Celebration Season: Honoring the Class of 2026

At the University of Washington School of Nursing, the end of the spring quarter is never just one moment.

There are the events that everyone sees: Nurse Week celebrations, school-wide announcements, and ceremonies from Kane Hall to Alaska Airlines Arena. Then there are the quieter moments that exist between students and faculty: the last clinical shift, the last exam, the last time walking into the Health Sciences Building as a student rather than a professional.

Nursing school is hard. It comes with a daily juggle of scheduling meals or snacks between lectures, clinical rotations, and simulation lab time, studying for exams that demand not just knowledge but judgment under pressure, and long days that turn into longer nights, often filled with questions and doubt. Students apply to our programs knowing the rigor on an intellectual level, but as the quarters continue to move forward, the impact of that knowing becomes more real.

Then, as summer begins to peek through the greyness unique to Seattle’s winter skies, students approaching the end of their program help usher in the sun. As posts about the upcoming graduation begin to fill our social media tags, they bring with them the promise of summer break, preparation for NCLEX testing and national boards, and every earned moment of what comes when you shine with the brightness of accomplishment.

This year, the School of Nursing is calling the final weeks of May and the first weeks of June exactly what they are: a season of celebration — and we welcome you to join us.

Celebration traditions that span the centuries: The Nursing Pinning Ceremony

The nursing pin carries roots that trace back to the 12th century, when monks who cared for sick and injured Crusaders were recognized with a Maltese cross — a symbol of service, devotion, and belonging to a community of care. By 1916, that tradition had grown into the pinning ceremony practiced in nursing schools across the country.

Each year, the UW School of Nursing holds pinning ceremonies for graduates in August, March, and June. This unique experience does not serve as a marker of the moment a student becomes a nurse- graduation and licensure do that; pinning marks something more personal; the choice each scholar made to walk this path, the commitment they’ve shown year after year, and the gratitude they feel toward those who stood alongside them. It is the only ceremony in a nurse’s education designed entirely around recognition, not of an institution, but of a journey, and the community that made it possible.

Hilaire J. Thompson, Robert G. and Jean A. Reid Executive Dean of the UW School of Nursing, reflected on her ABSN pinning — and on what makes the UW tradition distinct.

“My own pinning was in 1992 at the Catholic University of America. It was a formal ceremony for the BSN and ABSN students, held in the performing arts theatre on campus. The associate dean for students pinned each of us, while our faculty, family, and friends gathered to celebrate… What I love about the UW tradition is that our students choose their own pinner — and sometimes more than one. They get to honor the people who carried them through: a parent, a partner, a mentor, a faculty member, a friend. That single choice turns the ceremony from a formality into something deeply personal. It says, in front of everyone, here is who walked with me. That, to me, is what pinning is for.”

— Hilaire J. Thompson, Robert G. and Jean A. Reid Executive Dean, UW School of Nursing

A nursing pinning ceremony taking place on a small stage, where one person is carefully fastening a ceremonial pin onto the shirt of a new nursing graduate wearing a pink button-up shirt and glasses. The graduate stands with hands clasped while others, including someone holding a child, look on from the side. Decorative plants and flowers line the background, emphasizing the formal and celebratory nature of the milestone event.

**A celebration “omnes una”: The UW School of Nursing Convocation**

The Latin word convocare means to call together, and at the UW School of Nursing, we look forward to calling forward our community to celebrate a job well done. From families and friends who gave understanding and support to the trusted faculty who taught and challenged our scholars each day, and advisors, coordinators, and staff whose steady, often invisible work helped them to stay on track- this is the moment all of us come together to say to our graduates: you are ready, and we are with you.

“As we walk into Hec Edmundson Pavilion this year as a SoN community, each of us brings a sense of joy and accomplishment. As a school, we choose to take time to reflect on and thank those who helped make this moment possible, and I want to encourage our graduates to do the same. It is my hope that they take with them not only the knowledge and skills gained from their programs, but the commitment we hold near to us as the University of Washington School of Nursing, to care for and advocate for a healthcare system that serves all.”

— Hilaire J. Thompson, Robert G. and Jean A. Reid Executive Dean, UW School of Nursing

Fifty-five years of preparing what’s next

This year’s celebration carries an extra layer of meaning.

In 1971, the University of Washington launched PRIMEX — one of the first family nurse practitioner programs in the country. Its premise, though now considered foundational, was deemed radical at the time, based on the belief that nurses, given the right preparation and authority, could serve as primary care providers for patients who remained unserved and without basic healthcare access.

Fifty-five years later, that premise has held. Patients in rural and historically marginalized communities still rely on nurse practitioners for accessible, responsive care. What began as a single program has grown into the graduate and advanced practice education system that defines the UW School of Nursing today, including the first DNP program on the West Coast, and now, the #1-ranked public DNP program in the country.

A class Washington has been waiting for

Thousands of graduates have gone on to lead health improvements at the local, national, and global levels since the first nursing course was introduced at the University of Washington in 1916, and now, graduates are joining a healthcare workforce that desperately needs them.

Without intervention, Washington is projected to have the nation’s largest nursing shortage by 2037. This year, as we have done so many years before, the University of Washington School of Nursing will send nurses, nurse practitioners, nurse-midwives, nurse leaders, clinical informaticists, and nursing scientists, researchers, and innovators into hospitals, clinics, community health centers, and research institutions across the world, ready to practice compassionate, cutting edge care as trained professionals capable of leading change in the healthcare ecosystem.

This is, and always has been, the legacy of the University of Washington School of Nursing.

Join us in celebrating

Whether you are a proud family member, a longtime friend of the school, a prospective student, or simply someone who wants to celebrate what UW Nursing represents, you are welcome.

SoN Convocation & Awards Ceremony

Friday, June 5, 2026 | 6–8 p.m.

Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion

Doors open at 5 p.m. for student check-in.

All are welcome, and we hope to see you there. A livestream will be available for those who cannot attend in person.

To learn more about UW School of Nursing programs, research, and community, visit nursing.uw.edu.

From Seoul to Seattle: A Nurse’s Journey Across Borders, Bedside and Beyond

In high school, Jinseon Hwang imagined a future shaped by books and language: a degree in Korean literature, perhaps a life built around words. But when her college entrance exam scores fell short of her hopes, her mother offered a gentle redirect: consider nursing, a field grounded in science, built for stability, and devoted to people.

It was not the path Hwang had pictured. It became, in time, the one she could not imagine leaving. Now a second-year Ph.D. student in nursing science at the University of Washington, Hwang has spent more than a decade moving across units, institutions and countries, driven by the belief that every new setting could teach her something the last one could not.

Learning to Study for Patients, Not for Herself

Hwang’s clinical career began in the surgical intensive care unit at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, one of Korea’s largest tertiary medical centers. It was a demanding environment, with complex cases, high acuity and an unrelenting pace, and Hwang met it the way she meets most challenges: by studying constantly.

She was a new nurse, diligent and thorough, accumulating knowledge at a rapid clip. On her days off, she studied. Everyone in the unit knew it. But it took a mistake, and a meeting with her head nurse, to reshape how she thought about what that knowledge was for.

During a night shift, a loosely connected drug line caused a dangerous medication leak. Hwang was taken aback by her patient’s response. Instead of anger, the patient thanked her for caring for her through the night. The harder conversation came later, behind closed doors.

Her head nurse told her plainly: the purpose of her studying did not appear to be for her patients. It seemed aimed at building her own knowledge, her own competence. Nurses, she said, should study for the benefit of the people in their care.

The words landed hard, because they were true. As a new graduate, Hwang had been studying largely to avoid criticism from senior nurses, not out of a genuine focus on patient care. “Looking back, I think many new nurses, and even experienced nurses, can fall into the same mindset,” she said.

That correction changed everything. “The ultimate priority should always be learning for the sake of better patient care,” Hwang said. She came to understand that her head nurse was not reproaching her effort, but redirecting it, pointing a hard-working new nurse toward the true purpose of the profession.

Hwang with colleagues in the intensive care unit at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, where she began her nursing career.

A Cardiovascular Focus, Earned Over Years

Over the next several years, Hwang moved through a range of clinical settings, including the surgical intensive care unit (SICU), the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) and the cardiology and rheumatology ward, each one adding another layer to what would become a specialty in cardiovascular nursing. After stepping away from bedside work to pursue her master’s degree at Ewha Womans University, she joined a heart clinic focused on arrhythmia, deepening her expertise by analyzing long-term heart rhythm recordings known as Holter monitors.

Her trajectory pointed next toward Saudi Arabia. She had accepted a position in a cardiac care unit there and had begun the licensing process, a path she completed fully, earning a Saudi nursing license on top of her Korean one. But significant visa delays upended the plan.

Rather than wait indefinitely, Hwang withdrew her acceptance and turned her attention to doctoral programs in the United States. She searched faculty research interests across roughly 40 top-ranked nursing programs, looking for someone whose work aligned with her own focus on cardiac arrest survivors and their family caregivers. She found one: Cynthia Dougherty, a professor at the University of Washington School of Nursing and leader of the Cardiovascular Nursing Research Team. Hwang did not hesitate to enroll at UW.

Hwang with Professor Cynthia Dougherty, whose research on cardiac arrest survivors brought her from Seoul to Seattle.

The decision has proven to be about more than research fit. Dougherty, Hwang said, offers exceptional mentorship, not only guiding her scholarship but providing emotional support through the broader challenges of doctoral study. The school itself has been equally generous. With support from the de Tornyay Center, faculty and School of Nursing scholarships, Hwang has presented her research four times at conferences, with two more presentations scheduled later this year.

“I truly love our community,” she said. “Whenever I need help, our school, faculty and senior students never hesitate to help. I try to do the same for others. That teamwork spirit is also one of the essential values in nursing.”

She now holds nursing licenses in three countries (Korea, Saudi Arabia and New York) and is building a research program at UW focused on the well-being of cardiac arrest survivors and their family caregivers in the post-discharge period: the fragile, often underexamined stretch of time after a patient leaves the hospital but before they have fully found their footing.

Two Days That Spanned Two Systems

Even without U.S. clinical practice, as her student visa does not permit it, Hwang found a way to compare the systems firsthand. Through a connection with a fellow student in her doctoral cohort, she arranged a two-day shadow experience in the cardiovascular ICU at UW Medical Center.

What she observed reinforced what her years of practice had already suggested: that the fundamentals of nursing are constant, but the structures around them vary enormously.

Korean ICUs, she noted, are typically multi-bed rooms with sharply limited visiting hours, just two brief periods per day. At UW Medical Center, single-patient rooms are the norm and families are encouraged to remain at the bedside, a model that reflects a stronger emphasis on family-centered care. Korean patients receive standardized hospital meals; U.S. patients select from a menu. And in the U.S., dedicated ECMO and ventilator specialists share the technical burden that Korean bedside nurses carry alone.

Hwang at the cardiac care unit where she developed her specialty in cardiovascular nursing.

Communication patterns differed, too. U.S. nurses, she observed, narrate their care step by step and frame requests in ways that feel more collaborative, such as “Can you do it for me?” rather than directives. It was, she said, a noticeably more patient-centered register.

“These differences were fascinating,” Hwang said. She hopes to practice in the United States after completing her Ph.D.

Borders Are Not Only Lines on a Map

When Hwang thinks about what she would tell nursing students considering careers beyond their own borders, she starts by redefining the word itself.

“Borders are not limited to countries,” she said. “They can be departments, hospitals, regions or nations.”

Her own experience bears that out. When she worked exclusively in the SICU, she believed ICU nursing was the whole of what nursing could be. Moving to the PACU changed that. Moving to the cardiology ward changed it again. Working in a heart clinic, she encountered something she had rarely seen in acute care: what happens to patients after discharge, how they and their families navigate recovery, what continuity of care actually looks like from the patient’s side of the door.

That insight animates her research today.

“The essence of nursing does not change,” she said. “With a genuine heart for patients and openness to diversity, nurses can thrive anywhere.”

Hwang is clear-eyed about why she left the bedside to pursue a Ph.D., and equally clear about what has not changed. She still thinks about her former patients. The research she is building at UW is, in her view, a continuation of the same work, just by different means.

“The ultimate purpose of my research is to serve patients,” she said. “We study not for ourselves, but for the people whose lives depend on our knowledge and care.”

Jinseon Hwang is a Ph.D. student in the UW School of Nursing. Her research focuses on well-being among cardiac arrest survivors and their family caregivers following hospital discharge.

School of Nursing’s Suah Park Named 2026–27 Magnuson Scholar

Suah Park, PhD in Nursing Science candidate

Suah Park, a family nurse practitioner and doctoral student at the University of Washington School of Nursing, has been named a 2026–2027 Magnuson Scholar, one of the most prestigious research honors awarded across UW’s six Health Sciences schools.

Park is among seven scholars selected this year from the Schools of Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Public Health, and Social Work. For the fourth consecutive year, the endowment’s annual income supported an additional seventh recipient. Each scholar receives $34,000 to advance their education and research.

Bridging the Clinic and the Lab

Park’s research sits at a compelling and underexplored intersection: sleep health, diabetes management, and the lived experience of Korean immigrants. As a practicing clinician at a primary care clinic in Tacoma, Park sees firsthand what the data often misses: the way that disrupted sleep, emotional distress, and fatigue layer on top of the daily challenges of managing type 2 diabetes, compounding an already complex chronic condition.

“Many of my patients struggle not only with glycemic control, but also with fatigue, emotional distress, and disrupted sleep,” Park has noted of her clinical observations. Her research program directly addresses this reality by positioning sleep as a culturally relevant and modifiable pathway to improve diabetes outcomes.

Research That Centers The Margins

Korean immigrants with type 2 diabetes face a particularly high burden of sleep disturbance, compounded by linguistic, cultural, and structural barriers to care. Park’s work is among a small body of research that centers on this population, not as a footnote to broader diabetes studies, but as its primary focus.

Long-term, Park aims to lead interdisciplinary research teams and develop clinical trials of culturally tailored sleep interventions for Korean immigrants with type 2 diabetes. Her vision is to build a sustained research program that reduces health disparities among immigrant and underrepresented populations by informing clinical practice and improving chronic disease management.

Her study examines how socio-contextual factors, including health literacy and the process of acculturation, alongside physical and psychological symptoms such as pain, stress, depression, anxiety, and loneliness, relate to sleep disturbance. A key exploratory aim will examine the relationship between sleep disturbance and glycemic regulation, as measured by hemoglobin A1c.

“Suah is one of the most enthusiastic, productive, determined, and motivated students I have interacted with throughout my academic career. Her ability to formulate arguments both verbally and in writing reflects her outstanding intellectual capacity. She has a strong clinical foundation in the care of Korean immigrants with type 2 diabetes.” — Associate Professor Eeeseung Byun, UW School of Nursing

As an independent nurse scientist, Park seeks to build research that doesn’t just add to the literature — it changes what practitioners do and how patients experience care.

About the Magnuson Scholar Program

The Magnuson Scholar Program is funded by a $2 million endowment established in 1991 through the Warren G. Magnuson Institute for Biomedical Research and Health Professions Training. Senator Warren G. Magnuson represented Washington State in the U.S. Senate from 1944 to 1981, and his career was instrumental in establishing the National Institutes of Health, Medicare, and Medicaid.

Each year, the program recognizes one scholar from each of UW’s Health Sciences schools for outstanding academic performance and potential contributions to research. Per the endowment’s terms, at least one scholar must be engaged in research related to diabetes, its antecedents, or its treatment.

The 2026–2027 Magnuson Scholars represent all six Health Sciences schools: Azeez Fashina (Dentistry), Nayoon Gim and Annika Syvrud (Medicine), Suah Park (Nursing), Ryan Nguyen (Pharmacy), Yuwei Wang (Public Health), and Joanna (Jo) La Torre (Social Work).

Full scholar profiles: hss.washington.edu/magnuson-scholars/current-scholars/

Magnuson Scholar Program: hss.washington.edu/magnuson-scholars/

Media contact: Lisa Plancich | planlis@uw.edu

Celebrating Our Faculty This National Nurses Week

Nurse Week logo with words National Nurses Week on it, and May 6-12, 2026

Nurses Week is a time to recognize the dedication, innovation, and compassion that nurses bring to their work every day. At the UW School of Nursing, that spirit extends far beyond the bedside. Our faculty are researchers, clinicians, educators, and leaders who are shaping the future of health care — advancing science, driving policy, and improving lives across communities locally, nationally, and around the world.

This Nurses Week, we are proud to shine a light on just a few of the extraordinary faculty members who represent the best of what nursing has to offer — below is a selection of our incredible UW School of Nursing faculty and the accomplishments and recognitions they have recently received. Their achievements remind us that nursing is not a single path, but a profession of boundless possibility.

Suha Ballout, PhD

Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging

Dr. Ballout has been appointed to the American Academy of Nursing’s Policy Standing Committee on Global and Public Health, effective June 1, 2026. A fellow of both the American Academy of Nursing and the Academy of Diversity Leaders in Nursing, she was selected by the Academy’s Board of Directors to advance strategic, collaborative, and proactive policy work in support of healthy lives for all people.

Betty Bekemeier, PhD

Professor and Director, Northwest Center for Public Health Practice, Child, Family and Population Health Nursing

Dr. Bekemeier is the recipient of the Welch/Woerne Path Paver Award from the Friends of the National Institute of Nursing Research (FNINR), presented at the organization’s annual gala in Washington D.C. The award recognizes a nurse researcher who has made significant scientific contributions in a field that advances our understanding of human health and health care. This honor reflects Dr. Bekemeier’s decades of transformative impact on public health nursing research and leadership.

Autumn Dennistoun

Clinical Instructor, Child, Family and Population Health Nursing | DNP Alumna

Dennistoun developed hands-on naloxone training tailored to commercial fishers and is now expanding the program across Washington, Idaho, Alaska, and Oregon to reduce overdose fatalities in one of the region’s most dispersed and underserved workforces.

Maya Elias, PhD

Assistant Professor, Biobehavioral Nursing and Health Informatics

Dr. Elias has been selected as a 2026 IMPACT Faculty Scholar through the National Institute on Aging’s IMPACT Collaboratory. The one-year program supports investigators developing expertise in embedded pragmatic clinical trials focused on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, providing mentorship, scholarly projects, and career development opportunities.

Jennifer T. Sonney, PhD, APRN, PPCNP-BC, FAANP, FAAN

Faculty, UW School of Nursing

Dr. Sonney has been named a recipient of both the 2026 National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners President’s Award and the Loretta C. Ford Distinguished Nurse Practitioner Award — the organization’s highest honor. This dual recognition reflects her exceptional leadership, scholarship, and dedication to improving health outcomes for children and families at the state, national, and international level.

Megan Streur, PhD, RN, ARNP

Associate Professor, Biobehavioral Nursing and Health Informatics

Dr. Streur has been elected as a Fellow of the American Heart Association and inducted into the American Academy of Nursing. Her research focuses on the biological and behavioral mechanisms of symptoms and patient-centered outcomes in adults with cardiovascular disease, with a particular focus on atrial fibrillation. She also maintains an active clinical practice as a cardiac electrophysiology nurse practitioner at UW Medicine.

Brenda Kaye Zierler, PhD, RN, RVT, FAAN

Chair and Professor, Biobehavioral Nursing and Health Informatics

Dr. Zierler has been named the 2026 recipient of the Carlos De La Pena Award for Excellence in Clinical and Translational Science. Recognized for a decade of transformative leadership as director of the Institute of Translational Health Sciences Team Science Core, her work developing leadership training programs, team-based communication tools, and team writing toolkits has reached thousands of researchers. The award will be presented at ITHS EXPO 26 on May 12, 2026.

Oleg Zaslavsky, PhD

Faculty, UW School of Nursing

Dr. Zaslavsky has received a five-year, approximately $2.5 million NIH R01 award to develop and evaluate VOCALE Frailty — a scalable digital program designed to help older adults living independently manage frailty and maintain quality of life. The web-based intervention offers peer support, self-care resources, and guided problem-solving tools tailored for older adults with limited digital literacy, and will be tested across 10 continuing care retirement communities.

When the Whole Person Walks Through the Door

For patients navigating severe mental health needs, physical health often suffers quietly alongside. MaryAnne Murray built a practice around refusing to let that happen.

For patients with severe mental health needs, physical health often suffers quietly alongside. Not because care does not exist, but because the system that is supposed to provide it was not designed with them in mind. For some, the fear of not being fully seen or treated with respect is the reason they stop seeking care altogether.

MaryAnne Murray, a psychiatric nurse practitioner based in Long Beach, Washington, believes that the intertwined nature of physical and mental health is an invitation to innovate. Her work in community health spans decades, beginning in 1991 as a chemical dependency counselor and continuing across mental health, addiction treatment, and rural care settings. Today, she cares for patients experiencing severe or persistent mental health crises, many of whom have gone years without consistent medical care. Her approach to co-occurring disorders, and to the physical health consequences of prolonged medical disconnection, is grounded in one conviction: patients deserve to feel safe, dignified, and better.

A Community Responsive Design

For many of MaryAnne’s patients, medication management appointments happen quarterly, creating a regular opportunity to connect with a practitioner. Though her specialty is psychiatric care, working alongside primary care providers in the same setting, including her husband, Dr. Dave Cundiff, made it possible to respond to needs that didn’t fit neatly into a single appointment type.

“Zelda,” one of MaryAnne’s patients, came in for a quarterly visit. During the appointment, MaryAnne noticed she was limping from a fall the day before. Rather than asking her to schedule a separate visit elsewhere, MaryAnne walked “Zelda” down the hall to Dr. Cundiff. That one visit, in a well-equipped building, created one less barrier to comprehensive care.

“Allen” was already in an appointment with Dr. Cundiff when he began experiencing emotional distress. The doctor came down the hall to find MaryAnne. Together, they listened as “Allen” described nightmares so severe that he was afraid to fall asleep, guided him through what he was experiencing, and stayed with him until he was calm. With added medication management through subsequent visits, “Allen” reported that the nightmares had stopped. He was sleeping well for the first time in his life.

Both “Zelda” and “Allen” had access to what they needed because psychiatric and primary care shared the same space and the same team.

What the research says, and what Washington needs

Washington ranks 32nd nationally for overall access to behavioral health care, and one in four residents lives with a behavioral health disorder. The gap between need and available care is not abstract. It appears in chaotic emergency department visits, in missed diagnoses, and in patients who go years without seeing a provider. Research compiled by SAMHSA on co-located psychiatric and primary care models shows that integration increases primary care visits among people with serious mental illness, improves health outcomes, and reduces emergency department use. The model works. Washington needs more of it.

“We treat the whole person — addressing physical, mental, and spiritual health without creating divisions between them,” MaryAnne said. “We’re also very aware of how social and environmental factors shape a person’s wellbeing.” – MaryAnne Murray

Head-and-shoulders portrait of a person with long brown hair wearing rectangular glasses, a pink top, and a purple patterned scarf, photographed indoors against a softly blurred background. — MaryAnne Murray

Head-and-shoulders portrait of a person with short gray hair wearing glasses, a dark suit jacket, a white shirt, and a red patterned tie, photographed against a plain gray background. — Dr. Dave Cundiff

MaryAnne and her husband, Dr. Cundiff, are both driven by a belief in integrated services. Not as a philosophy, but as a practice, they are willing to build from the ground up. Together, they are preparing to open Smart Moves Health, a clinic that will integrate primary care, psychiatry, and medication-assisted treatment for substance use disorders, with plans to expand services over time. To make it possible, they purchased a former clinic building and have spent years renovating it, investing their own resources to bring the space back into use. It is, in the most literal sense, an investment in the health of a community they believe in.

The structure of care shapes who it can reach

MaryAnne’s story points to something larger than a single practice model. Across Washington and beyond, psychiatric nurse practitioners are stepping into persistent gaps in behavioral health access, bringing clinical expertise alongside a nuanced understanding of the social and cultural realities that shape mental health. They are essential to closing this divide, recognizing needs that might otherwise go unseen, and building pathways to care where barriers once stood.

“Zelda” and “Allen’s” stories are examples of what becomes possible when care is designed around the whole person and delivered by clinicians equipped to meet them there.

MaryAnne Murray is an alumna of the University of Washington School of Nursing’s Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program, where she earned her Master of Nursing in 2011 and completed her Doctor of Nursing Practice in 2012.

Considering the impact you could make?

If this story connected with you, know that there is a place for you in it. Learn more about psychiatric and mental health nursing programs on our website, or sign up for an information session.

Patient names in this story are pseudonyms. Personal health information is protected in accordance with HIPAA regulations.

Miles for Mamas

The Distance They Carry

In rural Tanzania, women are known to walk six miles or more to reach a prenatal clinic. Some carry infants on their backs while riding motorcycles at seven or eight months pregnant, bearing the entire weight of the distance between their homes and the care their growing babies need.

When Jessie Jimenez, a DNP student at the University of Washington School of Nursing, witnessed what those miles cost while working in Tanzania, she felt compelled to act.

Most of the women she saw making that journey had no guarantee of finding a provider when they arrived. In areas where ultrasound is unavailable, both providers and patients are often left to make critical decisions without accurate information about how a pregnancy is progressing or the ability to detect complications that require urgent care. The ordinariness of this specific gap, the basic need to monitor a pregnancy in a timely, accurate way, felt extraordinary to Jessie. She returned to Seattle with one clear goal: to purchase an ultrasound machine for St. Maria de Mattias Hospital in Manyoni, Tanzania.

On March 29, the first Miles for Mamas 5K took place in Seattle. Dozens of runners and community members gathered to cover the distance for mothers who had traversed difficult journeys at every stage of their pregnancies to care for their growing families. Every dollar raised went toward purchasing the ultrasound. Every mile ran represented a hopeful outcome for the women Jessie met in Manyoni.

A need that belongs to everyone

Culturally responsive, clinically trained, and well-resourced nurses and birth workers remain among the most powerful interveners in cases of preventable maternal and fetal mortality. Accessible healthcare is still hard to come by in places where affordable transportation is scarce, equipment is outdated, and practitioners with broad scopes of practice are increasingly difficult to find. Stories like Jessie’s reflect a pattern: a nurse who saw more than a moment, more than a case, and built a pathway to safety where a barrier previously existed.

“People will go to great lengths to access care. The question is whether the system is willing to meet them part of the way.” – Jessie Jimenez

Jessie is currently pursuing her Doctorate of Nursing Practice in Population Health and Systems Leadership at the University of Washington School of Nursing.

Considering the impact you could make?

If this story connected with you, know that there is a place for you in it. Donations to the Miles for Mamas Project are still open on its GoFundMe website.

Learn more about global health nursing and graduate programs on our website, or sign up for an information session.

Hands that Meet the Moment

An ordinary morning at HealthPoint’s Kent Clinic quickly became something no one could have anticipated, and everything this team was prepared for.

In Washington state, millions of residents live in primary care shortage areas where geography, language, income, or immigration status stand between a person and the care they need. The consequences are not abstract. According to the Washington State Department of Health, those gaps directly shape maternal health outcomes, and in rural and underserved communities, local clinics are often the last line of response.

At HealthPoint’s Kent Clinic, a Federally Qualified Health Center founded in 1971 to expand access to care, one seemingly ordinary morning became something no one could have anticipated, and a testament to the incredible impact of local, accessible, responsive care.

When the clinic becomes the delivery room

Dr. Cecilia Gilmore, a Nurse Midwife at HealthPoint’s Kent Clinic, was checking in on a pregnant patient when she noticed the woman couldn’t sit still. As a trained nurse and midwife, she asked the question any clinician would: “How long have you been feeling this way?”

HealthPoint’s Kent Clinic is not a labor and delivery unit, but when her patient answered, “Since this morning. Contracting every fifteen minutes. Now every five,” Cecilia understood that was about to change.

“I walked out, went to one of our pods and just said ‘Hey, can someone call 911? We’re going to have a baby,” said Cecilia.

That morning, midwives, medical assistants, and nurses came together to safely bring a baby into the world, ensuring both mother and child were healthy. Not because they had the right equipment, but because they had the right instinct, to meet the moment in front of them, whatever it asked.

Healthy maternal outcomes are not only the product of a well-timed, well-planned birth. Mothers, families, and caregivers need to know that safe, responsive, quality care is accessible to them where they are, when they need it.

Washington needs more nurses

At the University of Washington School of Nursing, we advance nursing science and practice, educate future leaders, and pioneer improvements in health and healthcare. And in pursuing healthcare for all, we must ask: who is being left out, and what can we build for them?

Head-and-shoulders portrait of a person with short, curly hair, wearing a high-collar knit sweater. The background is a plain, light-colored studio backdrop. — Cecilia Gilmore, DNP, CNM, ARNP

Head-and-shoulders portrait of a person with short, curly hair, wearing an off-the-shoulder patterned top. The person is outdoors, with a softly blurred background of buildings and greenery. — Letitia Salazar Monk, DNP, CNM, CLC, CH, ARNP

Cecilia Gilmore, DNP, CNM, ARNP, graduated from the University of Washington School of Nursing’s DNP Nurse-Midwifery program in March 2023. Letitia Salazar Monk, DNP, CNM, CLC, CH, ARNP, graduated from the same program in March 2022 and returned to the UW School of Nursing as faculty, where she now helps prepare the next generation of nurse midwives.

The UW Nurse-Midwifery program prepares graduates to practice at the highest level of clinical care. The choices Cecilia and Letitia have made in where and how they practice are exactly what that preparation makes possible. By showing up in community settings, responding to needs as they present, and modeling care that is accessible and grounded in the people they serve, they bring what was learned in the classroom into the communities that need it most. For students watching them work, that is its own kind of education.

“When a colleague told me that Ceci and Letitia had cared for someone who delivered her baby in the clinic, managing the situation with calm, grace, and care for everyone involved, my first thought was ‘of course they did.’ I have known both of them since arriving at UW and I know both to be excellent providers with the skill, compassion and awareness to handle any situation that comes their way. I’m so happy for the dyad they cared for. I know they were in amazing hands!” — Ellen Solis, DNP, CNM, FACNM, Specialty Director, Nurse-Midwifery DNP, UW School of Nursing

Considering the impact you could make?

If this story moved something in you, there may be a place for you in it. Visit our website to learn more about our graduate and undergraduate nursing programs, or sign up for an information session.

Husky Giving Day: One Student’s Story Shows the Power of Emergency Aid

When Yufei He, BSN, RN, was in her second quarter of the University of Washington’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, she received word that her father had suffered a stroke in China. Working while enrolled in school full time, she did not have enough money to purchase a plane ticket home.

She turned to the UW School of Nursing’s financial aid office, which connected her with the Fathi Emergency Fund for Nursing Students.

“The emergency fund was the one that paid my flight to China,” She said. “It really makes a difference to the students that are receiving it.”

The Fathi Emergency Fund provides immediate financial support to nursing students facing unexpected crises, covering urgent needs such as housing, food, medical expenses, and transportation to clinical sites. The fund helps ensure that a sudden financial hardship does not force a student to leave the program.

“It’s always something happening in our life that’s unexpected,” she said. “Maybe we’re unable to finish school if we don’t have extra support.”

She graduated from the ABSN program in 2025 and is now a registered nurse.

Today, in recognition of Husky Giving Day — the University of Washington’s annual day of giving — the UW School of Nursing is raising money for the Fathi Emergency Fund. Gifts made today are matched 3-to-1. To give, visit our Husky Giving Day webpage.

Visit the UW Nursing Husky Giving Page

UW Nursing Student Fiza Noman Explores Aging and Healthcare in Japan

Six smiling people pose for a group selfie in an indoor event space. They are standing close together, looking up at the camera, with patterned carpet and other attendees visible in the background. — Fiza Noman with fellow students in Japan

Fiza Noman, a nursing student at the University of Washington, participated in the Global Leader Training and International Exchange Program for Nursing students in Japan through the De Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging. The program brings together students from Japan, Singapore, the United Kingdom, China, Palestine, and the United States to explore challenges related to aging societies and the role of nursing in global health.

During her time in Tokyo, Fiza completed hospital rotations and engaged in academic and cultural exchange activities. She participated in discussions and collaborative projects comparing healthcare approaches for older adults in Japan and other countries.

“I completed a slideshow towards the end of the program highlighting different healthcare models and approaches provided to older adults in Japan and other countries,” she said.

Reflecting on the experience, Fiza said, “This opportunity to collaborate with other nursing students and faculty from Japan and other foreign countries all over the world has been a great and lifetime experience. This not only allowed me to explore Japan’s community but also the healthcare system. I gained valuable friendships and perspectives from this program, which will continue to shape my journey as a nurse and expand my horizons and confidence to share my passion and work with a global health community.”

She also noted, “I learned how different healthcare systems address the needs of aging populations and how cultural values play a significant role. I gained a broader global perspective on nursing leadership and can now further advocate for older adults. This program strengthened my understanding of health equity, interdisciplinary teamwork, and the importance of collaboration, which can make impactful changes.”

The program provided Fiza with firsthand experience in international nursing practices and offered insight into how cultural and systemic differences shape care for aging populations worldwide.

UW Nursing Student Hyunhae Hanni Lee Awarded Grant for Statistical Training and Dissertation Research

Hyunhae Hanni Lee, MS, RN, a PhD candidate and research assistant at the University of Washington School of Nursing, has been awarded a $5,000 grant to support advanced statistical training and research development from April 1, 2026, through March 31, 2027.

This funding will enable Lee to pursue an intensive summer training opportunity designed to deepen her expertise in biostatistics and strengthen the analytical rigor of her doctoral research. As part of this work, she will enroll in a specialized course in mediation analysis, directly supporting Aim 3 of her dissertation and enhancing her ability to examine complex relationships within her research.

In addition to formal coursework, a portion of the award will support access to advanced statistical software, providing essential tools to further her ongoing research activities.

This grant reflects a meaningful investment in Lee’s continued growth as a nurse scientist and recognizes her strong commitment to advancing her methodological expertise and doctoral scholarship.

Music, Memory, and a UW Nurse Researcher Making Seattle Headlines

Portrait photo of an individual wearing glasses and a dark blazer, positioned in front of bookshelves filled with books. The background is softly blurred, suggesting a library or study setting. — Sarah McKiddy

Work by a UW PhD candidate in Nursing Science has caught the attention of two of Seattle’s most prominent outlets. Sarah McKiddy, a PhD candidate in Nursing Science at the University of Washington, was featured by The Seattle Times and Seattle Met for her work bringing professional musicians to the Memory Hub, a First Hill community center serving people living with dementia and their care partners.

Bridging Two Worlds

McKiddy came to nursing following her studies in music, and it was her work in the community as a violinist that led her to think more seriously about the connective power of music and the inequities that shape access to it. Those early observations led Sarah to wonder whether music might be part of a broader conversation on health behaviors, which ultimately drew her to nursing.

Her scholarly interests have since crystallized around cognitive health, aging, and music-based interventions, with particular attention to cognitive resilience, nostalgia, and the social and structural factors that shape dementia care.

The Research

McKiddy’s dissertation uses implementation science to explore how a performing arts organization and a dementia-specific community center can partner to co-design music-based programming, with professional musicians working alongside people living with memory loss and their care partners from the ground up. According to her profile on the UW Memory and Brain Wellness Center website, her work explores how creative practices such as music can be infused into community and clinical settings to help sustain or reshape a sense of self and well-being across the lifespan.

McKiddy’s collaborative ethos is reflected in the project’s dissemination efforts as well. She is partnering with UW Ethnomusicology student Leo Freedman on a soundscape project that complements written and visual dissemination materials by allowing listeners to experience and re-experience the live music engagements for themselves like an aural scrapbook. She is also working with Sydney Horen from the UW School of Nursing Advancement team to create the community-partner-facing storytelling and design materials. The Memory Hub project brings this process-focused philosophy into practice. By bringing professional musicians into a dementia-specific center and studying how that collaboration unfolds, McKiddy is building an evidence base for cross-sector partnerships that could inform how arts and healthcare systems work together beyond Seattle.

A Growing Voice in Healthy Aging

McKiddy’s faculty mentor is Dr. Basia Belza, and she is a former de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging pre-doctoral scholar. She has been building toward this work since her undergraduate nursing studies, when she led an early literature review on music therapy and dementia, co-founded a chapter of the Youth Movement Against Alzheimer’s, and partnered with the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Idaho Chapter.

Her coverage in The Seattle Times and Seattle Met marks a meaningful moment of public recognition for research shaped by questions about how the arts intersect with individual and collective health, and by scientific inquiry into what the arts have long revealed about human experience.

Women’s History Month: Women Shaping Nursing

During Women’s History Month, the University of Washington School of Nursing is recognizing the women whose leadership, scholarship, advocacy and care have shaped nursing across generations — and celebrating those carrying that work forward today.

At the UW School of Nursing, women have helped define what nursing can be: a field grounded in care, strengthened by science and expanded through leadership. School history reflects that legacy through leaders like Mary Tschudin, who helped build nursing research at UW; Rheba de Tornyay, who helped develop the School’s first PhD in nursing science; Kathryn Barnard, whose work advanced infant mental health; and Jeanne Quint Benoliel, who helped found the field of palliative and hospice care.

That same spirit of leadership continues in students like Marin Strong, a PhD in Nursing Science student whose recent appointment as a Sigma United Nations Youth Representative reflects not only personal achievement, but history in the making.

Strong was selected to represent Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing to the United Nations and the broader NGO community, joining a small group of youth representatives helping elevate nursing leadership on the global stage. In the role, she will participate in United Nations events, promote engagement with the Sustainable Development Goals and help advocate for the value of nursing leadership in addressing global health challenges.

For Strong, the opportunity is both deeply personal and part of a larger calling.

“At the heart of it for me is that I hope to amplify the impactful work nurses do every single day,” Strong said. “I also want to help nurses see the role they play in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals. Global is local and local is global.”

Her appointment reflects a view of nursing that is expansive, interdisciplinary and deeply connected to the world beyond any one clinic, classroom or community. Strong brings experience across community and global health nursing, with work spanning Alaska, Texas, Washington and international settings including Indonesia, Nepal, India, South Africa and Brazil. She has contributed to research collaborations focused on HIV and STI prevention in Kenya and currently studies programs addressing opioid use disorder in the Seattle area.

Women’s History Month often invites us to look back at landmark achievements and the women who opened doors before us. It is also a chance to recognize leadership as it is unfolding in the present. Strong’s journey reflects a tradition long visible at the UW School of Nursing: women stepping into new spaces, asking bigger questions and helping shape the future of health care, research and public life.

The women who shaped nursing’s past did more than make room for others. They expanded the field itself. During Women’s History Month, Marin Strong’s story reminds us that this work continues — and that the future of nursing will be shaped by women who are already stepping forward.

UW Nursing PhD Student Appointed UN Youth Representative

Marin Strong, a PhD in Nursing Science student at the UW School of Nursing, has been selected as a Sigma United Nations (UN) Youth Representative, a prestigious volunteer position that will place her at the forefront of global nursing leadership and advocacy.

Strong is one of three youth representatives chosen to represent Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing to the United Nations and the non-governmental organization community. She joins a team of six UN liaisons who promote nursing leadership on the world stage.

“I was immediately floored and in disbelief that it was all actually happening. This is a position I have aspired to for years, and something a younger version of me could only have dreamed of,” said Strong. “The title feels much, much bigger than me right now, so I am excited to learn the ins and outs and grow into it.”

Three people seated outdoors as one person wearing blue scrubs guides another person’s hands while they hold a dental model with removable teeth, with a third person observing beside them; a clipboard and chair are nearby. — In Nepal, Strong partnered with local and international dental providers to conduct remote mobile clinics, and aided in blood pressure screening prior to treatment and toothbrushing education.

The UN representative positions support Sigma’s engagement at the highest levels of global collaboration by attending and participating in various UN events, programs, and activities. Representatives gather information to inform and advise Sigma’s global initiatives department, helping fulfill the organization’s mission to develop nurses anywhere to improve healthcare everywhere.

“At the heart of it for me is that I hope to amplify the impactful work nurses do every single day,” Strong said. “I also want to help nurses see the role they play in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals. Global is local and local is global. But I don’t think we spend enough time showing nurses how true that is for them.”

Strong’s selection recognizes both her academic achievements and her potential to advocate for nursing on an international platform. As a PhD student, she

A group of seven people standing together outdoors in a courtyard, wearing a mix of casual and traditional clothing, with building walls, doorways, and greenery in the background. — In Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh, India, Marin and her peers study aging and care by doing field-based community engagement work, comparing across sociocultural and geopolitical contexts in South Africa and Brazil in the same semester.

brings a deep commitment to critical thinking, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and evidence-based practice that she sees as inseparable from nursing leadership at any level.

“Nurses make up an estimated 59% of all healthcare workers worldwide, totaling about 29 million strong. More than half of the global population is under 30 years old. This is why the voice of nursing and youth are so essential in global decision-making spaces like the UN — we are the majority,” Strong said. “Nurses are uniquely positioned to bridge policy and lived realities, seeing firsthand how these high-level decisions translate into real outcomes for patients and communities. Without nurses at the table, policies can stray and lose touch with the realities they are meant to address.”

Strong came to her PhD studies at the UW School of Nursing with a wealth of experience across community and global health nursing. Her career has taken her across the United States, from Alaska to Texas to Washington, as well as internationally, including living in Indonesia, researching maternal care-seeking for childhood illness in Nepal, and studying globalization and care in India, South Africa, and Brazil. She has been part of a research team collaborating across the U.S. and Kenya to improve HIV and STI prevention for pregnant women, and currently studies programs implementing mobile vans and street-based medication for opioid use disorder in the Seattle area. This summer, she will serve as a Strengthening Care Opportunities through Partnership in Ethiopia (SCOPE) fellow, supporting projects focused on obstetric fistula and maternal mental health.

Two people seated at a table in a radio studio, each speaking into a microphone, with shelves of CDs behind them and a digital wall clock displaying the time. — In Kotzebue, Alaska, Marin and her public health nursing colleague host a weekly radio spot to provide education on public health topics like vaccines, STI prevention, and diabetes.

In her new role, Strong will attend and participate in UN events, advocate for the nursing profession on the international stage, promote engagement with the Sustainable Development Goals, and help educate world leaders about Sigma and the value of nursing leadership in addressing global health challenges. She also hopes to increase visibility and understanding of what PhD-trained nurse scientists do.

“I want to accurately represent nurses as the incredibly smart, compassionate, innovative leaders we are,” she said. “My appointment also coincides with a massive retraction of US involvement in these exact types of multilateral and multinational organizations. So it means even more to me to still have access to these spaces and show up with the trust, dignity, and respect that are foundational to the nursing profession.”

According to Sigma, the UN representatives help educate world leaders about the organization and promote the value of nursing leadership in addressing global health challenges.

Three people standing together indoors in a covered open‑air structure, with wooden posts and a concrete floor, posing for a photo with additional people and activity visible in the background. — In Cilacap, Indonesia, Marin has dinner with her first host family as a Rotary Youth Exchange Program student.

Strong also offered a message to other nursing students and early-career nurses with aspirations toward global health leadership: “Stay true to your values, identify your co-conspirators, and look for the opportunities to help. My journey here was so nonlinear… the truth is, it was often messy, uncertain, and full of unplanned side missions that totally transformed who I was and the way I saw the world. Actively see every opportunity as having something to teach you, especially those that stretch you beyond nursing and force you to step outside of yourself and your immediate world.”

For more information about Sigma’s United Nations representatives, visit the Sigma Global Nursing Excellence website.

de Tornyay Center Winter 2026 News Round-up

Winter 2026 news from the de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging and our collaborators:

Congratulations to Oleg Zaslavsky and colleagues for receiving an NIH Grant for their digital VOCALE Frailty digital program, which aims to support older adults with frailty.
The Dementia Action Collaborative released a flyer illustrating ways to lower your dementia risk.
UW School of Nursing emerita faculty member Marge Batey was featured on the cover of Seattle Parks & Recreation’s Lifelong Recreation guide!
Congratulations to PhD candidate and center illustrator Lalipat Phianhasin for receiving a Sigma Small Grant for the “Role of Social Support as a Social Determinant of Health in Functional Status and Cognitive Function among Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Survivors”!
The American Academy of Nursing recently put out a position statement on the use of AI, supporting “the responsible and ethical use of artificial intelligence (AI) as a transformative force in health care to support, rather than supplant human wisdom and nursing clinical judgment.”
A recent UW Bothell School of Nursing & Health Studies story highlighted visiting scholar Sayaka Suzuki’s trip to the UW, including the UW Healthy Aging Forum!
Basia Belza was a co-author on the recent PLOS One article, ” Expanding rural access to chronic pain care through nurse care management: A hybrid type I effectiveness-implementation trial protocol”.
UW School of Nursing BSN student Julia Lee published an editorial in the Journal of Gerontological Nursing titled “The Lifespan Impact of Ageism Through the Lens of Self-Perceptions of Aging”.

Scholar Spotlight: Suah Park

Suah Park is a PhD in Nursing Science candidate and one of the de Tornyay Center’s 2025-2026 Healthy Aging Scholars. Her faculty mentor is Eeeseung Byun, and her project is titled, “Socio-contextual, Physical, and Psychological Factors Associated with Sleep Disturbances Among Korean Immigrant Older Adults: A Mixed Methods Study”.

What made you want to pursue a PhD in Nursing Science?

Working as a nurse practitioner, I realized that older adults are often prescribed multiple medications. I think there definitely is a need to develop or tailor non-pharmaceutical interventions. Seeing the growing emphasis on non-pharmaceutical approaches for older adults motivated me to pursue research in this area.

So through your research you’re hoping to help create and improve non-pharmaceutical interventions?

Yes, particularly regarding sleep, as sleep medications pose greater risks for older adults due to their significant side effects. These include increased risks of falls, dementia, and confusion. In clinical practice, there are frequent alerts indicating that many sleep medications are not recommended for older adults.

How did you become interested in the area of sleep?

Originally, I’m from South Korea, where I finished my bachelor’s degree and worked in hospitals. After that, I moved to the United States and received my training to become a nurse practitioner at Virginia Commonwealth University. I got my first job as a nurse practitioner in a primary care clinic in South Tacoma seeing mainly Korean American older adults.

I noticed that some of my patients had depression and anxiety. But they didn’t express themselves by saying, “I have anxiety” or “I have depression.” Rather they would say, “I can’t sleep.” Many Asian Americans are reluctant to express their feelings because of stigma.

I tried to prescribe depression or anxiety medications, and they declined to take them due to stigma around mental health medications. But I noticed that once their sleep quality improved, their mood often improved as well. This observation is why I wanted to focus on sleep quality among older adults.

My dissertation is about sleep quality and sleep disturbance in Korean American immigrant older adults. There’s already existing non-pharmacological interventions for sleep, but I would like to improve their implementation by accounting for cultural beliefs and practices regarding sleep.

So you were finding people are sometimes more open to treating the sleep problem, which can help with mental health?

Yes, and then, once I start a conversation about a sleep issue, patients become more open to addressing depression and anxiety. It’s a conversation like, “How do you sleep?” or “Do you sleep well?” And then they say, “I cannot fall asleep, my mind feels busy, I have many concerns.”

And then I suggest, “It seems that your sleep concern is coming from your mood. Can you talk to me about your mood?”

Then they’re more open to addressing their anxiety or depression. Also, they’re more likely to reveal their personal experiences. This approach is helpful when you need to start a conversation related to a mental health issue.

Could you briefly describe the project you’re doing with the de Tornyay Center Scholarship?

It’s a cross-sectional mixed-method study, designed to examine the association between socio- contextual, physical, and psychological factors and sleep disturbance in Korean immigrant older adults.

Through the interviews, I’m going to explore the role of sleep-related beliefs and sleep hygiene practices as potential correlates of sleep disturbance. I will also explore culturally informed beliefs or perceptions and behaviors related to sleep through qualitative content analysis.

What are some of the cultural considerations related to sleep for Korean Americans?

The most common thing is that Koreans often connect sleep and diligence. In Korean culture, short sleepers are often perceived as more diligent, whereas sleeping longer can be viewed as a sign of laziness. They feel guilty about napping because of this. Also, there is a strong cultural preference for traditional and natural remedies for sleep, such as warm teas, foot baths, moxibustion, herbal medicine, and meditation. Many Koreans tend to avoid sleep medications because they worry about potential dependence. Through interviews, I hope to better understand sleep beliefs and identify barriers to healthy sleep practices in this community.

Carrying the Torch: Black Nurses Who Shaped the UW School of Nursing and the Future of Nursing, Part 3

In Part 3 of our Black History Month series, we culminate by honoring Verna Hill, a nurse, scholar, and community leader whose life reflects the enduring legacy of Black nurses in shaping the profession and expanding what care can look like.

In Part 1, the we recognized Black nurses whose leadership, advocacy, and mentorship strengthened both the profession and the UW community. Their work broke down barriers in education and practice, creating pathways for future generations while advancing more equitable models of care.

In Part 2, we looked further back, honoring Black nurses and caregivers who shaped nursing long before the profession fully opened its doors to them. From Civil War-era figures such as Sojourner Truth, Susie King Taylor, Harriet Tubman, and Lucy Higgs Nichols, to the “Black Angels” who provided critical care during the tuberculosis epidemic, these nurses practiced skilled, community-rooted care despite systemic exclusion and lack of formal recognition. Their contributions laid essential foundations for public health and health equity.

Now, in Part 3, we turn to Verna Hill’s story. Born in Hope, Arkansas in 1927, she carried hope not as an abstract idea, but as a daily practice. After navigating segregation and discrimination to earn her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1954, she built a career spanning public health, mental health nursing, international health exchange, and mentorship. As a longtime leader in the Mary Mahoney Professional Nurses Organization, she invested in scholarships, advocacy, and community-building to ensure Black nurses would not walk alone.

Verna Hill’s life connects the throughline of this series: Black nurses have always shaped the profession—sometimes from the margins, often without recognition, but always with vision. Her legacy reminds us that nursing is not confined to clinical walls. It is the ongoing work of seeing who is left out and building what should exist.

Read the full story

Carrying the Torch: Black Nurses Who Shaped the UW School of Nursing and the Future of Nursing, Part 2

The leadership demonstrated by UW-affiliated nurses is rooted in a much longer national history shaped by Black women who practiced nursing long before the profession was formally accessible to them.

Civil War-era nurses such as Sojourner Truth, Susie King Taylor, Harriet Tubman, and Lucy Higgs Nichols provided skilled care to soldiers and civilians alike, laying early foundations for nursing practice in the United States. Later generations of community-based caregivers continued this work through public health nursing, midwifery, and clinical practice, often in the absence of legal recognition, professional credentials, or institutional support.

During public health emergencies, including the tuberculosis epidemic, Black nurses, referred to as the “Black Angels,” stepped into caregiving roles when others would not. They provided critical care within health systems that marginalized their labor and excluded their contributions from the historical record, underscoring the essential yet frequently unacknowledged role Black nurses played in advancing public health and health equity. We appreciate the opportunity to share their names and excerpts of their stories with our community.

Mary Eliza Mahoney was the first African American to graduate from an American nursing program in 1879. She worked to improve access and professional standards for African American nurses and was a co-founder of the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses.

Adah Belle Thoms was a nurse, educator, and national leader whose advocacy challenged racial discrimination in nursing education and professional practice in the early 20th century. She served as acting director of nursing at Lincoln Hospital in New York and later became president of the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses (NACGN). Through her leadership and policy advocacy, Thoms worked to expand access to professional training and improve conditions for Black nurses nationwide.

Mabel Keaton Staupers was a nurse, organizer, and civil rights advocate whose leadership transformed opportunities for Black nurses in both civilian and military service. As executive secretary of the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses, she led successful campaigns to end racial discrimination in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps and the Navy Nurse Corps during World War II. Her efforts opened pathways for Black nurses to serve, lead, and gain professional recognition within national health systems.

Betty Smith Williams was a public health nurse and educator who co-founded the National Black Nurses Association (NBNA) in 1971 to address the exclusion of Black nurses from professional leadership and decision-making spaces. Through NBNA, Williams helped build a national network focused on mentorship, advocacy, and health equity, creating lasting opportunities for Black nurses to lead across clinical practice, education, research, and policy.

Together, these leaders laid the groundwork for greater inclusion in education, practice, and leadership that continue to influence nursing today.

Organization Spotlight

Black Nurses Rock
Black Nurses Rock is a dynamic community and movement celebrating Black excellence in nursing. Through social media campaigns, mentorship programs, and professional networking, they amplify the voices and achievements of Black nurses while inspiring students to enter the profession. The platform highlights contemporary Black nurse leaders, innovators, and advocates who are shaping the future of healthcare.

American Association for the History of Nursing – Black Nurse Pioneers
The AAHN preserves and shares the rich history of nursing, including dedicated resources on Black nurse pioneers who broke barriers and transformed healthcare. Their archives and educational materials document the contributions of trailblazers like Mary Eliza Mahoney (first Black professional nurse), Estelle Massey Osborne (first Black nursing faculty member at a major university), and many others whose courage and excellence paved the way for today’s diverse nursing workforce.

Carrying the Torch: Black Nurses Who Shaped the UW School of Nursing and the Future of Nursing, Part 1

During Black History Month, the University of Washington School of Nursing recognizes Black nurses whose contributions helped shape the profession and strengthen the UW community. Their work reflects a long history of leadership, advocacy, mentorship, and commitment to equitable care that continues to inform nursing education and practice today.

Long before Black nurses gained equitable access to nursing education, licensure, and leadership roles, they played essential roles in advancing health care and public health in the United States. Across generations, Black nurses provided care during public health crises and within communities facing limited access to medical services, often while working within segregated health and education systems that denied their access to formal training, professional recognition, and advancement. Highlighting these histories helps place today’s achievements within a larger story of leadership, service, and perseverance.

At the UW School of Nursing, their impact is part of the School’s history and its ongoing mission to prepare nurses who serve diverse communities.

First Black graduate of the University of Washington School of Nursing

Lela Duffel Morris, BSN ’48, was the first Black graduate of the University of Washington School of Nursing, completing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1948. Her graduation represented a powerful breakthrough during an era when Black students were largely barred from access to nursing education through segregated systems and discriminatory policies nationwide.

Morris pursued a career in public health nursing, focusing on community health and improving access to care. Her presence at the School of Nursing helped expand opportunities for future students of diverse backgrounds and contributed to the School’s broader efforts to become more inclusive.

Founding member of the Mary Mahoney Professional Nurses Organization

Rachel Suggs Pitts, BSN ’56, was one of Seattle’s few Black nurses in the 1940s. She completed her nursing training at Brewster Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida, before relocating to Seattle, where she worked at Harborview Hospital, one of the first in the region to hire Black nurses. She later earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the UW School of Nursing in 1956.

Pitts was a founding member of the Mary Mahoney Professional Nurses Organization (MMPNO), established in 1949, which continues to nurture generations of nurses, expand professional opportunities, and advance public health services locally and regionally. Organizations such as MMPNO strengthened the profession by creating spaces for mentorship, leadership development, and collective advocacy, supporting Black nurses as they advanced clinical practice, education, and community health.

Deepened the UW School of Nursing’s engagement with anti-racism in nursing

Lois Price Spratlen, BSN ’76, served on the faculty of the University of Washington School of Nursing and held leadership roles focused on diversity, equity, and conflict resolution. She was appointed as UW Ombudsman for Sexual Harassment in 1982 and later served as University Ombudsman, becoming the first woman, first professional nurse, and first African American to hold that role.

Spratlen’s work extended across teaching, mediation, scholarship, and advocacy. She authored African American Registered Nurses in Seattle: The Struggle for Opportunity and Success, which documents the experiences of Black nurses in the region who provided skilled, compassionate care to Black patients and communities who were often dismissed, undertreated, or denied care within segregated health systems. As a leader within the Mary Mahoney Professional Nurses Organization, she helped to establish an endowment that supports student scholarships to this day.

Her commitment to mentorship, equity, and institutional change helped deepen the UW School of Nursing’s engagement with diversity and inclusion, leading to the development of the Manning Price Spratlen Center for Anti-Racism & Equity in Nursing (MPS CARE in Nursing), the nation’s first and only center dedicated to anti-racism in nursing. We are deeply grateful for her leadership and legacy.

Celebrate Black History Month in the Community

Upcoming Opportunities

Northwest African American Museum – ongoing exhibits and events, plus Black History Month programs, Coloring Outside the Lines

UW Tacoma – 100th Year Anniversary Event – BUILD Black History Month – A celebration of 100 years of Black History Month featuring keynote speaker Professor Luther Adams and Tacoma Poet Laureate Mari Griffin. Feb. 20, 1–4 p.m. at Washington State History Museum, Tacoma, WA (nearby UWT).

City of Bellevue and the Bellevue Arts Museum are partnering to host Melodies of the Diaspora: Celebrating 100 Years of Black History Month a special art exhibition honoring the 100th anniversary of Black History Month to the public. Visit both locations (check dates and times) to view an extensive collection of paintings, photography, sculptures, textiles and fashion. You can also register to attend a family-friendly opening or closing reception. All Feburary.

More opportunities

Organization Spotlight

National Black Nurses Association (NBNA)

Founded in 1971, the NBNA represents over 150,000 Black nurses across the United States. The organization is dedicated to advancing health equity, advocating for quality healthcare in underserved communities, and supporting the professional development of Black nurses. NBNA provides scholarships, leadership opportunities, and resources that empower the next generation of Black nursing professionals.

The HistoryMakers – Black Nurses Collection

The nation’s largest African American video oral history archive includes extensive interviews with pioneering Black nurses. These first-person narratives provide invaluable insight into the lived experiences of nurses who integrated hospitals, challenged discrimination, and advanced the profession.

UW Nursing Simulation Center Earns INACSL Endorsement for Excellence in Healthcare Simulation

SEATTLE — Feb. 6, 2026 — The University of Washington School of Nursing Simulation Center has earned the INACSL Healthcare Simulation Standards Endorsement™, awarded to programs that demonstrate excellence in evidence-based healthcare simulation education.

Granted by the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL), the endorsement recognizes simulation programs that consistently apply the Healthcare Simulation Standards of Best Practice®—a nationally recognized framework that guides simulation design in preparation and briefing, facilitation, professional integrity, and debriefing.

For UW Nursing, the endorsement affirms the central role simulation plays in preparing nurses to meet the realities of modern healthcare practice.

“High-quality simulation is essential to how we prepare nurses who are ready to lead in complex clinical environments,” said Executive Dean Hilaire Thompson. “This recognition reflects the expertise of our Simulation Center team and our responsibility to uphold the highest standards in nursing education.”

Preparing Nurses for Real-World Care

The UW School of Nursing Simulation Center supports learners across undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education programs. Through immersive, learner-centered simulation experiences, students develop clinical judgment, teamwork, communication skills, and confidence in a safe and supportive environment—before entering real clinical settings.

Simulation scenarios are intentionally designed and grounded in evidence-based practices, allowing students to practice high-stakes decision-making, reflect during structured debriefings, and learn from both success and failure without risk to patients.

“This endorsement affirms the rigor and intention behind every simulation experience we design and facilitate,” said Dr. Nicola Contreras, Director of the Simulation Center. “From prebriefing to debriefing, our work is focused on building clinical judgment, confidence, and readiness that directly translates to patient care.”

A National Mark of Excellence

Earning the INACSL endorsement places the UW School of Nursing Simulation Center among a select group of programs recognized for excellence in healthcare simulation. It also reinforces UW Nursing’s leadership as a top-ranked nursing school committed to innovation, continuous improvement, and patient safety.

The Simulation Center will be formally recognized at the INASL Conference in June, where endorsed institutions are celebrated for their contributions to advancing simulation education.

As UW Nursing celebrates the 55th year of educating nurse practitioners, this recognition reflects both a strong foundation and a forward-looking commitment to preparing nurses and advanced practice nurses who will advance health equity, quality, and safety across Washington state and beyond.

Learn more about the UW School of Nursing Simulation Center:

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UW Nursing Doctoral Student Awarded Phyllis Gutiérrez-Kenney Fellowship

Rosario Jazmin Ruiz Gonzalez, a second-year Doctor of Nursing Practice student at the UW School of Nursing specializing in Population Health and Systems Leadership, has been selected for the Latino Center for Health’s 7th Annual Phyllis Gutiérrez-Kenney Graduate Student Scholars Fellowship Program.

Established in 2019 and renamed in honor of former Washington State Representative Phyllis Gutiérrez-Kenney, the fellowship addresses the critical shortage of bilingual and bicultural health professionals in Washington state. The program provides $5,000 in funding to each scholar and brings together an interdisciplinary cohort of up to 16 graduate students from universities across Washington.

Beyond financial support, the fellowship offers mentorship opportunities with faculty and community leaders, professional development through research presentations and workshops, and the chance to build a statewide network of peers committed to advancing Latinx health equity. Over its six-year history, the program has supported approximately 72 graduate student scholars, investing over $390,500 in developing the next generation of healthcare leaders.

Born in Oaxaca, Mexico, and raised in Yakima, Washington, Ruiz Gonzalez earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Heritage University in 2023. Her experiences interpreting for her parents and witnessing health disparities in her Latine community inspired her commitment to creating more equitable healthcare systems.

Through the fellowship, Ruiz Gonzalez will participate in collaborative learning and professional development activities between January and May 2026. She aspires to return to the Yakima Valley as a nursing professor, empowering the next generation of nurses to advocate for underserved communities, continuing UW School of Nursing’s commitment to advancing health equity across Washington state.

A Year of Growth at the Digital Health Innovation Hub

The Hub is gaining recognition from peer institutions and professional organizations, shining a brighter spotlight on the importance of nurse-led digital health innovation

This past year has been an incredible ride for the Digital Health Innovation Hub. When we launched, the goal was simple: build a space where education, research, and clinical innovation could truly come together. Looking back, it feels like we’re well on our way.

On the education side, we hosted our first series of Fireside Chats featuring nurse innovators who are reshaping patient-centered care. We welcomed trailblazers like Elena Bosque, ARNP, MS, PhD from Seattle Children’s, winner of the 2024 NurseHack4Health Pitch-A-Thon and a leader in AI solutions for peripheral IV failure, and Jo Masterson, RN, MBA, CEO of 2Morrow, whose work expands access to evidence-based digital health tools. They shared honest, energizing stories about entrepreneurship and the realities of bringing nurse-led ideas into the world. These sessions sparked meaningful conversations across students, faculty, staff, and our broader community. We’re already gearing up for our next chat this winter and our inaugural AI Summit in the spring, where national nursing voices in AI will take the stage. Stay tuned.

On the research front, the Hub has quickly become a go-to resource. We offered seed funding for teams working with new tools and technologies, provided hands-on consultation for students and faculty exploring tech-enabled approaches, and even secured support from several major tech partners. (Details coming soon once the embargo lifts!)

Clinically, we were excited to support several nurse-led small-business collaborations, including a team developing practical, scalable tools to improve inpatient critical care. One standout project tackled IV-line entanglement with a low-cost, tech-forward design, a simple but meaningful fix to a daily clinical challenge.

And the word is getting out. Nationally, the Hub is gaining recognition from peer institutions and professional organizations, shining a brighter spotlight on the importance of nurse-led digital health innovation.

All in all, it’s been an inspiring start — and we’re just warming up. The energy and creativity across our community make me confident that momentum will only grow from here, empowering nurses to lead the next wave of health-tech innovation.

Oleg Zaslavsky

Associate Professor
Director , Digital Health Innovation Hub
Biobehavioral Nursing & Health Informatics

Nurse Practitioner Week 2025

Celebrating Nurse Practitioner Week: November 9–15, 2025

This week, we join healthcare organizations across the nation in honoring Nurse Practitioner Week — a time to recognize the invaluable contributions of nurse practitioners (NPs) who play a vital role in delivering quality healthcare to our communities.

A Legacy of Excellence
For over 60 years, nurse practitioners have been delivering trusted care across America. Today, more than 461,000 NPs provide nearly 1 billion patient visits annually, serving as advanced practice registered nurses who deliver comprehensive healthcare services — from diagnosing and treating acute and chronic conditions to prescribing medications and coordinating patient care. With their unique blend of clinical expertise and holistic approach to patient wellness, NPs have become essential pillars of our healthcare system.

Making a Difference Every Day
Whether working in primary care, specialty practices, hospitals, or community clinics, nurse practitioners are often the first point of contact for patients seeking care. They build lasting relationships with their patients, taking time to listen, educate, and empower individuals to take charge of their health. In underserved areas, NPs frequently fill critical gaps in healthcare access, ensuring that all communities receive the care they deserve.

A Well-Earned Recognition
National Nurse Practitioner Week is held annually not only to celebrate these exceptional healthcare providers, but also to remind lawmakers of the importance of removing outdated barriers to practice. When NPs are allowed to practice to the full extent of their experience and education, communities benefit from increased access to high-quality, patient-centered care.

During this special week, we celebrate the clinical skills, knowledge, compassion, dedication, and unwavering commitment to patient advocacy that nurse practitioners bring to their work. They balance the science of medicine with the art of healing, making a profound difference in countless lives every single day.

Our Commitment to Excellence
Our Doctor of Nursing Practice program is proud to be part of this 60+ year legacy. For over 20 years, we’ve educated and trained exceptional nurses to become NPs who make community care accessible and local. Our graduates serve as integral leaders in diverse healthcare settings, translating leading-edge research into better patient outcomes and ensuring that quality healthcare reaches every corner of our communities.

To all the nurse practitioners out there: Thank you. Your expertise, empathy, and tireless efforts do not go unnoticed. This week and every week, we honor your commitment to excellence in healthcare.

Join us in celebrating the NPs in your life by sharing your appreciation and gratitude during Nurse Practitioner Week on our social media posts.

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Celebrating Excellence in Nursing Research

2025 Fellows of the American Academy of Nursing

We are incredibly proud to announce that four exceptional faculty members from the University of Washington School of Nursing have been inducted as 2025 Fellows of the American Academy of Nursing!

This prestigious recognition honors nurses who have made extraordinary contributions to health and healthcare through their groundbreaking research and leadership.

Their innovative work is transforming healthcare delivery, advancing health equity, and improving lives. We are honored to have these distinguished scholars as part of our UW Nursing community!

Congratulations to our 2025 AAN Fellows!

Eeeseung Byun, PhD, RN

Research in symptom management and technology-based interventions to support stroke survivors.

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Katie A. Haerling, PhD, RN, CHSE

Simulation research to identify the most effective ways to prepare healthcare professionals.

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M. Rebecca O’Connor, PhD, RN

Research in how to combat clinical assumptions made by healthcare professionals that contribute to medical errors, disparities and patient harm.

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Megan Streur, PhD, ARNP

Research in biological and behavioral mechanisms in cardiovascular disease to improve patient outcomes and enhance quality of life.

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de Tornyay Center Receives the 2025 Faye Glenn Abdellah Leadership Award

Three individuals in formal attire stand close together, smiling at the camera and holding clear glass awards. Each wears a name tag, with a neutral-colored background behind them. — From left to right: Basia Belza, Professor of Biobehavioral Nursing & Health Informatics and Director of the de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging (accepting the Leadership Award on behalf of the center); Hilaire Thompson, Executive Dean of the UW School of Nursing; and Betty Bekemeier, Professor and Director of the Northwest Center for Public Health Practice, Child, Family, and Population Health Nursing (Path Paver Award recipient)

On October 15, 2025, the Friends of the National Institute of Nursing Research (FNINR) awarded the 2025 Faye Glenn Abdellah Leadership Award to the UW School of Nursing’s de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging. The award was presented at the FNINR annual gala in Washington D.C.

Numerous other UW School of Nursing faculty were in attendance, including Betty Bekemeier (pictured above), a Professor and Director of the Northwest Center for Public Health Practice, Child, Family, and Population Health Nursing, who also received the Welch/Woerne Path Paver Award from FNINR for “her exceptional leadership and breakthroughs in health equity, child, family, and population health nursing.”

As described by FNINR, “the Faye Glenn Abdellah Leadership Award is named for the renowned nurse researcher whose vision has resulted in inestimable value created by nurse scientists over the years. The recipient will be an organization or individual with a sustained or lasting impact on nursing science through advocacy, institutional leadership, or an individual program of research that has led to public awareness of the value of nursing science in improving health at the individual and/or population levels.”

The de Tornyay Center is the first center to receive the Faye Glenn Abdellah Leadership Award since its inception in 2018. The center joins a cohort of remarkable recipients, including former UW School of Nursing Dean, Dr. Nancy Woods.

The award recognizes the center’s more than 25 years of supporting nursing science. In that time, the center has mentored over 165 scholars, awarded more than $750,000 in research funding to students and $200,000 to faculty for pilot studies. Center grants have created new partnerships and led to further funding and scientific publications. Many of the center’s alumni attribute their career success and passion for research to its mentorship, underscoring its impact on shaping the next generation of nurse scientists and leaders in healthy aging.

“I participated as a de Tornyay Undergraduate Research Scholar when I was getting my BSN… I did a project about spirituality and aging and presented it at a de Tornyay Center event. It was a small project, but it allowed me to see the whole research process. That experience was transformative for me and inspired my interest in research. After graduation I joined the US Navy Nurse Corps and didn’t immediately pursue graduate education or research. Eventually, I found my way back and I want to say thank you for the part the de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging played in my development as a nurse scholar.” – Katie A. Haerling, BSN ’03 and 2025 AAN fellow inductee

The center bridges nursing, medicine, social work, public health, informatics and other health sciences to develop, evaluate and implement innovative interventions for older adults. Center affiliates lead pioneering research on frailty, dementia care, physical activity, digital health solutions, and more. de Tornyay Center alumni and international collaborators play a central role in innovative, aging-focused research and educational initiatives in Thailand, China, Taiwan, Germany and beyond.

“I think the center does miracles. I have vivid memories of years ago, gerontological nursing was looked down upon as an area of study and nursing science. The center has elevated it to its important focus!” – Fran Lewis, UW School of Nursing faculty

The de Tornyay Center is named for Dr. Rheba de Tornyay, a leader and pioneer in gerontological nursing who also recognized the importance of training the next generation of nurse scientists. In 1998, she and her husband Rudy endowed the center with a vision that it would play an integral role in healthy aging by leading innovative research, training nurse scientists across their career trajectories, advancing clinical practice, fostering local, national and international collaborations, and influencing policy to improve the lives of all older adults. The center is proud to carry on Dr. de Tornyay’s legacy of excellence in gerontological nursing education, research, and practice today.

“I am grateful to Rheba and Rudy de Tornyay and all our donors for their belief in the mission of the center. Thank you to our Dean, Hilaire Thompson for her unwavering support of the center, to our innovative community partners who are improving care for older adults, to our former Center directors who have led with the vision for advancing nursing science, to our center staff who are integral members of our team, to our faculty who research cutting-edge topics, and to our students who ask the tough questions, represent the future of nursing science, and carry forward Dr. de Tornyay’s vision,” Dr. Belza, de Tornyay Center director, on receipt of the award.

As the world faces an aging population and increasing demands for aging-centric healthcare solutions, the de Tornyay Center remains at the forefront, driving discoveries that influence clinical practice, inform public policy, and empower communities. The de Tornyay Center’s ongoing efforts to mentor emerging nurse scientists, foster research collaborations, and pioneer solutions to pressing gerontological health challenges ensure that its impact will endure for generations to come.

2025 Doctor of Nursing Practice Clinical Preceptors of the Year

Behind every successful DNP student stands a dedicated clinical preceptor, an unsung hero in nursing education.

Clinical preceptors bring deep expertise, compassion, and mentorship to our Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) students, who spend up to three days per week over four quarters in clinical placements, learning directly from these seasoned professionals.

These mentors don’t just excel in clinical practice and community service; they guide, inspire, and shape the future of advanced practice nursing and leadership in systems and population health.

Meet our Preceptors of the Year

This fall, we’re proud to celebrate our Clinical Preceptors of the Year, exceptional leaders whose impact reaches far beyond the clinic. Their dedication strengthens our program and elevates the future of healthcare.

Join us in celebrating our preceptors at this year’s Nurses of Influence Awards Ceremony on Nov. 6, 2025, 5:30-7:30 p.m., in Oak Hall, Denny Room, at the University of Washington, Seattle campus.

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From Hospital Hallways to Dairy Farms: Natalie Rejto’s Journey of Healing Across Boundaries

By Jennifer Hunt

Natalie Rejto is a pioneering researcher whose work transcends traditional boundaries between human health, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability.

In a dairy barn far from any hospital, Natalie Rejto moves between the milking parlor alongside workers who can diagnose a cow’s health with a glance. She’s collaborating with veterinarians and industry leaders on infection prevention, but here the experts are the farmers themselves—and Natalie has learned that the best solutions emerge when she listens to what they already know.

The scene captures the essence of Natalie’s remarkable journey, from bedside nurse to pioneering researcher whose work transcends traditional boundaries between human health, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability.

“Nurses have a very unique perspective,” Natalie reflects. “Especially working in the hospital setting, that direct interaction, patient teaching, the nursing approach… it can be really valuable in research.”

Unlikely Beginnings

Natalie’s path to becoming a researcher wasn’t one she initially envisioned for herself. Growing up in Tucson, Arizona, in a low-income household, her educational journey had been unconventional. She had to withdraw from high school during her junior year but earned her GED the following year. Completing her education was a significant achievement. When she became a nurse in 2008 after earning her BSN from the University of Arizona, she considered it the pinnacle of her educational journey.

“I never considered going back to school,” she admits. “I didn’t think it would be an option for me.”

Her trajectory changed in 2015 while working at Seattle Children’s Hospital, where she became a nursing bioethics liaison. This role awakened her passion for worker health and well-being advocacy. A pivotal conversation with Dr. Elaine Walsh, a faculty member in

Child, Family, and Population Health Nursing at the University of Washington School of Nursing, opened her eyes to new possibilities.

Natalie Rejto completed her PhD in June 2024, focusing on sleep health among nurses and how sleep hygiene can reduce shift work impacts.

“She really encouraged me to pursue further education based on my interests and my overarching goals in life,” Natalie says.

After speaking with PhD students and connecting with faculty like Butch de Castro, whose work aligned with her interest in worker health, Natalie applied to the doctoral program. She completed her PhD in June 2024, focusing on multidimensional sleep health among nurses and investigating whether sleep hygiene can modify the impacts of shift work.

One Health: A Holistic Approach

Today, Natalie serves as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Washington’s Center for One Health Research (COHR), working with Dr. Peter Rabinowitz and Vickie Ramirez. The center’s philosophy—”healthy people, healthy animals, healthy environment”—deeply resonates with Natalie’s vision.

“It really aligned with a nursing model of care,” she explains. “You take into account the person within their built environment, natural environment, animals… there’s not these little separations. It all exists together.”

Her current research exemplifies this interconnected approach. Working with dairy farms in Eastern Washington, Natalie and her colleagues use a collaborative approach, partnering with industry, workers, and experts across disciplines, including veterinarians. Together, they develop practical infection prevention strategies to protect workers from zoonotic diseases like COVID-19 and avian influenza.

The research involves visits to farms to understand daily tasks and evidence-based technologies already in place and build partnerships with industry and workers. In collaboration with the Pacific Northwest Agriculture Safety and Health (PNASH) center, they conducted a survey and are developing modules focused practical strategies to promote worker health funded by a Safety and Health Investment Program grant from the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries.

Healing Across Communities

Perhaps most meaningful to Natalie is her volunteer work with Seattle’s One Health Clinic, which serves populations experiencing homelessness and their companion animals.

“The work being done at the One Health Clinic addresses human care and animal care and really acknowledges that human-animal bond and shared environment,” she says. “Building trust populations among people experiencing homelessness is really special and sustaining.”

In uncertain times in academia, Natalie finds this work grounding and inspiring. It exemplifies the principle that healing transcends traditional boundaries—between species, environments, and communities.

A Bridge Between Worlds

What makes Natalie’s approach unique is her ability to bridge different worlds: the clinical experience of being a bedside nurse with the analytical mindset of a researcher; the urban healthcare setting with rural agricultural communities; human medicine with veterinary science. This transdisciplinary collaboration has become one of the most rewarding aspects of her work.

“With research, especially coming after 15 years as a bedside nurse, I felt very comfortable in that kind of collaboration and communication,” she reflects. “It’s been just this amazing opportunity to hopefully bring what I’ve learned from nursing science to be able to work with folks in the Center for One Health.”

She points out that nurses have already witnessed the power of the human-animal bond in healthcare settings, through experiences with pet therapy and emotional support animals in hospitals.

Advice for Future Nurses

For aspiring nurses considering their career paths, Natalie offers encouraging words:

“Nurses do incredible work. The work is very challenging. You’re thinking on your feet and synthesizing lots of information into practice, and it can seem really daunting and intimidating, at least it was for me, the thought of going for higher education. But I would say if you can do nursing and you want it and you have the passion for it; you can do higher education. From my experience, the faculty are really supportive and want you to succeed.”

Her story demonstrates that nursing can lead to unexpected and fulfilling paths, even to dairy farms in Eastern Washington or clinics serving populations experiencing homelessness and their companion animals. It’s a testament to how nursing’s holistic approach to health can extend far beyond hospital walls, creating healing across all boundaries.

From Kenya to UW: Harriet Fridah Adhiambo’s Journey to Transform HIV Care

By Jennifer Hunt

Harriet Fridah Adhiambo, an international student completing her PhD in Nursing Science.

When Harriet Fridah Adhiambo first arrived at the University of Washington in September 2021, she carried with her more than just her nursing degree from Kenya—she brought a mission forged from years of witnessing the devastating impact of HIV in her home country.

“I think it has been a transformative journey for me,” reflects Adhiambo, now in the final stretch of her Ph.D. in Nursing Science at the UW School of Nursing. Just weeks away from her dissertation defense, she looks back on four years that have reshaped her as a researcher, a clinician, and a global health advocate.

Finding Purpose Through Direct Experience

Adhiambo’s path to nursing and HIV research began unexpectedly after high school when she took a position as a research assistant collecting data about tuberculosis patients in Kenyan villages.

“The living conditions were dilapidating, and it really wasn’t good because some of them were not able to access medication,” she recalls. “We had lots of mortality. You could go to a village to conduct a survey and be told, ‘We’ve lost three or four family members here because of HIV and tuberculosis.’ It was devastating.”

That experience, combined with losing someone in her family during childbirth, steered her toward nursing with a specific focus: improving outcomes for people with HIV.

Building a Bridge Between Research and Care

After completing her nursing education, Adhiambo worked at a private healthcare facility where she encountered many young women, some as young as 15 or 16, who were pregnant, had young babies, and were HIV positive.

“I realized the gap is in health education,” she explains. “Some of them were not really aware of how transmission occurs, and that there was medication that someone can take to prolong life.”

Taking initiative, she developed a health education plan for the facility before moving on to join a PEPFAR-funded program focusing on prevention of mother-to-child transmission services and cervical cancer screening for HIV-positive women.

“It was motivating for me to offer these services because I could see how babies were thriving. You give this woman medication for the baby to prevent transmission, and at the end of nine months, they’re HIV negative,” Adhiambo says. “That was good. I got satisfaction and it was evident that the interventions were working.

From Implementation to Innovation

After gaining hands-on experience implementing HIV care strategies, Adhiambo wanted to take the next step, designing the interventions themselves. She joined the Kenya Medical Research Institute as a study nurse, working on innovative approaches like text messaging systems and conditional cash transfers to improve HIV care engagement.

“My experience working with this organization was that these interventions were working. They were working, and you could see people are being engaged in care. People are taking their medication, they’re coming to the clinic as scheduled,” she says.

It was during a short course at UW’s School of Public Health that Adhiambo met Dr. Sarah Gimbel, who would later become her thesis chair. Initially interested in pursuing a Master’s in Public Health, Adhiambo was encouraged to apply to the Ph.D. program in Nursing Science instead—a decision she calls “the best I made.”

Navigating Challenges with Resilience

Adhiambo’s academic journey hasn’t been without challenges. She arrived with her husband and son, gave birth to another child during her Ph.D. program, and had to adjust to new educational technologies and approaches.

“I remember my first week, people were talking about an assignment being submitted, and I didn’t know what people were talking about,” she laughs, recalling her initial unfamiliarity with Canvas, UW’s learning management system. “By the time I’ve been told ‘You have to log into Canvas, this is where you check,’ I was having my first assignment due that day at midnight. It was crazy.”

But Adhiambo quickly learned to navigate the system and seek support when needed. “I came to learn about it, like, things can work for you. You just need to know whom to ask. And at times, don’t be shy about your challenges as a person.”

Looking to the Future: Integrating HIV and Cancer Care

As she completes her Ph.D., Adhiambo is focusing on the intersection of HIV and cancer care, a critical area as cancer rates rise among HIV-positive populations due to compromised immunity.

“I’m aiming to build a program that intersects both HIV and cancer, trying to improve outcomes of people who are having cancer but at the same time are HIV positive,” she explains. “If you’re HIV positive and you have cancer, what’s the best care we can give you? What strategies have worked to improve your health outcomes?”

Adhiambo has been applying for postdoctoral positions that would allow her to continue this vital work, collaborating with researchers like Dr Sarah Gimbel, Dr. Vitor Oliveira and Dr. Allison Webel on domestic HIV research while maintaining her connections to Kenya.

“What is working here that can work in my country? Because HIV is a global problem,” she emphasizes. “And also, what works in my setup that can work in the US, to just advance HIV care, aiming at reducing new infections.”

Advice for International Students

For other international students considering a similar path, Adhiambo offers encouraging advice: “There are lots of resources here. There are lots of opportunities that you can learn from, and there is opportunity for growth. The School of Nursing offers those opportunities through the resources that they have available for us.”

She emphasizes the importance of asking questions, networking, and being open to learning experiences—even unpaid ones—that build skills and connections.

“Feel free to ask questions,” she advises. “Just put yourself out there. This is what I want to do, and you’ll get all the help that you need from this department.”

As she prepares for her dissertation defense and takes steps toward the next phase of her career, Adhiambo remains guided by the perspective that has brought her this far: “It’s just your attitude will get you to where you want to be. You have to see it and go for it.”

With her dedication to improving HIV care across continents and her commitment to addressing the emerging challenges of cancer in HIV-positive populations, Harriet Fridah Adhiambo exemplifies the global impact of UW School of Nursing scholars. She’s transforming healthcare one patient, one study, and one innovation at a time.

2025 Convocation Awards

We are thrilled to announce the 2025 Convocation Awards. Each year faculty and students are nominated by their peers for various awards. We recognize outstanding faculty who are educating the next generation of nurse leaders and the dedicated nursing students who have shown exceptional qualities during their time at the School of Nursing.

Faculty Awards

The DAISY Nurse Educator Award recognizes faculty who exemplifies the attributes of an exemplary educator, outstanding role model and inspirational influence on their nursing students.

Receipient: Christopher Linton, MN, RNC-OB/EFM/MNN

“Chris truly demonstrates the qualifications required to receive the DAISY award. He has been the most supportive clinical instructor and has greatly influenced me in pursuing a career in obstetrics. Chris always greets us with a smile on his face and is ready to lead us to success during our clinical days. He offers a safe learning environment during clinical days and always mentions continuing to support us even after this quarter. Super thankful to have him as my OB instructor!” – Danalin Matro, nominator

The Excellence in Clinical Teaching Award recognizes faculty who create safe, supportive learning environments, demonstrate compassion and patience, and respect students as adult learners honing their professional clinical skills.

Recipient: Jess Jajesnica, DNP, MSN, ARNP, PMHNP-BC

“Dr. Jess demonstrates experience in the classroom and in the private sector. She is able to clearly articulate the steps of the PMHNP process. She provided me with valuable and constructive feedback that helped me improve my final project. She is the best teacher of the year.” – Reyes Alvarado Herrera, nominator

“Jessica has been a mentor and advocate for student learning in the DNP PMHNP program. She has demonstrated compassion and empathy to students throughout the program, offering guidance, wisdom and encouragement throughout the process. She volunteers her time to students outside of scheduled class and office hours, and checks in with students individually. She has been a role model for how to be an educator, mentor and advisor. Jess makes sure to connect the dots between theory of nursing and frameworks and applications to DNP projects, as well as in PMHNP practice.” – Wen Murphy, nominator

The Excellence in Promoting Diversity through Teaching Award recognizes faculty who create inclusive and equitable learning environments that value diverse perspectives and experiences.

Recipient: Jean Tang, PhD, PMHNP-BC, APRN

“Dr. Tang is committed to addressing social health disparities, privilege, and identity in her teaching, research, and clinical practice, consistently integrating anti-oppression principles into her mentorship. With a deep respect for diverse cultures, she actively seeks to learn from and about perspectives different from her own, ensuring that all students receive culturally relevant, non-oppressive education tailored to their unique learning needs.” – Emily Yoon Ji Suh, nominator

The Sandra Eyres Excellence in Graduate Teaching Award honors faculty who inspire critical thinking, foster professional growth, model ethical leadership, and create inclusive, dynamic learning environments where graduate students thrive.

Recipient: Katie Kemble, DNP, ARNP, FNP-C, AOCNP, FAANP

“In working through our DNP projects in NMETH 801, we ran into numerous operational road blocks or administrative challenges. Dr Kemble and her no-problem attitude and creative approach to virtually any challenge helped us to stay calm and collected under major time pressure. She is an excellent mentor and a great leader and epitomizes the DNP faculty who can creatively solve virtually any challenge while staying grounded in evidence-based practice in translational research.” -Devon Woodley, nominator

Description: The Rheba de Tornyay Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award recognizes a faculty member who inspires creative and critical thinking, fosters dynamic learning environments, integrates evidence-based practices, and honors students as active partners in their education.

Recipient: Nicola Contreras, DNP, RN, CHSE-A

The Nursing Research Mentorship Award recognizes faculty who have made exceptional contributions to advancing nursing science and practice-based inquiry through dedicated research mentorship.

Recipient: Kerry W. Reding, PhD, MPH, RN

“Dr. Reding exemplifies the qualities of an outstanding research mentor—she is patient, supportive, and deeply invested in her students’ success. She provides structured yet flexible guidance, allowing students to develop independence while feeling fully supported. Her mentorship has had a profound impact on my academic journey, and I cannot imagine a more deserving recipient of this award.” – Hongyu Yu, nominator

“I was fortunate to have Dr. Reding serve as the chair of my dissertation committee. Throughout my research journey, she is willing to share her experiences and guide students toward valuable resources. She creates a respectful and supportive atmosphere, particularly important for international students and those for whom English is not a first language. Her mentorship has greatly enhanced our confidence and sense of belonging within the research team.” Chi-Shan Tsai, nominator

Student Awards

The Undergraduate Outstanding Student Award recognizes a graduating student who has demonstrated exceptional academic and professional qualities, integrating leadership, evidence-based practice, and a commitment to health equity in alignment with the core goals of the nursing program.

Recipient: Sumaya Uthmaan, BSN

“Sumaya’s resilience is one of her defining qualities. Transitioning from homeschooling to a major university presented significant social and academic challenges, including managing social anxiety and feelings of imposter syndrome. Compounding these pressures, she navigated complex family responsibilities while maintaining academic excellence in a demanding nursing program. Despite these obstacles, Sumaya has excelled in both clinical settings and theoretical coursework, earning a strong GPA and several prestigious scholarships.” – Tiffany Liu, Katherine Ward, Margaret Heitkemper, nominators

The Doctor of Nursing Practice Outstanding Student Award is for a student graduating from the DNP program who best exemplifies the program goals: Leadership, Competency, Clinical Decision Making, and Contributions to the UW School of Nursing.

Recipient: Addy Adwell, DNP

Addy has her finger on the pulse, an excellent education, and is poised to make considerable impact as a scientist and a practitioner. – Sarah Gimbel, nominator

The Master of Science Outstanding Student Award is given to the MS student who best exemplifies the program goals: Creativity, Scholarship, Potential in the Profession, and Contributions to the Community.

Recipient: Denise Galdamez, MS-CIPCT

“She exemplifies the integration of theory into practice, creativity, scholarly excellence, leadership potential, and meaningful contributions to both academic and professional communities.” -Sarah Iribarren, nominator

The Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award celebrates a Graduate Student who has excelled in the role of Teaching Assistant, demonstrating exceptional teaching effectiveness, inspiring communication skills, and a remarkable ability to engage and connect with both students and faculty.

Recipient: Grey Mitchell, DNP

“Grey is valuable member of the team and has really helped to move the Simulation Center forward, particularly how they have shared their experiences to help us to best meet the needs of the DNP learner.” -Nicola Contreras, nominator

“Throughout their time as a DNP student, Grey has been a transformative presence within the UW SON community and the larger Seattle community. Their goal has always been clear: to advocate for and improve the quality of care for LGBTQIA+ people, particularly transgender and gender-diverse individuals. Grey’s dedication to this cause has been evident in their work and interactions with students and faculty alike.” – Nicola Contreras, nominator

The Dissertation Award in Nursing Science honors a graduate whose research demonstrates outstanding achievement in advancing knowledge that is innovative and impactful in promoting, restoring, and maintaining the health of individuals, families, or communities.

Recipient: Tao Zheng, PhD

“Through all of his work, Dr. Zheng has consistently demonstrated what our School and University hold as the highest standards of academic achievement but also an equally intensive commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. Dr. Zheng has a long track record of teaching students of diverse ethnic backgrounds.” – Fran Lewis, nominator

“Tao is a first-generation college student. His parents who emigrated from China had not completed grade school. He started his nursing education at a Washington state community college. There is strong potential for Tao to impact the care of many older adults with chronic illness and especially those with potential cognitive dysfunction due to their illness. In addition, he holds great promise as an educator/clinician. There is no doubt that he will make a mark on our profession.” Peg Heitkemper, nominator

The DAISY Student Nurse Award recognizes a graduating student who shows a deep commitment to extraordinary clinical skill and compassionate patient care that will make a meaningful difference in the lives of so many people.

Recipient: Kaylah Gabriella Punio, BSN

“I would like to nominate Kaylah Punio who is currently a Senior Practicum student in the Cancer and Blood Disorders Clinic (CBDC) for this award because of the beautiful way she takes into consideration not only her patient’s physical needs but also the insightful and compassionate way she tailors her care to honor the developmental stage and needs of the child.” Anne Kalkbrenner, nominator

This honors a graduating UW School of Nursing student who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to social justice in the areas of leadership, scholarship and service. This award will honor a student who has served as a change agent and made a tangible impact on the university community promoting equity and inclusion.

Recipient: Autumn Dennistoun, DNP

“Dr. Autumn Dennistoun’s outstanding commitment to social justice in leadership, scholarship, and service was demonstrated through her year-long collaboration with the UW Pacific Northwest Agricultural Safety and Health (PNASH) Center, focusing on substance use and opioid overdose risk among commercial fishing workers in Washington State—one of the most hazardous occupations in the United States.” Jenny Tsai, nominator

We look forward to celebrating these amazing individuals on June 16 at Convocation.

Feeling to Heal: Mindful Awareness Training Shows Outcomes for Addiction, Pain, Trauma Recovery

Video credit: Duke Clinical Research Institute Communications

In a healthcare system that often separates mind from body, a recent research study from the University of Washington School of Nursing illuminates evidence of what many have known intuitively for thousands of years – that reconnecting the mind-body divide is crucial for those struggling with addiction and chronic pain. More promising still, training practitioners and patients in this life-altering therapy is not only possible in a clinical setting, but scalable and complementary to the care that nurses already provide in a complex system where new interventions often face barriers to implementation.

University of Washington School of Nursing researchers have completed a multi-site study demonstrating significant benefits of Mindful Awareness in Body-oriented Therapy (MABT) for individuals with substance use disorders, chronic pain, and trauma histories. The research, led by Dr. Cynthia Price, shows how a simple but powerful approach of teaching people to tune into their bodies can have transformative effects on well-being.

“The research is asking whether providing people with more skills to pay attention to how they’re feeling inside is helpful for overall well-being,” explained Dr. Price, the study’s principal investigator. “We’re giving people more capacity for what is called interoceptive awareness – or awareness of internal physical and related emotional sensations through this training by teaching people how to bring mindful attention inside their bodies to know how they’re feeling.”

The multi-year study, which included sites in Seattle, Port Angeles, and Bellingham, worked with diverse participants receiving Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) treatment. The research revealed significant improvements in pain management, reduction in PTSD symptoms, and enhanced emotional regulation. Notably, 57% of participants reported chronic pain issues, and data showed participants continued using the learned skills 9 months after completing the intervention.

“This type of work helps people engage with understanding their own personal emotional relationship to their addiction and recovery needs,” Dr. Price noted. “The MABT approach addresses a gap in services, as somatic awareness is not typically included in psychotherapy, and standard mindfulness approaches don’t teach these specific skills.”

One study participant from the mental health clinic in Harborview shared their experience from the training: “I learned how to turn my awareness inward and to be open to noticing what my body wants to tell and/or show me. I learned not only how to do this, but also the importance of implementing it in my daily life. I learned that I, my body is worthy of my attention.”

The MABT approach is particularly valuable for individuals with trauma and chronic pain histories, as they often develop coping mechanisms that involve disconnection from bodily sensations. “In the long run, this disconnection is problematic for folks,” Price explained.

“With more somatic awareness, including more awareness of the links between physical and emotional sensations, people can better engage in symptom management and feel more agency to promote well-being for themselves and in their relations with others.” – Dr. Cynthia Price, UW School of Nursing

The research has significant implications for healthcare implementation, particularly for nursing professionals. Dr. Price is currently exploring how this approach can be more broadly integrated into clinical care. “In hospital settings, nurses can bill for these kinds of services in a way that they can’t when they’re not [provided by] a nurse,” she explained, highlighting practical pathways for bringing MABT into mainstream healthcare.

The study was part of the National Institutes of Health HEAL (Helping to End Addiction Long-term) Initiative, which is working to address the opioid epidemic. HEAL has partnered with Duke University to create accessible resources that translate this research into practical tools for clinicians, patients, and other stakeholders. (The Mind-Body Partner Toolkit is available to the public.)

Dr. Price emphasized that the mindful awareness and body-oriented therapy training is firmly grounded in neuroscience. “Interoceptive processing is impaired with people experiencing chronic pain and mental health disorders. We know from neuroscience research that sensory processing is important for regulation – it’s how our [nervous] system knows how to regulate.”

With its proven effectiveness across diverse populations and growing recognition of its scientific validity, MABT represents a promising complement to existing treatments for substance use disorders, chronic pain, and trauma recovery. It is also a helpful approach for everyone, regardless of health history, to facilitate awareness and an embodied sense of self: “We all can use more skills to attend to our inner experience.”

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Want to know how you can support this important work? Contact sonadv@uw.edu

Interested in learning more or using mindful body awareness in your practice or personal life?

To learn more about the research findings specific to MABT, visit: Immediate Effects of Mindful Awareness in Body-Oriented Therapy as an Adjunct to Medication for Opioid Use Disorder

Recommended readings to learn more about interoception for health and well-being:

Better in Every Sense: How the Science of Sensation can Help you Reclaim your Life by Norman Farb and Zindel Segal

Thinking Outside the Brain by Annie Murphy

Body Sense: The Science and Practice of Embodied Self-Awareness (Norton Series on Interpersonal Neurobiology) by Alan Fogel

MABT Studies and Related Publications: Research – Center for Mindful Body Awareness

For health care professionals interested in MABT training opportunities: https://www.cmbaware.org/training-programs/

Other resources: UW Center for Child and Family Well-Being – https://ccfwb.uw.edu/events-classes/

Breakthrough in IV Safety Shows Promise

A nurse-founded innovative solution to a decades-old clinical challenge is gaining attention from the NIH. Discover how a collaboration with UW’s Digital Health Innovation Hub could transform patient safety and put nurses at the forefront of healthcare innovation.

The Digital Health Innovation Hub (DHIH) at the University of Washington School of Nursing continues to catalyze impactful partnerships that advance nurse-led innovation. One standout example is a recently submitted NIH Phase I Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) application developed through a collaboration between Dr. Oleg Zaslavsky, Director of DHIH, and Crimson Medical Solutions, a nurse-founded start-up focused on patient safety.

The project, centered around Crimson’s “IV Manager”—a color-coded, modular system designed to reduce IV-line confusion and medication errors—aims to address preventable adverse drug events (ADEs) in acute care settings. These events, which disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, are often caused by misidentification and disorganization of IV lines, a common and longstanding challenge in clinical nursing practice.

Dr. Zaslavsky, who serves as the academic co-principal investigator, described the innovation as a “pragmatic, nurse-informed solution to an everyday safety issue that nurses have silently struggled with for decades.” His role focuses on leading the simulated clinical validation work, which will take place at the UW School of Nursing’s high-fidelity simulation lab.

The STTR submission received strong enthusiasm from NIH reviewers, who highlighted the project’s “high significance,” the strength of its interdisciplinary team, and the quality of the research environment at UW. “We were very encouraged by the reviewer feedback,” said Dr. Zaslavsky. “Their support validated the importance of tackling this long-overlooked challenge in hospital safety. The feedback also gave us a clear path forward as we refine the product and prepare for resubmission in the fall.”

While the reviewers praised many aspects of the proposal, they sought additional detail on the novelty and clinical advantage of the IV Manager compared to existing tools. This will be a key focus in the next application. “The resubmission gives us an opportunity to demonstrate just how distinct and impactful this tool is, especially in the hands of nurses who need intuitive, workflow-compatible solutions,” added Dr. Zaslavsky.

The project not only showcases a promising technology but also exemplifies the kind of translational collaboration DHIH aims to support. “This partnership reflects our core mission—to empower nurse innovators and create pathways for their ideas to reach clinical practice,” Dr. Zaslavsky noted. “Through STTRs, we can structure meaningful academic-industry-community collaborations that bring nursing voices to the forefront of healthcare innovation.”

DHIH encourages faculty and community partners to explore similar STTR opportunities as part of its growing portfolio. The IV Manager project provides a compelling roadmap for how DHIH can serve as an incubator for user-centered, equity-driven solutions that address real-world clinical pain points.

Stay tuned for updates on the project’s resubmission in the fall, and for more opportunities to connect with DHIH-supported ventures transforming healthcare delivery through nurse-led innovation.

Learn more about the Hub

2025 Undergraduate Research Symposium

Our BSN honors students will present their posters at the 2025 Undergraduate Research Symposium on May 16^th. Please join us to celebrate our students’ achievements.

Date: May 16, 2025

Time: Session 1 (11:20 AM to 12:20 PM), Session 2 (12:30 PM to 1:30 PM), Session 3 (1:40 PM to 2:40 PM), and Session 5 (4:00 PM to 5:00 PM)

Location: Mary Gates Hall, HUB Lyceum, and Allen Center

For day-of details see:

https://www.washington.edu/urs/visitors/#explore

Student: Antonia Cai
Mentor: Vitor Oliveira
Title: The influence of physical activity and diet quality on the symptom experience of older adults with HIV
Time: 11:20 AM to 12:20 PM

Students: Sarah Crawford & Thy Nguyen
Mentor: Sarah Gimbel
Title: Using Student Input to Expand Engagement in Global Health Nursing through Strategic Outreach, Social Media, and Campus Initiatives
Time: 11:20 AM to 12:20 PM

Students: Eriska Fajriyati & Sumaya Uthman
Mentors: Sarah McKiddy & Eeeseung Byun
Title: A Qualitative Study of Menopause Expectation and Experiences Among Older Somali and Indonesian Adults with a Uterus
Time: 11:20 AM to 12:20 PM

Student: Jun Heo
Mentor: Anita Souza
Title: Exploring Healthcare and Housing Differences Between Older Veterans and Non-Veterans in Permanent Supportive Housing: Barriers to Healthy Aging
Time: 11:20 AM to 12:20 PM

Student: Wenchi Lai
Mentor: Vitor Oliveira
Title: The Effects of Exercise Training on Symptoms Experienced by Older Adults with HIV
Time: 11:20 AM to 12:20 PM

Student: Grace Plavocos
Mentor: Anita Souza
Title: Evaluating the effectiveness of Post Graduate Fellowship Programs on Healthcare Workforce Needs in Washington State
Time: 11:20 AM to 12:20 PM

Student: Jessica Japra
Mentor: Maya N. Elias
Title: The Roles of Chronotype and Cognitive Function on Feasibility of Cognitive Training for Older Intensive Care Unit Survivors
Time: 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM

Students: Rhea D. Diokno & Kajsa Zimmerman
Mentor: Kristen Childress
Title: Enhancing Long Term Care Nursing Recruitment through Emotional Engagement
Time: 1:40 PM to 2:40 PM

Students: Zoe Hesselroth & Manatsu Okada
Mentor: Jillian Pintye
Title: Enhancing Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Outcomes Among Kenyan Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) with a Novel Pharmacy-Based PrEP Delivery Platform
Time: 1:40 PM to 2:40 PM

Students: Rebeca Semere & Stephanie Yu
Mentor: Donna Berry
Title: Improving Usage of the Electronic Self Assessment and Care Tool in Gynecological Oncology Unit at University of Washington
Time: 1:40 PM to 2:40 PM

Student: Janna Putnam
Mentor: Omeid Heidari
Title: Curating Diets: A Thematic Analysis of Eating Behaviors in “What I Eat in a Day” TikToks
Time: 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM

Empowering Future Nurse Practitioners: A Gift of Mentorship and Support

Two persons standing smiling at camera with water and sand in background — Amy and Matt Perez

Clinical preceptors are the backbone of nursing education, providing invaluable mentorship and hands-on learning experiences for students. These dedicated professionals shape the next generation of healthcare providers by offering guidance, expertise, and real-world clinical training. Their commitment ensures that our Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) students develop the skills and confidence needed to provide exceptional care.

Woman smiling with two small children — Kathleen Perez and two of her grandchildren

Matt Perez, was a clinical preceptor who has played a pivotal role in supporting DNP Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) students. Recognizing the crucial contributions of nurse practitioners—especially in community health—Perez saw an opportunity to make an even greater impact. “Family nurse practitioners provide high-quality care and do a tremendous amount of work, yet they often lack the resources and recognition they deserve,” he shared.

Understanding firsthand the challenges students face, Perez wanted to do more. When he received an inheritance from his late mother, he and his wife, Amy, decided to turn their gratitude for nursing education into action. Together, they established the Kathleen Perez Memorial Family Nurse Practitioner Scholarship fund to support DNP students pursuing careers in community health.

Perez’s decision to give was personal. “My mother was an elementary school teacher who did incredible work, often without the resources or recognition she deserved,” he reflected. “This scholarship aligns with her values of caring for others and is a way to honor her legacy while also supporting students who are dedicated to primary care and serving their communities,” Perez said.

Through their generous gift, they hope to ease the financial burden for aspiring nurse practitioners to pursue a meaningful career path and highlight the vital role they play in healthcare.

We are grateful for their support and commitment to the School of Nursing. If you are interested in supporting their fund please visit: Kathleen Perez Memorial Family Nurse Practitioner Scholarship.

Learn more about our DNP program or clinical precepting

-Kristine Wright

Announcing Dr. Pamela Kohler as Chair of Child, Family, Population Health Nursing (CFPHN)

Medium shot of Dr. Pam Kohler, Chair of Child, Family, Population Health Nursing Effective April 1, 2025, Dr. Pamela Kohler, PhD, MPH, BSN, RN, (she/her) will be appointed as permanent Chair of Child, Family, Population Health Nursing (CFPHN) Department at the University of Washington School of Nursing, pending approval by the UW Board of Regents.

Dr. Kohler’s distinguished career exemplifies dedication to research excellence, global health advocacy, and transformative health services interventions in nursing practice. Her leadership has been evident throughout her tenure at the University of Washington, most recently in her roles as the interim department chair for CFPHN, senior technical advisor for the International Training and Education Center for Health (I-TECH), and through joint professorial appointments at UW School of Nursing, UW School of Public Health and UW School of Medicine. Dr. Kohler holds a Ph.D. in Nursing and a Master of Public Health from the University of Washington as well as a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Johns Hopkins University. Her cross-disciplinary expertise has fostered collaboration and innovation across our academic community.

As a globally recognized researcher, Dr. Kohler has established herself as a leading voice in adolescent sexual and reproductive health. Her research focuses on improving healthcare delivery systems and implementing evidence-based practices to enhance outcomes for vulnerable populations. Together with Dr. Sarah Gimbel, she established the UW SoN Center for Global Health Nursing, serving as its inaugural director. In addition to research, her international capacity-building partnerships have strengthened healthcare infrastructure and education across resource-limited settings. Dr. Kohler has received numerous accolades for her contributions to nursing education and global health. Most recently, she was selected for the prestigious Research Impact Award, which recognizes an outstanding Association of Nurses in AIDS Care member who has made significant contributions through research and scholarship regarding individuals and communities affected by HIV and the quality of care provided to them.

Dr. Kohler’s leadership extends across research and education, where she has mentored countless students and early-career professionals who have gone on to make significant contributions to nursing and global health. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes critical thinking, cultural humility, and evidence-based practice—values that intrinsically align with our school’s mission.

As Chair of the Child, Family, and Population Health Nursing department, Dr. Kohler will guide the CFPHN department and our school toward even greater excellence. Dr. Kohler’s appointment comes at a pivotal time as we continue to expand our impact in nursing education, research, and practice. Her leadership will be instrumental in advancing our strategic priorities and fostering an inclusive environment where students, staff and faculty can succeed, and innovation thrives.

Scholar Spotlight: Wenchi Lai

Wenchi Lai is a UW School of Nursing BSN student and one of the de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging’s 2024-2025 Undergraduate Research Scholars. Her research project is on “The effects of exercise training on symptoms experienced by older adults with HIV”, and her faculty mentor is Vitor Oliveira, PhD.

Why did you choose nursing?

I always knew I wanted to go into some health-related field because I enjoy taking care of people, I just didn’t know which one I wanted to go into until the COVID-19 pandemic. When I figured it out, I was a CNA in PACU [post-anesthesia care unit]. I started volunteering there and getting to see the nurses during that time was kind of crazy. I found that nurses were the front-line workers and the ones really interacting with the patients. Seeing how much compassion and empathy they show for the people they care for as well as their self-sacrifices in having to be at work regardless of what was happening really inspired me. And after getting to follow them around more, I realized, oh, this is what I want to do.

What made you realize you want to do a research project?

Currently, I’m working at the ICU as a nurse tech where a lot of patients have complications beyond medical control. Seeing these complex conditions made me realize I wanted to see what exactly we can do as nurses to change what is making them end up in hospitals in the first place. Research helps me learn more about why certain diseases develop the way they do or what habits people have that can contribute to their health outcomes.

Could you briefly describe the project you’re doing for the de Tornyay Center scholarship?

For my research project, I’m working with primarily older adults with HIV with the end goal to help them lessen some of their symptom severities. Ultimately, we’re trying to see if high intensity exercise will be beneficial and worth it to recommend for a healthier lifestyle. The primary symptom I’m looking at is fatigue, as it is one of the most severe aging symptoms the geriatric population may experience.

What made you interested in healthy aging research?

I think I have always worked in older populations. This year I’m also involved in UW’s Long-Term Care Externship program, which allows me to really interact with the elderly and get to know them on a deeper level. Getting to understand what they’re going through on the day-to-day basis really helped me see that I want to work with this population and try to help them as much as I can. I feel like they are a demographic that can get neglected or left behind in research or nursing care in general.

Why is this research that you’re doing important to do?

I personally think it’s very important, because there may be other people with HIV that are struggling with some of these symptoms, and then they realize there’s a study with evidence and proof that you should be doing this exercise, or why you should be following this routine, especially because high intensity exercise is an activity that takes a lot of commitment.

If I’m personally searching stuff up, but nobody has research proof that says, “I should be doing this,” I think I would never even initiate it. But if I find out, there’s studies of people that tried it and it worked for them, I would be more inclined to take their recommendations. This is a big purpose into why our research study should be conducted and released.

While you’ve been working on this project has there been anything that surprised you?

While I was shadowing the researchers, something that really surprised me was how involved the participants are in wanting to make a change, because they might not know if their results are going to come out positively. However, they’re still trying to work and cooperate with the team everyday as well as following everything we’re expecting of them. I think that’s pretty impressive.

What past experiences have you had working with older adults?

In the PACU, most of the population I work with are older adults who might need hip replacement, knee replacement, or other common surgeries. Especially in my nursing home, I was able to see more specific age-centered problems such as dementia and chronic health conditions. One thing I see that I love about aging care is how it includes the whole family. Beyond the individual, they have so many people that they influenced through their lifespan that want to give back and help their loved ones go through the aging process. In my clinical in Med-surg [medical-surgical] I also mainly worked with the geriatric med-surg unit. Getting that hands-on experience about the geriatric population and seeing all the different parts of their care made me want to lean towards seeing what aging does to the body and getting more hands-on experience with it.

What about those experiences help make you think, this is where I want to be?

It was working with them, and honestly, just seeing their challenges being in the hospital. They’ll share their stories about how they’ve been impacted with me. It’s such a big transition from when you’re young and you can move around easily to not being able to move as they once were able. It’s reasonably frustrating for them, because they used to be able to do all these things. Getting to hear about that made me think there must be something we can help as a nurse and even in nursing research to help that transition be easier as their care team.

Welcome to new center manager, Casey Thomson!

The de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging is pleased to welcome Casey Thomson as our new center manager. Thomson has been serving as the center’s interim manager since Heather Wicklein Sanchez retired, and we’re excited to have Thomson onboard in a permanent capacity. She brings years of experience managing operations with the Center for Global Health Nursing, and will continue that expertise in both roles.

“I am excited to be a part of the passionate team that support students and faculty to achieve their professional and personal goals through the de Tornyay Center for Health Aging,” said Thomson. “I grew up in the Seattle area and spent many hours as a child visiting my mother who worked as a nurse in care communities for older adults. It is with this lens that I came to understand that nursing care can encompass more than just tending to the ill and that there are a multitude of ways to improve a person’s health.”

Dawg Tank 2025

On January 14, 2025, the University of Washington School of Nursing hosted its dynamic Dawg Tank event, where three exceptional research teams competed for a $15,000 prize. The event brought together innovation, collaboration, and community engagement in a celebration of healthcare advancements.

One person holding flowers and another person standing next to them. — Yvette Rodriguez and Charles Kwanin

Charles Kwanin and Yvette Rodriguez, both PhD students in the UW School of Nursing, won the grand prize with their transformative project. The initiative captivated the audience by demonstrating how integrating AI and mental health strategies can improve tuberculosis treatment outcomes globally, especially in low- and middle-income countries, where limited access to healthcare, high patient-to-provider ratios, and a lack of mental health services hinder effective treatment and support.

The judges asked poignant questions, such as how the AI algorithms would be developed to prevent biased responses and account for the diversity of users.

The evening also featured these outstanding presentations:

Safeguard Mental Health using Generative AI: Yanjing Liang, a 2nd-year PhD nursing science student and de Tornyay Center predoctoral scholar, and Dr. Jingyi Li, assistant professor at the UW Tacoma School of Nursing & Healthcare Leadership, presented their research on using AI-based cognitive training to reduce social isolation in older adults with mild cognitive impairment.
Gastrointestinal Ostomy Wellness (GLOW) Adventure Camp: Kendra Kamp, assistant professor in the UW School of Nursing Department of Biobehavioral Nursing & Health Informatics, and Dr. Caeli Malloy, a UAW postdoctoral fellow in Biobehavioral Nursing & Health Informatics, presented their idea on fostering social connectedness and well-being through an adventure camp for young adults with fecal ostomies.

The expert panel of judges included: four persons sitting at a table with balloons

Dr. Sharon S. Laing, associate professor, UW Tacoma School of Nursing & Healthcare Leadership.

Dr. Kosuke Niitsu, assistant professor, UW Bothell School of Nursing & Health Studies.

Dr. David Reyes, dean and associate professor, UW Tacoma School of Nursing & Healthcare Leadership.

Chandan Chauhan, MS, co-founder & CEO of Clocktree Telehealth.

Attendees enjoyed delicious food and beverages, and the event was energized by its charismatic emcee, Tiernan Madorno, who kept the audience engaged and entertained throughout the evening.

Dawg Tank was a showcase of the UW School of Nursing’s commitment to fostering innovation, advancing healthcare, and creating solutions that make a meaningful impact on communities. Join us next year for Dawg Tank 2026!

Congratulations to our 2024-2025 Healthy Aging Scholars!

We’re thrilled to welcome a new cohort of healthy aging scholars. Keep an eye out in the coming months for scholar spotlight interviews with each of them!

DNP RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIPS:
Sera Madsen, Germaine Krysan Doctoral Scholar
Topic: Expanding Dementia Awareness through Faith-Based Organizations in Rural or Underserved Washington Communities
Faculty Mentor: Kori Dewing

Lydia Chen, Healthy Aging Doctoral Research Scholar
Topic: Using Artificial Intelligence in Improving Nursing Documentation in Skilled Nursing Facilities
Faculty Mentor: Jamie Young

Ashley Gougouehi, Healthy Aging Doctoral Research Scholar
Topic: Age-Friendly Health Systems Needs Assessment
Faculty Mentor: Jamie Young

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIP:
Jun Heo, Healthy Aging Undergraduate Research Scholar
Topic: Exploring Healthcare and Housing Differences Between Older Veterans and Non-Veterans in Permanent Supportive Housing: Barriers to Healthy Aging
Faculty Mentor: Anita Souza

Madison McKee, Myrene C. McAninch Undergraduate Scholar
Topic: Examining the Impacts of Facilitated Garden Activities for Individuals Living with Dementia and their Caregivers
Faculty Mentor: Basia Belza

Eriska Fajriyati, Healthy Aging Undergraduate Research Scholar
Topic: Exploring Perceptions of Aging and Menopause in Somali and Indonesian Older Adults: A Qualitative Study
Faculty Mentor: Eeeseung Byun

Jessica Japra, Healthy Aging Undergraduate Research Scholar
Topic: The Roles of Chronotype and Cognitive Function on Feasibility of Cognitive Training for Older Intensive Care Unit Survivors
Faculty Mentor: Maya Elias

Antonia Cai, Healthy Aging Undergraduate Research Scholar
Topic: The influence of physical activity and diet quality on the symptom experience of older adults with HIV
Faculty Mentor: Vitor Oliveira

Wenchi Lai, Healthy Aging Undergraduate Research Scholar
Topic: The effects of exercise training on symptoms experienced by older adults with HIV
Faculty Mentor: Vitor Oliveira

December News and Awards

UW Faculty Research Spotlight: Vaccine Hesitancy in Transplant Survivors
A recent study published in Vaccine by Dr. Mihkai Wickline, in collaboration with Drs. Sarah Iribarren, Kerry Redding, Donna Berry, and Kenneth Pike, explores vaccine hesitancy among hematopoietic cell transplant survivors. Conducted alongside Fred Hutch’s Long-Term Follow-Up Program, the research sheds light on the unique concerns of this vulnerable population regarding revaccination. Read more about their important finding here.

Student Spotlight: Global Health Nursing Capstone Featured in The Seattle Times
Global Health Nursing student Ruth Rono recently had her capstone work published as an Op-Ed in The Seattle Times. Co-authored with Dr. Bianca Frogner, the piece explores the shortage of primary care providers (PCPs)—including nurse practitioners—and potential solutions within the U.S. healthcare system. She was also supported by Dr. Jillian Pintye, who leads the Global Health Nursing certificate program.

Celebrating Dr. Joycelyn Thomas
The UW School of Nursing is proud to announce that Dr. Joycelyn Thomas, DNP-track lead for the Family Nurse Practitioner program, has been selected as the recipient of the 2025 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Award. This distinguished honor recognizes individuals who exemplify Dr. King’s principles of service through a commitment to addressing community needs—particularly for communities of color and low-income populations—and by empowering others to improve the human condition. Dr. Thomas’s extensive scholarship, clinical expertise, and community leadership make her a fitting recipient of this award.

Tyler Breier, a 2023 PHSL graduate, was appointed to the Governor’s Public Health Advisory Board, succeeding Patty Hayes. Nominated by the Washington State Nurses Association, Tyler will contribute to advancing public health in Washington State. Congratulations, Tyler!

NIH recently highlighted Dr. Cynthia Price‘s research in a spotlight feature. Her study, a large RCT funded by NCCIH and the HEAL Initiative, examines a mindfulness-based intervention as an adjunct to medication for opioid use disorder. Read the publication, Immediate Effects of Mindful Awareness in Body-Oriented Therapy as an Adjunct to Medication for Opioid Use Disorder, here. Congratulations to Dr. Price and her team!

Dr. Kori Dewing has been honored with the Association of Rheumatology Professionals President’s Award, a remarkable achievement in the field. She has also been recognized as the Washington State Arthritis Foundation’s Jingle Bell Medical Honoree. Congratulations, Dr. Dewing!

Highlights from the Gerontological Society of America Conference
Check out the de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging’s write-up featuring the UW School of Nursing at the Gerontological Society of America conference. Read about the impactful presentations and contributions from our community here.

New AHA Scientific Statement on Cardiovascular Nursing Stress and Burnout
The American Heart Association (AHA) has published a significant scientific statement on stress and burnout among cardiovascular (CV) nurses in the Journal of the American Heart Association (JAHA). Co-authored by Nancy Pike and Cindy, the paper has garnered widespread attention, leading to interviews and a webinar discussing its findings.

2024 HIPRC Dr Frederick R Rivara Endowment Awarded
The 2024 recipient of the Dr. Frederick P. Rivara Endowment is PhD candidate Premgamon Kuntajak, MS, RN, AGPCNP-BC, for her project titled, “Psychological Resilience among Older Adults following Mild-Moderate Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): A Concurrent Explanatory Mixed Methods Study.”

Generosity of the heart: Remembering obstetrics nurse Lynn Yim Lin Shih

Shih family donates $1 million to support UW nurses and students

Lynn Shih holding her newborn granddaughter, Kaia.

If nurses could be cloned, Lynn Yim-Lin Shih would be the ideal choice. Her career as an obstetrics nurse spanned 32 years at the University of Washington Medical Center. She began in 1980 on the Mother Baby Unit as a bedside nurse, providing care to postpartum women and their babies, while also teaching baby care classes to new families. Later, she transitioned to the UW Maternal and Infant Care Clinic at the Montlake campus, serving as a team nurse for the remainder of her distinguished career.

“Lynn was all those aspects you’d want in a nurse. Her goal was to help her patients,” said Sue Huth, an obstetrics nurse who worked with Lynn on the Mother Baby Unit. “She was passionate, kind, and nonjudgmental. She was professional yet had a sense of humor. She remained positive and calm, always open to helping others.”

Lynn was the anchor for her family, friends, and colleagues. She was always there, creating safe, healing, and caring spaces where you could find comfort and support. She was the kind of person everyone stopped to talk to in the halls—someone who would pause for 20 minutes to have a genuine conversation about how you were really doing. Patients returning to the clinic for multiple pregnancies often asked for her by name.

Lynn was “the glue that kept everyone together,” said Theresa Ismach, one of the team nurses who worked with her at the Maternal and Infant Care Clinic for 23 years. “She was warm, generous, and caring. There was nobody who didn’t like her.”

At the age of eight, Lynn immigrated to Seattle from Hong Kong with her family. As the eldest daughter, she spent her childhood helping her younger siblings and parents navigate life in the United States.

When deciding on her career path, Lynn knew she wanted to become a nurse. As a first-generation college student, she navigated the application process on her own. Unaware of scholarships or other types of financial aid, she worked diligently for four years to attend nursing school at the University of Washington, paying tuition and purchasing textbooks with the wages she earned. Had she grown up in Hong Kong, she likely would not have had the opportunity to pursue higher education and a career in nursing. Lynn was always deeply grateful for the opportunities she found in the United States.

At the age of 24, Lynn met her husband, Jerry Shih. They married and started a family, raising their daughter, Megan, and son Trevor. She continued her nursing career, working weekends and staying home during the week to care for her two young children.

Lynn poses with her baby son during a photo shoot for a hospital brochure.

Lynn cared for her patients like she did for her own family. Her nurturing and healing personality helped countless tiny, hours-old patients, whom she gently bathed and diapered as she taught parents about how to care for their new babies.

She expertly tended to mothers through their multiple pregnancies and postpartum recoveries, sharing in their struggles, losses and triumphs.

One of Lynn’s patients, whose first pregnancy resulted in a term still-birth, went on to have a second pregnancy and successful term live birth under her care. Ismach recalled a picture of them with huge smiles shortly after the birth.

“She was always gracious and pleasant,” said Ismach. “The kind of person who said, ‘Let me help you, let me figure out what to do.”

Lynn’s kind nature made it easy to be her colleague and friend. “Lynn had so many friends,” said Dr. Edith Cheng, Lynn’s colleague and attending physician at the UW Maternal and Infant Care Clinic. “She was so easy to be open with, and she broke down hierarchical barriers.”

They swapped stories about their growing kids and supported each other when family duties overtook work. Sometimes they even watched each other’s kids at the clinic when childcare fell through.

Lynn’s colleagues shared that she was highly organized and methodical. In their shared office space, she was always the one with the spotless desk.

“That’s how she was,” smiled Ismach. “She really gave me a strong foundation in being organized, how to manage the case load, and keep track of knowledge.”

In 2011, Lynn started to feel back pain that continued for a few weeks. An X-ray revealed a suspicious shadow on her lungs, and after further testing, she was diagnosed with Stage IV non-small cell lung cancer.

Suddenly and unexpectedly, life changed, and she became the patient, relying on her family, nurses, and doctors to help her navigate a new reality. Lynn’s colleagues at the clinic rallied, donating over 1,000 hours of paid time off to her so that she could keep her job and medical benefits while seeking cancer treatment.

Lynn shares her journey and offers advice at the 2013 HOPE Summit for the LUNGevity Foundation.

Lynn beat all statistics for stage IV lung cancer, fighting bravely for eight years and enduring many medical treatments and interventions before she sadly passed away in 2019.

“She lived by the philosophy of ‘generosity of the heart,’” said Jerry. Lynn had the kindest heart, always putting her friends and family first. She remains the biggest role model for her children on the importance of thinking about and helping others.

To honor Lynn, the Shih family decided to invest in people like Lynn did with her patients. Jerry generously committed $1 million to the University of Washington, and together, with his son and daughter, they decided to support two endowed funds, the Lynn Shih Endowed Professional Development Fund for Nurses at the UW Medical Center and the Lynn Shih Endowed Emergency Fund for Nursing Students.

A portion of the gift will also support the UW Medical Center, which will bolster capital funding for the coming renovation and expansion of the Maternal and Infant Care Clinic. In recognition of this gift and the Shih family’s generosity, the Maternal and Infant Care Clinic Lobby will be named the Lynn Shih Maternal and Infant Care Clinic Lobby.

For the Shih family, an emergency fund for nursing students would be a meaningful way to honor Lynn’s perseverance during her early years of education and career as a nurse.

“It’s for people who yearn to be nurses, who will do anything to prove themselves, but find themselves in an unforeseen situation where they don’t have the financial means to succeed despite all their incredible effort,” said Jerry. “For us, the best way to honor Lynn is to help people succeed just like her, to go on and make just as big of an impact, and then give back in return.”

The two endowed funds for nurses and students will first be available in 2024. UW School of Nursing (SoN) students who are currently experiencing unexpected financial hardship may be eligible for emergency financial aid from UW and/or SoN. They can visit the SoN emergency funding webpage for more information.

The UW Medical Center where Lynn worked for 32 years.

The professional development fund for nurses at the UW Medical Center will support continuing nursing education opportunities for OB nurses like Lynn.

During Lynn’s career, she and her colleagues sometimes used personal resources to advance their careers. “Lynn always wished nurses had more support,” said Jerry. The professional development fund will help nurses feel valued and supported by the UW institution.

“The Maternal Infant Care Center nurses at UWMC are touched by the generosity of the Shih family,” said Cindy Sayre, chief nursing officer at UW Medical Center, double alumna of the SoN and honorary assistant dean of clinical practice at the SoN. “We remember Lynn fondly and will ensure that this gift is used to celebrate her legacy as a nurse. UWMC honors and supports every nurse to achieve their career goals through professional development, and this donation will be greatly appreciated by the OB nurses.”

The lobby at the Maternal and Infant Care Clinic will become UW’s first space named after a nurse. It will also serve as a special place for the Shih family, including Jerry and Lynn’s children and grandchildren, colleagues, and friends, to return to and remember her.

Her generosity of the heart will now continue in perpetuity through supporting current and future UW nurses, who are the backbone of the University’s nursing workforce. They deserve as much care and support as they give to their patients. Let’s apply our hearts to them. Impact lives like Lynn.

– Jennifer Hunt

October/November News Awards

Person with glasses smiling facing camera — Mayumi Willergodt

Drs. Kyla Woodward and Mayumi Willgerodt Recognized for Practice Excellence

The American Academy of Nursing has awarded Dr. Kyla Woodward (PhD Nurs Sci ’22, Acting Assistant Professor, Family Medicine, UWSOM) and Dr. Mayumi Willgerodt (Professor, CFPHN) the 2024 Nursing Outlook Article of Practice Excellence Award. Their collaborative work, “A Systematic Review of Registered Nurse Turnover and Retention in the United States,” provides critical insights into nursing workforce dynamics, addressing a key issue in healthcare today.

Honors Program Highlight: Carilyn Brandt, an English major and Interdisciplinary Honors Husky, knows a good thing when she sees it. She immediately applied for the summer program “Biobehavioral Health Lopez Island: Reconnecting Food Roots, Community and Well Being” led by Kerry Reding from the UW’s School of Nursing in Honors announcements, where it was listed as a great opportunity for ad hoc Honors credits.

Premgamon Kuntajak Honored with Rivara Injury Research Award

Premgamon Kuntajak, a PhD in Nursing Science candidate, has been awarded the prestigious Rivara Injury Research Award for 2024. This recognition highlights Premgamon’s outstanding contributions to advancing injury prevention and research, exemplifying excellence in this critical area of public health.

We’re proud to announce the 2023-2024 Clinical Preceptors of the Year and 2024 Nurses of Influence Recipients

Clinical preceptors are highly committed to academic programs and excel in both clinical practice and community service. They play an essential role in providing students with valuable hands-on learning experiences in real-world healthcare settings. DNP students, depending on their track and stage, spend up to three days per week over four quarters in clinical placements, learning alongside these skilled mentors. We’re thrilled to recognize these outstanding preceptors and their dedication in educating our next generation of advanced practice registered nurses and advanced systems and population health experts. Read more about these preceptors and their advice to nursing students.

Research Spotlight: Dr. Cynthia Price’s Study on Mindfulness and Opioid Use Disorder

The NIH has featured Dr. Cynthia Price in a research spotlight highlighting her groundbreaking findings from a large randomized controlled trial. The study examines the immediate effects of a mindfulness-based intervention, Mindful Awareness in Body-Oriented Therapy (MABT), as an adjunct to medication for opioid use disorder. This research, funded by the NCCIH and the HEAL Initiative, advances understanding of integrative approaches to addiction treatment.

Read the publication: Immediate Effects of Mindful Awareness in Body-Oriented Therapy as an Adjunct to Medication for Opioid Use Disorder | Mindfulness.

Dr. Kori Dewing Receives Prestigious Recognition

four persons smiling at camera — Kori Dewing on the left with two rheumatologists from University of Freiburg and Professor Basia Belza from UW SoN

Dr. Kori Dewing, a faculty member in the Biobehavioral Nursing and Health Informatics (BNHI), has been awarded the 2024 Association of Rheumatology Professionals (ARP) President’s Award, a significant national honor recognizing her outstanding contributions to rheumatology care and innovation.

In addition, Dr. Dewing has been named the Washington State Arthritis Foundation’s Jingle Bell Medical Honoree, highlighting her continued dedication to advancing arthritis care and supporting the community.

Highlights from UW School of Nursing at GSA

The de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging was proud to see the impressive showing from the UW School of Nursing at this year’s Gerontological Society of America 2024 Annual Scientific Meeting. School of Nursing students, faculty, alumni and collaborators presented innovative work ranging from understanding unhoused older adults to technology, exercise and more at the event.

We look forward to seeing all the fruitful collaborations, research and connections that may come out of this exciting event. Read a few highlights from UW School of Nursing presentations at the conference below. Click on each title to see photos and short descriptions of highlighted presentations.

Since the de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging opened its doors over 25 years ago, the center has funded over 165 scholars, giving out hundreds of thousands of dollars in student funding, said Yanjing Liang in a GSA poster presentation. Liang summarized the results of a survey of de Tornyay Center scholars in her poster, showcasing former scholars’ excellence in gerontological nursing research, practice, and leadership, helped in part by their time with the center.

The long-term care field across the U.S. is experiencing staffing shortages across the United States. Increasing the number of professionals in that industry is critical to caring for people with dementia. Associate Teaching Professor Kristen Childress presented a poster on nursing students’ reasons for not going into long-term care. Low wages and the lack of assistance with student loans were common reasons. Multiple students also felt that growing their career and skills in the long-term field would lead to administrative and supervisory work, when instead many wanted to grow their direct patient care skills and responsibilities, such as with a DNP. Students were also concerned about the working environment and mentioned the ratios of nurses to residents at long-term care facilities. The next step for Childress’ research is to study why people currently in the long-term care field choose this field.

PhD student and de Tornyay Center illustrator Lalipat Phianhasin presented on social determinants of health in stroke recovery. Phianhasin and colleagues looked at factors — such as access to health care, socioeconomic status, race and education — to see how these factors, also known as social determinants of health, influence stroke recovery. Her work has turned up a number of connections. For example, being married helps with a number of aspects of recovery, such as having an easier time engaging with social activities.

Clinical Professor Anita Souza opened a panel on homeless older adults. She pointed to the fact that the proportion of unhoused older adults is growing and that people who are unhoused tend to experience “accelerated aging.”

Souza shared her recent study, using a statistical model to look at a homeless older adult population and find the statistical groups that exist within the homeless older adult population. The work pointed to key differences in sub-groups of the population, such as if they have health concerns and or substance use. In discussion, Associate Professor Jenny Tsai pointed out how the study demonstrates that this population is not a monolith. Different people in this population have different needs beyond just housing. UW DNP alumni Randee Robinson followed Souza and spoke about her project investigating barriers to accessing mental health care for residents at supportive housing. Robinson found many factors, like caseworker turnover, stigma and more, got in the way of mental health care. UW Medicine Clinical Assistant Professor Russel Berg shared cases from working at a hotel shelter with a medical clinic and psychiatric services, highlighting the many challenges of supporting older adults at the shelter.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s becoming easier and more common to access health information online. PhD student and UW School of Nursing pre-doctoral scholar Wenting Peng investigated what older adults’ technology use currently looks like. Most older adults in the study data had a technology device, and a majority used technology every day. Fewer, but still more than half, use technology for health reasons. There were also major differences between older adults who did and didn’t use technology, both in general and for health purposes, with factors like gender, health and income all affecting how likely someone is to use digital health and commonplace technology.

School of Nursing PhD student Zih-Ling Wang with fellow PhD student and co-author Jenna McHale presented on the experiences and challenges of eating with dementia. Examining the literature, they broke down eating experiences into environmental, interpersonal, and intrapersonal factors, as well as external and internal outcomes, such as nutrition and mental health. In another poster, the two students demonstrated how these ideas can be shown as a diagram of how dependent we are on others across the lifespan. We gain capabilities and dependence as we grow into adulthood, and tend to lose some of that independence toward the end of life. As the diagram they created shows, dementia can lengthen the amount of time an older adult has less independence, and make them lose independence earlier.

PhD student and former de Tornyay Center pre-doctoral scholar Kuan-Ching Wu presented her investigation of the current research on what interventions work for preventing urinary tract infections in people with dementia. The only three studies she found all focused on digital interventions, using technology like AI and sensors. The lack of work in this field points to the need for more robust support for people with dementia and their care partners to prevent UTIs. Interested in learning more about urinary tract infections in people with dementia? Read more in the de Tornyay Center’s Northwest Primetime article on UTIs and dementia, featuring Wu and her work.

Four PhD students presented deep dives into an array of research questions. The all-UW School of Nursing GSA session focused on something known as a ‘scoping review’, which is essentially a systematic review to get the big picture of the current research on a subject.

Mesh Otewa spoke about his scoping review on improving health equity in older adults, which is especially important as health disparities are increasing for older adults across a number of conditions. Otwea and colleagues found that studies on this topic tended to focus on technology (such as telehealth), improving access to health insurance (such as Medicaid), and making the healthcare system easier for older adults to navigate. One of the main takeaways from the scoping review was the importance of a practical approach to integrating new approaches into existing systems.

Jenna McHale presented a scoping review of eating behaviors and dementia, which was led by fellow PhD student Zih-Ling Wang. One of the key findings she presented was that “creating supportive dining environments” tended to be helpful for getting people with dementia to eat and drink more. McHale and Wang also found that there was a notable gap — not a lot of research focused on improving individuals’ ability to eat.

de Tornyaya Center pre-doctoral scholar Priscilla Carmiol-Rodriguez spoke about social frailty. As opposed to physical frailty, social frailty describes a lack of resources for meeting one’s social needs. While social frailty is common for older adults, it’s not studied much. Carmiol-Rodriguez’s study of the literature highlighted risk factors such as hearing loss, physical frailty, and other conditions. Social frailty, in turn, is connected with increased risk of conditions like poor mental health or cognitive impairment, as well as disability and quality of life. However, research shows that interventions can help. Things such as exercise, and improving older adults’ skill with technology have all been found helpful for socially frail older adults.

PhD student and former center pre-doctoral scholar Sarah McKiddy shared two scoping reviews in the panel discussion. Her first talk emphasized the diversity of current research on music interventions for people with dementia. Many focused on tailoring music to participants and their cultures. Some incorporated group elements and some included opportunities for community and socialization. Studies also differed on whether they had people participate in music, such as singing or playing an instrument, or just listening to it. Overall, she pointed to the need for standardized terms across the research to help the field distinguish between different types of treatments.

McKiddy’s second scoping review highlighted current research on group physical activity interventions for people with dementia and their care partners. These interventions can have many benefits, including both physical and mental health and general quality of life. When reviewing the research in her scoping review, McKiddy found that these benefits were reinforced across programs, although many people with dementia and their care partners often struggled with following exercise recommendations. More research could illuminate how to best tailor interventions to this population and their challenges.

Encouraging people with dementia to think back on the past, or reminiscence, “has shown promising potential in dementia” says PhD student Xianglan Jin in the poster she presented at GSA. However, studies on reminiscing have mostly been in clinical and group settings, which makes it harder to spread widely. That’s why Jin and her colleagues set out to work with the care partners of people with dementia, to help teach them to deliver intentional reminiscence sessions with their loved ones, using photos, drawings, and chatting about life. Care partners shared that reminiscing was a wonderful way for their loved one to use their mind, and care partners enjoyed seeing just how much the person with dementia still remembered.

Understandably, there’s a lot of focus in gerontology on how older adults age well in their later years. But there’s been less emphasis on what we can all do earlier in life to prepare for older adulthood. PhD student and center pre-doctoral scholar Yanjing Liang presented her research investigating what makes up “readiness for aging”. Looking across 15 studies, she identified many factors, from social support to future plans, preparing financially, and so much more. This research provides a foundation for future study into how we can all best prepare for later life.

PhD student Suah Park investigated what makes up good sleep quality in older adults by reviewing the research paper on the topic. ‘Sleep quality’ includes a lot of different aspects, including how someone feels about their sleep, as well as more objective measurements, such as how long someone is asleep. The next steps for the research could include investigating the relationship between causes of good and poor sleep quality, the effects of sleep quality, as well as cases when subjective and objective measures of sleep quality are different, says Park.

Paige Dension, long-time collaborator with the UW School of Nursing and the director of Health, Wellness & Project Enhance at Sound Generations, introduced a panel on the EnhanceFitness program, which was established about 30 years ago in the Seattle area in collaboration with the University of Washington. Since then the program has been backed by an impressive array of evidence, continued through staffing changes at many organizations involved with the program, and has spread across the country to over 100 sites.

Fellow presenter and UW Medicine Research Professor Kushang Patel demonstrated that the program is still effective when delivered remotely, based on data collected during the COVID-19 pandemic. Building on that, University of Vermont Associate Professor Gell demonstrated the program worked well for cancer survivors going to the program virtually, and may have even helped attendance. UW Medicine Research Consultant Elise Hoffman highlighted barriers to getting participants referred to the program by their doctor, from the referral process being too complex to referrals dropping off over time. So her team developed an easy referral system for EnhanceFitness, where nurses can refer patients simply by selecting a class, and hitting a button that says ‘refer’.

de Tornyay Center Dr. Basia Belza shared a recent pilot study in the Seattle area by UW School of Nursing researchers looking at how feasible EnhanceFitness was for people with dementia and their care partners. The study aimed to understand how best to adjust the programming to the population. There were many barriers to attendance, with 6 out of 8 of the pairs of participants dropping out of the study. Reasons ranged from unrelated health problems to being too tired and more. Overall, the study points to areas for improvement to help make the program accessible to this population.

Priscilla Carmiol-Rodriguez presented data investigating sleep in ICU survivors, once they were discharged from the ICU into less intensive hospital environments. She found that across the board participants’ sleep was negatively impacted. Compared to healthy adults they spent less time in each of the different stages of sleep – from light sleep, deep sleep, and REM (the stage when we dream). The reason? They were sleeping much less throughout the night. The hospital environment, as well as their health, both might be affecting sleep said Carmiol-Rodriguez. One potential solution could be narrowing the window when hospital staff will wake a patient up. Interestingly, Carmiol-Rodriguez shared that after a hospital stay, some research shows people may continue to sleep poorly after an ICU stay for as long as a year.

The CDC has a robust set of recommendations to help prevent falls for older adults. Their STEADI program has information for everyone from hospitals to pharmacists, Executive Dean Hilaire Thompson shared, when presenting a poster on an adaption of the program. However, nothing similar exists for long-term care. So Thompson and colleagues set out to adapt STEADI for the long-term care setting. They spoke to staff at facilities and to experts to get an idea of what might be feasible and best practice. As a result of her team’s efforts, the STEADI-LTC care program is currently being tested at facilities around Western Washington. The researchers are keeping an eye on many factors, from if the program reduces falls to what aspects of the program long-term facilities do and don’t implement.

Scholar Spotlight: Wenting Peng

Photo of Wenting Peng by Alabastro Photography.

Wenting Peng is a first-year PhD in Nursing Science student and one of the de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging’s predoctoral scholars. She is also one of the 2024-2025 UW Center for Statistics and the Social Sciences Blalock Fellows. Her mentor from her graduate program is former de Tornyay Center scholar Minhui Liu, PhD, RN.

Peng’s research areas of interest include aging-related health concerns. Peng also recently presented several poster and podium presentations on healthy aging topics at the Gerontological Society of America’s Annual Scientific Meeting, a conference that draws over 3700 attendees from various disciplines in aging.

What are your research areas of interest?

My research can be divided into two parts. The first is using publicly available data sets to examine the risk factors or protective factors for physical function or cognitive function in older adults. The second part is implementation science. I am very interested in developing and implementing evidence-based interventions, especially innovative interventions for older adults to improve their well-being.

What made you interested in studying those two topics?

For data science, it’s that I can get a sense of achievement during the process. Finding a specific research question is very interesting, and trying your best to use this data to answer that is very inspiring, especially when the results have implications for nursing science and nursing practice.

For implementation science, it’s because I can’t only focus on the data science, because it’s very abstract for the older adults. I want to make it more practical for them. I want to have my own contributions or develop something truly effective for them.

Are there particular types of interventions you’re interested in?

Previously, I was more interested in exercise-based interventions, but after I started my doctoral program at UW, many professors are doing different technology-based interventions which is appealing to me. These interventions also have shown their effectiveness in improving well-being in the targeted population. I am interested in technology-based interventions, and in the future, I may want to combine these two components and explore what can be effective for older adults.

Why are you interested in technology and older adults? Why do you think this area is important?

Older adults face issues with technology inequality. For example, when I went into the hospital, the hospital required the older adults to register online before they got direct care in the hospital. But many of the older adults don’t know how to do that. It is impossible and unfair to stop the hospital or all care services from using technology. What I want to do is try to let the older adults adapt themselves into this digital health world and use digital technology to help them live better. This is the reason I want to make a switch to the technology-related area.

When did you first start doing research?

In my bachelors’ studies, I had the opportunity to do research.

What made you want to do research during your undergraduate?

That research I did in my bachelors program was related to aging. And that made me interested in doing aging research in my graduate program.

My interest in studying aging is related to my grandparents. I am a ‘left-behind child’ because my parents needed to work in a different city when I was a child. So my grandparents raised me. At that time, we lived in a rural area, and the health services were not well developed. My grandpa had severe heart disease, but he decided not to take any action to delay its progress. There were many older adults like my grandpa in my village. This kind of health struggle is very common among older adults living in rural area, so I wanted to do something for them in the future. When I got into the bachelor’s of nursing program, I found that there was an opportunity for the bachelor’s students to do some research on a topic related to aging. At that time, I was shadowing as a nursing student, and I found that many clinical healthcare providers were talking about a new term – Internet plus nursing and wanted to apply it to older patients. However, I talked to some older patients and found they never heard of it before. Thus, I had an idea to explore the recognition and acceptability of the Internet plus nursing in older adults. After that, I found some college students also interested in that and a professor to guide us. So, I tried and succeeded in getting funded. That’s why I wanted to do that.

Scholar Spotlight: Jessica Welsch

Jessica Welsch served as a Person-centered Care Coach on project in Washington State spearheaded by the Alzheimer’s Association. The project aimed to help long-term care facilities improve quality care for people living with Alzheimer’s and dementia by implementing the Alzheimer’s Association’s Dementia Practice Care Recommendations. Welsch was the first author on an award-winning abstract describing the program, presented at the Western Institute of Nursing’s April 2024 conference. Read more about the project in the recent Northwest PrimeTime article.

How did you get involved with this project?

This was an opportunity that came up through the Alzheimer’s Association. They were doing an innovative model to try to increase person-centered care in these long term care facilities. They proposed a plan with the State of Washington, where they would take some of the money that the state has committed to reinvest in quality care and nursing homes, and fund this project, which was to improve person-centered care for people living with Alzheimer’s and dementia.

What interested you about getting involved in this project in particular?

I have a personal interest, like many people who work in dementia care. My dad had dementia and we struggled to find quality care and supports, and this project seemed like a great opportunity to increase access to those resources for other families like ours. In this project I got to support professional care providers in nursing homes who would interact directly both with families and people living with dementia, so it felt very impactful.

How did this program aim to change things in long-term care facilities?

This program was based off the quality improvement program from the federal government. The idea was that it improves person-centered care, which is the gold standard of care in any kind of care community, but particularly for people living with dementia.

We introduced change through a strength-based coaching model. They called it transformational change, which means that the change should transcend any one participant in the program, or any one resident, or any one family, or any one provider, because the action plans that we completed become embedded in the culture of the care community.

The coaching program used the Dementia Care Practice Recommendations to structure what those changes should be in the context of dementia or Alzheimer’s. The recommendations provide specific, evidence-based actions that professional care providers can use, so it’s easier to know how to increase quality care.

What does person-centric care look like for people with dementia?

It’s really similar to person-centric care anywhere, which focuses on the person in front of you, what their individual needs and goals are, and knowing them as a person. Person-centered care focuses on building and maintaining a relationship with the person as opposed to just focusing on the care.

You talked to about culture change being the goal. How did you all try to implement culture change?

We focused on things practices and policies that would become part of the regular standard operating procedures, and so would be something that’d be incorporated every day going forward.

One of the actions that was super popular to do was a Get-to-Know-Me form for new residents. This is so important to find out who’s coming in and what are they into. What do they like to talk about? What do they hate to talk about? How can staff connect with them?

When you implement that as part of your intake process that just becomes a part of the culture. People get excited to know who’s coming in. It changes the way people see who’s coming in, if they have some more personal details or might see points of connection.

Why is this work important to do?

This particular work was important because it’s so validating for the staff, but also for the residents and even their families. The impacts are wide ranging, and they can be tailored to specific areas for each community.

The other thing that’s neat and that provides an impact for this program, is that it is a huge body of research backed knowledge just for people living with Alzheimer’s or dementia. It is hard for care communities to get specific instruction and specific guidelines that are that tailored to people living with Alzheimer’s or dementia.

I heard you also started about podcast about dementia?

Yes, I did start a podcast. My family relied a lot on podcasts when my dad had dementia, and I thought it’d be fun to do one.

How long has it been running?

It’s been running for a little over a year. It’s called Everyday Dementia Guide. It’s posted about weekly. It’s short individual episodes on different topics for people who are doing the everyday routine with dementia, like living at home, and just making their way the best they can.

What’s your goal or hope with the podcast?

My goal is just to provide resources and information to the family caregivers who are looking for this information. I know that when I was in the journey it was hard to find a specific answer to an everyday challenge. Your doctor doesn’t know, the nurses don’t know, your psychologist doesn’t know, the people who know are others who have also faced those everyday challenges at home. A lot of people have trouble getting to a support group, which would be a great place to have that information, either because they in a rural area, or there’s sometimes a stigma with attending a support group, or even being able to leave their loved one alone to attend the group. So, this is a way to get information and tips and communication ideas to people where they’re at.

Is there anything else that you would like to share?

One of the things I hear a lot in this area is that it’s so hard to know where people are at. A lot of people don’t get diagnosed with dementia, even if they have it, even if everyone thinks they have it that knows them, they’ll never get diagnosed, and they’ll never get tested. The diagnosis process is kind of long and doesn’t always get completed. I encourage people to try to just to look at what’s in front of them, and take things on a day-to-day basis. People say that if you know one person with dementia, you know one person with dementia. It’s so individual.

The other thing I really like to share is that if this is something that you’re living with or supporting, it’s super important to get a support team in place. So reach out to the Alzheimer’s Association or somebody who knows about Alzheimer’s to start building that team so that you can stay in it for the long run and avoid burnout.

UW School of Nursing at GSA 2024

The de Tornyay Center is excited for a number of phenomenal presentations upcoming by UW School of Nursing faculty and students at the upcoming Gerontological Society of America 2024 conference in Seattle. Attending? Find all the presentation details in the GSA 2024 schedule.

This roadmap is updated as of 11/13. Please contact pbartlet@uw.edu with any changes and additions. Thank you!

Wednesday, November 13

12:00 – 1:30 pm

Session presenters include Jenny Hsin-Chun Tsai and Randee Robinson.

6:00 – 7:15 pm

Poster presentation by Wenting Peng.

Poster presentation by Lalipat Phianhasin.

Thursday, November 14

8:00 – 9:30 am

Session presenters include Basia Belza, Meshack W. Otewa, Priscilla Carmiol-Rodriguez, Zih-Ling Wang and Sarah McKiddy.

Session presenters include Weichao Yuwen, Maggie Ramirez, Clara Berridge, Jingyi Li, Yanjing Liang, and Genevieve C. Aguilar.

First author is Zih-Ling Wang, and presented by Jenna McHale.

Session presenters include Zih-Ling Wang.

2:00 –3:15 pm

Session presenters include Kristen Childress.

4:30 –6:00pm

Session presenters include Wenting Peng.

4:30 – 6:00 pm

Session presenters include Basia Belza.

Friday, November 15

2:00 –3:15 pm

Poster presentation by Yanjing Liang and Jenna McHale.

Poster presentation by Zih-Ling Wang and Jenna McHale.

Poster presentation by Kuan-Ching Wu.

Poster presentation by Xianglan Jin.

Saturday, November 16

8:00 – 9:30 am

Poster presentation by Yanjing Liang.

12:00 – 1:30 pm

Session presenters include Hilaire Thompson.

12:00 –1:30 pm

Session presenters include Sarah McKiddy.

2:00 –3:15 pm

Poster presentation by Yanjing Liang.

Poster presentation by Hilaire Thompson.

Poster presentation by Premgamon Kuntajak.

Poster presentation by Suah Park.

Poster presentation by Priscilla Carmiol-Rodriguez.

2023-2024 Clinical Preceptors of the Year and 2024 Nurses of Influence Recipients

We’re proud to announce the 2023-2024 Clinical Preceptors of the Year and 2024 Nurses of Influence Recipients

2023-2024 Clinical Preceptors of the Year

Chelsea Miller, DNP, ARNP, ACNPC-AG

What inspired you to become a clinical preceptor?
Once I returned to Washington, I was eager to give back to my alma mater as I was now in a unique position to provide the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner students with a critical care rotation where they could manage a wide range of disease processes and perform all of the procedures they received training for. I was eager to provide mentorship and help develop the critical thinking skills needed to transition from the bedside RN to ARNP provider role.

What advice would you give to our nursing students?
Enter every clinical experience prepared with a genuine curiosity and eagerness to learn. This will shine through and your preceptors and their colleagues will go above and beyond to teach and provide learning opportunities. Treat every clinical rotation like a job interview!

Jennifer Ugale Mercado, NP-C

What inspired you to become a clinical preceptor?
I was inspired by a colleague who started precepting students. I was reminded, by having students in our clinic, of the energy that students bring, an energy and excitement for learning that I remember having as a student. Students have a way of rekindling that spirit that brought us to the profession in the first place. I decided to become a preceptor because I felt inspired to put myself in a position to harness and nurture that energy.

What advice would you give to our nursing students?
I hope that you continue to find joy in learning and to seek out the “preceptors” all around you as you graduate and start your own practice. I can’t think of a day of work that I didn’t need to look something up, learn something new/put something new into practice, or work through a question/problem with a colleague. My other hope is that you find work-life harmony and hold onto the things that fill your mental, emotional, and physical buckets because it is really true that we take better care of people when we take care of ourselves.

John Okrent, MD

What inspired you to become a clinical preceptor?
I am energized by precepting and teaching. The residents and students keep my on my toes and inspire me to keep learning. I want to be the best provider I can be so that I can set the best possible example. It makes the work doubly rewarding. I hope to show students that the work we do in medicine is social justice work and it is our privilege to do it.

What advice would you give to our nursing students?
Remember that this a profession of service and partnership and that all of our successes here will be in the spirit of service and partnership. We are here in service to our patients, and in partnership with them.

Noelle Brodeur, CNM

What inspired you to become a clinical preceptor?
I love learning about people’s paths to midwifery and supporting them along their journey. I believe being a preceptor helps keep my clinical skills up to date and I learn just as much from my students as they learn from me.

What advice would you give to our nursing students?
First, none of us will always have all of the answers; use this time as a student to become comfortable asking for help. Second, find a self-care routine that works for you and practice it often.

Team 8 – APP Inpatient Team

Teneisha Hunt DNP, ARNP, CPNP-AC/PC

What inspired you to become a clinical preceptor?
I feel it is important for all of us to do our part in teaching and mentoring the future generation of nurses and advance practice nurses.

What advice would you give to our nursing students?
You can do it! Continue to be engaged, ask questions, find learning opportunities and you will ultimately reach your goals!

Amber Mashuta, ARNP

What inspired you to become a clinical preceptor?
I was fortunate to have had incredible mentors during my own training. Their guidance and support inspired me to give back and become a preceptor myself.

What advice would you give to our nursing students?
Never stop asking questions. Curiosity is the key to learning and growing in your nursing career.

Rebecca Stevenson, PA-C

What inspired you to become a clinical preceptor?
I have always enjoyed teaching and am incredibly grateful for the wonderful preceptors who have helped shape my clinical career. Paying that forward is very rewarding.

What advice would you give to our nursing students?
Continue to be engaged and curious. Every new clinical exposure is an opportunity for growth.

Samantha Finley, ARNP

Missy Lein, MSN, ARNP-CS, PCNS-BC

What inspired you to become a clinical preceptor?
I have loved nursing since my very first clinical rotation! It’s an honor to share something you love so much with others and help them move forward with their own goals and aspirations.

What advice would you give to our nursing students?
Surround yourself with an encouraging community (of nurses and non-nurses) and stay curious. There are is always more to learn and your community will help support and guide you through the ups and downs.

Tera Johnson, ARNP

What inspired you to become a clinical preceptor?
To help teach and inspire the future of pediatric healthcare providers.

What advice would you give to our nursing students?
The road to being a practitioner is paved with much stress, anxiety, and little sleep. But the reward is getting to care for the neonates, infants, children and adolescents of our community who are in desperate need of quality and compassionate healthcare. It is an honor.

Susan Lee, Ed.D, M.Ed., EMPA

What inspired you to become a clinical preceptor?
What inspired me to become a clinical preceptor is the honor and privilege of being part of an esteemed institution like the University of Washington (UW). Working closely with students allows me to play a key role in bridging the gap between academia and the underserved communities I have committed my work to. The students’ enthusiasm, drive, and desire to learn inspire me every day. They remind me of the importance of fostering a sense of connection between the academic environment and the real-world challenges faced by vulnerable populations.

Watching students grow, not only in their clinical skills but also personally, and in their ability to make a difference in these communities, fuels my passion for teaching. Their dedication and willingness to contribute positively to society aligns with my own values, reinforcing the importance of developing well-rounded, compassionate healthcare professionals who are committed to serving others.
Additionally, my decision to become a clinical preceptor was heavily influenced by the guidance and mentorship I received from my own professors, particularly Dr. Marla Salmon, Dr. Jenny Tsai, and Dr. Elaine Walsh. Their leadership, mentorship, and sponsorship left a profound impact on me. They encouraged me to think critically, pushed me to become a better person, and provided invaluable support along the way. Now, I feel compelled to pay that forward by offering the same guidance, mentorship, and coaching to the next generation of healthcare professionals.

Being a clinical preceptor allows me to give back to both the institution that shaped me and the communities I care deeply about. It’s about creating a positive ripple effect—supporting students in their growth while ensuring they have the tools to contribute meaningfully to society and the health of underserved populations.

What advice would you give to our nursing students?
The advice I would give to nursing students is to hold onto the enthusiasm, drive, and compassion that brought them into the field. These traits are what make great nurses stand out and allow them to deeply connect with patients. Always nurture your empathy, as it will guide you through the toughest times, helping you to understand and care for others with genuine heart. Remember to reflect on your own experiences—they will help you relate better to others and provide more compassionate care. Be proud of your achievements but stay humble, because nursing is a journey of continuous learning.

Be lifelong learners. The healthcare field is always changing, so stay curious and seek knowledge from every corner, including your patients and colleagues. Engage with people who offer different perspectives and use those insights to grow. Never be afraid to ask questions or challenge norms—it’s through courage that true growth happens.
I also urge you to embrace creativity and flexibility. Nursing is both a science and an art, and creative problem-solving will often be your greatest asset in providing quality care. Don’t hesitate to think outside the box, especially when faced with challenges.
In addition to providing care, remember that nursing involves collaboration. Be a willing partner with community organizations and roll up your sleeves to work alongside them. Your role as a nurse isn’t confined to the hospital—it extends to the community, where real partnerships can make a lasting impact. Your resilience in the face of adversity will inspire others, and it’s during the toughest times that your strength will shine the most.

Lastly, always be open to mentoring and coaching future nursing students. The support and guidance you receive now should be shared with the next generation. Be ready to mentor, guide, and uplift others, knowing that your experience can help shape the future of nursing.

Danielle DeOliveira, MSN, ARNP, PMHNP-BC

What inspired you to become a clinical preceptor?
I believe it is the duty of all psychiatric NPs to contribute to the education of our upcoming workforce. When ARNPs are trained by other professions they enter practice without a full appreciation of our role, both the limits and the strengths. I want to help build students’ confidence, not only to practice effectively, but to move our profession forward as well.

I also love having students because it pushes me to be a better provider. I get to hear about the new information they are learning, discuss new ideas, and push myself to communicate my thought processes more effectively.

What advice would you give to our nursing students?
Don’t practice in a bubble. Make sure to reach out to your cohort, colleagues, and mentors, reach out to your professional organizations. Pay attention to the legislation that affects your practice and your license. Remember that no one else is looking out for your career, so make sure you are.

2024 Nurses of Influence Recipients

The UW School of Nursing is excited to recognize the exceptional contributions of our nurses and nursing leaders. These awards highlight the close connection between the UW School of Nursing and our community partners, and honor the countless ways the nursing profession enhances health and impacts lives. Congratulations to these outstanding individuals who are committed teaching our #HuskyNurses. Read more about what their nominators said about them.

Karin Huster BSN ’05, MPH ’13, Emergency Medical Referent, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) (Doctors Without Borders)

Karin Huster spent nine years as an RN in Harborview’s Trauma ICU before focusing on humanitarian emergencies. Her work includes field epidemiology and advising USAID. She worked with Syrian refugees in Lebanon (2012-13), on the Ebola epidemic in West Africa (2014-16), and responded to outbreaks in the DRC and Haiti. She aided in crises in Nigeria (2017), Iraq (2017), Bangladesh (2018), and now Gaza (2024), advocating for healthcare in conflict zones. She is a heroic nurse and advocate for the communities she serves.

Holly Vance, Manager (Wound, Ostomy, Limb Preservation, & Amputation Services [WOLPAS]), Harborview Medical Center

Holly exemplifies nursing through her clinical expertise, compassionate care, and commitment to her patients and community. As a Certified Wound Ostomy Nurse and Clinical Nurse Educator, she has made significant contributions to Harborview Medical Center and beyond. Her leadership, dedication to evidence-based practice, and passion for mentoring future healthcare providers make her an exceptional candidate for this prestigious award.

Katie Haerling, Graduate Program Coordinator/Professor, UW Tacoma School of Nursing & Healthcare Leadership

Dr. Haerling was instrumental as a subject matter expert (SME) and collaborator in creating a new Washington Administrative Code for nursing education around simulation. They did multiple presentations for public hearings to inform the Washington Board of Nursing board members during public meetings, providing insight and education to inform the public and members, which will have a longstanding impact on nursing practice and the safety of the public.

Sofia Aragon, Executive Director, Washington Center of Nursing

Ms. Sofia Aragon is being nominated for the Distinguished Diversity Advocate Award for her tireless advocacy for diverse providers and underserved populations through policy and service. As Executive Director of the Washington Center of Nursing, she has worked to address the nursing shortage and support underrepresented nursing students. She developed educational tools to assist families in supporting nursing students and created a workshop to encourage BIPOC nurses to become faculty. Her nominator stated, ‘Ms. Aragon has continually designed systems to increase diversity in practice, collaborating with communities to reduce disparities and improve lives.’

Keri Nasenbeny, Chief Nursing Officer, Harborview Medical Center

From the start, Keri immersed herself in the frontline experience, working alongside clinical staff to understand their challenges. She listens to and advocates for her teams, creating new leadership roles, supporting shared governance councils, and ensuring staff access to resources like Healthy Work Environment seminars. Keri also increased funding for the Harborview Medical Center Ambassador Awards, helping nurses present at national conferences, all while demonstrating authentic empathy and a commitment to improving the workplace.

September News and Awards

Professor Mayumi Willgerodt was selected as the recipient for the SNOW School Nurse Advocate of the Year award! This award publicly recognizes a community member who coordinates and advocates for quality school nursing services and health programs. Mayumi has been a vital school nurse advocate committed to improving the overall health and educational success of WA students.

Three CIPCT faculty to be inducted as Fellows of the American College of Medical Informatics

Congratulations to: Bill Lober-Professor BNHI, Andrea Hartzler, Professor-BIME SOM; also co-director of CIPCT program, and Meliha Yetisgen, Professor BIME, SOM

Dr. Eeeseung Byun and colleagues, Drs. Hilaire Thompson, Bill Lober, Teresa Ward, Michael Levitt, Kenneth Pike, and Kathryn Lee, have received funding from the National Institutes of Health/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute for an R56 study tilted “Technology-based Sleep Self-Management Intervention for Adults with Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.”

SoN Advancement’s own Sydney Horen recently competed as a contestant on Fox’s hit game show, The Floor, starring Rob Lowe. The first episode premiered last Wednesday, September 25th, and is available to watch on Hulu. Tune in this Wednesday see Sydney compete and represent the School of Nursing! Take a look at the show here!

ITHS Announces Winners of Pilot Funding to Accelerate Translational Science

Ayokunle Olanrewaju, PhD, Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering and Bioengineering, University of Washington, along with Jillian Pinteye and Sarah Iribarren. Project Title: User-centric microfluidics for decentralized therapeutic drug monitoring. This project will design and develop a virtual study assistant prototype to assist research teams in the conduct of translational health science research. A large focus of our work is on increasing opportunities for underserved communities to engage in research by developing methods that research teams can use to involve these communities.

Kerryn Reding, PhD, MPH, RN, Associate Professor, University of Washington; Weichao Yuwen, PhD, RN, Associate Professor, University of Washington Tacoma; Maggie Ramirez, PhD, Assistant Professor, University of Washington, Project Title: Promoting diversity and inclusion of research study participants through developing linguistically and culturally tailored virtual study assistants using generative artificial intelligence (AI) .

Josephine Ensign was quoted and her upcoming book mentioned in the Seattle Times.

The new cohort for the Premera Rural Nursing Health Initiative (RHNI) began their fellowship. These remarkable Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners (ARNPs) are dedicated to advancing care in rural communities. Throughout their fellowship with the University of Washington School of Nursing, they’ll gain invaluable experience through clinical rotations in these areas, directly contributing to improved health outcomes. Check out the video here.

Executive Dean Welcome to 2024-2025 Academic Year

Welcome to the 2024-2025 academic year! The energy on campus is infectious, with the excitement of new beginnings, crisp autumn air, and Husky football making this my favorite time of year.

Our school is energized by our people and the possibilities that lie ahead. Across our three campuses, we are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where we prepare the next generation of healthcare leaders and advance nursing science and practice. This year, we’re excited to engage in a strategic planning process that will shape the future of nursing education, research, and practice.

Whether you’re a student, staff, faculty, community partner, alumnus, or supporter, your role in shaping the future of nursing is invaluable. We have fantastic events lined up, from the Dawg Dash to Dawg Tank, Nurses of Influence Awards, and more.

This year is filled with hope and opportunity. Let’s embrace it together, reconnect with old friends, make new ones, and work together to make this year one of growth and success. Thank you for being part of our vibrant community. We look forward to achieving great things together and making a lasting impact on health for all.

Announcing 2024 Equity-Minded Nurse Awardees

Rebecca O'Connor smiling at camera — Dr. Rebecca O’Connor

We’re excited to announce that Associate Professor Dr. Rebecca O’Connor has been named of the 2024 Equity-Minded Nurse Awardees. Dr. O’Connor has been awarded the 2024 Equity-Minded Nurse Educator Award. The Equity-Minded Educator Award recognizes a nurse whose efforts demonstrate excellence in supporting a diverse nursing student body and inclusive teaching/learning practices, and whose teaching and/or curriculum design include topics that lead to the graduation of equity-minded nurses. Co-sponsored by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.

The 2024 Equity-Minded Nurse Awards from the AARP Center for Health Equity through Nursing^SMand the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action, an initiative of AARP Foundation, AARP and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation award program supports the Campaign’s vision that everyone in America can live a healthier life, advanced by equity-minded nurses as essential and valued partners in providing care and promoting health equity and well-being.

Unlocking the Potential: Advanced Practice Psychiatric Provider Fellow Sarah Kim

A unique opportunity for new advanced registered nurse practitioners to advance their careers in psychiatry

Sarah Kim, Advanced Practice Psychiatric Provider Fellow

In the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare, specialized training programs play a pivotal role in preparing professionals to meet the diverse and complex needs of patients. One such program making a significant impact is the University of Washington School of Nursing Advanced Practice Psychiatric Provider Fellowship Program (APPPFP), which offers a unique opportunity for new advanced registered nurse practitioners to advance their careers in psychiatry.

“With mentors who are always there to lend a helping hand, answer questions, and provide guidance, every challenge becomes an opportunity for growth,” shared Sarah Kim, a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner in the fellowship program.

Fellowship programs like the APPPFP are relatively new. They are designed to support each fellow’s transition to independent practice and enhance their proficiency in their field.

Kim’s journey into psychiatry began six years ago when she embarked on her career as a registered nurse. Her passion for mental health led her through various settings, from evaluation and treatment (E&T) facilities to inpatient adolescent units and community mental health clinics.

In her three years at the latter, she encountered the profound challenges of chronic mental illness and homelessness, reinforcing her commitment to making a difference in the lives of those struggling with mental health disorders.

Driven by a desire to expand her skills and take on a more comprehensive role in patient care, Kim pursued further education through the DNP psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner program at the University of Washington School of Nursing. This decision marked a pivotal moment in her career trajectory, setting the stage for her involvement in the Advanced Practice Psychiatric Provider Fellowship Program.

“I chose this fellowship for the diverse experiences and variety it offers,” shared Kim.

With mentors who are always there to lend a helping hand, answer questions, and provide guidance, every challenge becomes an opportunity for growth.

Sarah KimAdvanced Practice Psychiatric Provider Fellow

Kim highlights the program’s dynamic nature, where each day presents a new set of challenges and learning opportunities. These experiences help support her transition to independent practice and provide a deeper proficiency of their practice.

A typical week in the fellowship involves a blend of didactic sessions, therapeutic interventions, and clinical consultations. Kim’s roles span across primary care, outpatient psychiatric clinics, and specialty rotations in hospital settings, providing her with a comprehensive understanding of mental health care delivery across various contexts.

Notably, the program’s emphasis on consultation-liaison psychiatry in primary care, outpatient psychiatry, and inpatient settings equips fellows with essential skills in collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to address the complex needs of medically ill patients.

Kim attests to the unparalleled support she receives from the program faculty and attending physicians.

“I have time built-in to my schedule to meet with or message my attending with questions,” shared Kim. “Working together has been great—I feel very supported because they’re always there if I need help, especially with challenging cases.”

The collaborative environment fosters a sense of camaraderie and professional growth, allowing participants to navigate the complexities of their evolving roles with confidence.

A patient’s heartfelt acknowledgment of her expertise and compassionate care reaffirmed her decision to pursue a career in psychiatry, validating her commitment to making a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

“She [the patient] helped me realize psych is my niche, which made me feel confident in my choice,” said Kim. “As a new provider, it’s hard to feel assured in your recommendations, but her support made a big difference.”

– Jennifer Hunt

July/August News and Awards

President Ana Mari Cauce has named five new representatives to the 30-member University of Washington Population Health Initiative executive council. The council serves as the internal governing body for the Population Health Initiative.

These representatives, who will begin their terms in autumn quarter 2024, are:

Joan Casey, associate professor of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health
Yonn Dierwechter, professor of Urban Studies, UW Tacoma
Sarah Gimbel, professor of Child, Family, and Population Health Nursing, School of Nursing
Hamed Mamani, professor of Operations Management, Foster School of Business
Lucy Lu Wang, assistant professor, Information School

These individuals succeed five members who left the council as part of its annual rotation.

Dr Nora Kenworthy, PhD of UW Bothell explores the darker side of crowdfunding in her recently published book, “Crowded Out: The True Costs of Crowdfunding Healthcare.” Read more on the Bothell website here: The unseen layers of medical crowdfunding – News (uwb.edu) Or check out her recently published piece with the Seattle Times here: We can’t crowdfund our way out of the climate crisis | The Seattle Times

We’re pleased to announce 3 Husky Nurses have been named 2024 Fellows. Fellows represents a cross-section of nursing’s most dynamic leaders making positive change in their systems and communities to champion health and wellness. Learn more: l8r.it/Nu39

Fifteen faculty members at the University of Washington have been elected to the Washington State Academy of Sciences. They are among 36 scientists and educators from across the state announced Aug. 1 as new members. Selection recognizes the new members’ “outstanding record of scientific and technical achievement, and their willingness to work on behalf of the academy to bring the best available science to bear on issues within the state of Washington.”

Twelve UW faculty members were selected by current WSAS members. They are:

Wendy Barrington, associate professor of epidemiology, of health systems and population health, and of child, family and population health nursing, who “possesses the rare combination of scientific rigor and courageous commitment to local community health. Identifying original ways to examine questions, and seeking out appropriate scientific methods to study those questions, allow her to translate research to collaborative community interventions with a direct impact on the health of communities.”
Philip Bell, the Shauna C. Larson endowed chair in learning sciences, for “his work in the cultural basis of scientific research and learning, bringing rigor and light to multiculturalism in science and STEM education through STEM Teaching Tools and other programs.”
Katherine Comtois, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, “for her sustained commitment to community-engaged, science-driven practice and policy change related to the prevention of suicide and the promotion of mental health, with a focus on providing effective, sustainable and culturally appropriate care to people with serious mental illness.”
Valerie Daggett, the David and Nancy Auth endowed professor in bioengineering, who has “charted new paths for 30-plus years. Her quest to deeply understand protein folding/unfolding and the link to amyloid diseases has propelled her to pioneer unique computational and experimental methods leading to the discovery and characterization of a new protein structure linked to toxicity early in amyloidogenesis.”
Jeremy Hess, professor of environmental and occupational health sciences, of global health, and of emergency medicine, who is “a global and national leader at the intersection of climate change and health whose work has advanced our understanding of climate change health effects and has informed the design of preparedness and disaster response planning in Washington state, nationally and globally.”
Philip Kinahan, professor of bioengineering and of radiology, who is “recognized for his contributions to the science and engineering of medical imaging systems and for leadership in national programs and professional and scientific societies advancing the capabilities of medical imaging.”
Daniel Kirschen, the Donald W. and Ruth Mary Close professor of electrical and computer engineering and faculty member in the UW Clean Energy Institute, who is “recognized for his distinguished research contributions to the design and operation of economical, reliable and environmentally sustainable power systems, and the development of influential educational materials used to train the next generation of power engineers.”
Juliana McElrath, senior vice president and director of the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, the Joel D. Meyers endowed chair of clinical research and of vaccine and infectious disease at Fred Hutch, and UW professor of medicine, who is “is recognized for her seminal contributions to developing validated laboratory methods for interrogating cellular and humoral immune responses to HIV, TB and COVID-19 vaccines, which has led to the analysis of more than 100 vaccine and monoclonal antibody trials for nearly three decades, including evidence of T-cell immune responses as a correlate of vaccine protection.”
Aseem Prakash, professor of political science and the Walker family professor for the arts and sciences, who is a specialist “in environmental politics, international political economy, and the politics of nonprofit organizations. He is widely recognized as a leader in the field of environmental politics, best known for his path-breaking research on the role firms and nongovernmental organizations can play in promoting more stringent regulatory standards.”
Michael Spencer, the Ballmer endowed dean of social work, for investigations of “how inequality, in its many forms, affects health, illness and quality of life. He has developed unique conceptual frameworks to investigate how race, ethnicity and immigration are associated with health and social outcomes.”
Stefan Stoll, professor of chemistry, who is elected “for distinguished scientific and community contributions to advancing the field of electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, which have transformed how researchers worldwide analyze data.”
Ruikang Wang, professor of bioengineering and of ophthalmology, whose “pioneering work in biomedical optics, including the invention of optical microangiography and development of novel imaging technologies, has transformed clinical practice, significantly improving patient outcomes. Through his numerous publications, patents and clinical translations, his research has helped shape the field of biomedical optics.”

Three new UW members of the academy were selected by virtue of their previous election to one of the National Academies. They are:

Qiang Fu, professor of atmospheric and climate science, who had been elected to the National Academy of Sciences “for contributions to research and expertise in atmospheric radiation and cloud processes, remote sensing, cloud/aerosol/radiation/climate interactions, stratospheric circulation and stratosphere-troposphere exchanges and coupling, and climate change.”
Ali Rowhani-Rahbar, the Bartley Dobb professor for the study and prevention of violence in the Department of Epidemiology and a UW professor of pediatrics, who had been elected to the National Academy of Medicine “for being a national public health leader whose innovative and multidisciplinary research to integrate data across the health care system and criminal legal system has deepened our understanding of the risk and consequences of firearm-related harm and informed policies and programs to reduce its burden, especially among underserved communities and populations.”
Tumaini Rucker Coker, division chief of general pediatrics at Seattle Children’s Hospital and a UW professor of pediatrics, who had been elected to the National Academy of Medicine “for her leadership in advancing child health equity through scholarship in community-partnered design of innovative care models in pediatric primary care. Her work has transformed our understanding of how to deliver child preventive health care during the critical early childhood period to achieve equitable health outcomes and reduce disparities.”

In addition, Dr. Thomas Lynch, president and director of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and of the Cancer Consortium — a partnership between the UW, Seattle Children’s Hospital and Fred Hutch — was elected to the academy for being “part of a research effort that found mutations in the cell-surface protein epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which plays an important role in helping lung cancer cells survive. Today, drugs that target EGFR can dramatically change outcomes for lung cancer patients by slowing the progression of the cancer.”

Kristi Morgansen, the Boeing-Egtvedt endowed professor and chair in aeronautics and astronautics, will join the board effective Sept. 30. Morgansen was elected to WSAS in 2021 “for significant advances in nonlinear methods for integrated sensing and control in engineered, bioinspired and biological flight systems,” and “for leadership in cross-disciplinary aerospace workforce development.” She is currently director of the Washington NASA Space Grant Consortium, co-director of the UW Space Policy and Research Center and chair of the AIAA Aerospace Department Chairs Association. She is also a member of the WSAS education committee.

“I am excited to serve on the WSAS board and work with WSAS members to leverage and grow WSAS’s impact by identifying new opportunities for WSAS to collaborate and partner with the state in addressing the state’s needs,” said Morgansen.

The new members to the Washington State Academy of Sciences will be formally inducted in September.

Announcing Hilaire Thompson to serve as Executive Dean

Person smiling at camera — Hilaire Thompson

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Hilaire Thompson will serve as the next executive dean of the School of Nursing, effective Aug. 1, pending approval by the Board of Regents.

Dr. Thompson, a registered nurse and nurse practitioner, is a Professor in Biobehavioral Nursing and Health Informatics in the UW School of Nursing, core faculty at the Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center and an adjunct professor in Biomedical Informatics and Medical Education in the UW School of Medicine. As a UW faculty member since 2006, she has held several leadership roles, including graduate program director for the School of Nursing. Through that position, she developed collaborative relationships and held budgetary and human resource responsibilities as well as delegated responsibilities from the associate dean for academic affairs. Since 2021, she has served as an associate vice provost in the Office of Academic Personnel in the Provost’s Office.

Dr. Thompson earned her bachelor’s degree in Biology from Mary Washington College in Virginia and her accelerated bachelor’s of science in nursing from Catholic University in Washington, D.C. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania, and completed her postdoctoral work at the UW.

She spent six years at the Medical College of Virginia Hospitals, with a focus on neuroscience and critical care nursing, while earning her master’s degree as a clinical nurse specialist and a post-master’s nurse practitioner certificate. During this time, Dr. Thompson met nurse scientists doing bench research, and she became intrigued with this pathway as it combined her interests in biology and nursing.

Funded by support from the National Institutes of Health, the Center for Disease Control and foundation awards, Dr. Thompson’s research centers on improving outcomes following geriatric traumatic brain injury, as well as fall prevention. This work has been recognized with induction into Sigma’s International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame, fellowship in the American Academy of Nursing, and membership in the Washington State Academy of Sciences.

As executive dean, Dr. Thompson will lead the nursing programs on each UW campus and the accreditation process that integrates all three, ensure faculty and student recruitment, development and success in all aspects of the mission of the School of Nursing, and align the resources and finances of the School in support of these goals

Dr. Thompson brings incredible knowledge of and dedication to the UW School of Nursing to this leadership role, as well as a comprehensive understanding of the profession and the opportunities for the School to advance its history of excellence across the tri-campus system.

Thank you to the search committee, co-chaired by Sharon Jones, vice chancellor for Academic Affairs at UW Bothell, and Andre Ritter, dean of the School of Dentistry, for identifying three exceptionally strong finalists, which reflects the School’s prominence and reputation. We would also like to express our deep gratitude to Dr. Allison Webel for her exemplary service as the School’s interim executive dean during the last academic year, including her leadership of the accreditation review for the Doctor of Nursing Practice Program and the Post-Graduate APRN Certification Program.

We welcome Dean Thompson to her new role!

Disparity in endometriosis disability claims in federal appeals court, new study shows

People with endometriosis commonly face obstacles and misconceptions about disease, diagnosis, and treatment. These obstacles are especially burdensome when navigating Social Security disability claims – a system relied upon by over 8 million Americans. (Social Security Administration, 2022)

Nursing scientist and postdoctoral research fellow with UW SON Nursing and Global Health, Dr. Martha Grace Cromeens (she/her), JD, PhD, RN recently co-authored a groundbreaking study demonstrating evidence of the disparity in how endometriosis disability claims are treated in federal court appeals.

The study, published by Women’s Health Issues, Jacobs Institute of Women’s Health, analyzed 87 SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) and SSI (Social Security Insurance) claim appeals related to endometriosis and found that these claims are systematically disadvantaged, particularly among those with less access to care.

The findings showed that the courts “found subjective reports of symptoms insufficient evidence of impairment…” and, further, “expected claimants to use treatments such as contraception or hysterectomy without addressing risks…” Even when such treatments might directly counter the needs and preferences of the claimants.

“The hope is that this evidence will help us create a more equitable disability application and review system for those with chronic pain conditions and noncancerous gynecologic conditions such as endometriosis,” said Dr. Cromeens.

With endometriosis, tissue grows outside the uterus, affecting other parts of the body such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and pelvis. It is a painful condition that often is not well understood by physicians and regularly evades standard methods of assessment, such as imaging. It’s not uncommon for it to be misdiagnosed as other conditions, such as IBS (inflammatory bowel syndrome) or for the symptoms to be taken less seriously than other chronic pain conditions.

Endometriosis is relatively common chronic condition affecting approximately 11% of the United States Population of women and people with uteruses (Office of Women’s Health), though this number is estimated to be higher by experts due to misdiagnosis.

The study findings have broad implications for health care, policy, and legal systems, and for the millions of underserved people who live with this and other chronic pain conditions. Conditions which may also be similarly impacted by current application and review methods.

Read the full analysis: “Endometriosis and disability: Analysis of Federal Court Appeals of Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income Claims by Individuals Suffering from Endometriosis.” Women’s Health Issues, Jacobs Institute of Women’s Health, May-June 2024 issue.

_____________________________

This study was co-authored with the indispensable Kathleen Knafl, PhD, FAAN, Whitney R. Robinson, PhD, MSPH, Erin T. Carey, MD, MSCR, Zakiya Haji-Noor, PhD, MPh, and Suzanne Thoyre, PhD, RN, FAAN.

2023-2024 Fulbright Scholar

small children and adult standing with trees — Rachel Anderson

Congratulations to Rachel Anderson Doctor of Nursing Practice student who is one of the UW students recognized as a 2023-2024 Fulbright Scholar.

Hometown: Fort Collins, CO

Graduation Year/Program: Doctor of Nursing Practice Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Primary Care, 2027

What is your research/areas of interest? Infant mental health and perinatal mental health; pediatric infectious diseases

Why did you choose nursing? Nursing has great flexibility and I like the ability to work in a variety of settings that incorporate research and patient-facing aspects.

How has your experience at the School of Nursing helped you with your career trajectory? I have done the ABSN and part of the DNP at UW and the faculty support and access to research institutes such as the Barnard Center have been such a gift.

What are your plans after graduation? I hope to continue to work in research and pursue a per diem level one nursery position.

HIV PrEP Services Study

A randomized trial (co-authored by UW SON professor Dr. Pamela Kohler) evaluated the effectiveness of using patient actors to role play counseling for PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) services provided to adolescent girls and young women in Kenya – a population disproportionately affected by HIV in the region.

Six African women pose in front of a clinic — Patient actors from the randomized trial at a health service setting in Kenya

After a 2-day training intervention that included adolescent health, PrEP guidelines, values clarification, and communication skills; intervention providers role-played with trained actors. Control facilities received standard national training.

“It was important to have a safe space to practice discussions about HIV with young women, so that providers could feel more confident with sensitive topics and ensure that their personal values weren’t negatively affecting young people seeking care,” said Kohler. “The providers were exceptionally receptive to feedback from the actors and their peers.”

At the end of the study, both the intervention and control facilities were assessed using what you might know as “secret shopping” or “mystery shopping.” Trained actors presented to clinics portraying young women requesting PrEP services according to case scripts, then documented their care experiences with study staff. The actors didn’t know whether the facilities they attended had received the training, and the providers did not know they were caring for actors. .

The difference in quality of service was astonishing.

Providers who had worked with the actors scored better across the board for both adherence to national guidelines and communication skills. Quality at the control sites received a mean score of 58%. At sites where providers worked with the actors? 74%.

That kind of impact could have far-reaching implications for improving HIV prevention not only for adolescent girls and young women in the region, but also globally and for other underserved populations in need of PrEP or other health services.

Read the full study results: https://journals.lww.com/aidsonline/abstract/9900/patient_actor_training_improves_prep_delivery_for.506.aspx

June News Awards

Faculty

Jamie Young, DNP, ARNP, RN, FNP-BC – a clinical assistant professor in BNHI has been awarded selected as a fellow for the 2024-2026 Evidence-Based Teaching Program offered by the UW Center for Teaching and Learning.

Husky nurse Assistant Professor Omeid Heidari, PhD, MPH, ANP-C, is in the latest Health Affairs theme issue on Reimagining Public Health.

Basia Belza, PhD, RN, FAAN, FGSA- University of Washington’s de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging director and professor was recently interviewed by Erin Donnelly, Senior Editor, for Yahoo Life for an article on Mall Walking based on our teams’ prior research.

Dr. Monica Oxford, MSW PhD, in the department for Child, Family, and Population Health Nursing and colleagues Drs Idan Shalev (Penn State) and Carrie Dow-Smith (Wake Med) have received funding from the National Institutes of Health for an R01 titled “The impact of stress and caregiver sensitivity on infant cellular aging in a population of under-resources families: A randomized controlled trial”. PFR is an Evidence-Based program disseminated out of the Parent-Child Relationships Program at the Barnard Center at the University of Washington School of Nursing.

A randomized trial (co-authored by Dr. Pamela Kohler) evaluated the effectiveness of using patient actors to role play counseling for PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) services provided to adolescent girls and young women in Kenya – a population disproportionately affected by HIV in the region. Read more

Professor Betty Bekemeier co-chaired working group on climate change and health research. The working group led to recommendations for helping inform future NINR activities in climate change and health research. Read more

Congratulations to our faculty who have been awarded endowed fellowships and professorships.

Research and Intramural Funding Program (RIFP) funding for the Spring 2024 cycle. Congratulations to the following faculty members on their successful proposals:

Sarah Iribarren, PhD, RN | BNHI
“Building and Evaluating AI-augmented Treatment Support for Individuals with Tuberculosis.”
Funding Source: Suzanne E. Van Hooser Endowment

Alexi Vasbinder, PhD, RN | BNHI
“Impact of Preterm Birth on Aging and Inflammatory Biomarkers in Kenyan Mother-Infant Pairs.”
Funding Source: Elizabeth Giblin Endowment

Avanti Adhia, Scd | CFPHN
“Deepening a Research Partnership to Advance the Use of Evidence-Informed Intimate Partner Violence Prevention Practices in Alaska.”
Funding Source: Lorraine Troop Endowment

Students

Emily Ahrens – 3rd year PhD student just received a notice of grant award for her F31 (F31NR021096) from NINR entitled: ” Examination of Health Disparities in ICU Delirium Prevention and Management for Patients Who Speak A Language Other Than English” to support completion of her dissertation and PhD training. Her committee and consulting team includes folks from SON, SOM at UW as well as faculty at Nebraska and Ohio State.

Pregamon Kuntajak, MSN, BSN, RN – PhD student received a grant from Sigma Theta Tau Psi at Large Chapter on their proposed project to focus on psychological resilience among older adults following mild-moderate traumatic brain injury. More info below.

Rachel Anderson Doctor of Nursing Practice student is one of the UW students recognized as a 2023-2024 Fulbright Scholar.

Convocation 2024

Congratulations to Class of 2024 graduates! June 7 and 9 we celebrated our amazing #HuskyNurse students with the BSN pinning ceremony and convocation.
View photos from the BSN pinning ceremony and convocation.

This I Believe Nursing Statements

We’re proud to share that a few of our amazing #HuskyNurse PhD students and now graduates had their “This I Believe” essays published in Nursing Research is a peer-reviewed journal. These essays share the personal journeys of our PhD students and how they see the direction of nursing science shifting.

May/June edition of Nursing Research:

July/August edition of Nursing Research:

Announcing 2024 Spring Endowments

Congratulations to our faculty who have been awarded endowed fellowships and professorships.

School of Nursing Endowed Chair for Health Promotion Professorship – Dr. Monica McLemore
Marilee Rasmussen Endowed Fund for Nursing Fellowship – Dr. Rebecca O’Connor
Marilee Rasmussen Endowed Fund for Nursing Fellowship – Dr. Sarah Gimbel
Marian Van Steenvoort Endowment for Excellence Fellowship – Dr. Erin Blakeney
Marian Van Steenvoort Endowment for Excellence Fellowship – Dr. Kendra Kamp
Gai and Patroni Faculty Fellowship for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Fellowship – Dr. Alexi Vasbinder
Lila Scott Faculty Fellowship for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Fellowship – Dr. Megan Streur
School of Nursing Alumni Endowed Fellowship – Dr. Pam Kohler

Congratulations Class of 2024!

We celebrate our exceptional nursing students who graduate today! We’re proud of their dedication, compassion, and hard work! As our graduates embark on this rewarding journey, we hope they continue to inspire and make a profound difference in the lives of those they care for.

Congratulations to this year’s teaching and student honorees!

Student Awardees

This award is for a student graduating from the ABSN or BSN program who has shown exceptional qualities during their time in the School of Nursing.
Ngoc Nguyen, BSN Student

“As a first-generation Vietnamese immigrant and college student, earning a Bachelor’s degree is more than just fulfilling the American dream. It represents a journey of determination and resilience fueled by the unwavering support from my community. Inspired by those whom I have met along the way and helped me grow into who I am today, I’m committed to doing the same and giving back to others. I plan to pursue pediatric critical care, with the long-term goal of returning to UWSoN to become a nursing educator, where I hope to continue to empower future generations of aspiring leaders in healthcare.”

Nhia Yerkes-Vang

Nhia completed her DNP in Population Health and Systems Leadership with a Graduate Certificate in Global Health Nursing this Winter. Her career in public health nursing, aimed at improving the health and well-being of communities across the globe, has been driven by her identities as a Hmong refugee, a first-generation student, and a global citizen. She has big dreams of sitting at every table related to health and policy – where nurses and communities are directly and indirectly impacted. Her next adventure will take her to the CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control in Atlanta, where she will serve as an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer (injury detective!).

Libby Shah, MA Student

Libby Shah is a dedicated registered nurse, with a passion for promoting the professional practice of nursing and best practices for the care of patients. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Washington and is graduating this spring with a Master of Science in Clinical Informatics and Patient Centered Technologies from the UW School of Nursing. Libby is excited to bring all the knowledge and skills she has gained from this program to her new role as a Clinical Informaticist at Bozeman Health to improve clinicians’ interactions with and perception of healthcare technology. While she does not have any immediate future academic plans, she will apply the skills she has learned in finding and evaluating research to inform and guide her work. Her personal motto is “details define the experience” which guides her to remember that there is no aspect too small to focus attention for improvement and that all those details add up to create the overall impression.

Zih-Ling Wang, PhD Student
The Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award recognizes a Nursing Graduate Student who served in a Teaching Assistant role and demonstrated strong teaching effectiveness with the ability to communicate effectively with students and faculty.

Zih-Ling Wang is currently pursuing a PhD at the School of Nursing. She is passionate about studying mealtime behavior in people living with dementia, particularly to see whether eating experiences, physical strength, or environmental stimulation could improve independence in eating. Zih-Ling is also passionate about nurturing the next generation of nursing scientists.

Mihkaila Wickline, PhD Student

The Dissertation Award in Nursing Science recognizes outstanding achievement in nursing science: Knowledge requisite for the promotion, restoration, and maintenance of health for individuals, families or communities.

Mihkai is a long-time bone marrow transplant (BMT) nurse and has focused her studies on health promotion in BMT survivorship. Additionally, she has dabbled in teaching undergraduate and graduate nursing and working with people in the sex trade. She is interested in the relational aspects of nursing work and loves how narrative medicine creates a platform for understanding the power of the therapeutic nurse-patient relationship. Mihkai is thrilled to be joining the UW SON as an assistant teaching professor beginning next fall. Together with her husband, Mihkai is raising three amazing teenagers and their favorite family activities are basketball and traveling.

Alexia Webster, DNP Student

The DAISY in Training Award recognizes graduating nursing students for the extraordinary care and compassion they show patients and their families.

Lexi Webster graduated cum laude from Seattle Pacific University with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2019 and went on to complete nursing residency at Seattle Children’s Hospital while working on the Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine Unit. While completing her Doctorate of Nursing Practice, Lexi completed an Advanced Clinical Training Program in Infant Mental Health through the University of Washington’s Barnard Center. Lexi hopes to specialize in perinatal psychiatry and infant mental health with a focus on serving families connected to the foster care system.

Prabina Dahal, DNP Student

The Azita Emami Student Leadership in Social Justice Award honors a graduating UW School of Nursing student who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to social justice in the areas of leadership, scholarship and service.

Faculty Awards

DAISY Faculty Award – Nicola Contreras, DNP, RN, CHSE-A
Award Description: DAISY stands for Diseases Attacking the Immune System. The foundation was established in 1999 by members of the family of Patrick Barnes, who died at the age of 33 of complications of Idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura. The Barnes family believes that nurses are the unsung heroes of our society who deserve far more recognition and honor than they receive.

Excellence in Clinical Teaching – Nicola Contreras, DNP, RN, CHSE-A
Award Description: Respects students as adult and professional learners. Demonstrates compassion, empathy, and patience. Provides safe, supportive, and non-oppressive environments in which to practice and hone clinical skills.

Excellence in Promoting Diversity through Teaching – Monica R. McLemore PhD, MPH, RN Award Description: Diversity encompasses the attributes of race, ethnicity, cultural background, age, physical ability, sexual orientation, socio-economic background, speakers of English as a Second Language, country of origin, religion, and gender.

Sandra Eyres Excellence in Graduate Teaching – Cynthia M. Dougherty ARNP, PHD, FAAN, FAHA
Award Description: The Sandra Eyres Excellence in Graduate Teaching recognizes faculty who consistently stimulate creative and critical thinking.

Rheba de Tornyay Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching – Nicola Contreras, DNP, RN, CHSE-A
Award Description: Stimulates creative, critical thinking, student interest, and facilitates productive classroom dynamics. Incorporates research and evidence-based practice in presentations and support materials. Continuously self-reflects and modifies own teaching techniques. Respects and recognizes students as individuals invested in their own learning.

UW School of Nursing Research Mentorship Award – Cynthia M. Dougherty ARNP, PHD, FAAN, FAHA; & Sarah Iribarren PhD, RN (2024)
Award Description: Recognizing a faculty member who made a significant contribution in conducting research in nursing science and practice-based inquiry.

Scholar Spotlight: Lee-Ling Chen

Lee-Ling Chen is one of the de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging’s 2023-2024 Healthy Aging Doctoral Scholars, and a UW School of Nursing Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Doctor of Nursing Practice student. Her project is on “Fall Prevention and Management for Older Adults in Assisted Living Service Programs within Retirement Communities”. Her faculty mentor is Jonathan Auld, PhD, MAT, RN.

Why did you choose nursing?

My interest in nursing dates back to when I was about 10 years old. My grandmother was hospitalized with a post-hip replacement infection. One of my aunts insisted on giving her more nutritional support in hopes of keeping her alive. However, her body was declining and unable to absorb the nutrition and fluids. I felt that there was no purpose in prolonging her suffering. Eventually, she passed away after a few days. This experience profoundly impacted me and shaped my future aspirations. I realized the importance of providing the best care to patients based on their wishes and desires. Letting the loved one go is uneasy, but nursing guides us in listening and providing support for patients and their families.

Nursing is a rewarding career because it allows me to help people and make a positive difference in their lives. Additionally, the knowledge I gain can also be used to care for my own family. That’s why I chose nursing.

What made you interested in this topic for your DNP project?

For my DNP project, I am focusing on fall prevention and management in a retirement community, specifically targeting older adults who receive assisted living services. My interest in this topic is deeply personal. My dad has Parkinson’s disease and now also has dementia, which significantly affects his daily activities and balance. He has fallen multiple times, resulting in various injuries and fractures.

Through this project, I hope to develop strategies that will help older adults in assisted living programs prevent falls. Observing my father’s struggles made me realize that there are ways we can improve fall prevention and support the residents in these facilities. That’s why I chose to work on this topic.

Why is this research project important to do?

Fall prevention is a significant topic that has been discussed for a long time, but there is not much research focusing on older adults in assisted living services. Furthermore, the senior retirement community that I worked with was seeking recommendations on updating their fall prevention and management policies, which have remained unchanged since 2013. Effective fall prevention measures have markedly decreased falls, leading to cost savings and reduced mortality and morbidity.

For this project, I utilized the Ottawa Model as the framework, focusing on the Assessment phase, which includes innovation, potential adopters, and the practice environment. This approach helped identify barriers and informed project planning, aiming to bridge the gap between current practices and evidence-based recommendations. The findings from my project included comparing recent guidelines with Era Living’s policy and conducting an assessment of staff and residents via interviews. These interviews focused on awareness, attitudes, knowledge, and experiences related to fall prevention and management.

Has there been anything that surprised you while working on the project so far?

I was surprised that I didn’t find much evidence specifically focusing on fall prevention in assisted living. There’s limited information available on this area, possibly because I restricted my research to recent years. To address this, I used similar research on fall prevention and gathered related evidence that could be applied to residents in assisted living.

Another surprising finding was the reliance on community health nurses in retirement communities to identify individual risk factors and the confinement of fall risk assessment. According to the AHRQ’s Safety Program for Nursing Homes, an effective policy should incorporate interdisciplinary input on resident fall risk. This highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary input in creating comprehensive and effective fall prevention strategies. It made me realize how crucial it is to involve various healthcare professionals, residents, and families in assessing and managing fall risks to improve older adults’ overall safety and well-being.

What interests you about healthy aging and gerontology?

What fascinates me about gerontology is how our bodies change as we age. The presentation of symptoms in older adults can be atypical compared to younger individuals, which requires a specialized understanding of their unique needs. Older adults are a vulnerable population, and my interest in gerontology arises from my desire to help them navigate available resources and avoid unnecessary medications through deprescribing.

By focusing on healthy aging, I aim to improve the quality of life for older adults and support them in maintaining their independence and well-being. Everyone will get old. We’re aging every day, but the key is how to age healthily.

Did you have any past experience working with older adults in your career before you came to the DNP program?

I worked in the orthopedics unit and primary care settings before I came to the DNP program. At the hospital, I cared for many older adults who needed knee and hip replacements, as well as those with fractures and amputations. I loved interacting with them and learning about their lives, which provided me with invaluable insights into the challenges they face.

In my career, I also learned a lot from older nurses in the primary care setting. They have shared invaluable life lessons and knowledge with me, enriching my professional growth and understanding of geriatric care. Their mentorship has been instrumental in shaping my approach to nursing.

Additionally, I have always been the one taking care of my grandparents and now my parents because I have a nursing background. I truly appreciate the time spent with them and being able to utilize my nursing skills in caring for them.

May 2024 News and Awards

Students

Congratulations to several of our students who received scholarships. Read more
PhD student Elizabeth Frazier is the 2024-2025 Magnuson Scholar for the School of Nursing. Read more
On Friday, May 17 BSN students presented their posters at the 2024 Undergraduate Research Symposium. Read more and view photos here

Faculty

Jennifer Sonney’s work, in collaboration with other University of Washington researchers, creating the virtual reality environment, ‘Relaxation Environment for Stress in Teens’ (RESeT) was recently featured in UW Today.
Listen to the Voices of Nursing podcast, “Becoming a Nurse Researcher and Advocate,” with Dr. Monica McLemore. She shares the key moments that inspired her journey to becoming a nurse researcher and advocate.

Alumni

School of Nursing PhD and MN alumna Jung-Ah Lee’s work with caregivers for people with dementia was recently featured in the University of California, Irvine Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing’s Magazine, Humanitas. Find the story on page 29 of Humanitas magazine.
All School Reunion was celebrated on Saturday, May 18. The annual UW School of Nursing All Class Reunion was held Saturday, May 18. It was a wonderful event and even more heartening to see alumni reminisce and share stories of their adventures post-graduation. Attendees had the opportunity to hear from a dynamic panel of current faculty and alumni on “The Future of Nursing” and were shown a sneak peek trailer for the upcoming nursing documentary, “Everybody’s Work,” in collaboration with the school’s Manning Price Spratlen Center for Antiracism & Equity in Nursing. See pictures and hear from those who attended the All Class Reunion. We hope to see more of our alumni at the 2025 All Class Reunion!

Advancement

UW chemistry professor emeritus Larry R. Dalton and his wife, Nicole A. Boand announced a $10 million bequest to the School of Nursing to support scholarships and clinical education. Read more

Nurses Month 2024

Read more about what the School did to celebrate our amazing #HuskyNurses for Nurses Month.

UW’s Larry Dalton and wife, Nicole Boand, commit $10 million bequest for scholarships, clinical education

The University of Washington School of Nursing announced a $10 million bequest from UW chemistry professor emeritus Larry R. Dalton and his wife, Nicole A. Boand.

UW’s Larry Dalton and wife, Nicole Boand, announced a $10 million bequest to the School of Nursing to support scholarships and clinical education. *Photographer: Dennis Wise/University of Washington*

The gift commitment, the largest in the history of the School of Nursing, will increase access to nursing education, with $8 million dedicated to cost-of-attendance scholarships. The remaining $2 million will be used to enrich and expand clinical education, including the recruitment of clinical nurse educators who can provide practical, on-the-job training for students.

Read full story by Jackson Holtz, UW News.

Scholar Spotlight: Shao-Yun Chien

Shao-Yun Chien is a UW School of Nursing PhD in Nursing Science candidate and one of the de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging’s 2023-2024 Healthy Aging Scholars. Her dissertation is on “Developing a Culturally Sensitive Web-based Discussion Platform to Reduce Social Isolation and Loneliness Among Older Chinese Immigrants.” Her faculty mentor is Oleg Zaslavsky.

Why did you choose nursing?

I grew up in a family where many members were part of the healthcare industry, and they were always eager to help others. I remember my father often rushing to the hospital in the middle of the night to take care of patients.

In addition, I have always been close to my grandparents, and enjoy conversing with seniors because they have so many stories and rich life experience to share. In high school, my grandfather fell ill and was hospitalized. I felt helpless and unsure about what I could do to ease his pain and improve his condition. This motivated me to acquire knowledge and skills in nursing, to not only help him alleviate pain, but to also maintain a better quality of life.

Overall, I think healthcare is crucial for everyone from birth to the end of life. Learning nursing can help others as well as oneself. So I chose nursing.

What interested you about healthy aging in particular?

Healthy aging fascinates me because it’s a multi-faceted challenge that combines the physical, mental, and social. As the global population ages, understanding how to maintain and improve the quality of life for older adults is becoming increasingly important. I’m particularly interested in how we can use innovative interventions like technology to support the mental and physical health of the elderly to ensure they lead fulfilling and independent lives.

After I graduated from university, I worked as a nurse at a medical center in Taiwan, and approximately 80% of patients in my ward were older adults. It’s common to see patients distressed when their condition doesn’t improve as they expected after acute care and treatment. The medical personnel are usually focused on treating physical symptoms and often overlook the psychological aspects.

I wanted to enhance my understanding of mental health and psychiatric nursing in order to solve this issue. So I went on to study at the UCSF psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner program, concentrating on the psychological well-being of older adults.

You mentioned that you’re interested in technological interventions for older adults. What interests you about the technology interventions?

Because there is an important issue that’s called a digital divide. So many older adults struggle with using technology due to fear or aging, like visual impairments or hearing impairments, or other illnesses like depression or dementia. They’re not able to use technology products like younger generations. So they’re missing out on the convenience brought by technological advancement. I think it’s important to bridge this gap to increase the usability of technology for this population.

What is your project as a de Tornyay Center healthy aging scholar?

My project is called “Developing a culturally sensitive web based discussion platform to reduce social isolation and loneliness among older Chinese immigrants.”

I am leading this research with a focus on designing an online community that is culturally appropriate to the needs of older Chinese immigrants. The platform aims to mitigate and to reduce the feelings of loneliness and social isolation that are prevalent in this demographic.

The intervention is modeled on a virtual online community for the elderly, which was abbreviated VOCALE, developed by Dr. Annie Chen and Dr. Oleg Zaslavsky. I modified it according to the aim of this study. The revised version is named VOCALE older Chinese immigrants — VOCALE OCI.

This intervention, VOCALE OCI, is an online support group on an open access platform designed to promote problem solving and health management strategies in older adults. The participants are encouraged to share their age-related experience and management strategies with others in weekly discussions.

How did you first get involved in the project?

My involvement in this field began with my volunteer work at a senior center in Seattle. I had the opportunity to interact with and chat with several older adults. In that senior center, most of the participants are people with low English proficiency. One of the prominent issues they shared with me was the feeling of loneliness and social isolation, such as cultural and linguistic barriers, and also transportation difficulties.

What they told me is that they feel they have no eyes, no ears, and no feet. Because they cannot understand the language, they cannot see the signs. Or even if they go out to shop, if they have questions, they cannot ask the staff. And they don’t have feet because some of them do not know how to drive and don’t know how to even take the bus. And because of those disadvantages, they’re kind of isolated.

The situation was also exacerbated because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Even now, some seniors also share that they are fearful of going out due to the risk of infection, so some of them still stay at home, and if they want to join any activity they would choose an online version.

This experience deeply impacted me and motivated me to address these issues, leading to my current research project.

Has there been anything that surprised you so far while working on this project?

I feel like the resilience and potential of the elderly might actually be beyond what we imagine. The seniors I’ve met (my research participants) have really inspired me. Initially, I thought my research was all about creating an online community to help them, but they also enriched my thinking and life with broader perspectives and experiences, which has been incredibly rewarding and precious to me.

I’ve discovered the diversity among the elderly; each of them is like a rich book with so much to reflect on and learn from. Despite the many difficulties and obstacles they faced in their migration process and adaptation, the vitality they’ve shown throughout this journey has been a huge inspiration. I believe this has been a very valuable and profound learning experience.

Having studied abroad myself, I’ve had similar experiences, but they’ve faced many more challenges and difficulties. I really admire the wisdom of the elders, and it makes me think we should be more humble in understanding and comprehending the life experiences of different people, respecting everyone’s thoughts and individuality.

Congratulations Spring 2024 Scholarship Recipients

Congratulations to various #HuskyNurse students who’ve received scholarships. We’re proud of these outstanding students who are dedicated to advancing healthcare and their commitment to excellence.

King County Nurses Association Scholarship

UW Seattle:
Basic Program: Sumaya Uthmaan
Accelerated BSN: Lina Kalume, Tigist Degesew, Stephanie Herrera, Pratikshya Sharma, and Michael Sabunod
DNP: Lily Schroeder, Kianni Demmert and Madelyn Devoe
Advanced-PhD: Tao Zheng

UW Bothell:
Basic-RNB: Jainaba Sawaneh Fatty
Advanced-Master’s: Feliz Shirlei Spearman-Altheimer

National Abortion (NAF) Clinician in Abortion Care Student Achievement Award –Madeline Mangiaracina

Elizabeth Bear CNM Leadership Scholarship from the American College of Nurse Midwives – Claire Kaine

2024 Rosemary Ford Future of Oncology Nursing Scholarship –Makayla Magette

Johnson & Johnson Our Race to Health Equity Diversity Nursing Scholarship – Sumaya Uthmaan

2024-2025 Magnuson Scholarship Recipients

Every year exceptional health sciences students are recognized for their contributions to research and outstanding academic performance in the health sciences. This year we are pleased to congratulate and recognize this year’s School of Nursing Magnuson Health Scholar Elizabeth Frazier .

Hometown: Originally from Little Rock, AR, and have lived in Seattle for many years now.

Graduation Year/Program: PhD in Nursing Science; 2026

What is your research/areas of interest? My dissertation research is focused on exploring biological and social factors that contribute to sex and gender differences in atrial fibrillation symptoms and quality of life

Do you have a faculty mentor? Dr. Cynthia Dougherty

Why did you choose nursing? I always found the physiology of the human body to be interesting and knew I wanted to go into the sciences, but it was the “human” aspect — connecting with patients — that drew me to nursing.

How has your experience at the School of Nursing helped you with your career trajectory? I say this genuinely — my PhD journey at the UW SoN has been beyond what I could have imagined. In addition to having an incredible mentorship team, I have been privileged to receive opportunities in authorship, grantsmanship, interdisciplinary collaboration and networking, and direct research experience, all of which will prepare me for a career in nursing research. But a significant part of my PhD experience has been connecting with and learning from SoN faculty and my PhD peers who are engaging in truly meaningful research. This has simultaneously pushed me to expand my lens of nursing science and helped me hone my focus for my own program of research.

What are your plans after graduation? The long-term goal is to take a nursing faculty position.

Learn more about the Magnuson Health Scholar Program and the other scholars here.

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Undergraduate Symposium 2024

2024 Undergraduate Research Symposium

Our BSN honors students will present their posters at the 2024 Undergraduate Research Symposium on May 17^th. Please join us to celebrate the students’ achievements.

When: May 17, 2024, Session 1 (11:00am – 12:30pm)

Where: Mary Gates Hall

For day-of details see:

https://www.washington.edu/undergradresearch/symposium/attendees/

Student Poster Abstracts

Mentor: Maya Elias, PhD, MA, RN
Title: Exploring the Roles of Circadian Rhythm and Chronotype on Cognitive Interventions for Older Intensive Care Unit Survivors
Time: 11:00-12:30
Abstract: Nearly 70% of older adults hospitalized in an intensive care unit (ICU) experience delirium, a risk factor for long-term cognitive impairment that persists beyond discharge. The severity of critical illness, coupled with the 24-hour care provided in the ICU, is associated with significant disruptions to sleep and the circadian rhythm. These circadian rhythm disturbances, which affect up to 80% of ICU patients, may decrease the efficacy and benefits of interventions to improve cognitive function. Few intervention studies have been conducted testing circadian-based approaches to optimize timing of interventions to prevent cognitive decline in older ICU survivors. The study aims are: 1) to assess the feasibility, adherence, tolerability of morning or afternoon sessions of a computerized cognitive training intervention, and 2) to explore the role of individual chronotype on intervention usability and acceptability in older ICU survivors. Participants are randomized to one of three arms: morning computerized cognitive training sessions, afternoon computerized cognitive training sessions, or usual inpatient care. Participants assigned to the intervention groups complete daily 30-minute cognitive training sessions for up to 7 days or until hospital discharge. Wearable sensors monitor circadian rhythm patterns (via continuous body temperature and activity/sleep), and participants answer a questionnaire to determine their individual chronotype (“morning” versus “evening” circadian preference). Upon study completion, participants provide quantitative and/or open-ended feedback via surveys. We hypothesize that participants whose assigned intervention timing aligns most closely with their individual chronotype will demonstrate higher intervention adherence and will report higher tolerability and acceptability. Data collection is ongoing; results will investigate the potential of circadian-based and chronotherapeutic interventions to mitigate cognitive impairment in older ICU survivors. Additional research is needed to develop personalized interventions that integrate individual circadian rhythm and chronotherapy as targets to accelerate cognitive recovery throughout critical illness.

Students:

Mentor: Monica R McLemore, PhD, MPH, RN

Title: Integrative Review on Support for Pregnant Individuals Using Substances

Time: 11:00-12:30

Abstract: There are unfortunate disparities that occur to pregnant individuals struggling from substance use disorder, causing harm rather than support and purposeful treatment. Punitive policies against these individuals are deeply rooted in systematic racism disproportionately affecting the BIPOC community, leading to increases in adverse birth outcomes, such as neonatal abstinence syndrome. Addressing the pressing need for improved prenatal and postpartum support for these individuals is imperative. This study identifies supportive interventions that improve the quality of prenatal care and follow up pregnancy care. We conducted extensive interviews with healthcare experts researching prevention policies and those working directly with the target population. Additionally, we performed a systematic review of both punitive and supportive policies regarding substance use during pregnancy. We hypothesize that punitive policies adversely affect pregnant individuals by creating disparities and hindering proper pregnancy care. The study’s findings will allow us to develop viable interventions aimed at improving pregnancy care for these individuals, ultimately preventing neonatal abstinence syndrome.

Mentors: Basia Belza, PhD, RN, FAAN, FGSA / Sarah McKiddy, PhD Candidate
Title: The Relationship of Ageism, Aging, and Music on Health: Perspectives of Mandarin-Speaking Elders
Time: 11:00-12:30
Abstract: Music interventions are gaining attention due to the evidence they improve health and cognition in elders. In the US, there is an increasing number of Mandarin-speaking elders whose cultural background affects their aging experience. After English and Spanish, Chinese is the third most spoken language in the US. Three and a half million households in the U.S speak Mandarin or Cantonese. However, there is little information regarding specific music choices or culturally tailored music interventions for Mandarin-speaking elders to improve their health and aging experience. The purpose of this study was to gain insights into Mandarin-speaking elders’ views of aging, ageism, and the relationship between music and health. We conducted a qualitative study that involved interviewing Mandarin-speaking elders in Mandarin. The interview consisted of questions related to their cultural perspectives on aging, experience with ageism in the US, and the impact of music on their health. The participants selected music to play during the interview and discussed what the music meant to them and their thoughts on how music affects their health. Four interviews in Mandarin have been conducted to date. Initial findings reveal that filial piety and respect are recurring cultural themes that influence participants’ perspective and experience of aging. Internal ageism was identified in one of the interviews while the participant discussed their experience with ageism. Participants expressed that music benefits their health by providing emotional support and outlet, motivation, reminiscence of the past, brain activity, and stimulation through physical movement such as dance. The findings increase our understanding about the role of culture in the aging experience and music’s role in enhancing health for Mandarin-speaking elders. Future studies can use this information to develop music-based interventions tailored for Mandarin-speaking elders to improve their health.

Mentors: Basia Belza, PhD, RN, FAAN, FGSA / Sarah McKiddy, PhD Candidate
Title: The Relationship of Ageism, Aging, and Music on Health in Older Adults from Kenya
Time: 11:00-12:30
Abstract: Music is considered a therapeutic tool to improve physical, cognitive, and emotional health. The nature of music varies across cultures and backgrounds around the world. This research project explored the connections between music, aging, and ageism in older adults from Kenya and the therapeutic role of music in improving physical, cognitive, and emotional well-being. This project considers cultural similarities and differences between Kenya and the United States and examines the unique nature shaped by different cultures. In this study, we explore how music affects the perception of age in older adults from Kenya and their perceptions of ageism. This research project focuses on using interpretive research method where data is collected through interviews to gain a deeper understanding of the topic. The study involves three older adults from Kenya between the ages of 60 and 65. The interview questions focus on understanding the cultural influences of Swahili speakers in the context of music and ageism. Through research on the differences in aging between Kenyan and American older adults, this project seeks to identify cultural factors and explore ways that music can enhance well-being among older adults. This project provides valuable insight into cultural aspects that influence aging and the potential benefits of music-based interventions. The findings have the potential to improve our understanding of how cultural differences influence attitudes toward aging and the impact of music on the health and well-being of older adults.

Mentor: Omeid Heidari, PhD, MPH, ANP-C
Title: Integration of Substance Use Treatments Into a Primary Care Setting
Time: 11:00-12:30
Abstract: Millions of people in the United States of America are suffering from substance use disorders (SUD); of particular concern is opioid use disorder (OUD) due to the high risk of overdose and death. This epidemic is a public health crisis that impacts people in every community. OUD is especially harmful to vulnerable populations who face arduous challenges in accessing treatment. People with chronic pain or complex co-morbid conditions, housing-unstable communities, and the under/uninsured are all particularly vulnerable to OUD. Safe and effective medical treatments are available to mitigate overdose risk, but accessing them can be bureaucratically challenging for providers to navigate, which results in the relegation of OUD treatment to separate specialty facilities. This fragmentation of care impedes access and decreases provider follow-up. Substance users seeking help often face undue burdens in the form of strict sobriety requirements or incremental prescriptions necessitating frequent clinic visits. Madison Clinic at Harborview Medical Center provides care for people living with HIV and AIDS. This population is particularly vulnerable to medical stigma and bias, job instability, homelessness, chronic pain, and substance use. Using a qualitative descriptive method, we conducted a thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews to explore the thoughts, opinions, and perspectives of providers at the Madison Clinic and people living with HIV or AIDS using substances regarding the integration of medical treatments for substance use into the primary care setting. Interview transcripts were analyzed through a mix of inductive and deductive coding. Ideally, this integration would help remove barriers and alleviate the complexity of coordinating fragmented care. We anticipate co-locating routine care and treatment for opioid use simultaneously may lead to better adherence to medication regimens and increased patient and provider satisfaction with care. This research will influence the creation of a healthcare model for integrating substance use treatment into primary care settings.

- - Mentors: Allison R Webel, RN, PhD, FAAN / Vitor Oliveira, PhD
  - Title: Improving Body Composition Through Exercise Interventions in Older People with HIV
  - Time: 11:00-12:30
  - Abstract: As healthcare advances, older people with HIV (PWH) have a longer life expectancy. Biotechnological advancements, such as antiretroviral therapy (ART), suppress HIV replication, resulting in decreased mortality among PWH, while increasing quality of life. However, despite these advances, older PWH generally experience an earlier onset of co-morbidities due to increasing age, increased adiposity related to HIV medications and sedentary lifestyle, poorer physical function, and high symptom burden. Physical activity is a significant non-pharmacological approach to mitigate chronic disease in older adults and promote healthy living. Among different physical activity types, exercise can be defined as structured and repetitive bodily movement, objectively improving or maintaining physical function. Exercise can take many forms and be performed at different intensities. HEALTH Study participants perform continuous moderate exercise (CME) of walking or jogging at 50% of heart rate (HR) or high-intensity interval training (HIIT) of alternating short intervals of high- and low-intensity aerobic exercise at 80-90% and 50% HRmax. Healthy aging among PWH includes decreased fatigue, greater functional mobility, and fewer symptoms of HIV and its related treatments. What is unknown, and currently investigated in the HEALTH Study, are exercise types to improve physical health outcomes in older PWH. This study aims to explore the relationship and associations between exercise interventions on body composition across older PWH participants. In this year-long undergraduate research project, we conducted a secondary data analysis to compare the effectiveness of exercise interventions, HIIT versus CME, on DEXA scan outcomes of body fat and bone density in older PWH. DEXA scans are medical imaging x-ray tests to quantify body composition. We anticipate that with increased physical activity, especially in HIIT participants, body fat will decrease, and bone density and lean mass will increase. These findings may indicate how exercise interventions can mitigate fatigue and provide recommendations to prompt healthy aging in older PWH.

Mentor: Anita M Souza, PhD

Title: Understanding Worker Well-being of Homeless Service Employees

Time: 11:00-12:30

Abstract: Compassion fatigue, also known as secondary traumatic stress or vicarious trauma, is a condition characterized by emotional and physical exhaustion, often experienced by individuals who provide care, support, or assistance to people who are suffering or traumatized. This phenomenon commonly affects professionals in helping and caregiving roles such as healthcare workers, social workers, counselors, and first responders as they’re constantly exposed to secondary traumas. This study investigates five domains of worker well-being of social services employees at a local Homeless Services Agency in King County. Seventy-five social workers and case managers were invited to participate in the online, anonymous survey that contains the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Worker Well-being Questionnaire. This questionnaire consists of sixty-eight questions related to work evaluation and experience, workplace policies and culture, workplace physical environment and safety climate, health status, and home, community, and society. We hypothesize that those who have been employed at the Compass Housing Alliance for more than 2 years will exhibit higher compassion fatigue through their survey responses. The insights gathered will aid in understanding the working environment on service employees’ well-being. Results will offer areas to support workers and hopefully serve to mitigate the potential development of compassion fatigue among staff members.

Mentor: Anita M Souza, PhD

Title: Examining Worker Well-Being Amongst Social Service Workers who Aim to Alleviate Homelessness

Time: 11:00-12:30

Abstract: As the percentage of individuals facing homelessness rises, many organizations working closely with unhoused populations aim to secure consistent housing and essential resources for those who lack this necessity. There are roughly 14,000 individuals facing homelessness in the greater Seattle area. Previous studies have shown positive correlations between employee well-being and job performance. Our research aims to investigate worker well-being among staff members who are currently employed at the Compass Housing Alliance, an organization working closely with unhoused populations to provide both housing and access to other essential needs. This research utilized the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) worker well-being survey. We collected data on five factors that

influence the perceptions of 75 staff members on their overall well-being including workplace safety, mental wellness, leadership support, coping strategies and job satisfaction. Expected results from our survey indicate that staff members’ perceptions significantly impact their overall well-being. Collecting data using quantitative methods enables us to gain a deeper understanding of these current perceptions in order to utilize relevant resource implementation in areas where gaps are identified to support the needs of staff and improve their well-being.

Mentor: Tamara C. Cunitz, MN, RN

Title: Nashi Warm Line Needs Assessment: Supporting Ukrainian Refugees with Emotional Health and Resource Allocation

Time: 11:00-12:30

Abstract: On February 24, 2022, Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Washington state was already the home of over 42,000 Ukrainian immigrants, and since the invasion, upwards of 22,000 Ukrainian refugees have arrived. Refugees face significant challenges due to obstacles stemming from the trauma of war, displacement, resettlement, and the lack of access to essential health and social services. The Nashi Immigrants Health Board is a non-profit, community-based organization founded by public health professionals. Nashi partners with the Ukrainian community via health promotion, education, and advocacy programs and provides culturally and linguistically appropriate public and mental health services. Nashi’s warm-line was created as a caller line for Ukrainian-speaking communities, primarily refugees fleeing Ukraine to provide psychosocial support and connection to community resources. The purpose of this study is to examine the data collected during warm-line calls to identify the greatest needs and streamline resources for the community. Warm-line operators collect anonymous information such as age, zip code, primary language, the purpose of the call, and action taken are recorded. Caller data are entered into a database with specific categories and analyzed for trends and patterns of needs, which will help Nashi refine the pathways to interventions and resource allocation. We hypothesize the callers will be mainly calling about needs such as housing, health insurance, and job opportunities. We expect the navigators to provide emotional support in addition to resources, even if callers are not expecting or requesting it. The findings would help Nashi inform the Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance (ORIA) for future programming and quality improvement interventions. The study results are not inclusive of every need in the Ukrainian refugee population. Ongoing efforts of resource allocation would continue to evolve based on the changing needs of the Ukrainian community.

Sarah Gimbel’s research empowers nurses for greater impact around the globe

How an innovative approach inspired by the quality improvement world is empowering nurses for greater impact around the globe

Nursing science researcher, Dr. Sarah Gimbel (she/her), PhD, MPH, RN, FAAN, has spent the better part of her career figuring out how to help frontline nurses take the reins of their impact in healthcare settings.

A professor and director of the UW Center for Global Health Nursing, Gimbel’s research has primarily taken place in Mozambique, where she has worked closely with nurses and doctors in HIV services. Over time, her research scope has expanded to include hypertension and diabetes.

Health workers during the monthly SAIA meeting in Mozambique

The science of how work gets done and how systems can be improved is Gimbel’s passion. If you ask, she will be the first to say that bringing people together, in a methodical way, to understand a problem and craft informed decisions is where the magic happens.

Gimbel’s particular approach, called the Systems Analysis and Improvement Approach (or SAIA), bundles three systems engineering tools to build healthcare team systems’ thinking IQ with a uniquely implementation science spin. To the lay person, SAIA may at first sound wonkish. Until you look closer. Various flavors of systems engineering and quality improvement methods have developed and spread across countries and thrived across industries for decades – Kanban, Agile Scrum, continuous improvement, total quality, Lean Six Sigma. You name it. Gimbel simply combined proven approaches with three practical systems engineering tools—cascade analysis, process mapping and quality improvement circles—that nurses said time and again they needed to do their jobs well.

The goal of SAIA is simple. Help and other healthcare teams optimize service delivery care cascades – in other words ensure that clients receive complete, high quality care, from screening, to diagnosis, prescription, treatment, control/resolution of illness.

While most improvement strategies target a single step in a system, SAIA encourages teams to focus on the system as a whole from the patient perspective. On a monthly basis, care teams meet to jointly visualize treatment cascade drop-offs and prioritize areas for system improvements, identify modifiable facility level bottlenecks and propose, implement and assess the impact of small changes. Developing care team consensus through strengthened communication is seen as key to achieving better patient care and long-term outcomes. It puts the development of improving the health system into nurses’ hands – one clinic or care setting at a time.

Health workers during the monthly SAIA meetings in Mozambique

“We aim to bridge the gap between knowledge and action,” Gimbel said. “Nurses know their patients and settings best. They are best equipped to make change. They don’t need to be told – they just need the right tools and support to do it.” With SAIA, workers on the frontline have a voice to improve the way work gets done – benefiting both patients and nurses.

Gimbel makes it clear that SAIA as an approach was not developed in a vacuum, but in deep collaboration with others – implementation science and engineering experts at UW and nursing and care delivery experts across the world. It is constantly evolving and growing as it is entering into its 14^th and 15^th funded iteration (SAIA for management of opioid use disorder for individuals exiting jail in King County, and SAIA to optimize tuberculosis management in rural South Africa).

It’s through the effort, enthusiasm and dedication of nurse leaders and frontline staff that Gimbel says has allowed for SAIA to mobilize and be sustained in under resourced clinical and community settings globally.

“Three fourths of patient care globally is handled by nurses,” Gimbel said. “Their perspective to test interventions, identify health system weaknesses, is not just important – it’s absolutely necessary.”

The goal of SAIA isn’t only to improve the quality of care provided by nurses to patients. Across the nation and the world, nurses are burning out of the field in record numbers. Washington is itself plagued by the ranking of 47^th in the nation for adequate nursing staffing.

SAIA’s collaborative approach has the benefit of enhancing nurses’ overall experience in the workplace. By focusing on their needs and empowering them, it becomes absolutely possible for nurses to benefit from a healthcare system that is more responsive, efficient, and ultimately, better for both healthcare providers and patients.

Gimbel’s research methodology and the SAIA approach more generally inherently involves engaging with nurses and frontline health workers, understanding their perspectives, and working collaboratively to find solutions that work within the context of their daily challenges.

While some could describe the approach as pie-in-the-sky wishful thinking exercises, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Gimbel is a pragmatist at heart, and the outcomes of these conversations are meant to be practical, durable, and feasible, leading to sustainable improvements in healthcare services – even in resource-constrained environments. Which today is, realistically, most healthcare services.

“Nurses are at the forefront of healthcare delivery, and their expertise and insights are the missing ingredient to the broader challenges of our health system,” said Gimbel. “By empowering nurses, we have seen change happen. And with SAIA, that kind of impact scales up.”

-Alex Abplanalp

April 2024 News and Awards

Students

PhD in Nursing Science candidate Brenda Osei-Assibey, recently published a letter to the editor in Nursing Research, “What I Believe About Nursing Science“.

Faculty

Congratulations to Associate Research Professor Erin Abu-Rish Blakeney who recently published a scoping review in the Journal of Interprofessional Care on “A scoping review of new implementations of interprofessional bedside rounding models to improve teamwork, care, and outcomes in hospitals”.
Professor Cynthia Dougherty is quoted in a recent American Heart Association news story about the impact of surviving a heart attack, “The health connection between cardiac arrest survivors and their loved ones”
Betty Bekemeier of HSPop, UW School of Nursing and the Northwest Center for Public Health Practice led a review process to create a new, updated research agenda designed to drive new funding and evidence to guide a reimagined public health system:
Professor Monica McLemore recently spoke on the rePROs podcast during Black Maternal Health Week, in the recent episode, “Reproductive Justice, Black Maternal Health, and the Supreme Court.”
Josephine Ensign recently interviewed Casey Trupin on an episode of her Skid Row podcast, “A Conversation with Casey Trupin”.

Congratulations to the UW School of Nursing faculty and alumni who are being recognized at the Western Institute of Nursing (WIN) annual conference, April 17-20 (pictured from left to right):

Pamela H. Mitchell, BSN ’62, PhD ’91, RN, FAAN, FAHA, UW School of Nursing, Seattle Professor Emerita 2024 WIN Professor Emeritus
Allison Webel, RN, PhD, FAAN, Interim Executive Dean UW School of Nursing 2024 WIN Inductee
Paula Cox-North, MN ’05, PhD ’13, ARNP, UW School of Nursing, Seattle Teaching Professor 2024 Regional Geriatric Nursing Education Award
Jung-Ah Lee, MN ’02, PhD ’08, RN, FGSA, FAAN 2024 WIN Regional Geriatric Nursing Research Award: Senior Researcher
Julie Postma, PhD ’07, RN 2024 Western Academy of Nurses Inductee

UW Tacoma

Congratulations to the UW Tacoma Nursing & Healthcare Leadership faculty who received Population Health Initiative Tier 2 pilot grants:

Culturally adapting and pilot-testing chatbot-delivered psychotherapy for Chinese American families caring for older adults with chronic conditions
- PI: Jingyi Li, UW Tacoma Nursing & Healthcare Leadership
- Co-I: Weichao Yuwen, UW Tacoma Nursing & Healthcare Leadership
UW PHI Proof-of-Concept (Tier II) award
- Title: Promoting Wellness and Well-Being among Direct Clinical Service Providers Working in Regional Community Health Centers
- PI: Sharon Laing, UW Tacoma Nursing & Healthcare Leadership

Transforming healthcare education: The inspiring generosity of Drs. Gaylene and Leonard Altman

A four-decade faculty member and clinical educator, Dr. Gaylene Altman (she/her) PhD, RN, MN, is author of multiple nursing textbooks, long-time facilitator of clinical education at UW SoN’s world-class Simulation Center, and a distinguished scholar – but her first passion is teaching. Now, her dedication to her students has inspired her and her family’s transformational philanthropic investment in the University of Washington.

“I love teaching undergraduate nursing students…partnering with students to get them to be the best they can be. That’s really been a rewarding experience, watching the transformation from novice to a highly educated nurse.” Consequently, she has received many nursing teaching awards, including one of the University’s highest honors: the Distinguished Teaching Award.

Gaylene’s story has more humble beginnings than the accolades might let on. Yet the whirlwind to follow would keep Gaylene and her spouse, Dr. Leonard (Len) Altman, on the leading edge of both nursing education and practice ever after.

Her journey began, of all places, on a farm in the Midwest.

“I grew up on a farm, milking cows, caring for animals and working on tractors at an early age in the wheat fields. Teamwork was important for survival.” Gaylene shared. “One summer in my sophomore year, my parents let me accept a nurse’s aide position at a local hospital.” The hospital was about 30 miles from the farm. “That was my first exposure to nursing, and I knew this was my calling.”

Gaylene’s newfound love of nursing took her to the University of Kansas, where she earned her bachelor’s degree. “Since I needed financial assistance to immediately pursue the next level, I sought schools with financial assistance or any traineeships,” she said. That’s when she learned the importance of financial support for students. “Traineeships were available federally due to the shortage of nurses and I investigated at schools where that assistance was available. The UW was one of those places.”

She leapt right into her master’s degree at the University of Washington.

After completing her degree, Gaylene became involved in the early days of public education about a medical intervention we now often take for granted in today’s public square – cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

As nurses usually are, she was in the right place at the right time. She was working for a regional medical program when she first received a call from Dr. Leonard Cobb, co-founder of Washington’s first Medic One.

Dr. Cobb had a simple idea that was revolutionary for its time. Create the area’s first 911 program. But they needed professionals to develop and deliver the training. Already an educator and an Intensive Care nurse at Harborview Medical Center, Gaylene was in.

She taught CPR to ski patrol members, first response interventions to firefighters and set up what became known as the “Pink Pig”, a large van outfitted with lifesaving equipment. With the assistance of designated cardiologists, she co-led a program to develop cardiac intensive care units around the state and in Idaho, Montana, and Alaska.

People smiling at camera — Altman-Bouska Family

Len Altman was a medical intern at the time, before they were married, and was often on board the Pink Pig when they were dispatched to live-saving calls.

Today, Len is a clinical professor in the UW Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and has authored many publications, including several textbooks.

In many ways, the inspiration and tenacity for improving health care that characterized those early days in the Pink Pig never really faded for both Gaylene and Len.

True to her commitment to nursing education and research, Gaylene received her doctoral degree in 1992 – and hasn’t stopped advocating for nurses, nursing students, and the patients they serve since.

“Everyone will see a lot of changes in their career, but this was a unique period of time, especially in nursing,” Gaylene shared. “I’ve often thought I should write a book about the changes I have seen in my 50 years as a nurse. Because physicians are recognized, but sometimes they don’t recognize how nursing was involved in the groundbreaking parts of changing healthcare.”

Together, the Altmans have forged a lifelong legacy of supporting the educational journey of students who choose to care for others in medicine and nursing.

Building exterior — Exterior building shot

This belief in the importance and value of healthcare education underpins the philanthropic support the Altmans have generously provided to UW. The recently opened Health Sciences Education Building, for example, is a promise made real of a bold and innovative interprofessional and transdisciplinary education accessible to all. The building is a technologically sophisticated space dedicated to interactive classroom and study spaces for students of all UW health sciences schools – nursing, medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, public health, and social work – to promote active learning, interdisciplinary education, and collaboration.

“This is how we’re going to improve patient care,” Gaylene asserts, “if we have whole teams looking at the big picture at the same time and saying, ‘Oh, I see this. I see that.’ I think the new building is an ideal place to have that happen.”

Gaylene saw, starting with her days at the University of Kansas, the power of small, interdisciplinary teams out in the community together, seeing patients as a team and helping direct the best care from all team members.

Transdisciplinary education in the context of healthcare brings different health science disciplines into harmony, building new knowledge and drawing connections that otherwise may not have surfaced for the provider or the learner – more so than would be possible in highly siloed educational environments, where only one discipline is emphasized.

Gaylene Bouska Altman and Leonard Charles Altman Student Lounge

As University of Washington Laureates Gaylene and Len believe fervently in the power of a transdisciplinary health sciences education. This belief, founded in practical observation and extensive education, drove their generous philanthropic investment totaling $500,000 in the Health Sciences Education Building. Their passion for creating space and support for the student experience led to the naming of the Gaylene Bouska Altman and Leonard Charles Altman Student Lounge. The Altman Bouska Student Lounge was created to ensure that students also have a place to learn and spend casual time with their peers — both to support students’ well-being and to foster cross-school camaraderie.

“If we create rooms in the new building that are really set up as interdisciplinary training systems, that’s where things are going to happen, ideas to transform health care,” Gaylene said. “I see the future as trying to bring groups together.”

The Altman family’s generosity and commitment also shines brightly beyond the walls of this building. The family has made additional philanthropic investments in the School of Nursing that one simply can’t help tying back to a crucial moment in Gaylene’s educational journey – when she made the path-defining choice of UW for her master’s.

Just as Gaylene affirms that the financial assistance offered by UW clinched her choice to attend, Gaylene is firm in her conviction that other students from rural communities ought to have access to the same choice. Len has been committed to funding fellowships in his specialty as well as travel awards for new faculty. Gaylene has been committed to funding scholarships for students from rural areas at both the University of Washington and Kansas.

Today, thanks to supporters such as the Altmans, the Health Sciences Education Building is creating an environment where health sciences students learn to work as equitable members of a care team and provide quality comprehensive care for their future patients.

This opportunity is only made possible by the generosity of lifelong practitioners and humanitarians, individuals who not only envision a better future for healthcare in Washington but also possess the strength of will to see it through.

Faculty and alumni recognized at 2024 WIN conference

The UW School of Nursing is proud to announce that several faculty and alumni will be honored at the Western Institute of Nursing annual conference, April 17-20.

Congratulations to:

- - Pamela H. Mitchell, BSN ’62, PhD ’91, RN, FAAN, FAHA, UW School of Nursing, Seattle Professor Emerita
    2024 WIN Professor Emeritus
  - Allison Webel, RN, PhD, FAAN, Interim Executive Dean UW School of Nursing
    2024 WIN Inductee
  - Paula Cox-North, MN ’05, PhD ’13, ARNP, UW School of Nursing, Seattle Teaching Professor
    2024 Regional Geriatric Nursing Education Award
  - Jung-Ah Lee, MN ’02, PhD ’08, RN, FGSA, FAAN
    2024 WIN Regional Geriatric Nursing Research Award: Senior Researcher
  - Julie Postma, PhD ’07, RN
    2024 Western Academy of Nurses Inductee

Celebrating the birthday of Dr. Rheba de Tornyay

“Being old is not a disease, it’s frankly an achievement.” – Dr. Rheba de Tornyay

Dr. Rheba de TornyayFormer UW School of Nursing Dean

This April 17, we’re celebrating the birthday of Dr. Rheba de Tornyay. Dr. de Tornyay served as dean for the UW School of Nursing from 1975 to 1986, and was a dedicated proponent of gerontological nursing. She was passionate about nursing education and promoting healthy aging. The work the de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging does is possible thanks to the generosity of Drs. Rudy and Rheba de Tornyay, who endowed the de Tornyay Center for Aging and made possible our 26 years of contributions to gerontological nursing.

You can learn more about Dr. de Tornyay’s life, career, and continued impact in the center’s three-part timeline of her life.

Thank you to everyone who joins us in continuing Dr. de Tornyay’s legacy: The faculty who mentor students. The researchers who further nursing science in healthy aging. The educators who weave new aging concepts through the curriculum. The thought leaders who challenge our current beliefs about aging. The students who dedicate themselves to learning to be the next generation of change-makers and leaders in gerontological nursing research and practice. Together our collective work helps push forward her vision of healthy aging for all.

“What [Rheba] taught me was, don’t grieve the life you don’t have, create the life you want.” – Dr. Sarah Shannon

Dr. Sarah ShannonDean, Montana State University College of Nursing

“[Rheba’s] real dream, I think, was imagining what future students would be able to create, what you would be able to inspire, not just in your own work, but in your work with students, your work with older adults, and to begin thinking about what is left on this agenda…” – Dr. Nancy Woods

Dr. Nancy WoodsDean Emerita, UW School of Nursing

Navigating the woods: A nurse practitioner’s journey in rural healthcare, where challenges meet rewards

Melissa Mitchell, DNP ‘22 was working toward her DNP when she suffered the loss of a good friend. With the support of UW disability services, classmates, staff, and faculty she was able to persevere and graduate despite the challenges and grief. After graduation, she was unsure on what to do next. Diane Cashman, a clinical instructor, suggested she apply for fellowships. There were only two adult gerontology fellowships available in Washington state, leading her to the UW Premera Rural Nursing Health Initiative (RNHI) Fellowship.

“When I got the rural health nursing fellowship, I didn’t even know where Republic was!” laughed Mitchell. “But I found out quickly and it’s a great little town,” she added.

Mitchell joined the primary care clinic during the first year Republic participated in the rural health fellowship. She faced the reality of rural healthcare, where specialists were scarce and resources limited. Yet, she found purpose in serving a population of farmers, miners, and loggers, navigating challenges like access to care and limited resources.

person in front of a building — Melissa Mitchell in front of the Republic clinic

“Practicing in rural areas, you need to have knowledge in multiple specialties because unlike in a larger well-resourced area you can just tap the shoulder of a colleague for a consult, in Republic we frequently have to figure it out on our own,” Mitchell said.

“The specialist rotations and nursing didactic courses, you will use it all in this fellowship. You don’t have to spend a career acquiring knowledge, because you will learn it all in this fellowship,” Mitchell said. “Being in this fellowship and working with this population has taught me to work and do more with less resources, but the rewards are immense,” she added.

Completing her fellowship, Melissa remains committed to her work in Republic, grateful for the collaborative team that supports her hybrid role. Balancing in-person and virtual patient care, she is grateful for the opportunity to extend herself daily, recognizing the vital role of nurse practitioners in providing primary care. She also encourages other new grads to take the rural fellowship path, serving as an ambassador at recruitment events and helping with recruitment for Republic’s next cohort of ARNP fellows.

This experience has taught her resilience, adaptability, and the immense rewards of serving rural communities, a journey she started thanks to encouragement of her clinical instructor and the opportunity from the UW School of Nursing’s Premera Rural Nursing Health Initiative (RNHI) fellowship.

-Kristine Wright

Two DNP students selected for CDC Fellowship

Two #HuskyNurse Doctor of Nursing Practice Population Health and Systems Leadership students Mollie Killion and Nhia Yerkes-Vang, have the opportunity to make a difference in the world of epidemiology through the Center for Disease Control Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) fellowship.

“I’ve always had an interest in epidemiology, around disease surveillance and response and how I can align it with nursing. I really want to have more hands-on experience,” said Yerkes-Vang. “And explore disaster epidemiology, especially with the effects of climate change on the environment and health.”

From the CDC website: EIS is a long-standing, globally recognized fellowship program, renowned for its investigative and emergency response efforts. From the program’s active disease detectives, its alumni, and the leaders and other public health servants, the EIS program remains integral and relevant to meet the public health needs of today and the future.

“This fellowship is a great opportunity to be a subject matter expert in different infectious disease or environmental health threats. I can be a good resource for state and local health departments and be able to serve communities,” said Killion. “This fellowship hasn’t taken many individuals with a nursing background. I am excited to bring my experience with patient and community voice,” she added.

-Kristine Wright

2024 US World News and Report Rankings Released

Once again, the University of Washington’s graduate and professional degree programs have been widely recognized as among the best in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best Graduate Schools rankings, released late Monday.

While we celebrate the success and impact of the programs recognized by U.S. News—and many applicants use these rankings to help them select schools and discover potential areas of study — we also recognize that rankings are only one measure of success for higher education. Other measures, such as positive community impact, a student experience where all belong, and opportunity to address health inequity in clinical practice, are difficult to quantify and yet, no less important.

This year, the UW School of Nursing held the No. 2 overall ranking for a public school offering a doctor of nursing practice program. Our nurse practitioner (pediatric primary care) program ranked No. 5 and nursing midwifery ranked No. 6 among 12 peer-reviewed disciplines ranked by peer academic leaders. Furthermore, UW School of Nursing Bothell and Tacoma campuses are among the top 10 public institutions that offer a master’s degree.

“Our rankings are simply a singular manifestation of our school’s broader and deeper excellence, which includes rigorous and inclusive research, education, and practice every single day. Our excellence is made possible only by the hard work of our community of outstanding faculty, staff, and students. Each committed to innovation, health equity and access, and the public good. We credit our most recent rankings to their efforts and eagerly anticipate the bright future of nursing education to come,” said Allison Webel, Interim Robert G. and Jean A. Reid Executive Dean.

The UW School of Nursing is dedicated to advancing nursing science and practice through generating knowledge and educating future leaders. Our drive to advance and provide innovative healthcare along with our committed faculty, staff, students and supporters makes us a leading program.

Information about U.S. News & World Report’s methodology can be found here.

Announcing the 2024 WSNA Hall of Fame Inductees

We’re proud to recognize our #HuskyNurses who will be inducted to the Washington State Nurses of Hall of Fame

University of Washington, School of Nursing alumnae:

Katherine Camacho Carr, DNP ’89 PhD, ARNP, CNM, FACNM, FAAN
Dawn Morrell, BSN ’95, RN, CCRN

University of Washington, School of Nursing Executive Board member

Jennifer Graves, MS, RN

We are thrilled to have these amazing individuals recognized for their the dedication and achievements in nursing in Washington state. This is an amazing accomplishment! Of the over 60 Hall of Fame members, our school is proud to be represented by over 40 faculty and alumni.

Congratulations to our 2024 Doctor of Nursing Practice graduates

Today March 11, our class of ’24 Doctor of Nursing Practice students presented their final projects. Congratulations to the DNP Class of 2024! Meet a few of the graduating class and learn about their projects here. School and DNP track leadership shared a few words for the graduating students:

Interim Executive Dean, Allison Webel

Congratulations to all of our Doctor of Nursing Practice students! I am amazed at your dedication, hard work, and commitment to advancing healthcare and becoming nurse leaders. As you embark on this next chapter of your professional journey, may you continue to create change and a profound positive impact in the lives of your patients, their families, and their communities. You all will do amazing things as #HuskyNurses and I wish you all the best in all your future endeavors!

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Jennifer Sonney

Congratulations to the 2024 UW School of Nursing DNP graduates! On behalf of the School of Nursing faculty and staff, It has been a privilege to support you for the past three years. Your steadfast dedication, passion, and tenacity have carried you to the finish line. We look forward to the remarkable contributions you will make as DNP leaders, clinicians, advocates, and scholars. Today we celebrate you and all you have accomplished!

Professor and Director of Manning Price Spratlen Center for Anti-Racism & Equity in Nursing (MPS CARE in Nursing), Monica McLemore

Dear Graduates: You have done so much work to earn your degree. I am very much looking forward to partnering with you as alumni, clinicians, colleagues and researchers to unleash the power of nursing to change the future. Congratulations and I am so proud of all of you!!!

Clinical Assistant Professor and Track Lead, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Paula Cox

To the AGPCNP Class of 2023 you are Remarkable. You have conquered your quest with dignity, grace and humility, and I am so very honored to have been able to be a part of your DNP journey. My best wishes as you embark on the next step of your life journey, and remember to have some fun!

Teaching Associate and Track Lead Nurse Midwifery, Ellen Solis

“Our students have put enormous effort into their DNP projects, responding to the needs of their sponsoring organizations, and bringing a lens of evidence-based practice change to their projects. I (and all of the faculty) am so proud of them and know that, early in their careers, they have already made a difference in the practice of midwifery in our community.”

Associate Professor and Track Lead, Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Jean Tang

“Congratulations, 2024 Husky DNP-PMHNP cohort, for achieving another milestone in your professional journey. Your perseverance, compassion, and dedication have brought light to people around you. These qualities allow you to be a reflective clinician, effective leader, and sound scholar. We are so proud of you!”

Professor and Track Lead Population Health & Systems Leadership, Mayumi Willgerodt

On behalf of all of us in PHSL, we are SO proud of how you have grown, what you have accomplished and are incredibly excited to see what the next chapter brings you. Congratulations on the momentous occasion and know that you are now part of our family! Best of luck to all of you, and please stay in touch!

Clinical Associate Professor and Clinical Coordinator, Track Lead Family Nurse Practitioner, Kristine Takamiya

To the FNP Class of 2024, it has been our privilege to teach and mentor each one of you throughout our program. It has been a joy to watch your growth, determination, passion, and perseverance in becoming compassionate clinicians and excellent leaders. Wishing you ALL the very best!

de Tornyay Center at WIN

Are you attending the upcoming Western Institute for Nursing annual conference? Check out the posters from UW School of Nursing students supported by the center:

Megumi Azekawa, PhD in Nursing Science student and travel scholar, is a co-presenter of a poster on “Music as a Social Determinant of Health: Visual Mapping and Exploration”
Priscilla Carmiol-Rodriguez, PhD in Nursing Science student and de Tornyay Center predoctoral scholar, is presenting the poster “Unhealthy Coping in Sleep-Deprived Individuals: A Concept Analysis” and is a co-author on the posters, “Tracing the Footsteps of the de Tornyay Center Scholars” and “Empowering Equity: Building Anti-Racist Brave Spaces”.
Yanjing Liang, PhD in Nursing Science student and de Tornyay Center predoctoral scholar, is presenting the poster, “Tracing the Footsteps of the de Tornyay Center Scholars”
Zih-Ling Wang, PhD in Nursing Science student and travel scholar, is a co-presenter of a poster on “Eating Experiences in People Living with Dementia: A Concept Analysis”
Hongyu Yu, PhD in Nursing Science student and travel scholar, is presenting on “Development and Validation of a Mobile Health Application Usability Scale for Older Adults with Chronic Diseases”

Scholar Spotlight: Emilie Martel-Rousseau

Emilie Martel-Rousseau is a DNP student in the Adult-Gerontology Primary Track and the de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging’s 2023-2024 Myrene C. McAninch Doctoral Scholar. Her mentor is Assistant Professor Maya Elias and her de Tornyay Center research project is the “Dementia Action Collaborative Provider Survey.”

What interests you about healthy aging?

I always enjoy caring for and connecting with older adults. As I was entering this program, I wanted to focus more on what I can do for healthy aging because I think it is an area that will be more and more important with the increasing number of older adults. It’s definitely an area of need that I feel I’m comfortable in.

What has your past experience working with older adults been?

When I was in university, I lived with my grandmother, and I was her care helper. And then I did a lot of volunteering in retirement homes through nursing school. I help older adults in my community, for example with their groceries, so they can continue living autonomously. I love getting to know what is important in their lives. As a nurse, I have not worked in a geriatric clinic specifically, but a lot of our healthcare is with older adults and these are the patient visits I really look forward to.

So when I was trying to further my career and thinking about the DNP program, I was thinking, what do I want to do? What makes me most happy? What do I like the best? Since then, my goal has been to be a primary care provider for older adults. It was a great decision!

Could you talk a little bit about what the Dementia Action Collaborative is and what they do?

The Dementia Action Collaborative is a team across Washington State of public and private partners. They are working to prepare communities and the healthcare system for the increasing number of people living with dementia. In 2023, they updated their plan to address Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

Your project with the de Tornyay Center is a survey with the Dementia Action Collaborative. How did you first get involved with that work?

My first year at UW, I was part of the Health Equity Circle, which is an advocacy group of healthcare professional students. Our team was planning to lobby the Washington State Legislature. I was looking up different legislations I thought would be valuable for our team to lobby for, and at the time, the Dementia Action Collaborative was putting in a request to get renewed for their program to continue.

So that’s how I first found out about the Dementia Action Collaborative. I lobbied for them, and it was successful. I think it was a unanimous decision for it to pass and continue.

That’s how I got interested in it. I thought, wow, that’s so cool, I would love to be a part of the collaborative. Then when I saw that the Dementia Action Collaborative was looking for a DNP student to help them with this project, I was like, okay, that’s my first choice. I thought maybe I could get my foot in the door that way. It’s been an awesome opportunity so far.

With the survey that you’re doing as a part of your project, who are you surveying and what are you hoping to learn?

The survey is a needs assessment of healthcare providers in Washington State. We are hoping to learn the barriers, challenges, and successes of identifying and caring for people living with dementia from providers working on the frontlines.

We’re trying to get input from any provider that cares for older adults. Our primary target is primary care providers (PCPs). We also want to reach allied healthcare providers, so that could be the dentist or the eye doctor that sees the older adults and can connect the older adult to appropriate resources. The goal is to understand how our current healthcare system is caring for people living with dementia so that we can target areas to improve on.

What types of questions are you asking them?

We ask about screening, diagnosing, referring, and care management for people living with dementia. We also ask healthcare providers what they need and are interested in terms of education and opportunities to improve their own practice.

How are you and the Dementia Action Collaborative hoping to use the survey results?

We will congregate and analyze the responses to the provider survey. We’re hoping to see what would be most helpful, where are the biggest gaps in our system right now, so that we can make changes and improve care. The results will also serve as a baseline to compare future surveys to and monitor progress in dementia-related care.

Why is this project important to do?

The Dementia Action Collaborative updates their statewide plan to address Alzheimer’s every five years. They just updated it in 2024. We hope the survey will get provider input, buy-in, and information from the front-line workers, so that we can make relevant and effective changes.

Has there been anything that surprised you while working on this project?

This is my first time being a professional leader in my DNP role. I’m learning a lot of leadership skills, such as leading meetings and proposing recommendations to higher-ups, which is exciting and useful for my future career.

Scholar Spotlight: Hsin-Ni Lee

Hsin-Ni Lee is a UW School of Nursing BSN student and the de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging’s 2023-2024 Myrene C. McAninch Undergraduate Scholar. Her de Tornyay Center project is on “The Relationship of Ageism, Aging, and Music on Cognitive Health: Perspectives of Mandarin-Speaking Older Adults,” and her project mentors are center director Basia Belza and center predoctoral scholar Sarah McKiddy.

Why did you choose nursing?

It all started with my mom because my mom is also a nurse, and she is a nursing instructor in Taiwan. So I grew up in the environment. It felt familiar to me. I remember I would go to school with her as a child. Going into all the skills labs and looking at the equipment and mannequins, it was really fascinating to me.

Also, when I got the chance to go into hospitals, whether it was going in myself or going with family members, it was cool to see the nurses use their skills. It made me think, oh, I think that’s something I would want to do someday.

I enjoy taking care of people, too.

Could you briefly describe your project with the de Tornyay Center?

I’m using the project that I’m currently working on for my BSN undergraduate research program. We’re looking at the cultural impacts on the aging experience of Mandarin-speaking elders and how music can be tailored as an intervention to promote healthy aging or improve health for this specific population.

What’s your role in this project?

My role and my other colleagues’ role is to recruit our interview participants to do interviews in their native language. I’m doing interviews in Mandarin with Mandarin-speaking elders, and we will be asking them about their perspectives on aging, how they feel about aging, how their culture views aging, and what their aging experience is in the U.S.

In the interview we will be playing music chosen by the interview participants, and we will discuss with them, how does this music make you feel, what kind of memories or feelings does it trigger? We also are going to ask them how they think music has a benefit on their health.

How did you first get involved in the project?

I applied to the BSN undergrad research program, and when I was applying for that, they had us write about our research interest. My research interest mainly surrounds older adults because I grew up living with my grandmother and saw her having struggles with her physical decline and mental struggles, too, because she has depression. It made me interested in improving especially mental health in our older population. So I wrote about that, and I got paired with faculty and a student from the de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging.

Why is the work in this research project important to do?

When we were doing the literature review for the honors program, I found from the U.S. Census Bureau there’s an increasing population of foreign-born adults, and a good portion of these foreign-born older adults are from China.

I also found other information on the aging population of Asian Americans. They’re more likely to have negative experiences when aging due to language barriers and the lack of social services that are tailored to their culture. I think it shows the importance of focusing on the cultural aspect of how we can make interventions for the general public and also to not forget about the minority populations.

What made you want to do research?

I’ve got a little bit of experience in research. When I was in Taiwan, I worked as a research assistant for a nursing professor in Taiwan, and her study was to find out how inner ear disorders and constipation affect seniors’ daily lives.

My role was also to go around my community and recruit these older adults and do interviews about inner ear disorders and constipation and the effects it has on their daily lives. It was a really interesting experience for me because I have never been the person to interview other people, so it really helped me practice my communication skills.

And it was just a special experience, listening to people tell me about their problems and their struggles in daily life. It made me wish that there was something I could do for them. But it also felt really cool that all the information I was collecting would be used in a way that could somehow be beneficial to their future or help people in general.

January 2024 News & Awards

Faculty

Research Professor Cynthia Price’s research, funded by the Institute of Translational Health Sciences (ITHS) and the UW School of Nursing RIFP program, was featured in a recent ITHS article, “ITHS-funded study shows increased connectivity in key areas of the brain.”
Faculty Senate Chair and School of Nursing Professor Cynthia Dougherty was featured in a UW Today article about her work improving faculty well-being and helping faculty have conversations about difference.
Associate Professor Eeeseung Byun was an invited speaker to present, Post-Ischemic and Hemorrhagic Stroke–Cognitive Rehabilitation?, at the 2023 American Heart Association Scientific Sessions.
Governor Jay Inslee has appointed Professor Monica McLemore as the new Washington Health Benefit Exchange (Exchange) Board Chair.
Associate Professor Jennifer Sonney was quoted in a recent Seattle Times article, “How to stay healthy during cold, flu and COVID-19 season.”

Students

Congratulations to DNP student José Reyes for receiving a Latino Center for Health Graduate and Professional Student Fellowship.
BSN student CJ Rivera was selected as the recipient of the UW Queen Silvia Nursing Award (UWQSNA).

Alumni

Alumni Ceci Gilmore was mentioned in the recent UW Magazine story, “Delivering hope: A UW program works to improve maternal health outcomes for Black women and other underserved community members.”

UW Tacoma

We’re proud to announce the 2024 UW Health Sciences Martin Luther King, Jr. School of Nursing Community Service Award recipient Dr. Sharon Laing, Associate Professor of Nursing and Healthcare Leadership at the University of Washington, Tacoma.

Scholar Spotlight: Lalipat Phianhasin

Lalipat Phaianhasin Lalipat Phianhasin, MS, RN, AGPCNP-BC is a second-year Ph.D. in Nursing Science student and the de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging illustrator. Her faculty mentor is Dr. Eeeseung Byun. Her area of interest centers around social factors related to stroke survivors’ quality of life.

What interested you about stroke research?

I have a clinical background working with stroke patients, especially in the acute phase. My research will center around stroke survivors because, based on my experience, I know that most of them have a disability after a stroke. But health care providers mostly focus on the acute phase. What about their recovery? How are they going to go back to what important to them.

Why did you choose nursing?

It’s a long story. Members of my family are healthcare providers. My grandfather had to have long-term care. Instead of being hospitalized, we took care of him at home. So, our home was like a small primary care hospital. It was very holistic care as well because he had a tracheotomy tube, and we had to give him oxygen, he also had a gastronomy tube where we fed him through a stoma. Nursing care was really familiar to me when I was a child, and that really inspired me to take care of him and also other people as well.

What made you want to go into nursing research?

It happened when I was a nursing student and when I took care of the patients in the unit, supervised by my professor. We had a class about research applications for the patient and in the clinical practice. The professor always encouraged us to apply the articles by writing a care plan. That was very interesting to me, how research could help improve their quality of life.

Then, after I was interested in research, I felt like we could create our own research based on our specific site, specific population, because not all research is going to be applicable in all settings. We could publish our knowledge and our findings as well.

Then I found a way I could be a researcher, which is to pursue a PhD.

You wrote an editorial a little while ago about the unconscious patients and their environment. Could you briefly describe the topic of the editorial?

Ignite Aging presenters and musicians illustrated — Phianhasin’s de Tornyay Center illustrations

The article I wrote is how we should be aware of patients who are unconscious. They can still perceive the environment, even though they cannot respond to us. I just wanted to echo that message, please be aware of that, and value them and treat them and respect them as a human.

Why did you think it was important to write the article?

I feel like sometimes health care providers, we don’t realize that. Maybe because they have seen a lot of patients like this. I think it would be great if we can create a guideline where, if we have patients who are unconscious, just let them know and explain, our plan of care.

What is your background and history with art?

When I was a child in elementary school, I loved drawing. I loved painting and all kinds of art, but I loved drawing and painting specifically. My family knew that I loved it, and they sent me to take a course. They wanted me to have like another activity that I liked.

What do you like about drawing and painting?

Phianhasin’s de Tornyay Center illustrations

I feel like it’s freedom, it’s a kind of freedom. You can create without boundaries, because sometimes in everyday life, you can do this, you cannot do this, based on social norm of things, especially in my country. They’re very conservative sometimes.

But the art, drawing and painting, is a kind of way that we can express our emotion. We can express everything without harm to others.

Is there any connection between your art, nursing and research for you?

I feel like nursing is art and science. Art has a broad definition. To me, I feel like the skill in my art supports skill in nursing and research as well. Because every time when I would like to draw, I have to plan and organize and I am a visual person. Before I draw something, I will have a picture in my head. I feel like it trains me to think in this way. This kind of process can apply to nursing and doing research to plan and prepare for the next step of what I am going to do both in clinical practice and nursing research.

What aspects of nursing are more of an art to you?

It’s the art of communication. We have to build trust, and that’s where you need the art of communication. And I think we can gain valuable information that sometimes is very little, but it’s significant to our patient’s improvement.

Scholar Spotlight: Yanjing Liang

Yanjing Liang is a first year PhD student and one of the de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging’s predoctoral scholars. Her research areas of interest include aging-related medical issues.

Why did you choose nursing?

The original reason is my family members have some chronic diseases. I learned nursing so that I could take care of them and provide them with health knowledge.

After I chose nursing, I think nursing chose me at the same time.

I like nursing. It can be personally fulfilling, because it provides opportunity for lifelong learning and professional development. I like connecting with people, and nurses often develop strong relationships with patients, their families, and interdisciplinary colleagues.

There was a time when I worked as a volunteer in a hospice care institution in my first year as a college student. I learned about integral role of nursing. I helped the nurses, social worker, and accompanied and talked with patients with advanced cancer, and took care of their children. I felt a strong sense of achievement, and at that time I felt being needed.

I decided to be part of this integral role, and that’s why I say, I chose nursing and nursing chose me.

What got you interested in research?

During my fourth year of college study, I found some clinical problems in clinical rotation, but there was no new evidence. So I thought maybe I needed to learn some research skills to improve clinical conditions.

What research did you do in your Master’s program, before you came to UW?

When I was a first year graduate student, I was exploring my research direction. I participated in 2 or 3 projects.

The first one is that I had the opportunity to participate in a fundamental medicine research project exploring the phenotypes of biofilm formation in bacteria, such as streptococcus mutants, in a wet laboratory. It let me know what research is from a different perspective.

After that, I started my clinical rotation at the head and neck cancer department and I discovered that the diagnosis and treatment can cause severe side effects for this kind of patient, such as psychological symptoms, which can lead to reduced social interaction and possible isolation.

So with this in mind, I conducted graduate research on improving social isolation among head and neck cancer survivors. I conducted a psychometric study on validating a social isolation measurement tool and used it to investigate the factors of social isolation among head and neck cancer patients.

Has there been anything that surprised you while working on those research projects?

For head and neck cancer patients, their average age is approximately greater than 55 years old. They experience more difficulties than I realized. However, due to the differences in culture backgrounds, our participants were different in expressing their emotions compared to related studies conducted in other countries.

This suggests to me that we need to pay attention to the impact of a multi-cultural background. In conducting future studies, we need to focus on cultural background and what their social interaction style is.

What interests you about healthy aging?

I think the ultimate goal of doing research is to serve the public, so that our research can benefit society.

If we are able to conduct interventions for elderly patients, we can better promote healthy aging and reduce their burden of experiencing disease.

Healthy aging actually is a big topic. It doesn’t just focus on elderly. It runs through the whole life span of a person.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I think the head and neck cancer patients, this kind of patient has loss of body function brought by the aging process, and additionally, they have to experience the damage caused by treatment and caused by disease.

This made me realize the study of aging is actually a complex study. Because some of the older adults, they may experience chronic disease, and at the same time they experience some function reduction from aging. So we need to account for a wide range of circumstances and need to analyze differences between each individual and provide tailored interventions and health education.

Seattle Times article on emeritus faculty Doris Carnevali

She’s Doris Schölin Carnevali, a Seattle native and local legend, for an oft-honored nursing and educational career at Swedish and the University of Washington and for what she embraced six years ago after turning 95 … and continued through this year at 101. This accomplishment is an extraordinary blog of 200-plus entries, attracting 1,000 subscribers, with the rhyming title “Engaging With Aging.”

Seattle Times Then & Nowby Clay Eals

The Seattle Times Now & Then column recently featured UW School of Nursing emeritus faculty Doris Carnevali and her engaging with aging work. Check out the article on the Seattle Times website, or on the expanded version on the Now & Then blog.

Congratulations to our 2023-2024 Healthy Aging Scholars!

PHD RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIPS:
Shao-Yun Chien, Healthy Aging Doctoral Scholar
Topic: Developing a Culturally Sensitive Web-based Discussion Platform to Reduce Social Isolation and Loneliness Among Older Chinese Immigrants
Faculty Mentor: Oleg Zaslavsky PhD, MHA, RN, FAAN, FGSA

Sarah McKiddy, Germaine Krysan Doctoral Scholar
Topic: Perspectives of Adolescent Musicians and People Living with Dementia and their Care Partners of an Intergenerational Music-Based Intervention: A Pilot Study
Faculty Mentor: Basia Belza, PhD, RN, FAAN, FGSA

DNP RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIPS:
Emilie Martel-Rousseau, Myrene C. McAninch Doctoral Scholar
Topic: Dementia Action Collaborative Provider Survey
Faculty Mentor: Maya Elias, PhD, MA, RN

Lee-Ling Chen, Healthy Aging Doctoral Scholar
Topic: Fall Prevention and Management for Older Adults in Assisted Living Service Programs within Retirement Communities
Faculty Mentor: Jon Auld, PhD, MAT, RN

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIP:
Hsin-Ni Lee, Myrene C. McAninch Undergraduate Scholar
Topic: The Relationship of Ageism, Aging, and Music on Cognitive Health: Perspectives of Mandarin-Speaking Older Adults
Faculty Mentor: Basia Belza PhD, RN, FAAN, FGSA

Thank you for joining us for Ignite Aging 2023

Thank you to the approximately 90 people who joined us for Ignite Aging 2023, to hear about current work across the lifespan from UW School of Nursing faculty and students, listen to music and discuss Engaging with Aging. The room was full of discussion and energy, and each presenter got a standing ovation: our way to honor our speakers and get guests out of their chairs. We are so grateful to the many people who contributed: our faculty and student presenters, musicians, volunteers, as well as Doris Carnevali for donating the Engaging with Aging books and Era Living for donating lunches for the event.

We’re also pleased to share the below illustrations by PhD student and de Tornyay Center illustrator, Lalipat Phianhasin, of the event.

PhD Pathways to Healthy Aging Award

Congratulations to this year’s two de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging PhD Pathways to Healthy Aging awardees:

Wonkyung Jung
Project: Social Integration and Cognitive Function Following Geriatric Traumatic Brain Injury

Faculty Mentor: Professor Hilaire Thompson

Award winner with two faculty members — Shih-Yin Yu (center), with Drs. Basia Belza (left) and Hilaire Thompson (right)

Shih-Yin Yu
Project: Risk Factors and Early Prevention of Skin Cancer in Rural Older Occupational Populations

Faculty Mentor: Professor Emeritus Barbara Cochrane

Scholar Spotlight: Jaemie Lam

Jaemie Lam is a BSN student. During winter quarter in 2023, she traveled to Japan as part of the Keio University Short-Term Nursing and Medical Care Studies Program to learn about challenges of an aging society. UW students attending the program were supported by the Center for Global Health Nursing and the de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging.

Why did you choose nursing?

It was a long process. I believe my interest in nursing sparked from my interactions with nurses and nurse practitioners throughout the years during my battle with atopic dermatitis, also known as eczema. Through clinics and urgent visits, I was inspired by the role of nursing as I witnessed how I received care and their role in the medical care team. So it was definitely always in the back of my mind, but I never fully considered it until recently when I started doing CNA work.

Going through UW’s program has solidified my passion for nursing because of the requirement of critical thinking skills, cultural humility, and a lifelong learning process, which are values I hold closely.

What interested you about the program?

As I was taking electives for my Public Health major at UW, I was taught that Japan had the longest life expectancy. I was intrigued to learn more about Japan’s healthcare system and their methods that result in their long-term life expectancy. Through the class, I had also learned that the US’ life expectancy is nearly not as long and I was interested in grasping experience as to why that was the case.

By immersing yourself into another country, you learn about their culture, different perspectives, and different lifestyles. I was mainly interested in this program for this reason as well. It opens up your mindset to be a better healthcare professional. In a sense, I think I learned significantly more as an exchange student in comparison to when I had solely traveled to Japan.

I also didn’t know we were going to be interacting with students from South Korea, China, and the UK. This broadened my perspectives because I got to learn from their healthcare systems as well, see how different their nursing programs are, how different their jobs are, how different their schooling is, how different their lifestyles are, and many more. It was life-changing as we applied our global health perspectives when tackling our global healthcare issues.

What was the most interesting experience during your trip?

Robo-care. The program designated a specific day where we got to learn about Japan’s most recent innovative care. It was life changing to witness how Japan incorporated artificial intelligence and robots in the form of an assistive device either on hips or extremities to provide support when lifting or ADLs. These devices could either be placed on or attached with leads. It was fascinating to see how the leads were able to control an extremity through nerve stimulation of the brain and allow the user to regain functions needed for daily living.

What was your favorite part of the program?

Definitely interacting with students from all around the world. I made lifelong friends with future nursing students from all over the world as we navigate challenges in our nursing careers together. It is comforting to know that we can rely on each other in difficult situations. As I stay in contact with them, it’s amusing to see how different our lives are, yet very similar as well. I am also very thankful to have met CJ through this program. We had not known each other prior, but we now share such core memories and experiences that I will now cherish indefinitely. I have learned a lot through my interactions with everyone and am forever grateful that I had the opportunity to participate in this short term nursing exchange program at Keio University.

Scholar Spotlight: CJ Rivera

CJ Rivera is a BSN student. During winter quarter in 2023, she traveled to Japan as part of the Keio University Short-Term Nursing and Medical Care Studies Program to learn about challenges of an aging society. UW students attending the program were supported by the Center for Global Health Nursing and the de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging.

Why did you choose nursing?

Both of my parents are LPNs, so I had early exposure to what nursing was aside from the medical management aspect of it. I found interest in the way that I could align my passions for health equity, social justice, connecting with others, and caring for the human body through nursing.

What interests you about healthy aging?

When I got my CNA In 2020, I started off working in memory care. Before that, I had no prior health care experience with a geriatric population, and I found that I really liked it. I want to be able to use my career in nursing to help vulnerable populations, and right now, I believe geriatrics is the one that I connect to the most. Additionally, my grandma has dementia and lives at home with me, and I have found unique strategies to make caring for her easier on the both of us. Being a family caregiver has taught me a myriad of ways that I can recreate a more comfortable aging process for people that don’t have the privilege of aging at home.

What do you like about working with older adults?

I loved hearing about people’s life stories, and I feel like it was the easiest population to practice narrative medicine with, which is where you treat people and not just the disease or their disability. I appreciated their company and found the care that I was providing to be extremely rewarding.

What interested you in the Keio University program?

I’ve never travelled out of the country before, and I knew that Japan is known as the “super-aged” society. If I ever did get an opportunity to study aging from abroad, I would want to do it in a place that is known for having the healthiest elderly people.

Also, having a personal connection to Asian culture, I wanted to see the lifestyle differences between aging in East Asia, and then aging as a Southeast Asian in the US. I was curious about what factors of their daily life like activity levels, diet, etc. possibly contribute to their extended life spans.

What was the most interesting experience of your trip for you?

We went to a complex of houses that are owned by a health care company called Aoi Care. We got to meet the owner of Aoi Care and tour the community of around four houses that are just for elderly people. There was one house that was just for elderly people with Alzheimer’s and dementia. We were allowed to go inside while the residents were there, and see what their day to day life is like. It was just for a couple of hours, but I thought it was so special because the care was very holistic compared to aging in a facility in the US.

They lacked a lot of the strict rules that facilities for elderly people have in the US. They didn’t lock the doors, so the residents could roam freely around the community. They also didn’t have scheduled meal times. They were allowed to use appliances like stoves, kettles, irons, etc. Their food was also cooked by a traditional Japanese chef who uses dashi powder to increase the appetite and food intake of the residents. Rather than having a dietitian or a nutritionist prepare healthy meals, they found that eating culturally familiar and traditional flavors actually helped the residents increase their nutrition more readily, which is important to maintain as you age.

Did anything surprise you?

We got to shadow nurses at Keio University Hospital, and I think I was surprised at how similar the workflow and dynamic was to working in a hospital in the US. The US healthcare system has such a bad reputation, so I thought I was going to go there and see a complete change, and it really wasn’t that different. The nurse to patient ratios, equipment, and documentation were all very similar to the US. I was also surprised to hear that similar nursing stress levels and staffing crises are present in China, South Korea, and the UK when discussing the nursing workforce with the other students participating in the program from those countries.

What was the most interesting thing that you learned?

We learned about a free program called dementia supporter training. It’s basically the same as those training modules that you do every time you get a new job, but anyone in the general public can do them to learn how to care for people with dementia, since such a huge portion of their population is elderly. It was interesting to realize that in Japan, they try to normalize dementia. But in the US, it’s pretty taboo. It’s something that you don’t want people to know about. You don’t want people to talk to your elderly parents or grandparents that have dementia because it can be embarrassing.

I learned that the shame aspect of dementia comes from the majority of people being uninformed about what it is, or how it manifests in elderly people. Since we try to hide our aging population in the US, people don’t get the chance to understand dementia, but in Japan there’s no shame aspect of dementia and aging because their elderly are still acknowledged as members of society.

Is there anything else that you’d like to share?

I want to encourage other students to apply for opportunities like this. If they see like a global health learning opportunity come up in an email, open it up and actually read through it, because you never know what you might be able to get out of it! This program really expanded my world view of aging, and healthcare in general and I am excited to see how it influences my perceptions of other related experiences in the future.

Timeline of Dr. Rheba de Tornyay’s Life and Legacy

The de Tornyay Center for healthy aging is celebrating its 25^th anniversary! For the celebration, the center created a three part timeline highlighting the center’s namesake, Dr. Reba de Tornyay’s life and legacy. The celebration is in partnership with Era Living. View the timeline below:

Dr. Rheba de Tornyay's Life and Legacy Highlights (1926 -1975)

Dr. Rheba de Tornyay's Life and Legacy Highlights (1972 -1995)

Dr. Rheba de Tornyay's Life and Legacy Highlights (1996 - present)

View the three part timeline as a pdf.

Scholar Spotlight: Tedra Hamel

Tedra Hamel

Tedra “Teddi” Hamel is an Accelerated Bachelor’s in Nursing Science student and the de Tornyay Center’s 2022-2023 Myrene C. McAninch Undergraduate Scholar. Her project is “Understanding Age-related Psychological Changes: A Secondary Data Analysis”. Her faculty mentor is Dr. Basia Belza.

Why did you choose nursing?

Coming from a background in outdoor education, I am used to working with a group of ten students for four or eight weeks. It’s a life changing experience for those students, but it’s a small population to work with. I wanted my next profession to be more accessible to more people. I hope to work in the ER at some point. The ER is a place where you serve anyone and everyone –people don’t have to be healthy enough to go on a backpacking trip. So it’s about giving my energy and resources to more people instead of just ten at a time.

What made you want to do research?

I come from a liberal arts background. My BA was in history and I had to do a thesis for graduation. I did a full year of research during my senior year of undergrad. I feel like doing research helps you delve into the issues of a field in a way that you might not fully get if you’re just working.

Could you briefly describe your project with the de Tornyay Center?

My project will be on the psychological changes that are self-identified in older adults, using the Engaging with Aging framework initially developed by Doris Carnevali.

The main framework of Engaging with Aging is identifying coping mechanisms and adaptations that older people are already using.

I’ll be analyzing the transcripts that have already been collected and looking for broad themes of psychological changes with the hope of identifying strategies and resources, that older adults already use themselves to get through those challenges and changes. Knowing these adaptations can be very helpful for those that work with older adults.

What sort of psychological changes are you looking for in the transcripts?

What I’ve seen is that a lot of it is changes in emotional feelings, or how emotions are expressed, or all of a sudden they’re feeling a lot of sadness or feeling less emotion. So, how their psychological understanding of themselves and their feelings change over time.

Why is this research important to do?

I like this project based on the fact that we’re hearing older adults’ voices on how they are experiencing aging, instead of just applying blanket techniques, or band-aids, or what we think is right.

I know the Engaging with Aging research is informing providers on good ways to support older folks in their own self-identified strengths and adaptations versus just applying something outside of them.

What interests you about healthy aging?

I was young when three of my four grandparents died, but my mom’s mom lived until 2019. She had dementia for the last seven years of her life, and seeing her go through that and seeing my mom support her was eye opening. Our society doesn’t have good solutions or good structures in place for everyone that has to go through aging. I think that sparked my care and passion for it.

Then, the last few years I’ve been working in rural health in Eastern Washington as a medical assistant and also an EMT, and there’s so many people in the older population that just don’t have the resources. It’s really hard to live out there, and so the EMS system is used a lot to support them. If they fall at home, they’ll call 911 and then the EMTs get sent out there to help them get up.

There’s only 12 beds in the local assisted living facility and there’s always a year long wait list. So people tough it out at home, even though that area receives up to four feet of snow every winter. It was a really interesting place to get introduced to aging at home because a rural place is a totally different ball game than the city. So I got curious about how we help folks age gracefully in our society.

What are your plans after graduation?

I do want to get ER experience here in the city. I want to be a flight nurse at some point in the future. That environment really suits my skill set but that would allow for a lot of other work too. I could see myself being a clinical nurse in my small community in eastern Washington. That position is a really cool combination of nursing skills. You set up flu vaccine clinics at the local assisted living centers, as well as being the nurse at the local urgent care, etc. You end up working with the whole population. But mostly I’m planning to graduate, and probably work in a hospital for a few years to get experience.

Scholar Spotlight: Dariga Tugan

Dariga Tugan is an ABSN student and one of the de Tornyay Center’s 2022-2023 Healthy Aging Undergraduate Scholars. Her project is “A descriptive analysis of variability in exercise (VO2 Max) to address differences in physical function and alleviation of symptoms in older adults living with HIV”. Her faculty mentor is Dr. Allison Webel.

Why did you choose nursing?

I chose nursing because it’s an interesting blend of arts and sciences where you get to tailor your care to the patient’s needs. I wanted to master the art of spreading love during times of fear and uncertainty in people’s lives. Spreading joy, helping people heal, and understanding the human body with its interactions in medicine is beautiful to me.

What interested you about nursing research?

I absolutely love research. In my free time, I’d often print out articles from PubMed and just read through them. But the reason why I got interested in research was, unfortunately, health care is extremely racist. A lot of our research is catered to white males.

The way that our health care system works is the therapies, the medications, even the non-pharmacologic therapies are all based on research, which is primarily done on white males. So, entering the space where you can advocate for more diversity and bridge that huge lack of diversity in research, specifically with people of color, was a big interest to me.

What interested you about healthy aging?

I started off my nursing career in a nursing home around 2020. I became passionate about alleviating suffering for those during the final stages of their lives because oftentimes I was the last person that patients would see as they passed. The reason for this is our facility didn’t allow any visitors during the height of the pandemic, and I began to ask myself questions. How do I utilize my privilege of being the last person they see to ensure that they are suffering less? Is restricting access to seeing their family really benefiting or keeping older adults safe in the pandemic?

I would see how this nursing home specifically would charge patients fifteen thousand dollars a month for subpar care. I got really interested in brainstorming new ideas and solutions to address healthy aging and the gerontology populations. It was these ideas that drew me to join the honors route for the BSN program to better understand and create awareness around the need for quality nursing homes, especially for the people who can’t afford them.

Could you briefly describe your project?

It’s a descriptive analysis of variability and exercise to address differences in physical health, aka the VO2 max, in older adults living with HIV. VO2 Max is a measure of cardiovascular fitness and aerobic insurance based on the maximal oxygen consumption of individuals in a defined exercise protocol.

There’s a myriad of research surrounding VO2 Max in older adults, and it’s actually the strongest independent predictor of future life expectancy in both healthy and individuals with cardiorespiratory disease.

We have a lot of studies on VO2 Max and exercise in older adults, as well as exercise in older adults living with HIV, and VO2 Max and HIV specifically. But my study would be addressing the gaps in our knowledge. Specifically, the data will be surveyed using VO2 max at baseline and excelerometry at baseline between decades of people in their fifties, sixties, and seventies.

A lot of these studies also do not focus on older adults with HIV, so data that compares the age groups would be of utmost importance.

I did a literature review and there’s a call for action to have better definitions and studies on interventions that can improve physical function and VO2 Max in HIV-infected patients. I think that these data that I analyze can inform and empower older adults living with HIV to engage in strategies to improve their physical function.

What are your plans after graduation?

I plan on working in ICU, but I am dual enrolled in a post-bacc premed program right now, so I’m applying to medical school in October. I love pharmacology and pathophysiology. I think that becoming an ICU nurse and then going to medical school will allow me to study more pathophysiology, but also bring an interesting nursing perspective, which is holistic.

Is there anything else you want to share?

I’m an immigrant from Almaty, Kazakhstan, and not many people know what Kazakhstan is. But it is the ninth biggest country in the world. It was a part of the Soviet Union, so they speak Russian there. It has a huge Russian culture. A lot of the background is also Muslim. So you have the Muslim culture, the Russian culture, and our own Kazak culture, which is a nomadic culture, which is beautiful because you have such an intersection of so many different personalities and viewpoints.

It’s allowed me to be diverse in my own thinking and the way I approach people and solutions. My own family is Christian. Balancing my relatives being Muslim and then my own Christian family, it’s all balanced like the yin and yang of life. I love being an immigrant, and I like being from Kazakhstan.

(Article correction: The original article mentioned a lack of women in research before 1976, which has been removed, as there were clinical trials before that date which included women).

Congratulations to our 2022-2023 Healthy Aging Scholars!

The de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging is pleased to announce the 2022-2023 Healthy Aging Scholarship recipients.

Please join us in congratulating these exceptional scholars and their faculty mentors!

PHD RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIPS:

Emily Ahrens, Myrene C. McAninch Doctoral Scholar
Topic: Fidelity of the ABCDEF bundle for patients with language barriers
Faculty Mentor: Hilaire Thompson PhD, RN, ARNP, CNRN, AGACNP-BC, FAAN

Karl Cristie Figuracion, Healthy Aging Doctoral Scholar
Topic: Environmental enrichment and cortical changes among brain tumor survivors
Faculty Mentor: Hilaire Thompson PhD, RN, ARNP, CNRN, AGACNP-BC, FAAN

Kuan-Ching Wu, Healthy Aging Doctoral Scholar
Topic: A theoretical framework for urinary tract infection prevention and management in community-dwelling older persons with dementia
Faculty Mentor: Oleg Zaslavsky PhD, MHA, RN

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIPS:

Tedra Hamel, Myrene C. McAninch Undergraduate Scholar
Topic: Understanding age-related physiological changes: a secondary analysis
Faculty Mentor: Basia Belza PhD, RN, FAAN, FGSA

Esther Mwaniki, Germaine Krysan Undergraduate Scholar
Topic: Examining symptoms of post-intensive care syndrome in older intensive care unit survivors with end-stage renal disease
Faculty Mentor: Maya Elias PhD, MA, RN

Dariga Tugan, Healthy Aging Undergraduate Scholar
Topic: A descriptive analysis of variability in exercise (VO2 Max) to address differences in physical function and alleviation of symptoms in older adults living with HIV
Faculty Mentor: Allison Webel RN, PhD, FAAN

Read the Center’s 2021 – 2022 Annual Report

Curious what the center has been up to in the past academic year? Read the de Tornyay Center’s 2021 – 2022 Annual Report here.

Scholar Spotlight: Michael Drake

Michael Drake is a 4th year BSN student, and the recipient of the 2021 Queen Silvia Nursing Award, hosted by the Queen of Sweden. Drake’s idea for the award is a platform that allows patients and their caregivers to easily share information with medical providers. His areas of interest include acute care, palliative care, end of life care

Why did you choose nursing?

Years ago, my mother was diagnosed with a terminal illness. I quit my job and school to be their full-time end-of-life caregiver, up until her passing in March of 2018. After she passed away, I felt that I could not go back to what I was doing before. I love nursing and was inspired by our hospice nurses, so I decided then and there that I would become a nurse. It’s one of the best decisions I have ever made.

What has been an unforgettable experience during your time at the school of nursing?

In spring quarter, I needed to care for my partner’s grandfather, who was going through their own end-of-life, which required me to travel to a small town in Colorado. This meant that I’d be missing some of my clinical days and hours, so I was concerned that my teachers wouldn’t be understanding. That wasn’t the case at all – two of my clinical teachers, Gaylene Altman and Amy Walker, were extremely supportive and gave me the flexibility I needed to care for my partner’s grandfather. Amy Walker went one step further and mentored me throughout that experience – completely of her own volition. The support I received has been the highlight of my time at UW.

How has your experience with the school of nursing helped with your career trajectory?

Well, I’m a high school dropout – I really struggled through school for a long, long time. So, even though I got good grades in my pre-reqs at Bellevue College, I really didn’t think I would get into a place like UW. It means a lot to me that I got into the School of Nursing at UW. Being educated by leaders in the field, having experiences, especially clinical experiences, I would not have had at other nursing schools has made me a more well-rounded student and nurse.

Could you briefly describe your idea for the award you received?

The idea I submitted for the Queen Silvia Nursing Award is a platform for caregivers of patients to store and share important information for their care. For example, if you are a family caregiver of someone with dementia and you are working with an organization that sends certified nursing assistants (CNA) or respite caregivers, you can share information through this technology platform to let the new caregivers or CNAs know who the patient is, what they like, what they dislike, what medications they are on, what to do in an emergency, how to navigate the house, and how to accommodate language and communication preferences.

If you are a physician and you’re receiving a patient who has autism, a caregiver or family member can use this service to send a QR code so that the provider can see what they need to know prior to their first visit. Does the patient have sensory issues? Does the patient need earmuffs or dimmer lighting because of sensory needs? What’s the best way to communicate to the patient? Is the patient verbal or selectively mute? All of this information is important, and sometimes is requested and recorded by a medical assistant or the front desk, usually before the first meeting with the provider. However, it can take a lot of time and relies upon the patient or family caregiver to verbally report the information. The platform I’m working on gives patients and their caregivers access and ability to edit this information and share it safely to anyone who needs it.

Patients do a lot of the stuff my idea wants to do already, but they do it with a pen and paper, or they print out their information and put it in the folder. When I was taking care of my mother, I kept all of her medications in an excel spreadsheet, and I would just share it with people who were coming in. Often they didn’t know how to use excel so that was difficult. So, my idea is to make information sharing for patients easier by being accessible and easy to use, especially because a lot of healthcare information systems are not any of those things.

Where are you at with this idea?

It is in the customer research and discovery phase. I just got done with the University of Washington’s CoMotion’s I-Corps program. I got to interview many, many different people, which was a lot of fun. I’ve got a wide variety of perspectives on this problem I’m trying to solve with QRx. Currently, I have a design prototype that demonstrates how it will work, but the systems behind it and all that stuff is going to have to wait until after I graduate.

What have you been hearing in the interviews?

That the problems people experience in our healthcare system with care coordination and transition management are a huge issue. For example, I talked to a healthcare worker at a local clinic. They’re a specialist who had a patient come in with a problem that originally happened in another hospital, which required them to get an MRI scan. The patient got the MRI scans either at that hospital or another organization, probably a small diagnostic clinic, so the specialist couldn’t see them easily. In a perfect world, you would call in to the clinic and say, “Hey! I have patient ‘so-and-so’; could you please send me those MRI scans? The patient wants you to share it”, and they send it over. However, it isn’t that easy, and even if they decide to send the MRIs it can still take weeks to receive them. Often patients can’t wait a week because they have a serious health issue, so instead the specialist will just order another MRI. This is totally unnecessary, and the patient pays for that, or if that patient is on Medicare or Medicaid, then we all pay for it. Also, for some procedures like X-rays, they and others get exposed to radiation unnecessarily. So, talking to that specialist and other providers, they wish they had a way for patients to share that information easily.

I had one interview with a person who was a patient that saw lots of physicians. They talked about how they have to bring medications to physicians’ appointments, who often spend lots of time struggling to reconcile it all. The patient told me of a time it took three hours for a new provider to go through all their medications and past medical history. Let’s say they had a list or a program or solution to help facilitate that process, like the one I’m proposing – that would have made the patient and the physician’s experience a lot better.

What interests you about healthy aging?

I think the value of a society is in how it treats the most vulnerable. Older adults, especially older adults of color or from marginalized backgrounds, are not treated very well in the United States. This is the case for all people with dementia, but especially African Americans with dementia – they are not given the attention or the care that they deserve. I think that is awful and unacceptable, and I personally feel that it is important to work with groups of patients and populations that need that attention, that compassion, and someone to be there for them when it’s difficult, to advocate for their needs. That’s why I like working with older populations; at least in the United States, these patient populations are not a priority for our culture, and as a nurse it’s a priority for me. That’s the reason why I want to work in palliative care. Palliative does work with lots of people with dementia, and you generally work with older adults going through a serious illness.

What are your plans after graduation?

I’ve had a great education at the University of Washington, but I am a nursing student in the pandemic, so that has definitely affected my educational opportunities. So I am trying to get a nursing residency for after graduation in something that will expose me to lots of different experiences and give me a well-rounded education on how to provide care. I’m looking for something in acute care or emergency care, and after a few years, I want to move into palliative care. In palliative, it helps if you have acute care experience in intensive or emergency departments. So I’m aiming for both of those with the eventual goal of moving into gerontological palliative care.

Is there anything else you want to share?

If anyone comes from an engineering, technical, or user experience design background in medicine that’s interested in solving these problems, definitely contact me! I’d love to talk to people who are passionate about solving the types of issues my idea is trying to solve!

Scholar Spotlight: Meaghan Oakes

Meaghan Oakes is one of the de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging’s 2021-2022 Healthy Aging Doctoral Scholars. Oakes’ de Tornyay Center project is “Improving Advance Care Planning within the Geriatrics Department at Confluence Health”, and her faculty mentor is Dr. Katie Kemble.

What are your areas of interest?

My areas of interest are family practice and health across the lifespan. I like the idea of watching patients grow, whether they’re elderly and grow into old age or they’re young and grow to become teenagers. I am looking forward to having a patient panel that I get to know well and helping them meet their health goals.

Why did you choose nursing?

I was always interested in medicine, and nursing seemed like a natural path for me. I love the holistic aspect to patient care. And I wanted to go back to school to become a nurse practitioner because I wanted to have more autonomy and be able to provide broader care to patients.

What’s been an unforgettable experience during your time at the school of nursing?

Our rural health rotation. I’ve had one with Confluence but also had great rural health experiences elsewhere. I enjoyed getting to know the communities I was in and providing care to whole families in areas that may not have the same amount of resources.

How has your experience at the school of nursing helped you with your career trajectory?

UW is a great DNP program that’s not only helped me to become a family nurse practitioner, which was my goal. They also help prepare you for leadership and making changes at an individual and systems level.

What interests you about healthy aging?

As a family nurse practitioner, I’m interested in caring for patients throughout the lifespan, though I do enjoy working with the geriatric population. What’s exciting about caring for an aging population is being able to support them in meeting their healthcare goals, because usually they have pretty concrete ideas of what they want to do with their lives and how they want to age. It’s great to help them do that.

Could you briefly describe your project with the de Tornyay Center?

The purpose of my project was to improve advanced care planning with Confluence Health. With the help of my agency contacts, I ended up implementing a pilot program to improve their advanced care planning [ACP] for geriatric patients within the palliative care department.

That involved creating and implementing a workflow process so that everyone from the receptionist to the medical assistant to the provider served as a touch point for advanced care planning. The goal is for the patients to understand what an advanced directive is, feel comfortable thinking about what they want for their health care in the event that they can’t speak for themselves, and to have resources to navigate completing those documents. This process can be overwhelming and confusing.

What does the workflow process you created look like?

I created a process map. The workflow process was divided by role, but then from top to bottom, it was organized from when the patient arrived to an appointment onward, including the receptionist calling them before they even had the appointment. So thinking about the whole patient experience, trying to find different touch points for advanced care planning. Within that workflow map, there was a referral process so that patients could have more time with the ACP team to talk and work through that paperwork and get to know a little bit more about what advanced care planning is.

How does that differ from what they had before?

Most of it was provider-driven so there wasn’t a standard workflow. The department I worked in was palliative care. They’re really interested in advance care planning. That’s an important part of what they do. Being able to work with people that were interested in this project was helpful because I got great feedback and because it can be difficult in a short period of time to implement a pilot program.

What interested you about this project in particular?

Advanced care planning is not something that we talk about very often. I think we’re all hesitant to think about death and dying. Advanced care planning can serve as an empowering way for patients to have control over their health and to communicate their healthcare wishes to their healthcare team, so we know what they want for their health.

I worked in an emergency department as a nurse before, and I have seen the impact that not having an advanced directive can have. Patients will arrive to the ER and you don’t know what their wishes are. So you do the best you can, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that’s what they wanted.

Why is this project important to do?

I think it’s important because a lot of times even providers and healthcare workers don’t know how to approach the topic. There’s a lot of fear around talking to patients about this, not wanting to upset the patient or they don’t feel like they have enough knowledge around the topic to appropriately address it. Time is also a big barrier. Every adult should have an advanced care directive, and we are all far from that. It’s a pretty big problem that isn’t often addressed in healthcare.

Was there anything that surprised you are working on this project?

There are always some unforeseen barriers, COVID being one of them. It can take a lot of time and flexibility to implement any change, but I was pleasantly surprised with how passionate the department that I worked with was about this project. In school, they prepare us that change is hard and it takes time, which is all true, but it was great to have amazing agency contacts and team members who were willing to take my suggestions and run with them.

What are your plans after graduation?

Ideally, finding a family practice to work in, but keeping my options open and see where I land.

Scholar Spotlight: Lia Kaluna

Lia Kaluna is the de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging’s 2021-2022 Germaine Krysan Undergraduate Scholar. A fourth year BSN student, her project is Identifying Key Landmarks of Central District’s Historically Black Neighborhoods. The project is a part of the Seattle SHARP study. SHARP Portland was originally developed by Raina Croff, PhD, an anthropologist at Oregon Health State University. A local team is now developing SHARP Seattle based on the findings from Dr. Croff and her team. Kaluna’s faculty mentor is Dr. Basia Belza.

Why did you choose nursing?

Originally, I chose nursing because I wanted to support and promote the wellbeing of people in vulnerable states. That transitioned to promoting their health holistically, by looking at more than physical health, like people’s mental health, spiritual health, and social environments. I love nursing because it allows me to encourage and empower patients to care for themselves as best as they can.

I also really like the diversity of the field. You can transition to different areas of care, like research, community health, and critical care. Those are all things that I could do over my entire career and still feel like I’m contributing meaningfully to healthcare overall.

How has your experience at the school of nursing helped with your career trajectory?

The School of Nursing provides students with really good connections. I joined the VALOR (Veterans Affairs Learning Opportunity Residency) program at the Seattle VA because of it, and that was a connection to support an underserved population.

Also, the School of Nursing is focusing a lot on teaching community health and ambulatory care, so preventative care and the outpatient setting. All my healthcare experience before starting nursing school was inpatient. We will always need inpatient care but it’s crucial to meet patients before problems manifest and use preventive care to promote health. UWSoN has given me a greater perspective on holistic, lifelong care, rather than just acute inpatient.

What are you plans after graduations?

There are two different tracks on my mind right now. One is the critical care route straight out of undergrad and then pursuing further education to become a nurse anesthetist. I also have an interest in community-based care, working with Pasifika community members in promoting their health. As kanaka maoli (Native Hawaiian), I feel an obligation to supporting and serving my Pacific Islander (PI) communities. I intend to return to Hawai’i where I can serve and commune with fellow kānaka and work in a community health clinic for kānaka.

What is the research project you’re working on with Ola Pasifika?

Ola Pasifika is a Pasifika led research lab at the UW School of Social Work. Ola Pasifika has partnered with several WA based Pacific Islander community organizations, such as the Pacific Islander Community Association of Washington (PICA WA), an organization that serves the health and social needs of Pasifika people statewide. With PICA WA, our principle investigators are collaborating with the PI community to create a community health model, which aligns with my aspiration to work in community health with Pasifika people.

With Ola Pasifika, I’m analyzing focus group interviews our lab conducted in collaboration with PICA WA. The focus groups documented the health and economic experiences of different Pasifika communities, like the Marshallese, Tongan, and Samoan communities. Our researchers are looking at what the community believes would benefit their health and economic wellness during the pandemic, as well as how COVID has affected their resilience and health through access to welfare, education, development of community resources, and Pasifika networks of support. For example, with COVID-19 social distance policies, it’s much harder for these Pasifika communities to gather socially, like in church and other community gatherings, as a form of resilience. Social gatherings are prominent places to share information and life experiences, engage in cultural practices, and maintain kinship, which is protective of mental and spiritual wellness.

How did you first get involved with that work?

Ola Pasifika posted an application on Instagram. I applied to work with them because I am committed to revitalizing my culture and engaging in PI community spaces. I wanted to socially engage with other PI community members and give back to my community. I’ve attended cultural clubs at UW for community and social interaction, but Ola Pasifika gave me an opportunity to engage in research that serves the greater PI community. Western-supported research often does not comprehensively capture the experiences of these communities, especially queer and transgender Pacific Islanders (QTPI), which contributes to an overall lack of health interventions that are for and informed by them. Ola Pasifika intends to use the knowledge of QTPI community informants to develop culturally-relevant interventions to promote health.

I grew up in Seattle and I’m mixed identity. So, while I am kanaka, I haven’t always been able to participate in my community as much as I wanted to. I am working through understanding the complexity of my identities while building community. Ola Pasifika provides a unique opportunity for me to learn about and invest in my communities and become more aligned with our collective values. Revitalizing my culture and contributing to my community’s resilience are lifelong commitments I hold gratefully and fiercely.

How did you first get involved with the SHARP [Sharing History through Active Reminiscence and Photo-Imagery] study?

I applied for the UW nursing honors program and was given a list of potential projects to join and support. I was interested in SHARP Seattle, because it is an opportunity for me to collaborate with local Black communities and support a culturally celebratory and community-informed project. As a person of color, I also have an ethical responsibility to invest in anti-oppressive work that supports the BIPoC community at large. My positions of privilege incentivize me to engage further and enter spaces humbly. I must support BIPoC communities and our collective demands for equity and social justice.

Why is are projects like SHARP important?

SHARP Seattle intends to promote the cognitive health of local older Black adults. SHARP addresses the need to create programs for and informed by Black communities, because there’s a lack in Western research. I’ve learned that older Black adults are at higher risk for Alzheimer’s and other dementia related illnesses due to various systemic barriers and social determinants of health, signaling a need for relevant health promotive interventions.

The project focuses on the Central District because it homes historically Black communities. However, due to gentrification, many Black community members have been displaced and the neighborhoods’ dynamics have changed drastically. This poses a problem for older Black adults who then lack tight-knit community and socialization, factors that promote successful aging in place. It promotes cognitive health to be embedded communities where we have a sense of belonging and history and can maintain meaningful social engagement as we age.

SHARP is creating walking routes that can prompt discussion around landmarks that are identified as significant to historically Black Central District neighborhoods. The routes prompt reminiscence, socialization, and exercise, and promote cognitive, social, and physical health.

In my coursework, when we talk about gerontology it tends to be from a White perspective, so having this opportunity is unique. It makes me look at gerontology in a different way. I know that there are many different disparities that older adults face, but I hadn’t explicitly considered aging in my view of intersectionality until I began working on this project. It’s a new perspective.

What’s been an unforgettable experience during your time at the school of nursing?

My community health clinical was an unforgettable experience at the school of nursing. It was my first nursing clinical, and my group partnered with the University District Children’s Center (UDCC) to work on a community-based participatory research (CBPR) project. It was the first time I was introduced to a CBPR model, which I use in my research with Ola Pasifika and SHARP, so it was unknowingly critical to a lot of the work I’m doing now. It’s encouraging to build my skills and make connections between my work throughout my undergraduate career.

Learning about community-based participatory research expanded my view of research and emphasized the importance of partnering with the community to support their ideas and goals in health and wellness. I had a limited understanding of what research could be before this clinical, so engaging in this clinical widened my perspective. I was also interested in understanding how to promote a community’s health rather than an individual patient and understanding the dynamics and challenges in that work.

The UDCC was particularly fun to work with because we got to hang out with kids after about a year being in the pandemic. We weren’t back to being fully in-person, but my clinical group got to visit the site a few times and that uplifted my mood and was really exciting. I’m so grateful to have been able to do some of our community health clinical in-person and work with this community site.

de Tornyay Center-Sponsored Conference Presenters

The de Tornyay Center is proud to fund travel for six students to travel to the Western Institute of Nursing’s annual conference, Apil 6 – 9 in Portland, Oregon:

Frances Chu, PhD student, is presenting, “Implementation of Task Sharing of Tele-Mental Interventions in Primary Care for Older Adults has been accepted”.
Jingyi Li, PhD student is presenting, “Exercise and behavioral management for dementia care at home: A systematic review”.
Wonkyung Jung, PhD Student,is presenting, “Social Integration: Concept Analysis”.
Lia Kaluna, undergraduate student, is presenting, “Reminiscence on Mood, Cognition, and Social Engagement: A Scoping Review.”
Karl Cristie Figuracion, PhD student, is presenting, “Integrating Neuroimaging Measures in Nursing Research.”
Sarah McKiddy, PhD student, is presenting “Cognitive Health: Mind the Equity Gap.”

Additionally at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Geriatrics Society, Kuan-Ching Wu, PhD student is presenting, “Behavioral change and retention in online interventions for caregivers in dementia”.

Scholar Spotlight: Claire Kane

Claire Kane is the de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging’s 2021-2022 Myrene C. McAninch Undergraduate Scholar. Kane’s areas of interest are nurse-midwifery, women veterans, perinatal substance use disorder. Her de Tornyay Center project is, “Exploring Women Veteran’s Experiences of Substance Use Disorder Treatment in the Puget Sound Veterans Affairs Healthcare System: A Mixed Methods Approach”, and her faculty mentor is Dr. Ira Kantrowitz-Gordon.

Why did you choose nursing?

My background is in perinatal substance use disorder treatment, so the treatment of pregnant and postpartum folks who have substance use disorders or addictions. I saw how the nursing model of care can provide holistic and comprehensive care to that population, which not only needs outstanding clinical and medical care, but also needs an array of social services and advocacy. I felt like nursing and particularly nurse-midwifery would prepare me well to work with those populations and provide the holistic type of care that they need.

What’s been an unforgettable experience during your time at the school of nursing?

This is the first quarter that we were in the hospital. We had two days a week where we’re on medical-surgery floors at Harborview or Virginia Mason or other hospitals. It’s been really valuable to apply skills that we learned in the classroom to the in-person care of patients, and learning collaboratively with my classmates in small groups. We debrief each day and talk through our cases. It’s been awesome to learn from each other and also have each other’s support in learning how to provide in-person care.

How has your experience at the school of nursing helped you with your career trajectory?

I was interested in the de Tornyay Center scholarship and working with the center. Being in the nursing program afforded me that opportunity. I am hoping that my involvement with this program and the center will help provide me a little bit more knowledge and experience with women identified veterans that I can then use to inform my future practice.

Could you briefly describe your project with the de Tornyay Center?

I am working with researchers at the VA to explore women veterans’ experiences accessing substance use disorder treatment through the VA.

Women fare significantly worse than men when using web-based alcohol interventions. These findings in the civilian population are mirrored among US veterans, as evidenced by women veterans experiencing worse outcomes compared to their male counterparts after the completion of the VA’s web-based alcohol intervention, VetChange. Research is needed to inform changes to VetChange that could improve outcomes for women veterans. So, we are designing a study protocol to collect data from women veterans with alcohol use disorder and clinicians treating women veterans with alcohol use disorder about their opinions of the current VetChange program. The protocol explores the ways in which the web-based intervention can improve recovery-related coping behaviors in order to adequately address women veterans’ alcohol use disorder.

How did you first get involved with the project?

I was interested in this topic and saw that there were research funds available. I contacted my mentor, Ira, and asked if he’d be willing to support me. Then, I connected with a researcher at the VA, who has focused a lot of her work on women veterans’ substance use disorder treatment and gave me the opportunity to assist with this project

What interested you about working with women who are veterans?

I mentioned my background is in perinatal substance use disorder treatment. I became increasingly interested in the growing rates of substance use disorders among women identified veterans. Veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts are now seeking care from VA facilities and we have more women veterans than we ever have before. I was interested in whether or not the VA system at large was meeting these patients’ needs, because it originally was not designed to provide women focused care.

Why is this research and project important to do?

Women are the fastest growing segment of the US military. We do have data from the VA showing that more and more of them are accessing substance use disorder treatment. And we have studies among the general population that show gender-specific substance use disorder treatment improves outcomes and is valued by patients. So it’s important to assess whether or not gender-specific care is also valued by women veterans and whether or not it plays a role in improving their outcomes.

Another thing is that there are very few VA facilities throughout the country that offer gender-specific care. So we need more research to understand women veterans’ feelings and their experiences with it to inform whether or not more substance use disorder treatment interventions should include it.

Why might gender-specific care be helpful over general care?

There are a variety of reasons, one being that some women tend to feel safer in those environments, both in-person and virtually. Also if you’re having a women only or a gender-specific group, you can cater the content a little more. The facilitators can design modules around topics that may be more relevant. Sexual harassment is a prevalent issue in the military and we know it’s disproportionately experienced by women compared to men in the military, although it affects men as well. So, for example, some gender-specific women VA programs do incorporate content around trauma, sexual harassment, and coping when that might be a factor that’s affecting your substance use. There also might be content on motherhood or other reproductive health topics.

What interests you about healthy aging?

I am especially interested in the perspectives of older adult women veterans who have participated in VetChange, because we know that this population tends to experience more difficulties accessing online treatment interventions.

Beyond that I’m also interested in how age effects women’s experiences seeking care and whether or not they feel like their individual needs associated with their stage of life are being met with the services available to them. We know that veterans and folks with substance use disorders tend to have higher morbidity and mortality rates. Ensuring that they have access to treatment that meets their needs promotes healthy aging.

What are your plans after graduation?

I’m in the ABSN to Doctor of Nursing Practice, Nurse-Midwifery program. I’m hoping to work as an RN during at least the first year of the DNP. Then long term I plan to work as a nurse-midwife. I would love to provide care to veterans who need those services. I think the cool thing about midwifery is that you not only provide perinatal and postpartum care, but you can also be somebody’s primary care provider, so I could see patients across the lifespan.

Scholar Spotlight: Frances Chu

France Chu is one of the de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging’s 2021-2022 Healthy Aging Doctoral Scholars. A PhD in Nursing Science Student, Chu’s areas of interest are technology for older adults and implementation science, as well as health literacy and information management. Her de Tornyay Center project is “Implementing Task Sharing of Tele-mental Interventions in Primary Care”, and her mentors are Drs. Oleg Zaslavsky, Erin Abu-Rish Blakeney, and Brenna Renn (University of Nevada).

Why did you choose to go into nursing?

You go into nursing because you want to help people. You want to have some impact on improving people’s lives and quality of live. That’s why I went into nursing. Also, my whole family is in the field. My mother is a nurse, my sister is a nurse, and my brothers are all physicians.

What’s an unforgettable experience you’ve had during your time at UW?

My PhD cohort. We try to support each other and whenever we get together and do projects together, we try to make sure that everybody is successful.

How has your experience at the School of Nursing influenced your career trajectory?

I’m a medical librarian and started working again at a large health system. Having the nursing background and now getting my PhD has made me more credible and more comfortable with talking to physicians, nurses and researchers, because now I understand the research experience.

How did you start working as a medical librarian?

By accident. I was interested in informatics back in the 90s. I couldn’t find any sort of nursing school or even health sciences program that talked about informatics. So somebody suggested I try a library information science program and I did. When I got out, informatics was still not that big and my advisor said well, you can become a medical librarian. Then I just fell into academic medical librarianship, supporting medical and health sciences schools of all types.

What made you decide to come back for a PhD in Nursing Science?

I’ve always had that idea in my head that I needed to do my terminal degree. I didn’t know whether I wanted to go do a PhD in Information Science or a PhD in Nursing Science. It seemed like my questions were still so patient care focused and less about the information science side of things. So nursing had a better fit.

Had you done research before your PhD in Nursing Science?

As librarians we do quality improvement. I wondered if we were really capturing what we wanted to capture. Did we ask the right question and get the data in the best manner? Earning a PhD helped me think more comprehensively about designing any sort of project, either quality improvement or research.

Could you briefly describe your de Tornyay Center Project?

Originally the plan was to investigate a technology-enhanced psychotherapy, that you would use in primary care to manage mild depression in older adults. Then, the pandemic happened so we had to flip quickly to more of a broader intervention looking at tele-mental health with the strategy of task sharing. The team would share the task of mental health services. Certain components would be done by a person who is not specially trained. So either a medical assistant or the nurse would do a little bit of brief psycho-therapy. And if they see that it’s not getting better, they would advance it up to the primary care provider and then to the specialist.

We did a survey and then we did interviews with the survey participants who agreed to be interviewed. We’re going to see how the primary care providers and mental health specialists feel about task sharing these technology-enhanced mental health interventions. Specifically looking at synchronous technology, like telehealth using video conferencing tools, text messaging, chat services, tele-monitoring using wearables like a Fitbit or Apple watches. We did ask about asynchronous things, such as the patient portals, and we talked a little bit about emails.

What interested you about this research project?

The implementation science aspect of it. I was interested in learning more about what implementation science is and what you study. One of the strategies is task sharing and that’s an implementation strategy that’s often used in low and middle income countries. It’s used in high income countries, but not really called out. I wanted to see, are people aware of what it is, and do they like it. Especially since a lot of medical assistants, as they do this, can creep into the primary care providers scope or into the mental health specialists’ scope, so there’s that issue of scope creep.

Why is this research important to do?

The studies have shown that mental health can be done in primary care, but as a previous primary care provider, I never did it because it seems like it takes too much time. Also, I wasn’t comfortable doing it. I think that this research would help inform the primary care providers, you can do this and you can share the tasks among your team.

It can help improve depressive symptoms in older adults. They tend not to want to see the psychologist. They just want to see their primary care providers. So I think it’ll have an impact on patients who are mildly depressed, especially older adults.

What interests you about healthy aging?

We’re all getting older. As a middle-aged person, I want to see studies that could help me and my family and friends age in a healthy way. I’m seeing it in my parents. My parents are both frail and one of them has a dementia diagnosis and I’ve seen them not age healthily. I’m trying to think about ways to intervene with them now, so that they can have a good quality of life. Some way to make their last few years more comfortable for them.

What are your plans after graduation?

I have a medical library position working at a large health system. With this position and with my degree I’m probably going to be outreaching to the nursing department. They have a large nursing research institute that I’m hoping to get involved in and hopefully start working with them on implementation science. Also, maybe get involved in and start some research myself.

Is there anything else you would like to share?

I’m trying to encourage more nurses to go into implementation science research. If anybody’s interested, I’m happy to talk about it.

Spotlight Interview: Ethlyn McQueen-Gibson

Dr. Ethlyn McQueen-Gibson serves as an associate professor at the Historically Black College & University (HBCU) Hampton University School of Nursing in Hampton, VA, and the inaugural Director for the Gerontology Center for Excellence & Minority Aging. Prior to assuming the role at Hampton University, she spent two years at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in Richmond in a dual role as part of the Institute of Inclusion, Inquiry and Innovation through the Office of Diversity and the School of Nursing.

She serves on the Virginia Governor’s COVID-19 Task Force for Long Term Care and the State COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Workgroup. Dr. McQueen-Gibson serves as 2^nd vice-president of the Virginia Board of Nursing and was appointed by the Secretary of Health & Human Services (HHS) to the “Federal Advisory Council to Support Grandparents Raising Grandchildren” for a term 2018-2022. She serves as a board member for the Peninsula Agency on Aging, chair of the board for the American Heart Association, Southern Gerontological Society, and the Doctor of Nursing Practice of Color (DOCS).

In Fall 2022, Dr. McQueen-Gibson held a journal club at the UW School of Nursing to discuss her paper, “Creating structural community cohesion: Addressing racial equity in older adult homelessness“. The de Tornyay Center had the privilege of interviewing Dr. McQueen-Gibson about her background and work:

What got you into the nursing field?

My journey into nursing started with my birth, I was a three-pound preemie. I was only to be here on this earth for six months because I had an ABO blood incompatibility. In 1959, there were no neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). They did a total blood transfusion, and it was sort of a wait and see mode, but 62 years later, we are still waiting. I had some wonderful nurses who took care of me throughout the first six years of my life. Their demonstration of care and compassion led me to consider a career in nursing.

What drew you to gerontology/healthy aging work?

Summers were special, always spent traveling to the South to be with both sets of my grandparents in Mississippi. Many African American children have fond memories of being raised by their grandparents because of northern migration, by virtue of segregation in the South. My parents left my sisters and I in the care of our grandparents while they migrated from the South to the North for job opportunities. I was nurtured by my grandparents and “was loved on”, as we would say, by some wonderful elders. Most of the people that I provided care to early in my nursing career were older adults in the acute care setting. They had lots of great stories to tell you during the evening and night shifts. Between my grandparents and the older adults that I cared for in the hospital, I grew to love this specialty of nursing known as geriatrics, and they became very special people in my life.

How did you first get involved in clinical doctoral research?

I became involved in clinical research because I wanted to work with my passion for improving care in the community. My passion is and always will be improving care in communities of color and especially for elders in those communities. Since my grandparents had been special in my life and cared for me, I wanted to understand why other grandparents were putting their lives on hold and caring for their grandchildren and becoming custodial grandparents. This became the foundation for my clinical doctorate project in 2015 and spurred multiple projects to include my selection to serve as co-chair for a US Congressional advisory committee, called the Advisory Council to Support Grandparents Raising Grandchildren.

You started the Gerontology Center for Minority Aging at Hampton University, is that right?

Yes, it was a culmination of years of working towards a dream. Prior to moving to Hampton, VA, I worked at the Institute of Inclusion, Inquiry and Innovation through the Office of Diversity at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Nursing in Richmond, Virginia. This role allowed me to serve as part of an inter-professional team with undergraduate and graduate students, which provided care in the community-based clinics in six low-income housing units for over 700+ older adults. This role prepared me to transition to Hampton University and build a template for a similar design in the Hampton Roads community.

The unique thing about the Gerontology Center at Hampton University is our focus on vulnerable populations and communities of color. This has become so important in 2020 and 2021, with the COVID-19 pandemic’s adverse effects on communities of color and with the social injustice issues we have all experienced with the deaths of George Floyd and Brianna Taylor.

Our mission is to serve as a comprehensive resource center for older adults and their families through education, outreach, training, research, and service. Our vision is to be the center that will identify and address relevant aging issues applicable to older minority populations and increase the capacity for older adults to lead independent, healthy, and functional lives while remaining productive members of their community.

For the de Tornyay Center’s Journal Club, you talked about a community coalition to address homelessness?

Yes, the paper that I talked about for the journal club was part of my work while employed at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Nursing as an assistant professor. I was part of an inter-professional team that formed a coalition that helped address homelessness in the Greater Richmond, VA community. We were looking at how we address racial equity for older adults who were homeless in the community of Richmond. We wanted to help those who needed to have stable housing options. The issues related to their homelessness were multifaceted, and the coalition was built to address those multiple issues.

Is this kind of coalition approach standard, or is it a new approach?

This type of coalition is now becoming the standard. You may be familiar with the Diverse Elders Coalition (DEC) based in New York City. We are not as well established as DEC, but our small community coalition was established to better address older adult homelessness within the lens of understanding the needs of older adults and racial equity.

What were the challenges and rewards you had putting together this coalition?

We hoped to address a disconnect between healthcare and senior housing placement programs, which created unaddressed health issues and complications. It was a challenge bringing multiple agencies to the table for the coalition. We were not all health care providers. But we also found there were rewards as we built the community coalition. The coalition is still a team today. The team is listed below was not the traditional team:

(1) Homeward, a planning and coordinating organization for homeless services in the greater Richmond region; (2) Richmond City: Virginia Department of Health, the nursing health division; and (3) the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Richmond Health and Wellness Program (RHWP), a wellness care coordination service offered in five Richmond public housing buildings. This partnership included academic, public/private health, and housing agencies. We needed to cast our net wide. We also added in faith-based communities, bringing in ministers to the table. We wanted to have everybody’s thoughts in the team for the community.

Do you feel like your background as a practicing registered nurse has influenced the community/public health work that you do now?

My clinical doctorate, focused on community health and public health, has been a perfect fit. I just returned from doing a presentation at the American Public Health Association’s national meeting in Denver, Colorado in October 2021. That presentation focused on the messaging of COVID and vaccine hesitancy in vulnerable populations. A great amount of that vaccine hesitancy has been in vulnerable communities that are 55 years and older.

Most people felt that vaccine hesitancy was with those who were between the ages of say 20 and 40. But a lot of that vaccine hesitancy has been with those in black and brown communities, many of them have been homeless, who are wondering, should I trust this. When I look at this article that I talked about in the journal club, many of the homeless that we had to reach out to, when we were talking to them about options for housing, they were somewhat skeptical whether they could trust us. Some of that same hesitancy we are still trying to address now during this whole vaccine hesitancy issue.

What current clinical research projects are you conducting in Virginia?

My current background in clinical research and community engaged research has prepared me to serve as co-principal investigator. I serve as co-investigator for a 4-year R37 NIH study, titled “Addressing Low-Income Housing Resident Mistrust in COVID-19 Guidance” with eight low-income public housing agencies (PHA) serving 75,275 residents in the cities of Virginia Beach, Richmond, Norfolk, Newport News, Portsmouth, Hampton, Suffolk and Chesapeake. The goal of the project is to ensure that efforts to increase resident compliance with public health guidance do not increase mistrust of public health messaging and relevant institutions. The focus is on COVID-19 related guidance and how building relationships with medical providers (via telehealth) can be used as a strategy to reduce mistrust in COVID-19 guidance. The research project identified resident concerns about COVID-19 testing. The goal of this research has increased COVID testing, by adapting COVID-19 testing protocols to be more responsive of the needs of the residents following weekly Zoom sessions with PHA residents.

I also wrote a grant, in collaboration with the School of Pharmacy through FEMA, which allowed the university to purchase a large mobile van. We are using the mobile van to administer COVID-19 and influenza vaccinations throughout the community, to address social determinants of health in “real time”, and improve health outcomes in vulnerable communities.

Where did you get the idea for the mobile health van?

The COVID-19 pandemic laid bare the many inequities in vulnerable, low-income communities and lack of transportation was one of those barriers once vaccines became available for distribution in the community. Hampton University was aware that transportation and vaccine hesitancy would be a “double” barrier. So the president of the university formed a collaborative team to begin researching options for funding, for the mobile van, and for becoming a licensed vaccination site. All were accomplished by March 2021.

In a couple of weeks, we’re going to have a large jazz festival at the Hampton Convention Center. We are going to take the bus and position it outside the convention center. That’s where people will be able to have their COVID-19 boosters, because a lot of older adults will be at the jazz festival.

Do you have any advice for students who are early in their nursing careers?

For nurses that are early in their career, especially those who are working on their baccalaureate degrees, I think they should explore all options for advancing their education beyond the bachelor’s degree to include masters and doctoral degrees, clinical and research options. They should spend time with colleagues in these fields during their undergraduate years, if possible, to help “plant the seed” of possibility. I never had the “seed planted” until I was out in the workplace and began to work alongside advanced practice nurses. I began to see the value of clinical research and how it can make a difference in quality improvement at the bedside. I began to see how I could be the clinical practice nurse who could be the one to make the difference at the bedside or in the community.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

Don’t think that the master’s, clinical, or the bench doctorate degree is not for you. Someone must continue that research, and why not you? I think it’s important for all nurses to see themselves as leaders and always take a seat at the table as a leader outside of the walls of healthcare. Live your passion through continuing your education, it takes time but, in the end, it is truly worth the journey.

Celebration traditions that span the centuries: The Nursing Pinning Ceremony

A celebration “omnes una”: The UW School of Nursing Convocation

Fifty-five years of preparing what’s next

A class Washington has been waiting for

Join us in celebrating

Bridging the Clinic and the Lab

Research That Centers The Margins

About the Magnuson Scholar Program

Suha Ballout, PhD

Betty Bekemeier, PhD

Autumn Dennistoun

Maya Elias, PhD

Jennifer T. Sonney, PhD, APRN, PPCNP-BC, FAANP, FAAN

Megan Streur, PhD, RN, ARNP

Brenda Kaye Zierler, PhD, RN, RVT, FAAN

Oleg Zaslavsky, PhD

A Community Responsive Design

What the research says, and what Washington needs

The structure of care shapes who it can reach

Considering the impact you could make?

The Distance They Carry

A need that belongs to everyone

Considering the impact you could make?

An ordinary morning at HealthPoint’s Kent Clinic quickly became something no one could have anticipated, and everything this team was prepared for.

When the clinic becomes the delivery room

Washington needs more nurses

Considering the impact you could make?

During Women’s History Month, the University of Washington School of Nursing is recognizing the women whose leadership, scholarship, advocacy and care have shaped nursing across generations — and celebrating those carrying that work forward today.

Marin Strong, a PhD in Nursing Science student at the UW School of Nursing, has been selected as a Sigma United Nations (UN) Youth Representative, a prestigious volunteer position that will place her at the forefront of global nursing leadership and advocacy.

The leadership demonstrated by UW-affiliated nurses is rooted in a much longer national history shaped by Black women who practiced nursing long before the profession was formally accessible to them.

Organization Spotlight

First Black graduate of the University of Washington School of Nursing

Founding member of the Mary Mahoney Professional Nurses Organization

Deepened the UW School of Nursing’s engagement with anti-racism in nursing

Celebrate Black History Month in the Community

Upcoming Opportunities

Organization Spotlight

Preparing Nurses for Real-World Care

A National Mark of Excellence

The Hub is gaining recognition from peer institutions and professional organizations, shining a brighter spotlight on the importance of nurse-led digital health innovation

Celebrating Nurse Practitioner Week: November 9–15, 2025

2025 Fellows of the American Academy of Nursing

Eeeseung Byun, PhD, RN

Katie A. Haerling, PhD, RN, CHSE

M. Rebecca O’Connor, PhD, RN

Megan Streur, PhD, ARNP

Behind every successful DNP student stands a dedicated clinical preceptor, an unsung hero in nursing education.

Unlikely Beginnings

One Health: A Holistic Approach

Healing Across Communities

A Bridge Between Worlds

Advice for Future Nurses

Finding Purpose Through Direct Experience

Building a Bridge Between Research and Care

From Implementation to Innovation

Navigating Challenges with Resilience

Looking to the Future: Integrating HIV and Cancer Care

Advice for International Students

Faculty Awards

DAISY Nurse Educator Award

Excellence in Clinical Teaching Award

Excellence in Promoting Diversity through Teaching Award

Sandra Eyres Excellence in Graduate Teaching Award

Rheba de Tornyay Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award

Nursing Research Mentorship Award

Student Awards

Undergraduate Outstanding Student Award

Doctor of Nursing Practice Outstanding Student Award

Master of Science Outstanding Student Award

Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award

Dissertation Award in Nursing Science

DAISY Student Nurse Award

Azita Emami Student Leadership in Social Justice Award

Video credit: Duke Clinical Research Institute Communications

A nurse-founded innovative solution to a decades-old clinical challenge is gaining attention from the NIH. Discover how a collaboration with UW’s Digital Health Innovation Hub could transform patient safety and put nurses at the forefront of healthcare innovation.

-Kristine Wright

Shih family donates $1 million to support UW nurses and students

“Tracing the Footsteps of the Scholars from the de Tornyay Center”: Pre-doctoral Scholar Shares Findings from Center Survey

“Why not long-term care?” Faculty member investigates why nursing students choose not to go into the long-term care workforce.

Stroke recovery factors highlighted by PhD student

**A celebration “omnes una”: The UW School of Nursing Convocation**