University of Utah Hartford Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence

Research

Research is a dynamic and important component of Ph.D. education. Faculty of the University of Utah Hartford Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence have a breadth and depth research interests. Finding a faculty member with research interests similar to your own is an important consideration when selecting a Ph.D. program. Ph.D. students will have the opportunity to work and study with nationally known researchers.Pepper, Lund, Berry

Executive Director Ginette A. Pepper Ph.D., RN, FAAN, Professor and Associate Dean for Research and Ph.D. Program, holds the Helen Bamberger Colby Endowed Chair in Gerontological Nursing. The nation's first geriatric nurse practioner, Dr. Pepper received her Ph.D. in Nursing and Geriatric Pharmacology and has taught research, geriatric nursing, and pharmacology for over 25 years. Her federally funded research has focused on pain management in nursing homes, medication-related falls, adverse drug effects, and medication administration safety. In 2007, she completed a NIH summer fellowship focusing on genetics of aging. 

Associate Director for Research, Dale Lund, Ph.D. has been involved in research and education in gerontology since 1980. A fellow of the Gerontology Society of America, Dr. Lund is nationally known for his research and publications on coping with difficult transitions in later life, particularly spousal bereavement and family caregiving, and he is the creator of the video respite intervention for persons with dementia. He is a master educator with numerous awards for mentorship and teaching.

Associate Director for Education and Practice Patricia Berry Ph.D., APRN, BC-PCM, received her master's training as a geriatric nurse practitioner and earned a Ph.D. in human development and family studies. An active practitioner, Dr. Berry is known nationally for her expertise in pain in institutionalized elderly, palliative and end-of-life care, and innovative approaches to teaching geriatric nursing.

In addition to the College of Nursing faculty listed on the table below, students have the opportunity to study and work with faculty and professional who are members of the University of Utah Center on Aging. Interdisciplinary collaboration is encouraged and supported.

 Name and Title
 Credential in Gerontology
 Expertise
  National
Certification
Awards
 Active
Research
 Funded
Research
  
Ginette A. Pepper
Ph.D., RN, FAAN,
Professor
   X
 X
 Geriatric pharmacology
Former GNP; Geriatric
nursing educator; Genetics
of aging
Dale Lund, Ph.D.
Professor
   X
 X
 Sociology (Gerontology)
Gerontology educator;
Dementia; Bereavement
Patricia Berry, Ph.D.,
APRN, BC-PCM,
Assistant Professor
 Geron Nurse
Practitioner
Advanced
Practice
Pallative Care
 X
 X

Geriatric nursing educator;
End-of-life: Pallative care;
Pain
Susan Beck, Ph.D.,
APRN, FAAN
Professor
   X
 X

Aging and cancer; Pain;
Symptom management;
exercise    
Cherie Brunker,
MD, Chief, Geriatrics,
LDS Hospital
Associate Professor

Geriatrics;
Internal Medicine;
Hospice &
Pallative Medicine     

  X X
 Geriatrician; Geriatric primary
care; Nurse Case Management;
Health Systems Research
Michael Caserta,
Ph.D.
Professor
   X
 X
 Gerontology educator;
Bereavement; Cancer survivors;
Dementia caregivers
Lauren Clark, Ph.D.
RN, FAAN
Professor
   X
 X
 Pain in long-term care;
culture and health; community
health
Margaret Clayton,
Ph.D., RN, Assistant
Professor
   X
 X
 Patient-Provider
communication
Lee Ellington, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
   X
 X
 Patient-Provider
Communication;
Interdisciplinary research
Jodi Groot, Ph.D.,
APRN
Associate Professor
(Clinical)
       Psych/mental health
Anita Kinney, Ph.D.,
APRN
Associate Professor
   X
 X
 Cancer prevention & screening;
Long term survivorship

Patricia Murphy,
Dr. PH, APRN
Associate Professor  

       Women's Health;
Menopause;
Complementary medicine
Kathi Mooney,
Ph.D., RN, FAAN
Professor, Director
Ph.D. Program
   X
 X
 Ph.D. Distance Education;
Cancer symptom management;
Quality cancer care; Leadership
Janice Morse, Ph.D.,
RN, FAAN
Professor
   X
 X
 Falls and comfort;
qualititave methods
Donna Richards,
Ph.D., RN
Associate Professor
(Clinical)
 GNEC Fellow
 X
 X
 Geriatric primary care, hypertension,
heart failure
Mark Supiano, MD
Chief, Division of
Geriatrics
 Geriatrics; Internal
Medicine
 X
 X
 Geriatric primary care, hypertension,
heart failure
Gail Towsley, Ph.D.,
Assistant Professor		   X
 X

Long term care, MDS and OSCAR data
sets; pain    
Charlene Weir, Ph.D., RN
Associate Research
Professor
   X
 X
 Adverse drug effects, informatics
Scott Wright, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
   X
 X
 Gerontology educator; Adult development
and aging