william f. connell school of nursing

winter 2010

under african skies: four stories

from the dean Susan Gennaro bc nursing

winter 2010

news 4 palliative care specialty launched Connell School awarded HRSA funds to develop new care program for children and adolescents 4 a living legend Marjory Gordon honored by American Academy of Nursing for “extraordinary contributions” to the field 4 HRSA funds workplace diversity grant Dean Catherine Read receives grant to prepare students from diverse backgrounds to enter 14 public health nursing as leaders 6 professor ann burgess honored From “Under African skies” In this issue of the Voice, we celebrate the people and International Association of Forensic Nurses establishes award for “exceptional research” in accomplishments that make the Connell School of her name 7 ethics textbook cited Nursing at Boston College such a truly unique place. Pamela Grace receives Alpha Sigma Nu Jesuit Book Award ne such person was surely in need of the best leaders, the so pleased that so many members Dean Emeritus Rita faculty and I have committed to of our community have supported features Kelleher. I’m sure many producing nurse leaders for the these events and programs, and 14 under african skies O Alumnae and students chronicle their of you have heard the sad news 21st century who participate in, encourage you to check our website experiences advancing health care in Ethiopia, 14 34 about Dean Kelleher’s passing this use, and/or conduct the research for upcoming events and join us. Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe past November. We hope many of necessary to change health care, Some of the global activities our Doctor at a Tanzanian medical From “Faculty profile: Stacey Barone” you will join us at a celebration of who understand and participate in faculty, students, and alumni are 22 alliance with harvard dispensary Inside the Harvard Catalyst her life this spring; the details will improving global health, and who participating in are also highlighted be posted on our website. I was so value diversity. As we move forward in this issue. And as always, the voices lucky to have met Dean Kelleher, to meeting our strategic aims, we Connell School is fortunate to 30 faculty publications to have had her inscribe a copy of are pleased to be active participants have outstanding faculty, staff, 32 alumna profile: betsy brown ’85 her memoirs for me, and to get her in the Harvard Catalyst (p. 22) and students, and alumnae/i whose Global outlook stamp of approval as she patted hope you will enjoy reading about accomplishments I also hope you 34 faculty profile: stacey barone my hand and told me I would “do the opportunities our faculty and enjoy reading about. Promoting care of the older adult well” as the new dean. I appreciated students are enjoying in translating 36 alumnae/i news hearing her stories about Boston science for use in practice. We College and look forward to know you will enjoy reading about 39 43 hearing some of your stories as we our new KILN program (p. 4), remember all that Dean Kelleher designed to prepare nurse leaders President Obama with AARP president In memoriam: Rita Kelleher Jennie Chin Hansen ’70 accomplished for nursing. from underrepresented ethnic

We are also celebrating new and racial minorities. We are dean contributors photography The Boston College Nursing Voice is published twice a year beginnings that will shape the next also excited about our new global Susan Gennaro Meaghan Bradley Frank Curran by the Boston College William F. Connell School of Nursing. Alex Cohen Kirsten Erwin We welcome letters and comments from readers at: few years at the Connell School. initiatives including our global Susan Gennaro, RN, DSN, FAAN editor Clara Gona Gary Wayne Gilbert Office of Marketing and External Relations Joshua J. Jensen Kathleen Sullivan Dorothy Jones William F. Connell School of Nursing, Boston College At a time when health care is truly scholars lecture series (p. 5). We are Dean and Professor Katya Wheelwright Paul Morse 140 Commonwealth Avenue art director and associate editor Ashley Younger Lee Pellegrini Chestnut Hill, MA 02467 Kirsten Erwin Boston College Archives MTS Photography or by email: [email protected]

2 Boston College Nursing Voice On the cover: Undergraduate student Katya Wheelwright teaches proper hand washing techniques to children at the Kasiisi School in western Ugandawinter while 2010 a nurse 3 from the Kibale Health Centre translates. news

connell school adds discipline is stronger in the U.S. and The current health care situation in in 2007–2008 in Nursing Outlook, health care strategies in their pediatric palliative care around the world because of Marge Boston provides the perfect opportunity the official journal of the American communities. specialty Gordon’s efforts.” for the KILN program to create change: Academy of Nursing. Dean Gennaro “Nurses provide a unique Associate dean for graduate programs The Living Legend designation In 2006, Massachusetts became the and her co-authors were recognized at a perspective in the health care system, Patricia Tabloski has received a is one of the highest honors in the first state in the nation to require all reception at the American Academy of understanding both the patient three-year competitive renewal from nursing field, recognizing the most residents to carry health insurance. Nursing’s annual meeting in Atlanta on experience and the way policies and the Health Resources and Services accomplished Academy fellows for As a result, over 440,000 previously November 6. procedures affect health outcomes,” said Administration (HRSA) to fund the their contributions to the field and as uninsured people are now in the Marilyn P. Chow, the RWJF Executive addition of a pediatric concentration role models for all nurses. Established health care system. This influx of new Nurse Fellows national program to the palliative care specialty at the in 1973 under the American Nurses patients, coupled with a shortage of director. “We are thrilled to have Dr. Connell School. The funding will Association, the American Academy diverse, baccalaureate-prepared nurses, Wolfe join the 2009 group of fellows. expand the existing palliative care of Nursing represents distinguished has caused a crisis in the health care The experience will enable her to bring curricula to develop advanced practice professor emeritus leaders in nursing who have been system in underserved communities new skills and resources to improve nurses’ skills in pediatric palliative care. marjory gordon named recognized for their outstanding in Boston. health care in the Greater Boston Pediatric palliative care nursing is living legend in nursing contributions to the profession and to The KILN program will work toward community.” a specialty that seeks to prevent or The American Academy of Nursing health care. correcting that balance. A pre-entry As part of the fellowship, Wolfe relieve the physical and emotional has named professor emeritus Marjory program will stimulate interest in will have an opportunity to design distress of children living with serious Gordon a Living Legend at their annual program prepares nursing as a career by recruiting top and implement a leadership project to chronic and/or life-threatening illness meeting, held November 5–7 in Atlanta. students from candidates and a retention program address issues of essential importance and their families through assessment Gordon has directed collaborative disadvantaged will increase the graduation rate to the future of the Connell School of and management of pain and other research projects in Brazil, the backgrounds to be of Connell School minority and Nursing, as well as to the broader health symptoms, provision of clear and Netherlands, and Australia, in addition nursing leaders disadvantaged students by providing wolfe selected for care system. culturally sensitive communication, and to 15 funded projects in the United Associate dean for the undergraduate intense mentoring and support as well prestigious national “I am honored and excited to support in decision-making. Palliative States. Her research topics include program Catherine Read has been as stipends and scholarships. fellowship to improve have this opportunity to explore new care is designed to relieve symptoms a series of studies on diagnostic awarded funding from the Health “Through community-based health care solutions for advancing health care caused by a child’s condition in order reasoning, diagnosis-intervention- Resources and Services Administration leadership and scholarship development A national fellowship program focused through interdisciplinary collaboration,” to help them live more comfortably outcome links, community health (HRSA) for her Nursing Workforce activities,” Read says, “we can increase on expanding the role of nurses to lead said Wolfe. and improve their quality of life. It is nursing, hospital discharge of Diversity grant called “Keys to Inclusive the number of culturally competent, change in the U.S. health care system Wolfe is the chair of the NIH Study not limited to dying children, but is obstetrical-gynecologic patients, and Leadership in Nursing” (KILN). The leadership-trained graduates working in has been awarded to Barbara Wolfe, Section on Nursing Science: Adults and appropriate for all children with severe home health care nursing diagnosis and program will prepare nursing students Boston’s medically underserved areas. associate dean for research at the Older Adults, and is the past president chronic conditions for which there is defining characteristics. Gordon’s books from disadvantaged backgrounds, “I believe the program will ultimately Connell School of Nursing. She is of the American Psychiatric Nurses no cure. have been translated into 10 languages including racial and ethnic minorities contribute to the elimination of health one of 20 nurses selected nationwide Association. She also holds a faculty The program will prepare graduates and are found in 48 countries on six underrepresented among registered disparities, a goal consistent with as a 2009 Robert Wood Johnson appointment at Harvard Medical School. as advanced certified hospice and continents, and her Manual of Nursing nurses, to enter the public health Boston College’s mission of uniting Foundation (RWJF) Executive Nurse The fellowship is supported through palliative nurses. Other goals are to Diagnosis is in its 12th edition. nursing workforce as leaders with the high academic achievement with service Fellow. a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson develop new linkages with community Professor and nurse theorist Sr. inherent capacity to make a difference to others in a diverse community.” Now in its 12th year, the three-year Foundation and matching funds from agencies that provide palliative care to Callista Roy comments, “One major in local communities. fellowship program provides extensive Boston College. children with serious chronic illness characteristic of Marge Gordon that “Despite its reputation as a city with gennaro pens best leadership development for nurses in and their families, to improve access inspires me is her total commitment outstanding health care facilities,” says education paper executive roles in public or community what america can learn to expert, quality, and comprehensive and singleness of purpose. Whether it is Read, “Boston experiences alarming Connell School dean Susan Gennaro’s health, science and research, corporate from swiss health care nursing care provided to racially and writing, professional organization work, health disparities along racial and paper titled “An Alternative Model for health, academia, government, or Sabina De Geest, PhD, RN, visited ethnically diverse children facing life- or mentoring others, her focus is always socioeconomic lines. More than one half Post-Doctoral Education in Nurses military health service. Fellows remain the Connell School last November as threatening illness, and to develop a on increasing clarity and scholarship for of the residents of Boston are Asian, Engaged in Research with Potentially in their current positions while they the Fall 2009 Global Visiting Scholar. program component that addresses defining the phenomenon of nursing black, or Latino, but the vast majority of Vulnerable Populations” was selected receive training, mentoring, and the On November 3, De Geest met with cultural competence and sensitivity. knowledge and practice. Nursing as a nurse leaders are white.” as the best education paper published opportunity to implement innovative faculty and PhD students for a lunch

4 Boston College Nursing Voice winter 2010 5 news

and discussion, followed by a lecture to be able to recognize the research of the Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner states Gregory, “we have the opportunity NIH funding will support all her related different disciplines: social sciences, the next evening where she addressed forensic nurses and the advancement Program in Maine’s Office of Attorney to make a difference over the entire projects. She has also received funding natural sciences, mathematics and the topic, “What America Can Learn of nursing science,” Burgess said of the General. “Professionals from many lifetime of a person.” from the Harvard Catalyst (see feature computer sciences, and health sciences. from Swiss Health Care.” The lecture award. varied disciplines have come to rely on Gregory has several ongoing story on page 22), as well as a grant Grace’s book is the winner in the health was filled to capacity with students, Burgess helped to establish a master’s Dr. Burgess’s work to inform their own projects relating to premature infant from the American Nurses Foundation sciences category. alumnae/i, faculty, and representatives specialty in forensic nursing at the practice.” gastrointestinal health, including and intramural funding from the Dean’s “I was delighted to receive the from Boston’s Swiss community. Connell School and teaches courses “Without the work of Ann Burgess, assessing urinary biomarkers for Research Stimulus Grant Program. news. This is an incredible honor for De Geest is a professor of nursing such as Case Studies in Forensics, there might not be an International NEC in a large, matched sample me and for my nurse colleagues who and the director of the Institute of Forensic Science, Forensic Science Lab, Association of Forensic Nurses,” said of premature infants, defining the contributed chapters based on their Nursing Science of the Faculty of and Victimology. Her work in forensics, Connell School assistant professor intestinal microbiota in premature real-life practice experiences,” said Medicine at the University of Basel, victimology, and trauma began back Angela Amar, an IAFN member and infants at risk for NEC, and applying Grace. “Recognition by this highly Switzerland. She is a fellow of the in the 1970s when she co-founded director of the Connell School’s forensic metabolomic analysis to stool obtained esteemed organization validates American Academy of Nursing and the one of the first hospital-based crisis program. “Prior to her groundbreaking from premature infants in order to the work of all nurses who strive to Royal College of Nursing. counseling programs for rape victims research, no one was studying victims predict NEC and make a contribution to provide knowledgeable, just, and with sociology professor emeritus of sexual assault. With her description metabolomics. meaningful care to the vulnerable Lynda Lytle Holmstrom. Burgess and of Rape Trauma Syndrome, she opened Metabolomics is an emerging field in the face of increasingly difficult, Holmstrom wrote a groundbreaking a door that allowed for a branch of that aims to describe the distribution highly technological, and economically article that ushered the phrase “rape nursing to be developed. Her continued of human metabolites in order to challenging health care environments.” trauma syndrome” into both medical work on victims, perpetrators, and better understand the relationship In announcing the award, The AJCU and legal lexicons. family and significant others opened between genotype and phenotype. said Nursing Ethics and Professional Her research and books cover topics that door even wider.” Through classifying these small grace receives 2009 Responsibility in Advanced Practice such as serial killers and rapists, molecule metabolites found in an national book award “addresses a significant topic for the kidnapping, sexual victimization and gregory awarded nih organism, scientists hope to bridge Connell School of Nursing associate nursing profession in an effective exploitation of children, cyber crimes, and harvard funding for the gap in knowledge between disease professor Pamela Grace was awarded scholarly manner. The book is written sexual abuse, and elder abuse. She has premature infant health pathogenesis and prediction. Gregory a 2009 National Book Award from in a comprehensive easy-to-read style. worked extensively with the Behavioral research will collect stool samples from preterm the Association of Jesuit Colleges and The authors of each chapter skillfully Science Unit of the FBI, training special Katherine Gregory, assistant professor, infants, advantageous in that they Universities (AJCU) and Alpha Sigma integrate current literature and international forensic agents and developing criminal profiles. has received a mentored training are discarded specimens and will not Nu, the national Jesuit honor society, research into their discussion of ethical nursing award named for Burgess also is a sought-after expert in grant from the NIH and funding deplete these vulnerable infants of their for her book Nursing Ethics and principles, the commonalities of ethics burgess the courtroom, having offered testimony from the Harvard Clinical Nutrition limited blood volume. In partnership Professional Responsibility in Advanced across practice settings, and the ethical Connell School professor Ann Wolbert in high-profile cases such as the Glen Research Center to support her work with Harvard Medical School associate Practice (Jones and Bartlett, 2008). challenges of advanced practice nursing Burgess, a pioneer in the field of Ridge rape trial, Menendez Brothers on necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a professor Dr. Bruce Kristal, a molecular She is one of only four recipients specialty areas. The case studies found forensic nursing, was honored by the murder case, Riley Fox murder trial, and common and devastating illness found biologist and expert in metabolomics, nationwide. at the end of the specialty area chapters International Association of Forensic fashion designer Anand Jon rape trial. in premature infants. Gregory will then apply metabolomic The Alpha Sigma Nu Jesuit Book help the reader apply ethical principles Nurses with an award that will bear “Dr. Burgess’s research is broad Premature infant birth is the most analysis as a means of predicting NEC. Awards recognize outstanding to specific situations. This is a great her name. The inaugural IAFN Ann and has had a tremendous influence significant perinatal and neonatal “What we learn will teach us publishing achievement by faculty book for students as well as advanced Burgess Forensic Nursing Award, which on recognition of forensic nursing by health problem facing our nation today. more about organ-specific disease and administrators of the 28 Jesuit practice nurses.” was presented to Burgess on October 23, other professionals; she challenges These babies are at risk for many health pathogenesis and disease prediction higher education institutions in the Grace specializes in health care and was established to honor an individual nurses to think outside the box, to ask issues as a result of being born too strategies,” says Gregory, “and the United States. Books are judged on professional ethics. She was for many who has made exceptional research questions and research answers to those early, including infection, lung disease, findings will pave the way for new the basis of scholarship, significance years a critical care nurse and nurse contributions to the field of forensic questions and she has done seminal gastrointestinal disease, neurological intervention strategies that will help of topic to scholars across several practitioner in primary care. She holds nursing through clinical program research with victims of sexual assault bleeding, and cardiovascular patients and their families.” disciplines, authority in interpretation, an appointment as a nurse scientist at development, scientific achievement, as well as the perpetrators of this compromise. The Harvard Clinical Nutritional objectivity, presentation, and style. the Munn Center for Nursing Research legislative changes, or educational crime,” said IAFN awards committee “In conducting research on the Research Center grant will partially fund This year’s awards recognized books at Massachusetts General Hospital. She activities. “This is an exceptional honor chair Polly Campbell, the director of premature infant patient population,” Gregory’s metabolomics work, and the in the sciences, represented by four has served on the Human Research and

6 Boston College Nursing Voice winter 2010 7 news

Investigation Committee of Newton- increase.” Amar hopes that the findings that influence those behaviors, and endowment fund, as well as support With the help of proceeds from the within health care institutions and Wellesley Hospital and on Beacon she gains will allow health professionals interventions that may decrease sexual thrombosis education at the Connell fundraiser, the Connell School will organizations throughout the country. Hospice’s Ethics Committee. Grace to enhance the screening and risk. In particular, Harris’s study will School of Nursing. broaden education about the dangers of She has encouraged the Mass General also is an ethics editor and columnist surveillance procedures for identifying examine the relationships of parent- Double-eagle Boston College thrombosis, working toward improved community to define diversity broadly, for the American Journal of Nursing individuals who have experienced child sexual communication and alumnus Henry Hagopian served as patient care and outcomes and casting the widest possible net to and an executive board member of the intimate partner violence. closeness between African American chairman of the event in honor of increased prevention of this disease. include all who may otherwise feel International Philosophy of Nursing Amar, who received her PhD from parents and their sons, and the impact two doctors and a staff member from marginalized.” Society. the University of Pennsylvania School of parental influence in reducing risk Brigham and Women’s Hospital who Under Washington’s leadership, the of Nursing and her master’s and behaviors. were instrumental in helping him MGH Patient Care Services Diversity amar receives nih funding bachelor’s degrees from the Louisiana “There is a significant body recover from deep vein thrombosis. Dr. Program has played a vital role in to examine reporting of State University School of Nursing, is of literature related to African John Abraham, Dr. Marie D. Gerard- making the hospital a more inclusive dating violence also the force behind Boston College’s American mother-daughter sexual Herman, and administrative assistant and welcoming environment for Assistant professor Angela Amar new forensic nursing program, designed communication,” says Harris, “but Courtney Cassidy were honored for their patients, families, visitors, and staff. has been awarded funding from the to meet the demand for trained nurses research on males is limited. Evidence lifesaving work. The program’s many and far-reaching National Institute of Child Health and in emergency departments and other has shown that parent-adolescent Melanie Bloom, national patient initiatives include the development of a Human Development at the National hospital, clinical, and prison settings to relationships and communication about spokesperson for the Coalition to culturally competent care curriculum, Institutes of Health (NIH) for her project provide care to victims of crime. Her sexuality are essential in reducing risk Prevent Deep Vein Thrombosis, was cultural rounds to educate staff about entitled “Help Seeking in College research is focused on understanding behaviors. As African American male the honorary chairwoman and keynote potentially sensitive cultural issues, Women,” to determine attitudes and traumatic experiences, particularly youth are more likely than Caucasian speaker. Bloom is the widow of NBC community outreach programs, and beliefs associated with reporting dating violence, and mental health responses and Hispanic adolescent males to correspondent David Bloom, who agent of change: educational and scholarship support for violence in college women. College in adolescent and young adult females. initiate sexual activity at a younger age, died in April 2003 from deep vein doctoral candidate minority staff. women are at greater risk of intimate have multiple partners, acquire STIs, thrombosis while he was embedded recognized for Washington has been the director partner violence, rape, and other forms and father children, it is important to with an Army armored division covering outstanding diversity of Diversity for Patient Care Services of sexual assault than women in the study this perspective in order to add the Iraq war. Over the past six years, initiatives at Mass General since 1995. In 2006, general population of the same age. to the body of knowledge on adolescent she has become a tireless advocate Deborah Washington, doctoral candidate she was awarded a fellowship in the Through a survey, Amar will sexual risk behaviors.” for raising awareness of this silent at the Connell School and director of the inaugural class of the Health Research examine the thinking that differentiates A Boston College faculty member epidemic. The event also featured Patient Care Services Diversity Program and Educational Trust (HRET) Cultural individuals and victims who intend to since 2007, Harris is also the director NewsCenter 5’s Gail Huff as emcee and at Massachusetts General Hospital, Competence Leadership Fellowship report dating violence from those who of operations and director of nursing at Red Sox icon Johnny Pesky as special recently received the inaugural Arnold Program. She was selected as a fellow do not. The knowledge gained will Roxbury Comprehensive Community guest. Z. Rosoff Agent of Change Award. Each in the 2007 Robert Wood Johnson aid in the planning of an intervention Health Center. She was awarded the Deep vein thrombosis occurs when a year, The Ad Club of Boston sponsors Executive Nurse Fellows Program, and program to target specific attitudes and Mary Elizabeth Carnegie Grant and the blood clot forms in the deep veins and the prestigious Rosoff Awards for the was named the 2007 National “Nurse beliefs in order to increase reporting Nurses in AIDS Care Grant from the travels to the lungs, and is the leading area business community. Established of the Year” for Advancing and Leading and disclosing of intimate partner American Nurses Association’s (ANA) cause of preventable hospital death in in 1996, the awards promote greater the Profession by Nursing Spectrum violence. harris examines sexual philanthropic arm, the American Nurses the United States, claiming 200,000 diversity in Boston advertising and magazine. Washington also serves on “Violence against women is a risk in urban african Foundation, which supports the ANA adult lives annually. The disease is such business by recognizing outstanding the Connell School’s Diversity Advisory significant public health and societal american adolescent through research and scholarship. a public health burden that in 2008 diversity initiatives and the people Board. issue, associated with immediate and males the surgeon general released a call to behind them. long-term physical and mental health Connell School clinical assistant connell school to action to prevent deep vein thrombosis As stated in her nomination letter, terreri appointed to consequences,” says Amar. “Many professor Allyssa Harris has been further thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), “Deb Washington has embedded credentialing role victims don’t disclose their experience awarded two grants to examine sexual education stating that “without the joint efforts diversity into the cultural DNA of delineation study panel or seek health care or mental health risk among urban African American On October 29, the North American of all stakeholders, including clinicians Massachusetts General Hospital, Clinical instructor Pamela Terreri counseling. But when violence is adolescent males. The funding will Thrombosis Forum (NATF) held its first and families, the problem [DVT and particularly within Patient Care was chosen to participate on a role undetected and treatment is not allow her to further her studies of fundraiser, the proceeds of which will PE deaths] will only worsen as the Services, and has likewise helped to delineation study panel for the provided, the health consequences adolescent sexual behaviors, the factors help build the NATF’s newly established population ages.” advance diversity efforts and initiatives American Nurses Credentialing Center

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(ANCC)’s Clinical Nurse Specialist in on a Navajo reservation in Arizona, College, Flanagan is also a faculty Shindul-Rothschild teaches remarks, “ENA is proud of the His interest in mental illness stemmed Adult Psychiatric and Mental Health and later transferred to the USPHHS associate scientist at Massachusetts psychiatric mental health nursing to outstanding accomplishments of its in part from his relationship with his Nursing exam. The ANCC is the hospital in Brighton, Massachusetts. General Hospital, Yvonne Munn Center, undergraduates and graduate students members. Lisa Wolf represents the uncle, who suffered from schizophrenia. world’s largest and most prestigious After completing her service, she joined and an associate clinical scientist at at the Connell School. A certified excellence and dedication of the nation’s After wandering through the country nurse credentialing organization, and Boston Children’s Hospital, where the Phyllis Cantor Center at the Dana psychiatric nurse clinical specialist who emergency nurses to quality patient for a few years, Halland returned to a subsidiary of the American Nurses she was a nurse practitioner in the Farber Cancer Institute. Her interests has practiced in a variety of mental care.” Minnesota and found a powerful sense Association. Adolescent Clinic for over 20 years. focus on patient and family experiences health care settings, her research Founded in 1970, ENA is the only of purpose as a homeless outreach The study is being performed to Aruda is an assistant professor at the of chronic illness. and writings have focused on the professional nursing association worker for people with mental illness. determine the tasks, knowledge, and Connell School and also currently serves relationships between health care dedicated to defining the future of “The work expressed a synergistic skills currently performed by adult as the chair of the American Nurses shindul-rothschild financing, nurses’ working conditions, emergency nursing and care through relationship between my natural ability psychiatric and mental health nurses Credentialing Center’s Pediatric Nurse chosen for workgroup on and eating disorders. advocacy, expertise, innovation, and to relate with people, my sense of social working within the clinical nurse Practitioner Content Expert. emergency room safety leadership. Wolf’s award was presented justice, and my interest in mental specialist (CNS) role, and findings will Associate professor Judith Shindul- rising star: phd student at the organization’s annual conference illness,” he says. After seven and a half be used to update test content for the Rothschild has been appointed to honored by emergency on October 8 in Baltimore. years as an outreach worker, Halland ANCC’s examinations. the American Psychiatric Nurses nurses association and his wife decided to move to Boston, Terreri’s practice includes initial Association (APNA) workgroup on Connell School PhD student Lisa Wolf where he has pursued nursing school psychiatric evaluations, medication best practices in the emergency is the recipient of the Emergency with the intention of upgrading his management, and ongoing room for psychiatric patients. The Nurses Association (ENA)’s Rising Star clinical skills. “I plan on returning to psychotherapy with individuals, couples, workgroup is part of the Institute for Award. The award recognizes a new serve in communities where access to families, and groups. Her current Safe Environments (ISE), a new APNA ENA member who has made significant mental health services is limited,” states clinical focus is symptom management institute that will develop strategies for contributions to the association as Halland. in young adults struggling with anxiety improved client, family, and practitioner exhibited by involvement at both the Halland envisions his fellowship and mood disorders. safety. state and national levels. project as having multiple components: The APNA Board established the ISE “This award validates and encourages a practical assessment of the aruda receives to provide an enduring and integrated my efforts to understand and promote individual’s housing issue, identifying distinguished nurse flanagan appointed editor structure designed to address issues emergency nursing in a community community agencies that may assist practitioner of the year of international journal impacting the safety of patients as well of enthusiastic, smart, and passionate the person, working with the individual award Assistant professor Jane Flanagan as service providers. The institute will colleagues,” says Wolf. on behavioral issues that may have The Massachusetts Coalition of Nurse has been appointed editor of the develop and disseminate white papers Wolf’s background is wide-ranging: master’s student to start precipitated the housing crisis, and Practitioners has awarded assistant International Journal of Nursing to bring greater clarity to areas of she holds undergraduate degrees homelessness prevention counseling the individual to identify professor Mary Aruda the 2009 Terminologies and Classifications. operational confusion, provide guidance in anthropology and English from service individual strengths that can help solve Distinguished Nurse Practitioner As the official publication of the for addressing challenges associated Amherst College, an MFA in writing Master’s student Shandon Halland has his/her problems. If enough people are of the Year Award, recognizing her North American Nursing Diagnosis with special settings or populations, and literature from Emerson College, been selected as an Albert Schweitzer interested, he hopes to start a housing outstanding contributions to nurse Association International (NANDA-I), as well as share and promote best a nursing diploma from St. Elizabeth’s Fellow, an award through which skills/housing crisis group. practitioner practice and commitment to the journal is a professional resource practices. Hospital School of Nursing, and students in health professions carry “With the demands of school,” providing quality health care to all. for information on worldwide efforts APNA institutes provide direct input an MS from Malloy College. She out service projects in underserved Halland says, “I’ve felt detached from Aruda received her bachelor’s in to develop standardized nursing to the APNA board of directors on an teaches undergraduate students at communities. Halland will start a the community service aspect of my nursing from Cornell University, New languages and their applications for assigned psychiatric-mental health the University of Massachusetts homelessness prevention service at the being. So I’m very excited to have York Hospital School of Nursing, nurses, educators, and administrators. nursing issue that spans virtually all Amherst, works as a clinical educator Cambridge Health Alliance’s outpatient the opportunity to be a part of this her master’s from Boston University Published internationally, it aspects of the profession. An institute is in the emergency room at Cooley mental health clinic, working with those Schweitzer Fellowship community, in pediatric primary care, and her communicates efforts to develop, test, similar to a task force in that it utilizes Dickinson Hospital in Northampton, with mental illness who are at risk of where many generous souls are PhD in nursing from the University and implement standardized nursing membership expertise to develop Massachusetts, and also speaks and losing their housing. The clinic will also congregating to see what can be done of Massachusetts Lowell. She began labels in many different languages and programs and services, but generally writes nationally about topics pertinent serve as Halland’s clinical placement. to alleviate some suffering and social her career as a Navy nurse with the cultures across the globe. takes several years to complete its to ED nursing and education. A native of Minnesota, Halland holds problems. I look forward to working United States Public Health Service In addition to her role at Boston mission rather than only one. ENA president William T. Briggs an undergraduate degree in philosophy. together and sharing insights.”

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The mission of the Albert Schweitzer Bridges program is funded by a Boston which was carried out in several schools Fellowship is to develop “leaders in College TAME grant, awarded for the in the Kibale National Park region service,” individuals who are dedicated improvement of teaching, advising, or of Uganda. The main focus of the and skilled in addressing the health mentoring of Boston College students. program was the importance of hand needs of underserved communities washing and basic first aid in order to and whose example influences and undergraduate grants prevent the spread of disease. Clinical inspires others. To date, more than awarded for ambition and instructor Colleen Simonelli served as 2,000 fellows have contributed over originality of study Wheelwright’s advisor. 312,000 hours of service at hundreds of Erin Kesler ’11 and Katherine “Katya” Read more about Katya’s experience in domestic community agencies. Wheelwright ’12 have been awarded the feature article on page 14. 2009 Boston College Advanced building community Study Grants. The grants are given to phd candidate awarded bridges: student-led recognize and support first- and second- scholarship for breast health awareness year students whose studies reflect psychiatric mental health event particular ambition and originality. nursing On October 28, women’s health Advanced Study Grants fund a summer PhD candidate Carol Marchetti was nurse practitioner (NP) students from “skill acquisition” project, which will chosen as a 2009 American Psychiatric the Connell School of Nursing led accelerate the students’ progress in Nurses Association (APNA) Janssen a breast health awareness event at their field of study, help them acquire Scholar. This highly competitive Roxbury Comprehensive Community the skills needed for more sophisticated national scholarship is given to 15 Health Center (RoxComp). The event research during their junior and senior undergraduate and 15 graduate nursing was part of the Building Community years, and prepare them as potential students interested in psychiatric Bridges program developed by clinical candidates for national fellowships. mental health nursing. The Janssen assistant professors Holly Fontenot Erin Kesler’s project was to create Scholarship Program seeks to encourage and Allyssa Harris, designed to a self-sustaining educational program involvement in patient and nurse build upon relationships with local for at-risk teen mothers in the Central advocacy, expand concepts related to community health centers. The Florida area. She also hopes to establish professional nursing organizations, and students gave an educational lecture, a charity foundation to generate help students better understand the role passed out information, conducted ongoing funds for necessary resources of the psychiatric mental health nurse. health screenings for diabetes and to allow the program to evolve and The scholarship covered the cost connell school events Clockwise from bottom left: hypertension, and talked to community continue supporting young mothers. of Marchetti’s attendance at the 23rd The Connell School hosted a reception last December for members about breast health and breast With this monetary support, she created annual APNA Conference, held October Norma Martínez Rogers, president of the National Association cancer screening. “gift bags” containing supplies such 7–10 in Charleston, South Carolina. of Hispanic Nurses. From left are Ursula Tice, Megan Green, Cecilia Matos, Martínez Rogers, Eva Gomez, and Inez Stewart. The program will enhance learning as educational books and DVDs, baby Marchetti also presented a poster based Swiss visiting scholar Dr. Sabina De Geest and Dean Gennaro as women’s health NP students develop thermometers, nail clippers, diapers, on her dissertation research study titled visit with Pascal Marmier, director and consul of Switzerland at and direct health and educational and baby wipes. She believes that an “The Role of Post-Decisional Regret and Swissnex Boston. programs in the community, as well educational outlet will decrease the Police Reporting Among Individuals AAN Living Legends Sr. Callista Roy, professor and nurse theorist, and Marjory Gordon, who was given the Living Legend as build a relationship with RoxComp likelihood of abuse in at-risk families. Who Have Experienced Sexual Assault.” award last fall, at a reception in Gordon’s honor. while providing health screening Kesler’s advisor was assistant professor Marchetti, whose background is Women’s health nurse practitioner students Katerina Mooers services to an underserved population. Angela Amar. in pediatric and psychiatric nursing, (in pink) and Erin Keefe (in white) talk to a patient about breast health at Roxbury Comprehensive Community Health Center. The students will lead another program With her grant, Katya Wheelwright is employed by the Massachusetts Boston College alumnus and event chairman Henry Hagopian in the spring, focused on women and spent a month in Uganda working in Office for Victim Assistance as the with Dean Gennaro at the North American Thrombosis Forum’s first fundraiser. A portion of the proceeds will help support HIV. Fontenot and Harris plan to a medical clinic. She implemented a southeast regional coordinator for the thrombosis education at the Connell School. expand the program to include other disease prevention program through Massachusetts Sexual Assault Nurse Professor Ann Wolbert Burgess celebrates the announcement of health topics. The Building Community basic health and hygiene education, (SANE) Program. a forensic nursing award that bears her name, of which she is also the first recipient.

12 Boston College Nursing Voice winter 2010 13 under african skies alumnae and students four chronicle their experiences stories advancing health care in africa As the world becomes more and more interconnected, nurses from Boston College are motivated to understand international health care needs and develop the cultural competency required to lead in an increasingly global society. While many students choose to develop these skills through formal programs at Boston College, others take a more individual path.

These students may be “on their own” in a global setting, but they bring with them a wealth of support from Boston College in the form of relationships, clinical skills, and financial assistance. We present here four personal accounts of Connell School students who have traveled to Africa, both to address health disparities and to increase their own knowledge about global health.

14 Boston College Nursing Voice winter 2010 15 meaghan bradley care organizations were appealing of respect for the world as a whole and ’09 in tanzania because of my love for children and acknowledge that my actions can have After 24 hours of traveling, I take my interest in international health. After global impact. In the future, I plan to first step into the cool night of Tanzania. many conversations, I was eventually employ my nursing knowledge in the I walk through the airport and out into a connected with Mama Lynn Elliot, a global arena. By incorporating practices large crowd of people. Glancing quickly social worker originally from the United I am learning in American hospitals around at the names on the cards, I see Kingdom who founded LIA at the site of with cultural knowledge I have from mine held by a thin Tanzanian man a derelict orphanage in the foothills of volunteering abroad, I hope to improve surrounded by adorable children. I walk Kilimanjaro. LIA now operates multiple the health of mothers and children toward them, embarking on what will children’s homes, food outreaches, and worldwide. be the greatest adventure of my life. medical dispensaries. On the ride to my new home for the One thing I loved about Tanzania Left: A Maasai boy poses in front of his home in one of the villages that next seven weeks, I can’t stop staring was the opportunity to make an impact “by the end of my Meaghan Bradley ’09 visited during out the window, straining to catch my each and every day. Every day at LIA was her time in Tanzania. first glimpses of Africa through the an adventure. Whether it was feeding time in tanzania, i Below: Katya Wheelwright worked in penetrating darkness. We eventually pull and holding a baby, giving an HIV feel like i am never Ugandan schools to educate children off the road and around the back of a seminar to a local village, or working on about disease prevention and the going to clean the importance of handwashing. large white building. The children rush a construction project, there was always red dirt off my feet, to take my bags inside as I cautiously important work to be done. At one of step out of the car. My first night, I hear LIA’s sites, Tudor Village, I witnessed and i know africa every sound as though it were through a children’s lives changing. Tudor Village has become a part loudspeaker. Every creak of the bed and offers children from extremely difficult of me forever.” drip from the faucet catch my attention backgrounds a more comfortable and as I crane my neck to make sure the stable living situation. Some were sound is harmless. I am terrified that malnourished, others disowned by first night, wondering to myself what their families, and still others orphaned kind of crazy mistake I have made. by AIDS. Yet every time I saw these The daylight and an orientation to my children, their smiling faces shone up at surroundings brings a welcome change me. They were the happiest, brightest, in mindset. I spend the next seven and most loving children I had ever met. weeks falling in love with Tanzania. The It was not uncommon for toddlers to natural beauty, the kindness and caring comfort one another, help another child that surround me, and even the once- to finish a meal, or give up toys for one strange smells all begin to feel like home another. The older children all helped and capture my heart. By the end of my take care of the younger ones. Each child time there, I feel like I am never going to seemed to truly appreciate the loving clean the red dirt off my feet, and I know atmosphere of LIA. Tudor Village was Africa has become a part of me forever. just one of the LIA sites where I and Working at Light in Africa (LIA) other volunteers were able to make a started as somewhat of a dream difference. during my sophomore year in My experiences in Tanzania have college. I was intrigued by the Maasai changed my perspective on the world culture of Tanzania and focused and altered how I interact with my my efforts on finding a volunteer environment. I see the world as a project there. Orphanages and health connected place. I realize the importance

16 Boston College Nursing Voice winter 2010 17 From left: Schoolchildren in Uganda; Maasai patients at a medical dispensary in the remote Tanzanian village of Tindegani. From left: Ashley Younger works with patients in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; A volunteer plays with children in the Light in Africa program, which operates children’s homes, food outreaches, and medical dispensaries in Tanzania.

katya wheelwright and carrying out a health and hygiene side with his family. In order to use a schools, but ultimately was only able to information made me feel as though my education project at local schools did flushing toilet, I had to walk up a hill, work in one. I wasn’t able to get into the entire project had been worth it. in uganda just that. especially difficult at night because of schools until my third week there, and Last summer, I stepped outside my “the teacher spoke Last year, Colleen Simonelli, a nursing Leading up to the trip, I collected basic the need to avoid baboons. because each school has more than 1000 comfort zone, and in doing so, learned one word, and in professor at Boston College and a medical supplies and hand washing A major component of my project was students, I realized that educating one things about myself that I never knew. unison the entire longtime family friend, suggested I products. Donations started flooding educating schoolchildren about germs school was a more realistic goal. I am still the same person, but I am class brought apply for the Advanced Study Grant in after an article was published on the and the importance of hand washing. Initially, I walked away from the more aware than ever before. I now offered to freshman and sophomore front page of the Metrowest Daily News I taught them proper methods of hand health education project uncertain realize that while my aid and the aid their arms up to Boston College students. Not realizing (Framingham, Massachusetts). One washing and also touched upon first about whether or not I had really gotten of other “outsiders” is helpful and their mouths and that it might actually happen, I made a man, whose wife was born in Uganda, aid. Lucy, one of the nurses who works through to the children. On one of needed, it is also important to help in coughed into the joke about returning to Uganda, where donated 500 bars of hotel-sized soap. at the clinic, helped immensely by my last days in Uganda, I returned a way that allows the people of Uganda crooks of their I had been a volunteer the previous Others sent monetary donations, which accompanying me to teach the younger to the school and visited a classroom. to be self-sufficient. For example, the elbows. it almost summer. Seven months later, I was on a I used to transport the supplies over to children who don’t speak English yet. Upon entering, the teacher spoke one soap I brought this past summer is not plane heading to Uganda for the second Uganda. My hope is that Lucy will continue to word, and in unison the entire class sustainable, so I hope to set up an after- brought me to summer in a row. In Uganda, I stayed in a divided teach the disease prevention program as brought their arms up to their mouths school soap-making club in the future. tears.” When I applied for the Advanced duplex at a field station in the Kibale she does outreach in schools. and coughed into the crooks of their Projects like making soap provide Study Grant, I wanted to create a project National Forest, while volunteering and Life in the United States—and elbows. It almost brought me to tears. schools and homes with a valuable that incorporated my love of traveling, observing at the nearby health clinic. especially on the East Coast—moves so Before my arrival, the children had been necessity, and serve as a way of earning volunteering, and nursing all into one. Each side of the duplex had a large living quickly. In Uganda, everything is done at coughing into their hands, which is an money for students and their families. Working in a local medical clinic in the area with two bedrooms. One of the a much slower pace. When planning my easy way to spread germs. Realizing Kibale National Park region of Uganda nurses from the clinic lived on the other project, I had expected to work in five that the children had really taken in the

18 Boston College Nursing Voice winter 2010 19 ashley younger experience to practice my new skills and nursing is unparalleled. I felt really clara gona AIDS clinical trials are conducted, day before I had sat in the waiting ms ’09 in ethiopia regain a vision for why I chose nursing. privileged to work alongside them. in zimbabwe passed along horror stories told by study room as if I were a client. I interviewed Before entering the master’s entry A program at my church that sends a While the basics in primary care I emigrated from Zimbabwe to the participants. I became convinced that the women individually in Shona, my program at Boston College, I spent two medical team to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia existed, the most difficult challenge United States in 1990, but have kept up these participants’ voices needed to be native language. They told harrowing years working in Guatemala and Nepal. each year gave me the opportunity to I faced was not being able to refer with news from home over the years. heard. There were several advantages of experiences of being diagnosed with In Guatemala, I assisted midwives make this happen. It was amazing how patients that needed specialist care. After I was horrified by news reports about using this site for my study, including HIV, about their day-to-day struggles, and translated for medical teams. plans came together and seemingly consulting with a physician about one the HIV/AIDS pandemic ravaging the support from and rapport with the and how anti-retroviral medications have Living in Nepal offered the opportunity impossible challenges were overcome woman, we concluded that she had some country, and would receive occasional director and staff. Still, getting all of the given them their lives back. Despite what to learn wound care in a leprosy once I took the first steps. Our team of sort of cerebral tumor that was slowly news about friends and relatives who approvals I needed was one arduous they have been through, the women had hospital alongside Nepali nurses. Both physicians and nurses was scheduled affecting her nervous system. With no had perished from the disease. Yet I process! It took me twelve months to such grace and dignity. I was humbled experiences were extremely influential for two weeks when I would miss school neurosurgeons in the country, we had to wasn’t moved to action until 2002, get approval from Boston College’s by the women’s courage. on my decision to enter nursing. I and clinical time. My women’s health tell her there was nothing we could do. when I read a news report in the Institutional Review Board (IRB), the It was heart-wrenching to listen to knew I needed more skills before professor, Holly Fontenot, helped create She immediately began to cry. I hugged Zimbabwean daily newspaper regarding Medical Research Council of Zimbabwe, the experiences of these women for returning overseas, and the role of nurse space in my schedule to make this her for a long time, and sat with her as the government rollout of a drug the Parirenyatwa Research Board IRB, days on end. The senior nursing officer practitioner was ideal for my focus opportunity work. Without her help, I she cried. I felt helpless that for lack of used to prevent mother-to-child HIV and the University of Zimbabwe Clinical at the clinic provided me a chance to on preventative care in a low-resource could not have served in Ethiopia and medical care, even in the capital city, we transmission. The report went into great Research Center Research Board. debrief after each interview, and my setting. would not have had the confidence could not help her. detail about the benefits of the drug to Finally, in June 2008, I went to husband back in Boston was on speed After a year at Boston College, I to step outside my comfort zone to One morning, three of us went to the unborn child, without any mention Zimbabwe to conduct fieldwork. At that dial. With the support and guidance of was longing for some international implement my new skills. visit HIV-positive patients in their of the mother’s need for treatment. I time, the country was going through a my committee members, professors We arrived late at night in Addis homes. Most homes were made of tin was outraged at the tone adopted by the major financial and political crisis with Rosanna DeMarco, Pam Grace, and Ababa and attempted to sleep through and cardboard, large enough only for a reporter, who looked past the pregnant a severe shortage of basic food supplies Danny Willis, I completed the interviews “i soon discovered the time change, waking at four in the bed and a few items. At times we had to woman, portraying her as a disposable and fuel. The political environment in four weeks. After transcribing and morning with the Islamic call to prayer whisper so neighbors would not know and contaminated vessel. I wondered was polarized and extremely tense, and translating these interviews into English, that the nurses chanting in the streets. We left for the of the patients’ HIV status. If they can what it must feel like for women in such people feared for their lives. Nobody had I am now analyzing the data. I hope to in ethiopia are health center early to meet the staff and even afford a room, most families live a situation. a good sense of where the country was complete my dissertation this year, and extremely skilled quickly got to work. The setting was together, sharing the same bed, cooking, I enrolled as a PhD student at headed. I was embraced by the nurses continue my research to help with the and caring. their very basic but because of the model of and bathing in the same room. There are Boston College to study the quality at the research center, who were excited care of women living with HIV. jobs are never- bringing in medical teams each month, often animals gathered inside and lack of life of HIV-positive Zimbabwean to see a fellow Zimbabwean nurse ending and the clinic pharmacy remained stocked of electricity makes the atmosphere very women, to build nursing knowledge leading a research study. These amazing with supplies. Triage was conducted dark. In one home, a new mom wanted that can be used in the care of HIV- nurses took care of both my physical and “i was embraced extend far beyond outside and the four providers, including me to assess her baby and help her positive women, and influence HIV/ emotional needs while watching out for by the nurses at the the shifts of u.s. myself, sat at desks in a larger room. with breastfeeding. To do this, I pretty AIDS policy in Zimbabwe and my safety outside of the center. hospitals, yet There was one private exam room if much had to get in the bed with her in throughout southern Africa. Several On my first day at the site, I sat in research center, we needed to do a physical assessment. order to see with the little light coming courses helped to refine my thinking, the waiting room, just like an ordinary who were excited the energy they With my pile of books to my right and through the door. We had such a good including a class discussion on client, and observed the women as they bring to nursing is to see a fellow my translator on my left, I saw patients time laughing with me there next to her Margaret Newman’s theory of health interacted with the staff and each other. zimbabwean nurse unparalleled.” and consulted with the local physician in the bed. Going into these homes gave as expanding consciousness. I realized As I sat there, I was struck by the gravity to write prescriptions. Luckily my me valuable insight into the challenges that to understand my phenomenon of of the HIV pandemic. Women, men, and leading a study. translator was also a nurse and he was these HIV-positive patients face. interest—about which little is known— children were sitting elbow-to-elbow. I they took care of a great help. I soon discovered that the My experience in Ethiopia has I would need to conduct a qualitative had never seen so many HIV-positive both my physical nurses in Ethiopia are extremely skilled renewed my desire to work in global study. people in one place. The following day, and emotional and incredibly caring to their patients. health in extremely resource-poor During a visit to Zimbabwe, I had when I started interviewing, a participant Their jobs are never-ending and extend settings. I am currently pursuing a the opportunity to visit the University recognized me from the previous day. needs while far beyond the 12-hour shifts of U.S. degree in public health at Harvard as the of Zimbabwe Clinical Research Center. She was very surprised that I was the watching out for hospitals, yet the energy they bring to next step in this process. Nurses at the center, where many HIV/ one conducting this study, since the my safety.”

20 Boston College Nursing Voice winter 2010 21 Creating a culture of collaboration The Harvard Catalyst offers a multidisciplinary approach to improving human health by Alex Cohen Photographs by Lee Pellegrini

In a chemical reaction, the catalyst is the element that speeds the process, creating an end result far more quickly than would have been possible without it. The Harvard Catalyst, a new interdisciplinary initiative that supports translational science research in health care, aims to do just that. The Catalyst has a straightforward mission—speeding the reduction of human illness—but brings together an impressive variety of partners to achieve it, including Boston College’s Connell School of Nursing.

22 Boston College Nursing Voice winter 2010 23 “The NIH has acknowledged that These efforts could not come at a more critical moment. this team cannot just be physicians As basic science becomes more and more specialized, and and basic scientists. There is no negotiating access for clinical research increasingly complex, question that nursing is a key the time and effort it takes to translate basic science into patient care—a process called translational research—is partner, and Boston College has increasing. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) cautions, one of the top nursing research “These challenges are limiting professional interest in the programs in the country.” field and hampering the clinical research enterprise at a time — Harvard Catalyst co-director Steve Freedman when it should be expanding.” To counteract these dynamics, the NIH has funded translational and clinical research centers across the United States, including nearly $120 million to inquiries, and I would encourage people to engage us if we may fund the Harvard Catalyst. With these resources, the Catalyst be helpful.” brings together Harvard University, Boston College, The The Catalyst’s support for collaboration not only makes it Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Cambridge Health easier for seasoned researchers and junior investigators to link Alliance, and the Harvard teaching hospitals including Beth up, but also facilitates the process for those new to Boston, Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Brigham and Women’s as is the case for assistant professor Lichuan Ye. She and her Hospital, Children’s Hospital Boston, Dana-Farber Cancer research partners used the Catalyst network to bring together Institute, and Massachusetts General Hospital. Together, the a collaborative team for their work on sleep apnea. But as Ye Catalyst partners are beginning to break down barriers between explains, the Catalyst does much more than just put together academic and clinical institutions. teams: it helps to create a welcoming and team-oriented Each aspect of the Catalyst works to speed and foster environment where it is culturally accepted that collaboration collaboration. Educational programs provide research skills enhances research. On an individual level, this allows new training and offer a setting for researchers to meet across researchers to find their place quickly and seamlessly. “It’s very disciplines and institutions. An extensive website makes it easy difficult in the beginning to jump into a research team and for people to connect by providing information about individual say, ‘Hey guys, I want to work with you!’” laughs Ye. “But with researchers as well as often-overlooked logistical necessities. a structure to facilitate this kind of collaboration, it becomes Once teams come together, seed funding is available to jump- easier to fit in.” start these interdisciplinary collaborations. This past November, the Catalyst sponsored a week-long In order to facilitate a more personal approach to building training course titled “Introduction to Clinical Investigation” teams, the Catalyst also staffs research navigators, full-time in which Ye and Connell School faculty members Susan experts in leveraging the program’s resources. The research Kelly-Weeder and Allyssa Harris participated along with navigators act as intermediaries between junior and senior over 100 people from a variety of clinical and basic science investigators, directing them through the vast network of backgrounds. Ye believes that opportunities like these are collaborators brought together under the Catalyst umbrella. incredibly important for her own work and the work of her Zeke Bernstein-Hanley is one of these navigators. “We serve colleagues. Throughout the week, Ye made a number of as networking gurus, providing information and helping to contacts with whom possible future collaborations may take identify resources and collaborators,” he explains. “I think it’s place. And, she says, ambitious researchers value the expertise important for researchers to see us as a resource. We welcome of Boston College nurses. “Whenever I tell them I’m doing clinical research and from the Boston College school of Left: Connell School PhD candidate Patricia Underwood conducts nursing, I strongly feel they are interested in us because we research at Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital, examining bring a different lens for them to see the patients. For some genetic markers for insulin resistance in patients with hypertension. Her work served as an opportunity to pilot the Catalyst approach to studies, the researchers can’t work with actual people, so they collaboration. see us as an opportunity to fill a gap in translational research.”

Previous page (l-r): PhD candidate Ann Cousins and undergraduate The chance to make these kinds of connections is just one of research fellow Ariana Chao assist associate dean for research Barbara the advantages of Boston College’s role as a Catalyst partner. Wolfe with her work examining the psychobiology of eating disorders.

24 Boston College Nursing Voice winter 2010 25 “If Boston College were not part of the Harvard Catalyst, we wouldn’t have access to courses like this. But Boston College is part of the big team,” says Ye. As Connell School associate dean for research Barbara Wolfe explains, this is not the first collaboration between Harvard Medical School and the Connell School faculty. Previous partnerships helped inform and mold the way in which the Catalyst relationship evolved. Wolfe says, “Catalyst co-director Steve Freedman and I had already worked together at Beth Israel, where my research studies are done. Because of this experience, he was aware of what kinds of work nurses do, not just in the role of bedside nursing, but as scientists. I was one of the people who worked with him on the application to the NIH to fund the Catalyst, and we did some pilot activities to demonstrate what we could accomplish together.” As the front line of health care, nursing has a unique perspective to add to health science research. Freedman emphasizes the value of including nursing and other health disciplines in health research: “In order to truly have an impact on illness, the research team needs to be multidisciplinary. The NIH has acknowledged that this team cannot just be physicians and basic scientists, but must include nurses, ethicists, pharmacologists, etc. There is no question that nursing is a key partner, and Boston College has one of the top nursing research programs in the country.” The Connell School filled a void when it signed on to the Catalyst. Wolfe explains, “Harvard Medical School does not have a school of nursing—for that reason, Boston College brings added value. Our discipline provides a different perspective; nurse scientists bring grounding in clinical nursing, research skills, and scientific knowledge.” Wolfe notes that the NIH traditionally looks for teams that have track records in scientific rigor. “Boston College has a great reputation, with faculty who are funded clinical researchers, and a long history of mentoring our students—particularly at the doctoral or post-doctoral level—who are involved in clinical, patient-oriented research.” Ye also emphasizes the importance of including the nursing viewpoint in translational research. “I think as a profession, we are very proud to be closest to the patient. We see things, and even think about research questions, from the patients’ perspective.”

Assistant professor Katherine Gregory works with a one-day-old baby boy, born at 33 weeks gestation, as part of her studies on necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Gregory is the first Connell School faculty member to be awarded a Harvard Catalyst pilot grant.

26 Boston College Nursing Voice winter 2010 27 clinical research certificate continuing education program “I think as a profession, we are very to undergraduate and graduate student research assistants. proud to be closest to the patient. School of Arts and Sciences undergraduate biology and pre- We see things, and even think med student Guru Shan and Connell School graduate student about research questions, from Christine DeForge are both part of Gregory’s research team. the patients’ perspective.” Shan sees this as an unbelievable opportunity. “Being an — Assistant professor of nursing Lichuan Ye undergraduate and being at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and at Dr. Walker’s lab is unheard of. The fact that Dr. Gregory opened the door for me to get to those kinds of places is Boston College faculty members are actively involved in incredible.” DeForge sees this opportunity as preparing research projects supported by the Harvard Catalyst, even them for the intricacies of a constantly evolving health care though the program is only a year old. Assistant professor of profession. “The Catalyst is really encouraging people to pull nursing Katherine Gregory received Catalyst pilot funding from all different fields. Health care is so collaborative these for her work on necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in preterm days and working on this research team with people from all infants. Her team includes Dr. Linda van Marter at Brigham different areas and backgrounds is very beneficial to my own and Women’s Hospital and Dr. Allan Walker of Harvard training.” By creating a multidisciplinary team that includes Medical School. “From my perspective, working together with members in the early stages of careers in health care, Shan, Dr. Gregory brings a practical component to the study and is a who hopes to pursue medicine, and DeForge, a clinical nurse wonderful collaboration,” says Walker. “The Catalyst has used scientist, are able to work on the same project from different its resources wisely.” Gregory suggests that the funding has angles, demonstrating that the Harvard Catalyst has already accelerated their research, and has also strengthened their team begun to socialize the next generation of researchers into a in a way that, without the Catalyst, may have taken a far greater culture where interdisciplinary work is highly valued. amount of time. As van Marter notes, the partnership also While the strength of the Catalyst is in its multi-institutional shows great promise for the future. “Through clinical training partnerships, it remains strongly tied to the mission of Boston and practice, nurses acquire a great deal of knowledge of the College. Barbara Wolfe explains, “I think the Catalyst is focused individual variation among patients with a single disease and on translational science to, in essence, help other people. It’s an in-depth appreciation for the important clinical questions not just helping people locally, it can also have a community in a given field. Dr. Gregory is a natural leader in translational and global focus. It’s certainly well within the mission of research, and will not only make significant research Boston College both in terms of the motto ‘Ever to Excel’ and contributions but will serve as a role model, mentor, and guide with respect to the Jesuit tradition of service to others.” Susan to the next generation of translational nurse scientists.” Gennaro, dean of the Connell School of Nursing, believes that The Catalyst contributed to getting Gregory’s work off to a the partnership strongly relates to her vision for the school, running start, especially in gathering data from infants in the grounded in preparing nurses to improve human health. “As neonatal intensive care unit at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. a school, we are developing leaders for the 21st century who Gregory is studying the microbiome aspects of prenatal stool will make a difference in advancing knowledge and translating samples, and as she notes, it is a costly venture. “We collect that knowledge into practice,” Gennaro says. “Part of making samples seven days a week, so the time, labor, and resource- that happen is getting the right people together to think about intensive nature of this work means that we need serious things in ways that they wouldn’t have if they were working Our Clinical Research Certificate Program includes a rigorous curriculum The U.S. Department of Labor reports that the demand for qualified CRAs funding. The Catalyst has been able to do that.” With the alone.” to prepare you for today’s competitive marketplace. The Clinical and CRCs is expected to double over the next ten years. Professionals funding they received, Gregory’s research team has been able to The Harvard Catalyst collaboration—and Boston College’s Research field—including careers as a Clinical Research Associate (CRA) trained for these demanding careers are currently in short supply. Nurses quickly analyze extensive data, effectively and efficiently getting unique contributions—will help to improve human health and or a Clinical Research Coordinator (CRC)—is a new, stimulating, and have traditionally prepared for these roles through on-the-job training through the first step in translational science: taking samples health care more broadly. “I think we’re going to continue to innovative career choice for nurses. As a result of the recent movement with physicians and scientists conducting pharmaceutical research. The from the bedside and analyzing them in the lab. She hopes that be advantaged by working with partners whose values we really to speed drug and medical device development, the need for scientifically Boston College School of Nursing, Continuing Education Office now has within six months, the results of this work will point to the next share,” says Gennaro. “It’s all about health. We are ensuring trained professionals to coordinate research studies has increased. a program for these positions. step in identifying warning signs of NEC. that knowledge is being developed and then moved into health Gregory’s Catalyst-supported work has also opened doors care systems. The future of this program is extremely bright.” want to learn more? attend a free information session/clinical research open house. for details, please call 617-552-4256 or visit us at www.bc.edu/ce

28 Boston College Nursing Voice winter 2010 29 faculty publications allen, nancy demarco, rosanna Gennaro, S. (2009). Searching for vessey, judith wolfe, barbara knowledge. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, Allen, N.A., Fain, J.A., Braun, B., & DeMarco, R.F. (in press). Palliative care 41, 1-2. Vessey, J., DeMarco, R.F., Gaffney, D., & Wolfe, B.E., Smith, A.T., & Cullinan, D.L. Chipkin, S.R. (2009). Continuous glucose and African American women living with Budin, W. (2009). Bullying of nurses in (2009). Eating disorders. In Allen, P.J. & new books by monitoring in non-insulin-using individuals HIV: Graduate students learn to create the workplace: A preliminary study for Vessey, J.A. (Eds.), Primary Care of the Child with type 2 diabetes: acceptability, tailored quality improvement projects. Gennaro, S. (2009). Worth more or worth developing personal and organizational with a Chronic Condition (5th ed.). St. Louis, connell school feasibility, and teaching opportunities. Journal of Nursing Education. less? Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 41, 113. strategies for the transformation of hostile MO: Mosby. faculty Diabetes Technology and Therapeutics, 11, to healthy workplace environments. Journal 151-158. of Professional Nursing, 25(5), 299-306. DeMarco, R.F., Kendricks, M., Dolmo, Y., Gennaro S. (2009) Wanted: Less time and Wolfe, B.E., Baker, C.W., Smith, A.T., & Looby, S., & Rinne, K. (2009). The effect more space! Journal of Nursing Scholarship, Kelly-Weeder, S. (2009). Validity and utility Allen, N.A., Fain, J.A., Braun, B., & Chipkin, of prevention messages and self-efficacy 41, 302. Vessey, J.A. (2009). Expanding the of the current definition of binge eating. S.R. (2009). Feasibility and acceptability skill building with inner city women at risk paradigm. Nursing Research, 58, 303. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 42, of continuous glucose monitoring and for HIV infection. Journal of Association of 674-686. accelerometer technology in exercising Nurses in AIDS Care, 20(4), 283-292. kelly-weeder, susan Allen, P.J., Vessey, J.A., & Schapiro, N.A. individuals with type 2 diabetes. Journal of (Eds.). (2010). Primary Care of the Child Jimerson, D.C., Wolfe, B.E., Carroll, D.P., Clinical Nursing, 18, 373-383. Kelly-Weeder, S. & Wolfe, B.E. (in press). Roberts, S., DeMarco, R.F., & Griffin, M. Identifying high-risk alcohol use and with a Chronic Condition (5th ed.). St. Louis, & Keel, P.K. (2009). Psychobiology of (2009). The effect of oppressed group disordered eating in college-age women. MO: Mosby-Yearbook. purging disorder: Reduction in circulating Allen, N.A. (2009). Commentary: behavior on the culture of the nursing American Journal for Nurse Practitioners. leptin levels in comparison to controls. Continuous glucose monitoring and workplace: A review of evidence and International Journal of Eating Disorders. Selekman, J. & Vessey, J.A. (2010). intensive treatment of type 1 diabetes. interventions for change. Journal of Nursing DOI: 10.1002/eat.20738. The school and children with chronic Evidence-Based Nursing, 12, 44. Management, 17(3), 288-293. Wolfe, B.E., Baker, C.W., Smith, A.T., & Kelly-Weeder, S. (2009). Validity and utility conditions (pp. 42-59). In Allen, P.J., of the current definition of binge eating. Vessey, J.A., & Schapiro, N.A. (Eds.), Kelly-Weeder, S. & Wolfe, B.E. (in press). Wagner, J., Allen, N.A., Swalley, L.M., DeMarco, R.F., Pulcini, J., & Haggerty, L. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 42, Primary Care of the Child with a Chronic Identifying high-risk alcohol use and Melkus, G.D., Whittemore, R. (2009). (2009). The doctorate in nursing practice: 674-686. Condition (5th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier. disordered eating in college-age women. Depression, depression treatment, and A survey of Massachusetts nurses. Journal American Journal for Nurse Practitioners. insulin sensitivity in adults at risk for type of Professional Nursing, 25(20), 75-80. Vessey, J.A. & Brown, S. (2010. Financing 2 diabetes. Diabetes Research and Clinical care for children with chronic conditions Practice, 86, 96-103. pulcini, joyce Vessey, J., DeMarco, R.F., Gaffney, D., & (pp. 113-130). In Allen, P.J., Vessey, J.A., & ye, lichuan Judith Vessey: Primary Care of the Child Budin, W. (2009). Bullying of nurses in Boynton, R., Dunn, B., Pulcini, J., St. Schapiro, N.A. (Eds.), Primary Care of the with a Chronic Condition, 5th ed. the workplace: A preliminary study for Pierre, S., Stephens, G. (2010). Manual Child with a Chronic Condition (5th ed.). St. Ye, L., Pien, G.W., Ratcliffe, S.J., & amar, angela developing personal and organizational of Ambulatory Pediatrics (6th ed). Louis, MO: Elsevier. Weaver, T.E. (2009). Gender differences strategies for the transformation of hostile Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott. in obstructive sleep apnea and treatment Amar, A.F. & Alexy, E.M. (2010). Coping to healthy workplace environments. Journal response to continuous positive airway Vessey, J.A. & Sullivan, B. (2010). Chronic with stalking. Issues in Mental Health of Professional Nursing, 25(5), 299-306. pressure. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, Nursing, 31(1), 8-14. Pulcini, J., Jelic, M., Gul, R., Loke, A.Y. conditions and child development (pp. 5(6), 512-518. (in press). An international survey on 22-41). In Allen, P.J., Vessey, J.A., & advanced practice nursing education, Schapiro, N.A. (Eds.), Primary Care of the gennaro, susan practice and regulation. Journal of Nursing Child with a Chronic Condition (5th ed.). St. Ye, L., Pien, G.W. & Weaver, T.E. (2009). aruda, mary Scholarship. Louis, MO: Elsevier. Gender differences in the clinical Deatrick, J., Lipman, T., Gennaro, S., manifestation of obstructive sleep apnea. Aruda, M.A. (in press) Early pregnancy Sommers, M., deLeon Siantz, M., Mooney, Sleep Medicine, 10(10), 1075-1084. in adolescents: Diagnosis, assessment, K., Hollis, G., & Jemmott, L. (2009). DeMarco, R., Pulcini, J., Haggerty, L. options counseling and referral. Journal Fostering health inequities: Clinical and Tang, T. (2009). The doctorate in nursing willis, danny of Pediatric Health Care. DOI: 10.1016/j. research training strategies from nursing practice: A survey of Massachusetts nurses. Stamp, K.D. & Willis, D.G. (in press). pedhc.2008.11.003. education. The Kaohsiung Journal of Medical Journal of Professional Nursing, 25(2), 75-80. Nurse interruptions pre- and post- Sciences, 25, 479-486. implementation of a point-of-care Pulcini, J. & Tyer-Viola, L. (in press). Health medication administration system. Journal burgess, ann Biesecker, B., Gennaro, S., Douglas, and the global environment. In Harkness, of Nursing Care Quality. G. & DeMarco, R., Community and Public Burgess, A.W., Welner, M., & Willis, D.G. S.D. (2009). Immunologic disorders. In Gleicher, N., Principles and Practice of Health Nursing: Evidence for Practice. (in press). Educator sexual abuse: Two case Willis, D.G. & Griffith, C. (in press). Medical Therapy in Pregnancy. Norwalk, CT. reports. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse. Healing patterns revealed in middle school Appleton & Lang. boys’ experiences of being bullied using stamp, kelly Roger’s science of unitary human beings Gennaro, S. (2010). Research vignette: (SUHB). Journal of Child and Adolescent cullinan, donna Stamp, K.D. & Willis, D.G. (in press). Marjory Gordon: Assess Notes: Nursing Making practice perfect. In LoBiondo- Psychiatric Nursing. Nurse interruptions pre- and post- Assessment & Diagnostic Reasoning Wood, G. and Haber, J., Nursing Research: Wolfe, B.E., Smith, A.T., & Cullinan, D.L. implementation of a point-of-care Methods and Critical Appraisal for Evidence (2009). Eating disorders. In Allen, P.J. & medication administration system. Journal Burgess, A.W., Welner, M., & Willis, D.G. Based Practice. St. Louis, MO. Mosby, Vessey, J.A. (Eds.), Primary Care of the Child of Nursing Care Quality. (in press). Educator sexual abuse: Two case Elsevier. 154-156. with a Chronic Condition (5th ed.). St. Louis, reports. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse. MO: Mosby.

30 Boston College Nursing Voice winter 2010 31 alumna profile

WORKING TOGETHER Betsy Brown ’85 creates real change in a global nursing community

BY KIRSTEN ERWIN

lizabeth “Betsy” Brown ’85 of maternal/child health morbidity who revealed that family members Edevelops hospital and academic and mortality. “Here in the U.S.,” stay in the hospital with almost every facilities, clinical programs, says Brown, “midwifery is a master’s single patient, even overnight. If the professional staff, and systems program. But in Pakistan as in many patient needs assistance, the family is to improve quality and patient parts of the world, there are very, often there to immediately help or call safety. She is the director of clinical very few faculty members available a nurse. Because the level of family services at Partners Harvard Medical to educate midwives at a master’s involvement in care is different than International, an academic non- level and an overwhelming need for what we may see in the U.S. or in other profit that provides education and maternal child health care providers. countries, we realized that the fall rates professional services around the So we’re designing the school’s BScN may indeed be lower, and we can learn world, and her work brings her curriculum with that in mind—doing from comparing approaches to care.” together with teams in China, Dubai, research on strengthening the level of Brown is proud of the collaborative Ecuador, Greece, India, Pakistan, competency in maternal/child health nature of her work, the way Betsy Brown was honored last year for her commitment to excellence in international community nursing with the William F. Connell School of Nursing’s inaugural Dean Thailand, Turkey, and Zimbabwe. appropriate for nurses in a bachelor’s relationships form between local and Rita Kelleher Award, named for the school’s dean emeritus and professor. Rita Kelleher, who died this November at the age of 101, was a pioneer and a lifelong leader in This past June, Brown was recognized program—in order to meet that vital international team members. “Both nursing, steadfastly dedicated to both the profession and to Boston College. Following in her footsteps, the Kelleher Award recipient must be an accomplished nursing leader, an ethically aware scientist, and a skilled and inquisitive clinician. for her excellence in international community need.” groups grow. When I hear stories of community nursing with the Connell Cultural context is crucial in people who have come together and Connell School dean Susan Gennaro presented the award to Brown (top right) at the school’s annual alumni reunion. “Like Rita Kelleher,” Dean Gennaro stated, “Betsy Brown is a compassionate, committed steward of the nursing profession.” School’s inaugural Dean Rita Kelleher Brown’s work. “We really try to say that what they have learned from Alumnae/i Award (see right). understand the way people live and another group of nurses across the In working with people across what is most important to them,” she world is now impacting their patient the globe, Brown emphasizes the says. “Health, culture, politics, social care in Boston, or in India or Turkey, I physicians, pharmacy—together to the undergraduate and graduate collaboration. I have reached out importance of understanding the needs norms, religions, family—you have find that very rewarding.” share curriculum and classroom curriculum, so that when these health to many nurses, around the world of each community. “The solutions to appreciate and draw upon all of In addition to partnerships space in order to build common care professionals are in the practice and right within the Boston College draw upon local needs,” she states. those dimensions of care to find the among nurses, Brown sees new competencies. “I think as nurses, setting, they have already been in many community, and found genuine “What we try to do is figure out what best solutions. For example, our team interdisciplinary models of care and collaboration is a part of our value learning situations together. interest in sharing expertise and those needs are, recognizing both the noticed that patient fall rates in India education as exciting solutions in system,” explains Brown, “yet our “The word ‘community’ has changed helping our colleagues in another strengths and opportunities.” were much lower than what we see in working toward solving the deep academic settings haven’t necessarily so much. It doesn’t just mean your country. That’s what is so exciting: She cites a current project with a the U.S. We wondered if the data were global health care profession shortage. been designed that way. These new own backyard anymore, or even your The global nursing community nursing school in Pakistan, a country being collected incorrectly or if the Some of her projects are looking at programs are very exciting to me own country. The global nursing recognizes that by working together with one of the lowest rates of nurses falls weren’t being reported at all. Then new models of education that bring in terms of instilling the practice community is really growing and we all develop. The whole profession per capita and one of the highest rates we talked to the Indian nursing team, the health professions—nursing, of interdisciplinary teamwork into connecting; there is just so much develops.”

32 Boston College Nursing Voice winter 2010 33 faculty profile

CARE OF THE OLDER ADULT Stacey Barone promotes improved care through curriculum change

BY JOSHUA J. JENSEN PHOTOGRAPH BY GARY WAYNE GILBERT

The Winter 2010 issue of Boston College Nursing Education Forum. Barone and also be diabetic and have a history of Magazine will feature Connell School Vallent are working to integrate content hypertension. The patient may already assistant clinical professor Stacey Barone about the older adult into the Connell be on a series of medications for cardiac and her work with undergraduate nursing School’s undergraduate curriculum. disease. These confounding variables students as they navigate the clinical At the conference, they analyzed the make for a much more complex picture setting. Here, the Voice spotlights Barone’s curriculum across nearly a dozen for the nurse to manage.” collaboration with clinical instructor focused heath concerns flagged as areas To help support student learning, Heather Vallent in developing the of high risk for older adults. Barone is launching an online resource undergraduate curriculum to better address Information from the conference is for all Connell School faculty to use as older adult care. helping Barone reframe the way she they strengthen their course content. The talks about this work. “It was interesting website contains a wealth of information, ccording to the Hartford to hear that in the settings students including PowerPoint slides, video, AFoundation, older adults constitute are drawn to—intensive care units, and case studies that faculty can easily the “core business” of health care emergency rooms, transplant units, integrate into their courses. Barone providers, utilizing more health care operating rooms—60–70 percent of the does not see this tool as the end of the resources than any other age group. patients they will see are older adults.” process, however. “The critical piece Furthermore, as the population ages By sharing these kinds of statistics with will be to focus on the content of each and people live longer, this dynamic will her students, and debunking myths such course, and guide each individual faculty only increase. Yet according to clinical as older adult care happening only in member to appropriate resources.” assistant professor Stacey Barone, nursing homes, Barone is making the While Barone and Vallent’s work incoming freshmen at Boston College case that knowledge about older adults is has just begun, they are eager to begin don’t often envision themselves working critical if students hope to be successful measuring the impact of their efforts. As with this population. “One of the in the roles they seek after graduation. part of her evaluation plan, Barone will consistent things I hear from students Barone also sees strengthening the look at both faculty and student changes is a strong desire to work in pediatric curriculum as a key piece of giving through a number of lenses. “It will nursing. I understand the natural students the level of confidence they be up to individual faculty members to attraction to working with children, but need to pursue work with older adults. make improvements. But with the work that doesn’t explain the hesitancy about After all, the work is often more complex ethic and the knowledge base of our working with older adults,” Barone says. than work with younger people due to faculty, I have no doubt that changes will This sparked Barone’s interest in many co-morbidities within this age happen, and that they will translate to finding ways to make working with older group. She notes, “The care is actually even greater success for our students.” adults more attractive to her students. quite tricky, and it takes a masterful This past summer, Barone and clinical nurse to be able to do a good job when instructor Heather Vallent were awarded caring for the older adult. A patient Stacey Barone teaches Katherine Kim to a grant to participate in a three-day in his or her seventies might come in use the Omnicell medication dispension system at Beth Israel Deaconess conference presented by the Geriatric complaining of chest pain, but may Medical Center in Boston.

34 Boston College Nursing Voice winter 2010 35 alumnae/i news

alumna Northeast Region VA Nursing Alliance professor Judith Shindul-Rothschild, alumnae inducted as aan fellows honored by (NERVANA), a consortium comprising Scully’s academic advisor and professor Four alumnae were inducted as 2009 American Academy of Nursing (AAN) fellows secretary the VA Boston Healthcare System, the during her time at the Connell School. at the academy’s annual meeting this past November. Fellows are selected by their of va Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans “She has the intellect, commitment, and peers for outstanding contributions and achievements in nursing. The AAN has Cecilia McVey ’72 Hospital in Bedford, Massachusetts, insight that will enable her to become approximately 1500 fellows, leaders in nursing education, management, practice, and is the recipient and six Boston area nursing schools a key contributor to the MS clinical research. AAN fellows pledge to work toward a better health care system by enhancing of the Secretary including the Connell School, in order to community.” A strong student while at quality of care, reducing health inequalities, promoting healthy behaviors, and of Veterans Affairs award for advancing better serve today’s veterans. The alliance Boston College, Scully is described by her integrating mental and physical care. nursing programs. The prestigious honor, presents a forum for clinical and academic professors as “articulate ” and “insightful,” Clockwise from far left: Constance Smith Hendricks PhD ’92, Mary Rockwood Lane MS ’81, Diane given by secretary of veterans affairs Eric partners to share insights about the care and clinical faculty praise her as “an Feeney Mahoney ’69, Dean Susan Gennaro, Marie T. Nolan MS ’82. K. Shinseki, recognizes a medical center of veteran patients and to generate ideas empathetic clinician with an exceptional or health care system nurse executive for for advancing nursing practice, education, ability to establish rapport with a wide nurse support, professional development, and research. range of patients and families.” Constance Smith Hendricks PhD has disseminated her research in this technology and nurse-mediated online and recruitment and retention. With more than 70,000 nursing As a faculty representative to the ’92 is a professor at the Auburn field as the co-author of professional support. McVey joined the Department of professionals, the Department of Veterans Boston College Athletic Advisory Board, University School of Nursing. publications and several books, Veterans Affairs (VA) in 1972, and Affairs is the nation’s largest single Shindul-Rothschild also knows Scully as Her research focuses on health including Creative Healing, Spirit Body Marie T. Nolan MS ’82 is an associate currently serves as associate director for employer of nurses, and has one of the a dedicated athlete. A highly recruited promotion empowerment models Healing, and Path of the Feather, and professor and director of the PhD nursing/patient services at the VA Boston largest nursing staffs of any health care member of the Boston College women’s with community-based intervention her book Shaman Wisdom, Shaman program in the School of Nursing Health Care System. In this leadership system in the world. The VA’s 45,000 ice hockey team, Scully’s peers and programs to reduce disparities among Healing was a finalist in the prestigious at Johns Hopkins University, where role, she is responsible for the integration registered nurses, 13,000 licensed professors were impressed by her ability to rural and minority populations. In Nautilus Awards’ health/healing she holds a joint appointment in the of nursing services of the Boston, West practical nurses and vocational nurses, balance the demands of a Division I sport support of this work, she has received category. Johns Hopkins University Berman Roxbury, and Brockton campuses. McVey and 11,000 nursing assistants seek to and the rigorous nursing curriculum, funding from numerous sources Institute of Bioethics. Her empirical has implemented a number of successful provide comprehensive, complex, and even in the face of an exacerbation of including foundations, Sigma Theta Diane Feeney Mahoney ’69 is the and theoretical work has focused on programs, including a skin care program compassionate care to veterans. multiple sclerosis. “I truly marveled at Tau, the National Library of Medicine, MGH Institute of Health Professions patient and family decision-making at and a training affiliation with Hanscom her determination to perform her best in the Health Resources and Services School of Nursing’s inaugural Jacques the end of life and has been supported Air Force Base so that registered nurses “inspirational” alumna both roles,” remarks Shindul-Rothschild. Administration, and the National Mohr Professor in Geriatric Nursing primarily by the National Institute for and medical technicians can maintain awarded fellowship for “When her illness forced her to end her Institute of Nursing Research. and director of gerontechnology Nursing Research. Nolan is currently clinical skills. She also started a career training in ms nursing hockey career, she immersed herself Hendricks was commissioned by Zeta research and development. She uses leading a research team to prepare development internship program for Megan Scully ’06 was awarded the in nursing with the same passion and Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. to develop a innovative technologies to promote family members for their roles in registered nurses interested in pursuing a John Dystel Fellowship in Multiple determination she brought to her sport.” national initiative, Z-HOPE, that has safer and healthier aging-in-place end-of-life decision-making for a position in one of the intensive care units. Sclerosis (MS) Nursing, which offers Upon completion of the fellowship been replicated by many organizations. among at-risk elderly people to terminally ill loved one. Nolan is on the McVey is known as an exemplary registered nurses advanced training in program, sponsored by the National MS reduce caregiving concerns. She is board of directors for the International leader, having earned the respect and MS nursing care. Currently the clinical Society and supported by the John Dystel Mary Rockwood Lane MS ’81 is an considered a pioneer and international Network for Doctoral Education admiration of those who work for her. nurse coordinator at the MS center at St. Fellowship Fund, Scully will have the associate professor at the University leader in the field of gerontechnology in Nursing, where she has worked She consistently offers her personal Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Boston, knowledge and skills to practice as an MS of Florida College of Nursing and (technology for aging). As the only with colleagues to advance doctoral gratitude to the nurses who contribute Scully has a wide range of experience with nurse specialist. Her training will consist associate faculty with the Watson nurse principal investigator for the education in nursing internationally, to the advancement of nursing practice, neurological conditions, having worked of supervised patient care and exposure Caring Science Institute, working in Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer’s and also serves as the Johns Hopkins describing them as “the glue that binds on the neurological step-down unit at to multidisciplinary treatment under the the field of creativity and spirituality Caregiver Health (REACH) project, the director of the doctoral pogram the organization.” A dedicated advocate Massachusetts General Hospital and as tutelage of an MS nursing expert in a in healing. She is the co-founder and National Institute on Aging/National partnership between Johns Hopkins of continuing education programs, she a travel nurse. But for all her experience specialized MS clinical setting. Shindul- director emeritus of the nationally Institute of Nursing Research’s University School of Nursing and frequently volunteers to present, and has with neurological illness, including Rothschild believes that the fellowship is recognized Shands Arts in Medicine largest multisite intervention study the Peking Union Medical College also made it her practice to routinely meet Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and spinal cord well deserved. “It is my firm belief,” she program at the University of Florida, for Alzheimer’s family caregivers, School of Nursing, a collaboration with new nurses during orientation. injuries, Scully has a special interest in asserts, “that Megan will become a leader which incorporates art, music, poetry, she developed and tested a computer- which produced the first nursing PhD McVey was also an instrumental force MS: she suffers from it herself. in the advancement of nursing science for theater, and dance into nursing care mediated caregiver counseling system graduates from a Chinese university in in bringing Boston College into the “Megan is inspirational,” says associate patients with multiple sclerosis.” on 15 different hospital units. She using Interactive Voice Response (IVR) July of 2008.

36 Boston College Nursing Voice winter 2010 37 alumnae/i news

1950s University. Her husband, Brian, A&S ’64, is San Felipe School of Nursing in Peru. Margaret also a Fulbright Scholar in Kazan, Russia. Beatrice has worked as a missionary nurse (McCluskey) in Nicaragua, Mexico, and on a Navajo Cleary ’59, MS Beth (McCarroll) Winmill ’65, MS ’70 reservation. She is also currently serving ’61 reports that lives in Wrentham, Rhode Island. She and with the Jesuit Refugee Service as assistant in May of 2009, her husband have two sons, Ryan and chaplain at an immigration detention she retired from Jason. The whole family enjoys returning center in El Paso, Texas. her position to the Heights for tailgating and football. as director of education and diabetes Since graduation, Beth has been a faculty Jean (Davidson) Skoblar ’69 has worked in educator at the Carroll Center for the Blind member at the Community College of a Jesuit high school for the past 18 years, in Newton, Massachusetts, where she Rhode Island, where she teaches medical- and now plans to retire to San Diego, worked for more than thirty years. She now surgical nursing. where she will pursue volunteer work resides in Colorado and plans to work as and spend time with her grandchildren. a rehabilitation nurse consultant for the Maggie Kelly- Jean has been a volunteer in Kenya and Colorado State Vocational Rehabilitation Hayes ’67 was Honduras, as well as in an Akron, Ohio Services. awarded the homeless shelter. 2009 Helen 1960s B. Spaulding 1970s Glenda (Farrell) Delozier ’60 has retired Community Virginia Croak as a nurse educator for Atlantic Cape Conscience ’70 is coordinator Community College and is now living Award by the American Stroke Association/ of the Health in Ocean City, New Jersey. She currently American Heart Association. Maggie is a Ministry and sponsors three children in other countries clinical professor of neurology at Boston Parish Nursing and is active in her parish Legion of Mary. University School of Medicine and serves program at Holy as an investigator in the Framingham Cross parish in AARP president Jennie Chin Hansen ’70 (third from left) participated in a “Tele-Town Hall” the organization sponsored on health care reform with (from left) AARP chief Rita Ailinger ’61 is a professor at Heart Study. South Easton, Massachusetts, a program executive officer A. Barry Rand, President Barack Obama, and AARP Prime Time Radio host Michael Cuthbert at AARP headquarters in ashington,W D.C. Georgetown University. Her research she co-founded with Kathy Emerson MS focuses on latent tuberculosis among Mary-Anne (Woodward) Benedict ’67 does ’74. She is also adjunct faculty for the St. Latino immigrants. Each year, she takes consulting work in the area of continuing Anne’s Hospital parish nursing program. nursing students to Nicaragua for education and accreditation for health She has been very busy teaching church two weeks where they volunteer in an care professionals. She has worked with leaders and parishioners appropriate Care Alliance serving vulnerable the editor of a community health nursing course called “Holistic Living.” impoverished community. the Veterans Administration New England disease prevention techniques in light of populations and writes a health column for textbook published by F.A. Davis. When Health Care System and the American the H1N1 virus, including presenting a South Boston Online. she is not teaching, researching, or writing, Anne (Schefiliti) Moore ’73 is currently Jane (Murphy) Cunniffe ’61 writes, “In Nurses Credentialing Centers. She is also hand-washing skit featuring “Nurse Ginny Christine enjoys gardening and painting. working toward her DNP, and is also October, I went with a group from my currently a member of the Accreditation and Professor Lovebug.” Christine She and her husband live in Kentucky. director of the spine program at the parish on a pilgrimage to Poland to visit Council for Pharmacy Education. She and (Landrey) Hospital of Saint Raphael in Connecticut. all the holy shrines. We visited Pope John her husband Charles, CSOM ’70, are active Brianne R. Savage ’71 is a Rachel E. Spector ’72, MS ’74 retired as an Her daughter Becky ’06 has returned to Paul’s second home and the church he in the Boston College alumni association Fitzgerald ’71 full professor at associate professor at the Connell School Boston College for graduate school, giving attended as a boy. The country is very as leaders in reunion activities as well received her the University of in 2003. In 2009, she received the “Spirit Anne the opportunity to return to campus beautiful and the people we met were very as for the recently dedicated veterans’ master’s degree Cincinnati College of Change” Forces of Change Lifetime often. friendly.” memorial on campus. They have three from the family of Nursing. She Achievement Award from the Global Caring daughters and four grandchildren. nurse practitioner recently edited A Nursing Education Model Nurses Foundation in Phoenix, Arizona. Karen Breunig ’74 has enjoyed working as Eileen (Kopchik) Donnelly ’65 was awarded program at the for the Prevention and Treatment of Alcohol Rachel is presently a part-time faculty an advanced practice child and adolescent a Fulbright grant to travel to Russia, where Beatrice Costagliola (Sister Maria University of Massachusetts, Boston. Use Disorders for the National Institute on member in Boston College’s Theology psychiatric nurse for the Mental Health she will lecture at the Kazan State Medical Redempta) ’67 is now the director of the Brianne now works in the Commonwealth Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, and was Department, where she teaches a capstone Center of Denver for over 14 years. She

38 Boston College Nursing Voice winter 2010 39 alumnae/i news

is married with four children, including a the BSN program director and as interim still finds time to go on medical missions Mary Jacobs ’84 writes, “I am a nurse in Victoria quality, and safety at Beth Israel Deaconess senior at Boston College interested in law, assistant dean of undergraduate studies. to Central America and the Caribbean at a small community hospital and love my (Jordhamo) Medical Center in Boston, where she has a son who graduated from Cornell, and Her research focuses on medication safety. least twice each year. Suzanne and her job and my profession. I enjoy my role in Niederhauser worked since she began her career as a twin daughters who graduated this past husband Francesco have two children, an outpatient area that cares for people MS ’86 was clinical nurse. May from Boston University and Brandeis Kathleen (Kenney) Jurgens ’77, MS ’98 Marguerite, 26, and Alessandro, 23. who need IV antibiotics. I work with IVs appointed as the University. works as a pediatric nurse practitioner at and infections all day long and truly feel associate dean Jackie Leonard MSN ’89 is a certified St. Mary’s Women and Children’s Center in Jill E. Winland-Brown MS ’79 is currently fortunate to see patients get better.” for academics at child/adolescent psychiatric clinical nurse Maureen Curtis Cooper ’74 was voted Dorchester and is a clinical faculty member on sabbatical from Florida Atlantic the University of Hawaii School of Nursing specialist and is an assistant professor into the office of president-elect for at Northeastern University. Kathleen and University, where she has taught since M. Faith (Falco) and Dental Hygiene and is a 2008 Robert at Franciscan University in Steubenville, the Massachusetts Emergency Nurses her husband Jeff have been married for 1983. In March, Jill was a visiting scholar Scott MS ’84 Wood Johnson Executive Nurse Fellow. Ohio. She is currently enrolled in the Association. 31 years and have four children, aged 21 at Oxford University in England and has been the She serves on the National Research nurse practitioner program at Franciscan to 29 years. Their daughter Shannon is participated in a weeklong think tank on president and Committee for the National Association University. Mary (O’Connell) currently a junior at Boston College. As a business ethics. chief executive of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners and on Grant ’74, MS season ticket holder for Boston College officer of the the board of directors for the Hawaii Kathleen Mary O’Donnell ’89, MS ’94 ’76 worked as a basketball and football, as well as a mentor 1980s Visiting Nurse Immunization Coalition. The focus of her works as an advanced practice registered child/adolescent for a nursing student through the Eagle to Kathy (Noble) Arthur ’80 is currently Association of Northern New Jersey for research is child and adolescent health nurse in the pre-surgical testing center at psychiatric nurse Eagle program, she is often found on the working as a supervisor for the American 20 years, and recently had a mural promotion and disease prevention, with Concord Hospital in New Hampshire. clinical specialist Heights. Red Cross in Dedham. She will celebrate depicting the organization’s history an emphasis on immunizations and in community her thirtieth wedding anniversary next dedicated to her. Faith has also been childhood obesity. 1990s mental health settings for 30 years, first Ann N. Kennefick August, and has four sons. She reports, named a fellow of the American College Michelle (Matarazzo) Lerner ’90 works running a sexual abuse treatment program, ’78, MS ’81 “My husband Dave and I are looking of Healthcare Executives. Juli-anne Evangelista ’87, MS ’90 is part time as a nurse case manager at and then in her own practice specializing splits her time in forward to our reunions!” currently working toward her doctor Massachusetts General Hospital, where in psychological trauma. Since 2002, Mary clinical practice Maureen Gormley of nursing practice degree at George she has worked since graduating from has served in the Massachusetts House of as a nurse Mary Jean (O’Rourke) Falco ’81 is living in ’85 is the chief Washington University. She also continues Boston College. She lives in Winthrop, Representatives, and encourages everyone practitioner Medfield, Massachusetts and works part operating officer to work as a pediatric nurse practitioner Massachusetts with her husband Scott to take an active role in health care reform and diabetes time in the SICU at Caritas St. Elizabeth’s (COO) of the in the outpatient cardiovascular program and their two daughters, Nicole, 11, and efforts. educator, sharing her passion for helping Medical Center. Mary Jean is the mother of NIH Clinical at Children’s Hospital Boston and teaches Jillian, 7. clients improve their health. She is also three: Nicholas, Christian, and Elizabeth. Center, and has and precepts maternal-child students Anne Marie the owner of Health Coaching 4U, and is Her son Nicholas is currently a student been awarded a for the Connell School. Juli-anne is the Leah (Zanotti) FitzGerald ’92, MS ’93 (Hayes) Bularzik working to make her hospital the most “fit” at Boston College in the Carroll School of Presidential Rank of Meritorious Executive president of the Northeast Pediatric earned her PhD in nursing at UCLA, ’76 is currently in town, using all of the visionary skills she Management. in recognition of her exceptional service Cardiology Nurses Association. completed post-doctoral research in the vice president learned at Boston College 30 years ago! to the American people. The NIH Clinical psychoneuroimmunology, and is currently of acute care Sheila E. Buckley ’82 works in the operating Center is the largest hospital in the world Charlotte (van de Kerckhof) Ruddick ’88 an assistant professor at UCLA. services and Catherine (Brefach) Newman ’78 and her room at Children’s Hospital in Boston dedicated to the mission of clinical has lived in London since 1992 and is the chief nurse daughter Amy, who is also a nurse, traveled as a CNOR. Sheila resides in Walpole, research. Maureen has served as its COO happily married with three children aged Susan Malionek ’93 remains on active executive at Exeter Hospital in Exeter, New to Kenya last June to provide pediatric Massachusetts and is the mother of three since 1999, joining NIH in 1987 as an 17, 15, and 11. She plans to take a nursing duty in the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps as a Hampshire. She recently completed all the health care to schoolchildren. They taught sons, Colin, 19, Cameron, 16, and Liam, 12. administrative fellow. refresher course this year and be back to lieutenant commander. She is currently requirements for her doctorate in nursing nearly 350 children hand washing skills work in 2010. stationed at the Naval Medical Center in practice from Case Western Reserve and tended to various health needs. She Pat Spencer-Cisek ’83 is the executive Sharon Wollner MS ’85 retired in June Portsmouth, Virginia and practices in the University in Cleveland, Ohio. says that sharing this experience with director for oncology services at Glens 2006. Prior to retirement, she worked in Kim Sulmonte main operating room. She notes, “The her daughter made the trip even more Falls Hospital in Glens Falls, New York and several settings as an advanced registered ’88 was recently most exciting part of living in Norfolk is Deborah (DiSchino) Ryan ’76 is in her meaningful. is an appointed member of the Centers for nurse practitioner. She enjoys visiting her promoted to being able to watch the Boston College vs. twenty-seventh year on the faculty at the Medicare and Medicaid Services three children and six grandchildren in director of patient Virginia Tech game. Even surrounded by Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing Suzanne Thompson ’78 is the owner of a Advisory Panel on Ambulatory Payment Massachusetts. care services, hundreds of Hokie fans, I’m somehow able at Emory University. Deborah has served as multinational manufacturing company, but Classification. operations, to hold my own!”

40 Boston College Nursing Voice winter 2010 41 alumnae/i news

Sheila (Costello) McGaffigan ’93 works Center. Elizabeth and her husband, Brett, Courtney Pladsen ’07 is currently in part time as a nurse at Dana Farber Cancer are currently living in Washington, DC. the family nurse practitioner program Institute in Boston, and is a mother of two: at Georgetown University. She works Megan, 16 months, and Jack, 3 months. Keri Sullivan Cote ’02, MS ’07 currently as a clinical nurse III at Washington works as a pulmonary nurse practitioner Hospital Center and will be speaking at Joe Schmelz PhD ’96 recently co-authored at Children’s Hospital Boston in both an upcoming conference for critical care a book chapter titled “Systemic and inpatient and outpatient areas. She is also nurses. Pulmonary Circulation and Oxygen an adjunct clinical faculty for pediatric Delivery” in the sixth edition of Cardiac nurse practitioner students, and serves Megan (Godio) Nursing, released this past October. as a program committee member for the Valverde ’07 Eastern Massachusetts chapter of the married George Helen (Heffern) Coupas ’97 lives in National Association of Pediatric Nurses. Maximilian Philadelphia and works in the cardiology Keri was married this past September. Valverde this department at the Hospital of the past October University of Pennsylvania. She and her Marion Godin in Sharon, husband Kevin have two children, Elena, 6, ’04 earned Massachusetts. Megan currently works and Alexander, 2. her master’s in the neurology and neurosurgery degree from department at Brigham and Women’s Lee Ann Tata MS ’97 recently graduated Florida Atlantic Hospital. from Rush University with her doctor of University nursing practice degree. Her capstone last May. She Annie Lewis- project was titled “Reducing Falls in an currently is working as a family nurse O’Connor Acute Care Setting.” practitioner at Pediatrics by the Sea PhD ’08 is the in Delray Beach, Florida. She and her program manager Denise husband Vincent, CSOM ’04, welcomed of nursing Anderson ’98, their son, Christian Francois, last July. practice for the MS ’05 recently Connors Center presented Katherine (Cowen) Rosa PhD ’04 wrote an for Women and Newborns at Brigham and a poster in article, “Recognizing Health with Pregnant Women’s Hospital. She provides clinical Ljubljana, Cambodian American Women by Finding consultation and partners with staff to Slovenia at the Meaning in Relationship,” that will be identify the supports needed to advance International Society of Pediatric and published this April in Advances of Nursing. nursing practice. She also provides Adolescent Diabetes annual conference. aftercare for women who have experienced The poster, titled “Improved Outcomes Megan Hughes ’06 and Timothy Hughes sexual assault or intimate partner abuse. in DKA Management in an Intermediate ’06 welcomed their baby boy, Liam Patrick Care Unit,” focused on work happening in Hughes, this past October. the inpatient unit at Children’s Hospital Boston. Siobhan L. Forbes ’07 is working in the Neurosurgical ICU at Georgetown 2000s University Hospital where she recently Alumnae/i news is compiled from alumnae/i submissions in memoriam: dean emeritus rita p. kelleher Elizabeth Murphy Waibel ’00 graduated became the co-chair for the hospital- as well as from a variety of Dean Emeritus Rita P. Kelleher, a pioneer in the advancement of baccalaureate nursing, died November 2, from Catholic University’s pediatric wide principal investigator and research outside media sources. To 2009 at the age of 101. Kelleher joined the school of nursing as its first faculty member in 1947. She was nurse program last May. She is working committee. She also recently passed the include your news and photos appointed dean the following year and served until 1968. After stepping down from the dean’s post, Kelleher as a pediatric trauma and burn nurse certification exam for adult, neonatal, and in the next issue, email us at: [email protected] taught in the nursing school and served as interim dean for one year until her retirement from Boston practitioner at Children’s National Medical pediatric critical care nurses. College in 1973. She loved nursing and she most especially loved Boston College Nursing. Kelleher will long be remembered by the profession and by the many faculty and students whose lives she so wisely helped to shape. She set a standard of excellence that truly leaves each of us who follow her trying “Ever to Excel.” 42 Boston College Nursing Voice william f. connell non-profit org. school of nursing u.s. postage paid boston, ma 140 commonwealth avenue permit # 55294 chestnut hill, ma 02467