Meet a Husky Nurse

Mollie Killion, DNP ’24

CDC Epidemic Intelligence Service fellowship recipient

“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.

Lawrence Long, ABSN ’24

Lawrence is in our Accelerated Bachelor of Nursing (ABSN) program. Lawrence hails from rural North Carolina. His decision to join the UW School of Nursing was influenced by the university’s strong commitment to antiracist work and comprehensive reproductive health care training. As someone who deeply understands the challenges faced by his home state, Lawrence recognizes the urgent need to address these issues and is eager to make a difference.

2023 QSNA Recipient

“Being chosen as the 2023 UW QSNA winner is truly a full-circle moment for me as someone who has been following the award since its start at UW in 2020. Since then, I have grown to be quite passionate about the effects of dementia on individuals as well as the stress it can place on caregivers. Being able to receive international recognition for my idea that aims to relieve the significant burden of dementia not only on individuals and families but on healthcare systems and communities as a whole is incredibly validating.”

Jeff D’Angelo, ABSN ’18

“My time in the UW’s nursing program helped prepare for a successful career in health care in a variety of ways.  First, we had a diverse array of clinical experiences that allowed me to practice skills and see many different diagnoses/conditions and care environments.  Additionally, having 200+ hours of senior practicum at the end of the program was crucial in providing space for me to put all of my education into practice as well as give sufficient time to network on the unit, which for me resulted in my first nursing job after school.”

Nhia Yerkes-Vang, DNP ’24 

CDC Epidemic Intelligence Service fellowship recipient 

“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 and explore disaster epidemiology, especially with the effects of climate change on the environment and health.”  

Alumni Ceci Gilmore is a recent doctor of nursing practice graduate who is now a research coordinator for the Heart, Soul and Joy Program at a Rainier Beach Clinic in Seattle.

In a UW Magazine story, Glimore sai“Delivering hope: A UW program works to improve maternal health outcomes for Black women and other underserved community members,” Gilmore said “So much of health care can be fear-based. But when you give someone tools, give them the ability to know when to seek help, when to fit in fear, you also can let them know it’s OK to have joy, to do small things for yourself.”

Jenna van Draanen, PhD, MPH, a University of Washington School of Nursing assistant professor and nurse researcher, has led several research studies to better understand opioid use from the perspective of both first responders and people who have experienced an overdose. She has made essential contributions to the fight against opioid overdose in the Puget Sound Region. Her work has helped to reduce the stigma surrounding opioid overdose, provide first responders with the necessary training and tools, and create a safer and more supportive environment for people who use drugs. 

“I feel so grateful and so lucky to be doing this work.” said van Draanen. “I love that I get to work closely with people who are making change in real time and in different ways in their communities.” 

Dr. Sharon Laing, PhD, associate professor of Nursing and Healthcare Leadership at the University of Washington, Tacoma, recently received the 2024 UW Health Sciences Martin Luther King, Jr. School of Nursing Community Service Award.

Dr. Laing has engaged in health services research targeting cancer prevention/control and workplace wellness. She is committed to community-based health research evaluating the intersection of socio-cultural, psychologic, environmental and patient health status factors. Her current research is a multi-site effort investigating the role of mobile technology as a potential tool to facilitate patient self-management and enhanced patient-healthcare system interactions for low income communities.

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.”

Reflecting on what interests her about healthy aging, she said, “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.”

Read more about her interests >>

Jesus Reyna, Regional Emergency Coordinator, United States Public Health Service

Jesus Reyna, RN, BSN, commander (CDR) in the United States Public Health Service’s (USPHS) Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), is a distinguished figure in the field of public health and emergency response. With a focus on the Federal Region 10, encompassing Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and 272 Tribal Nations, CDR Reyna has played a pivotal role in shaping and executing comprehensive emergency response strategies.

Over the past three years, Reyna has been at the forefront of COVID-19 planning and response operations. His expertise in public health and federal systems has made him a recognized leader at both regional and national levels, facilitating complex emergency responses.

Jesus Reyna recently received The UW School of Nursing Distinguished Alumni Award, which recognizes a UW School of Nursing alum whose career in nursing exemplifies excellence in clinical practice, leadership in professional organizations, outstanding accomplishments, and contributions to the community.

Read more about Jesus Reyna experience.

Avanti Adhia is an assistant professor in the Department of Child, Family, and Population Health Nursing department. She received her Doctorate in Social and Behavioral Sciences from the T.H. Chan School of Public Health at Harvard University. The goal of her research is to prevent interpersonal violence by (1) understanding its causes and consequences and (2) evaluating the role of laws, policies and interventions in reducing violence. She uses multiple, interdisciplinary methods to examine the social and structural determinants of intimate partner violence and sexual violence, primarily among adolescents and young adults. Additionally, she is a interdisciplinary researcher committed to conducting research that promotes social justice, maximizes human well-being, and engages communities to enhance the health of marginalized populations.

Adhia was recently featured in the UW Medicine Newsroom article, “Domestic violence protection cases point up minors’ risk”.

Liz Bridges recently received a DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award

Liz Bridges, PhD, RN, CCNS, FCCM, FAAN, has 32 years experience with a focus in critical care and critical care research. She joined the faculty at UW in 2004, and she is also the clinical nurse researcher at the University of Washington Medical Center. Additionally, she served for 30 years in the Air Force Nurse Corps (22 years active duty), which has given a focus to her research on en route critical care.

Bridges has lived all over the United States, and her military work has taken her around the world. My current research is related to en route critical care and the integration of cardiovascular monitoring into the care of critically ill/injured. She has also focused on the translation of her research into practice, including the creation of the TriService Nursing Research Battlefield and Disaster Nursing Pocket Guide, which provided evidence-based practice recommendations. Bridges also work closely with clinical nurses at UW Medical Center to bring evidence to the bedside.