the December 2021 issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education.
“We’re grateful for the opportunity to be acknowledged among our peers as an institution that values diversity in all its forms and stands committed to fostering a community of inclusiveness and respect,” said Mitchell Wharton, PhD, RN, FNP-BC, CNS, the school’s associate dean for equity and inclusion.
The UR School of Nursing, which has been at the forefront of diversity, inclusion, and equity issues for nearly two decades, is one of 13 nursing schools to receive the HEED Health Professions Award in 2021. Its academic programs attract scientists, clinicians, researchers, and future nurses of varying ages, backgrounds, and talents, and its incoming fall class of students in the Accelerated Bachelor’s Program for Non-Nurses (ABPNN) includes students from across the U.S. and countries such as Ecuador, Rwanda, Iceland, and China. Thirty-three percent of the new ABPNN students were from groups underrepresented in nursing, and 26 percent were male, approximately three times higher than the percentage of men in the nursing workforce. “The Health Professions HEED Award process consists of a comprehensive and rigorous application that includes questions relating to the recruitment and retention of students and employees – and best practices for both – continued leadership support for diversity, and other aspects of campus diversity and inclusion,” said Lenore Pearlstein, publisher of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. “We take a detailed approach to reviewing each application in deciding who will be named a Health Professions HEED Award recipient. Our standards are high, and we look for schools where diversity and inclusion are woven into the work being done every day across their campus.”
“I’m so pleased that the UR School of Nursing has been recognized with a HEED Award for a fifth time,” said Kathy Rideout, EdD, PPCNP-BC, FNAP, dean of the School of Nursing and vice president of the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC). “We know that this a competitive process, so for our school to consistently appear on this list is a testament to our investment in creating a welcoming learning environment that embraces and reflects the diversity of our faculty, staff, and students.”
UR School of Nursing Cracks Top 25 in U.S. News Rankings
The University of Rochester School of Nursing cracked the Top 25 of the nation’s best master’s nursing programs, jumping five places to No. 21, according to the 2023 Best Graduate Schools guide produced by U.S. News and World Report.
The UR School of Nursing’s master’s programs have ranked consistently in the top 40 for the past two decades, but this is the school’s best showing in its history. The UR School of Nursing also tied for 27th among Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs, its highest ranking since the category debuted in 2017 and up 17 places from the 2022 report.
Nationally, UR Nursing is one of a group of 23 select schools to rank among the Top 30 in both categories. Among its regional competitors, the UR School of Nursing is the only New York school outside of New York City to rank among the Top 50 in either category.
Altogether, U.S. News surveyed 601 nursing schools with master's or doctoral programs accredited by either the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. In total, 254 nursing programs responded to the U.S. News nursing statistical data collection survey sent in fall 2021 and early 2022.
“I am beyond proud of the faculty, staff, and students whose efforts have helped the School of Nursing be recognized once again on a national and local level,” said Kathy Rideout, EdD, PPCNP-BC, FNAP, dean of the UR School of Nursing. “The rankings reaffirm what we already know, which is that our students are getting the best preparation for future clinical, education, and research opportunities from one of the top institutions in the country.”
Additional information on the nursing program rankings can be found at www. usnews.com.
Meghan Underhill-Blazey, PhD, APRN, FAAN, an assistant professor at the University of Rochester School of Nursing was selected to join the American Academy of Nursing’s 2021 class of fellows.
Underhill-Blazey was among 225 distinguished nurses, representing 38 states and 17 countries, chosen to join the academy. She was one of just 13 fellows selected from New York State. All of the inductees were recognized at the AAN’s annual Health Policy Conference in October.
The American Academy of Nursing comprises more than 2,900 nursing leaders who are experts in policy, research, administration, practice, and academia who champion health and wellness, locally and globally. The academy's fellow selection committee reviews hundreds of applications each year and selects applicants based on their contributions to advance the public’s health. Induction into the academy is a significant milestone in a nurse leader’s career, in which their accomplishments are revered by their colleagues within and outside the profession.
In addition to her appointment at the UR School of Nursing, Underhill-Blazey is a member of Cancer Control and Prevention at the Wilmot Cancer Institute and a nurse practitioner in the hereditary cancer program. She has dedicated her career to understanding and improving care for individuals and families living with inherited cancer risk.
Underhill-Blazey has widely disseminated research findings both through publications and presentations and has served as the nurse scientist on multidisciplinary teams. In addition to clinical practice, research, and mentorship, UnderhillBlazey has worked in multiple capacities as an oncology nursing science leader both locally and nationally within the Oncology Nursing Society. Based on her research impact and leadership she was awarded the Oncology Nursing Society Victoria Mock New Investigator Award in 2018. “It is such a privilege to be inducted as a fellow alongside such distinguished nursing colleagues, and I am humbled by the recognition. I am particularly grateful to the sponsors, Drs. Donna Berry and Anne Gross, who supported my application as well as the support from my UR colleagues“, said UnderhillBlazey, “I look forward to transforming health care delivery and improving health outcomes as a member of this distinguished institution, and for the opportunity to serve nursing in a greater Underhill-Blazey capacity.” Underhill-Blazey joined the UR Nursing faculty in 2020. She previously served as an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School and as interim director of the Phyllis F. Cantor Center for Research in Nursing and Patient Care Services at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. She earned her bachelor’s degree, master’s degree as a family nurse practitioner, and her Ph.D. from the University at Buffalo.
UR School of Nursing Jumps to 23RD in Latest NIH Research Rankings
The University of Rochester School of Nursing jumped six spots, landing at No. 23 in the annual ranking of research funding received from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
The UR School of Nursing has now ranked in the top 25 among all nursing schools five times in the past seven years, according to historical data compiled by the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research.
For the fiscal year 2021, the UR School of Nursing received more than $3.1 million in research support from the NIH, its highest single-year total since 2009 when the school ranked seventh in the nation with $4.3 million in NIH funding.
“The University of Rochester School of Nursing has a rich tradition of groundbreaking research that has advanced the science of nursing and made a substantial impact on patient care,” said Dean Kathy Rideout, EdD, PPCNP-BC, FNAP. “Consistently ranking among the best nursing schools in the country for NIH funding is a recognition of the important work being done at our school and a testament to the contributions made across the research enterprise.”
“The jump in the NIH rankings is wonderful, though it only addresses a portion of the research being conducted in the school,” said Associate Dean for Research Sally Norton, PhD, RN, FNAP, FPCN, FAAN. “The growth of our research mission is attributable to a strong commitment to a vibrant research culture within the School of Nursing and made possible through the hard work and cutting-edge science of our terrific faculty, research teams, post-docs, students, and our team in the Harriet J. Kitzman Center for Research Support.”
The NIH is the largest public funding source for biomedical research in the world, investing more than $32 billion annually to enhance health, increase life spans, and reduce illness and disability.
NEWS Anonymous Donor Gifts $1 Million to UR School of Nursing Expansion Project
An anonymous donor recently made a $1 million gift to the University of Rochester School of Nursing to support generations of future nurses.
The donation has been given to support the expansion of Helen Wood Hall, the home of the UR School of Nursing, which is currently undergoing a $15 million renovation to include more technologically enhanced experiential and collaborative learning spaces.
The $1 million gift, provided by a prominent member of the Rochester business community, is one of several large anonymous donations the school has received in recent years to support its operations. The donor had benefited from nursing care at home in the past and wanted to make a gift to recognize nurses for their selfless care and compassion for others.
“We are extremely grateful for this donor’s generosity, which will help us provide transformative nursing education for years to come,” said Kathy Rideout, EdD, PPCNP-BC, FNAP, dean of the UR School of Nursing. “Our shared commitment to providing a cutting-edge learning environment to improve upon the science and art of nursing will have an immeasurable impact on the health care providers and leaders of tomorrow, as well as the Rochester community who will benefit from their advanced education.”
Built in 1925, Helen Wood Hall is the original home of the University of Rochester’s nursing program. The building served as a dormitory in its early years, with its residential space later converted to classrooms, clinical learning spaces, and private offices. The need for larger and “smarter” classrooms as well as other student gathering spaces led to the 26,000-square-foot addition in 2006 of the Loretta C. Ford Education Wing, named for the school’s founding dean and the co-creator of the nurse practitioner role.
The current vertical expansion project builds on the increasing need for technologically advanced and more synergistic learning while accommodating the school’s continued growth. UR Nursing enrollment has increased by more than 50 percent since 2016 to an all-time high of nearly 800 students. The new addition adds three floors above the Ford Education Wing, allowing for larger, more sophisticated skills and simulation labs, additional classrooms, and dozens of collaborative learning spaces, which will be vital to prepare students for a rapidly changing profession.
The new addition is slated to officially open for student use in the Summer 2022 semester.
2nd Floor Breakout Area
Renderings of a 2nd floor reception area (top) and a 4th floor student lounge (bottom) to be included in the $15M renovation of Helen Wood Hall. Three new floors will be added above the Loretta Ford Education Wing to build on the school’s increasing need for technologically advanced and more synergistic learning areas while accommodating its continued growth.
4th Floor Lounge
The University of Rochester School of Nursing has added two assistant deans to its leadership team.
Lisa Brophy, EdD, RN, MSBA, CNE, and Carla DeLucia, EdD, have been named assistant deans for education and student affairs, respectively. Both report directly to Lydia Rotondo, DNP, RN, CNS, FNAP, associate dean for education and student affairs.
Brophy, an assistant professor of clinical nursing, has been a nurse for three decades and has held numerous positions in practice, education, and leadership. A member of the UR School of Nursing faculty since 2013, she previously served as co-director of the Accelerated Bachelor’s Program for Non-Nurses (ABPNN). She is a member of the Finger Lakes Organization of Nurse Executives and Leaders and Sigma Theta Tau International, and was recently accepted to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Elevating Leaders in Academic
Brophy Nursing fellowship program.
She earned her bachelor’s degree from the UR School of Nursing, her MSBA from the University of Rochester’s Simon School of Business, a master’s degree in nursing education from Roberts Wesleyan College, and her doctorate in education leadership from the University of Rochester’s Warner School of Education.
Replacing Brophy, Luis Rosario-McCabe, DNP, RN, CNE, CNL, WHNP-BC, has been named interim APNN co-director. Rosario-McCabe has more than 30 years of experience in nursing with a focus on women’s health and improving access to health care for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals. A four-time graduate of the UR School of Nursing, he earned his bachelor’s degree in 1993, his master’s as a women’s health care nurse practitioner in 1995, and his Doctor of Nursing Practice degree in 2017. He also received
Rosario-McCabe a post-master’s certificate from the Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) program in 2015. He joined the UR Nursing faculty in 2003 and formerly served as the CNL specialty program director.
DeLucia came to the UR School of Nursing in November with 14 years of higher education administrative experience and a strong background in predictive analytics modeling and academic advising, as well as student financial services. She most recently served as associate director in the University Advising Office at RIT. Previously she served as an associate dean for academic affairs at Fisher College in Boston and assistant director of student financial services at Babson College. She earned her doctorate in higher education administration from Northeastern University, a master’s in math education from Boston University, and a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Hobart and William Smith Colleges.
DeLucia
Standing with New York Leadership in Support of Black Maternal Health
Associate Dean Mitchell Wharton, PhD, RN, FNP-BC, CNS, represented the UR School of Nursing at a press conference at the Anthony Jordan Center in September, joining U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer and New York State Attorney General Letitia James pushing for the passage of the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act to address maternal health disparities in the U.S.
Rochester Academy of Medicine Recognizes UR Nursing Professor and Student
Two members of the University of Rochester School of Nursing were honored at the Rochester Academy of Medicine’s annual awards ceremony on Oct. 19.
Julie Gottfried, DNP, RN, CNS,
CPNP-PC, assistant professor of clinical nursing at the UR School of Nursing, and Mary Starks ’17N, a student in the Family Nurse Practitioner to Doctor of Nursing Practice program, were among several colleagues and organizations, including the Rochester Black Nurses Association, who were recognized for their accomplishments and contributions to health care within the Rochester community.
Gottfried received the Madeline H. Schmitt, PhD, RN, FAAN Award for Interprofessional Education. The award identifies a health care professional who has most demonstrably “broken barriers in health care” and continues to change the landscape of health care education and practice through relaying the importance of collaborative teamwork and inclusion of patients, families, health care providers, and community partners in the delivery of the highest quality of care.
For over 21 years, Gottfried has worked in a spectrum of clinical and academic roles in inpatient and outpatient settings. She has spent the majority of her career at Golisano Children’s Hospital, where she has practiced as a bedside nurse, a clinical nurse specialist, and most recently, a pediatric nurse practitioner within the pediatric advanced practice providers inpatient team.
Gottfried is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Nurse Practitioner Association of New York State. She is currently the vice president of the UR School of Nursing’s Epsilon Xi chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International. Starks was honored with the Distinguished Service Early Career award. The distinction honors a health care professional that is within five years of obtaining their professional degree and has already provided distinguished service in their specialty area. At Strong Memorial Hospital, Starks works in the adult operating room as a staff nurse and preceptor, helping new nurses and nursing students develop skills and confidence in a clinical setting. Earlier in 2021, Starks was selected as Nurse Practitioner Association Student of the Year for her exemplary educational excellence both academically and clinically. She is also the inaugural recipient of the UR School of Nursing’s Student Diversity Engagement Award, which celebrates a nursing student’s work related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Starks is also one of the founding members of the Rochester Black Nurses Association, an organization honored this year with the Rochester Academy of Medicine’s Distinguished Service in the Community award. The award honors a community-based organization with exceptional service to the community. Sponsored by the School of Nursing, RBNA has worked throughout Rochester to help nurses succeed through mentorship and networking opportunities. The organization also provides education on various health topics, including racial disparities in the health care system.
Mitchell J. Wharton, PhD, RN, FNP-
BC, CNS, ACRN, associate dean for equity and inclusion at the University of Rochester School of Nursing, has been elevated to leadership positions within two national nursing organizations.
In November, Wharton was named president-elect of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (ANAC) board of directors. Wharton, who has been a member of ANAC since 2004 and previously served as treasurer of the board, will remain president-elect until November 2023 and then serve as president for two years.
Wharton is a member of ANAC’s Diversity Committee, whose mission is to address cultural and ethnic diversity in HIV/AIDS disease, treatment, and care and implement ANAC's core values of advocacy, collaboration, diversity, knowledge, and support while embracing cultural diversity and cultural competency.
“Over the years ANAC has been a source of guidance and empowerment for making substantive changes in my life, the lives of my patients, students, research participants, and throughout the communities I represent,” said Wharton. “I wish to serve as president-elect to further carry out the mission of ANAC by working to ensure the organization remains at the forefront of educating and empowering health professionals for the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS and co-morbid conditions.”
Wharton had also previously served as guest editor of a special edition of the Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care in August. The issue focused on racism, discrimination, and health inequities associated with HIV and sexual and gender diversity. Wharton co-authored an editorial for the issue titled, “The More Things Change, the More Things Remain the Same: It’s time to dismantle structural inequalities of racism, discrimination, and health disparities.”
One of four guest editors for the issue, Wharton also hosted a podcast interview with Amelia Knopf of Indiana University, one of the authors of an article examining the position statements offered by nursing schools on racism following the murder of George Floyd and other Black Americans.
In October, Wharton was elected to serve as secretary of an American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) network focused on diversity issues. Wharton serves as one of the members of the steering committee of AACN’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leadership Network (DEILN).
The DEILN acts as a convening body to unite expertise, experience, and guidance and works collectively to explore innovative approaches to enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in academic nursing and the nursing workforce. Its efforts include sharing evidence-based practices, engaging with membership, providing consultative services, and convening networking forums.
An associate professor of clinical nursing and 2013 graduate of the UR Nursing PhD program, Wharton also serves as a faculty advisor for the school’s Council for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (CoDEI), and the student-led Leading with Integrity for Tomorrow (LIFT) program, and is an active member of the Interdisciplinary Sexual Health and HIV Research (INSHHR) group.
The Wharton File
Mitchell J. Wharton, PhD, RN, FNP-BC, CNS, ACRN
• Associate Professor of Clinical Nursing • Associate Dean for Equity and Inclusion
Association of Nurses in AIDS Care
• President-Elect, 2021-2023 • President, 2023-2025 • Guest editor, Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care
American Association of Colleges of Nursing
• Secretary, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leadership Network (DEILN) • Member, DEILN Steering Committee
Alcéna-Stiner Co-Investigator on Grant to Combat Vaccine Hesitancy in Adolescents
Researchers at the University of Rochester received an award from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences to address vaccine hesitancy and improve health literacy among middle and high school students.
Danielle C. Alcéna-Stiner, PhD, RN, assistant professor at the University of Rochester School of Nursing, is co-investigator on the project. She is also an assistant director of the Life Sciences Learning Center (LSLC). The LSLC, located at the University of Rochester Medical Center, offers outreach programs for students and community members and gives them opportunities to participate in hands-on science activities.
Alcéna-Stiner and principal investigator Dina Markowitz, PhD, professor of environmental medicine and director of the LSLC, will create lessons and handson activities to teach students about how COVID-19 spreads, how COVID testing works, what RNA is, and how the vaccine works. Alcéna-Stiner said the new grant will help adolescents find reliable information and help them make informed decisions about their health.
“The driving force behind the project is this passion to start incorporating health literacy and behavior change into the educational material that we're offering for our outreach programs,” said Alcéna-Stiner. “There's a lot of confusion in the community about what RNA is, what mRNA is and how it works with the vaccines. And a lot of hesitancy about taking vaccines, because there's a misunderstanding about what that is and how to understand the science.”
Rochester-area teachers, students, and health professionals, including nurses, physicians, and health educators, will be involved in every step of the way as the project develops, beginning with assessments to find out what students already know about infectious diseases and how they learn about them.
After testing and tweaking the materials, Alcéna-Stiner and Markowitz will release the materials online so teachers across the country have resources to teach their students about health literacy.
Alcéna-Stiner
UR Nursing Researcher Receives Grant to Study Home Health Care Disparities
Jinjiao Wang, PhD, RN, postdoctoral program director and assistant professor at the University of Rochester School of Nursing, received an award from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to improve infection control in home health care.
The study, “Disparities in infection in home health and patients/caregivers’ perceptions (Dis-Infection in HHC),” is a five-year, RO1 award totaling more than $2 million. Wang and the study's principal investigator, Jingjing Shang, PhD, RN, FAAN, professor of nursing at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, will examine socioeconomic disparities in COVID-19 cases and other infection events in home health care patients before and during the pandemic. Wang will serve as site principal investigator to oversee study activities at the University of Rochester. Findings from the study will help develop a home-based infection prevention and control program.
Wang’s career as a nursing scientist has been focused on improving homebased health care services for older adults and health outcomes of older adults with complex medical conditions and geriatric syndromes. In June, she received a pilot award from the U.S. Deprescribing Research Network to improve the quality of post-acute care and home health care for older adults with complex medical conditions who take multiple medications.
What motivates our decision-making? That question was first asked to Martez Smith, LMSW, a doctoral candidate at the University of Rochester School of Nursing, in a lecture about the Self-Determination Theory (SDT) at the University of Rochester’s Warner School of Education.
The theory, developed by University of Rochester professors Richard Ryan and Edward Deci in 1985, theorized that people’s motivation influences their ability to act on behalf of their own goals.
In June, Smith received an F31 grant award from the National Institutes of Health titled, "Exploring associations of autonomy supportive health communication, needs satisfaction, and sexual health behaviors for Black MSM in the House Ball community."
The grant supports Smith’s exploration of the implications of the theory among Black and Latinx men who have sex with men (MSM) who are participants in the House Ball Community (HBC), a subculture comprised primarily of Black and Latinx sexual and gender minorities who “walk” or compete in events that mix performance, dance, lip-syncing, and modeling.
The study investigates characteristics of sexual health communication embedded within social and sexual networks, and expands the understanding of how social networks and sexual health communication impact sexual health behaviors in the MSM House Ball community.
Smith hopes the data collected from the study will help improve current HIV prevention and inform the development of future interventions tailored to MSM and House Ball communities, as well as the larger health population.
The sponsoring team on Smith’s grant is UR School of Nursing’s James McMahon, PhD, associate professor, Natalie Leblanc, PhD, MPH, RN, BSN, an assistant professor and Harriet Kitzman Endowed Fellow in Health Disparities, and LaRon Nel-
son, ‘02N, ’04N (MS) and
’09N (PhD), associate dean and associate professor of nursing at Yale School of Nursing and former associate director of international research in the University of Rochester Center for AIDS Research.
Smith
PhD Student Faith Lambert Recognized with Diversity Fellowship
Faith Lambert, MS, RN,
FNP-BC, a student in the University of Rochester School of Nursing's MS-PhD program, was recognized for her interest and advocacy in HIV care.
Lambert received the Diversity Equity and Inclusion Student Fellowship from the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (ANAC). The fellowship recognizes a student from a diverse racial or ethnic background who has a genuine interest in HIV care across the HIV care continuum.
Lambert's research interests include health disparities, pediatric to adult care transition, adolescent and adult health, and HIV care management. Her dissertation will explore autonomy supportive relationships in HIV positive young adults and its impact on HIV selfcare management.
The fellowship also established a mentorship with
Natalie Leblanc, PhD,
MPH, RN, BSN, assistant professor and Harriet J. Kitzman Endowed Fellow in Health Disparities at the UR School of Nursing.
Lambert formally accepted the fellowship at the ANAC 2021 annual conference in November.
Lambert
Dembrow Steps into New Role as Senior Administrator for Research
Kyle Dembrow assumed a new position as the senior administrator for research at the University of Rochester School of Nursing’s Harriet J. Kitzman Center for Research Support.
In his new role, Dembrow oversees research operations, including resource allocation, financial management, and grants and contracts administration. He brings a wealth of experience in grant management and accounting from his previous position as senior accountant at the UR School of Nursing.
Dembrow first joined the UR School of Nursing in 2016.
Recent DNP Grad Named URMC’s Nursing Equity and Inclusion Leader
A recent graduate of the University of Rochester School of Nursing’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program, Sheniece
Griffin ’21N (DNP), ’19N (MS), RN,
CNL has been appointed as the University of Rochester Medical Center's first-ever director for equity and inclusion in nursing practice.
The role may be brand new to her and to the system, but Griffin has valuable professional and personal experiences to draw on. She knows URMC and its people well: Griffin has been a nurse for 11 years, all of it within the system. She began her career as a student nurse patient care technician at Highland Hospital; most recently, she has been a clinical care manager for Primary Care Network. And she was born, raised, and educated in the Rochester area, so she knows the wider community well.
In her new role, Griffin will working with colleagues across the Medical Center to help diversify the nursing workforce and build a more inclusive atmosphere where everyone feels valued and respected. “The goal is to be sure that everyone’s voice is heard,” she said.
Griffin graduated from the School of Nursing's DNP program last May after successfully defending her scholarly project, “Evaluating and Improving Complex Care Management for HighRisk Patients in a Patient-Centered Medical Home Primary Care Practice.” Her project focused on evaluating and improving the existing complex care management program in a patient-centered medical home primary care practice for adult patients. She previously graduated from the School of Nursing’s Clinical Nurse Leader program in 2019.
Griffin
Anne Swantz, '88N (MS), RN, MSN,
C-PNP, a University of Rochester School of Nursing graduate, was tapped to lead the University of Rochester Medical Center’s Department of Advanced Practice, which includes the Margaret D. Sovie Center for Advanced Practice. Swantz was named the new chief advanced practice officer, leading nearly 1,000 physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and some midwives working throughout UR Medicine. "The new department brings advanced practice providers (APPs) together to enhance understanding of how APPs are essential to providing high-quality, cost-effective patient care," Swantz said.
In her new role, Swantz works closely with Chief Medical Officer Michael Apostolakos, MD, and Chief Nursing Officer Karen (Davis) Keady, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, to grow the voice of APPs across UR Medicine. "The APPs are respected and important members of the health care team where everyone's contribution is vital to a patient's successful outcome," Swantz said.
"We've created this department to reflect the importance of the roles of these two professional groups," said Kathy Mulholland Parrinello ’75N, ’83N (MS), ’90 (PhD), chief operating officer and executive vice president of URMC and Strong Memorial Hospital.
The Sovie Center was established in 2006 to support the education, research, and professional development for APPs. It was the first APP-focused center in the country and this move to have it serve as a department is another progressive step for the institution.
Keady says this new structure is another way URMC demonstrates its leadership, because few academic medical centers have established a department for PAs and NPs. "We'll be able to attract top talent because we have a unique and sophisticated system that will support their career advancement."
Swantz has been with URMC for 41 years, starting as a staff nurse, then manager in Pediatrics becoming a pediatric nurse practitioner in 1988. She continues to practice in the Pediatric Primary Care clinic. "Anne has demonstrated excellence in clinical practice and leadership. She is a great choice to lead our APPs," said Apostolakos.
UR School of Nursing’s Epsilon Xi Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau Celebrates 40th Anniversary of Charter
The University of Rochester School of Nursing’s Epsilon Xi Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International celebrated a significant milestone this February.
The chapter commemorated the 40th anniversary of its official charter, which occurred on Feb. 7, 1982, when 260 members comprised the newly-formed chapter.
That pivotal event, however, took place a few years after the honor society was originally established at the school.
Maureen Friedman, PhD, RN, former instructor of community health at the UR School of Nursing, was one of the founding officers who led the pursuit of establishing a nursing honor society in 1979 and was named its first president. She and other officers and members of the steering committee: Carol Anderson, Jo Ann Belle-Isle, Lisa Jeffery, Kay Melnyk, Sue Nickoley-Colquitt, Carol Smith, Joyce Wiedrich, Thelma Wells, and Judith Sullivan, thought it was important to institute a convening body to recognize and promote nursing scholarship, leadership, and service.
Loretta Ford, EdD,
RN, PNP, FAAN, FAANP, co-developer of the nurse practitioner model and founding dean of the UR School of Nursing, gave her blessing and assured the officers that becoming a chapter of Sigma Theta Tau was worth pursuing.
In its first year, the honor society established the Clare Dennison Lecture in honor of Clare Dennison, director of the School of Nursing and superintendent of nurses at Strong Memorial Hospital from 1931 to 1951. The Clare Dennison Lecture remains a tradition at the UR School of Nursing as an integral part of Meliora Weekend to commemorate a new academic year.
The honor society also presented a research symposium, where members gathered to share evidence-based research to improve and further their skills in nursing practice.
The honor society held its first induction ceremony in March 1979, welcoming more than 160 members. But to be considered an official chapter of Sigma Theta Tau, the honor society would need a much larger membership base. The honor society added an additional 87 members in November 1980, and soon after, was officially chartered with 260 total members.
“We celebrate a decade of highly productive activity as a full-fledged, autonomous professional school,” Ford said at the time. “It is fitting and proper that a nursing honorary society be inaugurated at this time to advance one of our goals: scientific inquiry to improve the care of people in the 1980s. The faculty, students, and alumni deserve high praise for their efforts over the past two years to qualify for chapter membership in Sigma Theta Tau”
Today, Epsilon Xi, with more than 320 active members, remains true to its original mission of improving the health of people worldwide through increasing the scientific base of nursing practice. The 40th anniversary of the charter establishment was celebrated virtually on Feb. 7. Chapter members convened to hear welcoming remarks from Dean Kathy Rideout, EdD, PPCNP-BC, FNAP, and highlights of the contributions and accomplishments of members from current chapter president Luis A.
Rosario-McCabe, DNP,
RN, CNE, CNL, WHNP-BC, and other select members. In celebration of the chapter’s milestone, Epsilon Xi has also launched a “$40 for 40 years” fundraising initiative to further its support in nursing scholarships through grants, co-sponsorship of conferences and partnerships with UR School of Nursing-based and community organizations.
“This chapter has made the reputation of the School of Nursing one of the best in the country for research production and for the unification of practice, education, research, and administrative leadership, which put Rochester on the map. Now, we’re celebrating our 40th anniversary and we ask you to support the efforts of this wonderful organization. I hope you’ll join me in contributing what you can,” said Ford.
Donations can be made with a smartphone by scanning the barcode at right, which leads to the campaign's PayPal account for safe and secure payments. Alternatively, payments can be made by visiting urson.us/stt-epsilonxi-40th-anniversary.
