Awards and Professional Recognition
The National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS) is the nation's largest leadership honor society. Students are selected by their college for membership based on either academic standing or leadership potential. The University of Utah’s chapter of NSLS presented Impact Leader Awards to Dr. Sharifa Al-Qaaydeh, Melissa Black, Carly Bonfiglio, Tamara Ekker, and Dr. Rebekah Perkins. Impact Leader Awards recognize faculty members who teach with heart and passion, and motivate students in their pursuit of education.
At its annual induction ceremony, the Gamma Rho Chapter of Sigma presented awards to College of Nursing faculty.
- Excellence in Leadership – Dr. Cheryl Armstrong and Dr. Rebecca Wilson
- Clinical Educator Legacy Award – Tamara Ekker
- Excellence in Education – Dr. Julie Gee
- Excellence in Research/Scholarship – Dr. Perry Gee
- Excellence in Clinical Practice – Dr. Frances Johnson
- Early Career Nurse Innovator – Dr. Paige Miller
- Excellence in Mentorship – Dr. John Nerges
Baccalaureate students inducted into Sigma included:
- Saja Alsarrieh
- Ella Baker
- Elaina Briscoe
- Kendal Cervantes
- Melinda Dillard
- Ella Evans
- Gabriella Fagan
- Megan Fehn
- Selina Gao
- Sydney Gilliland
- Grace Green
- Jenna Griggs
- Kennadee Harris
- Caroline Howell
- Grace Kennedy
- Kenedee Le Prey
- Charis Mariger
- Alexa Mills
- Sarah Orme
- Olivia Paulsen
- Karina Perez-Rojas
- Alyssa Pham
- Bianca Porras Laura
- Heaven Rauch
- Julia Schoonover
- Tanmay Sheokand
- Jayne Smith
Master’s students inducted into Sigma included:
- Jessica Gomez
- William Patzke
Doctor of Nursing Practice students inducted into Sigma included:
- Rebecca Brim
- Merica Chapple
- Lesley Hemphill
- Cheryl Sherman
Doctor of Philosophy student inducted into Sigma included:
- Natasha Ansari
Events
Those who planned and produced the Gamma Rho Chapter of Sigma induction ceremony included: Dr. Jenneth Doria (Chair), Dr. Cheryl Armstrong, Dr. Julie Gee, Dr. John Nerges, Denise Reeves, Dr. Frances Johnson, Dr. Rebekah Perkins, Dr. Nancy Allen, Kelly Mansfield, Amanda Keddington, and Dr. Sue Chase-Cantarini. Dean Marla De Jong delivered opening remarks regarding Sigma’s 100th anniversary theme – Show Love, Have Courage, and Uphold Honor. Dr. Barbara Wilson delivered a keynote address titled Nursing as a Science; Nursing Leadership as an Art.
At their first Utah Family Caregiving Forum, the Family Caregiving Collaborative (FCC) hosted 90 individuals. During this forum, caregivers, researchers, healthcare professionals, policy advocates, and service providers convened to share, learn, and discuss Utah data on family caregivers, as well as current and proposed caregiving policies. Attendees were excited to engage with individuals who represented broad caregiving interests such as disability, autism, aging, and dementia. Members of the FCC leadership and administrative team, especially Dr. Lee Ellington, Christine Moua, and Deidre Schoenfeld, contributed to the event’s success.
The University of Utah Alpha Chi chapter of Sigma Phi Omega, The International Academic Honor and Professional Society in Gerontology, and AARP Utah partnered to host a moderated focus group with College of Nursing and College of Pharmacy students. AARP Utah sought to understand students’ views on Social Security and retirement, and to provide information and data about Social Security’s history, present, and future. Students were relieved to receive non-biased information about various aspects of Social Security. Shanceline Tebo, a College of Pharmacy student who also is earning a long-term care certificate, is president of Sigma Phi Omega, and Dr. Katarina Felsted is chapter faculty advisor.
Grant Award
Dr. Scott Christensen received a research grant from the Gamma Rho Chapter of Sigma to help fund his dissertation research titled Why Nurses Do Not Report: Understanding Nursing Victim Reactions, Attitudes, and Likelihood to Report Patient Aggression.
Presentations
Dr. Scott Christensen, Dr. Sue Chase-Cantarini, Hui Li, Dr. Xiaoming Sheng, Tracey Nixon, and Dean Marla De Jong will deliver a presentation titled New Registered Nurse Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Comparing Nurse Apprenticeship to Traditional Graduates at the Creating Healthy Work Environments 2023 Sigma event.
Drs. Kimberly Garcia, Deanna Kepka, and Eli Jacob, and students Emily Holland Royce and Maria Dean Smith will deliver two podium presentations at the EUROGIN 2023. Presentation titles are Barriers to Cervical Cancer Prevention and Control in Guatemala, and Low Levels of Lifetime Pap Test Receipt Among Vulnerable Patient Populations in Guatemala.
Through a peer-reviewed, competitive process Dr. Erin Meyer was selected to present a workshop titled A Quirky Conversation: The Impact of Quirkiness in Life at the Conference for Global Transformation, an international conference that will be held virtually May 21-23, 2023. If you are interested in attending, contact Dr. Meyer.
Publications
Linder LA, Gerdy C, Jo Y, Stark C, and Wilson A. Changes in central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) rates following implementation of levofloxacin prophylaxis for children and adolescents with high-risk leukemia. 2022. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol Nurs. Epub ahead of print.
Linder LA. Cancer in children. In Rogers JL, Brashers VL, eds. McCance & Huether’s Pathophysiology: The Biologic Basis for Disease in Adults and Children. 9th ed. St. Louis: Elsevier, 2023:430-440.
Linder LA, Harvey A. Alterations of hematologic function in children. In Rogers JL, Brashers VL, eds. McCance & Huether’s Pathophysiology: The Biologic Basis for Disease in Adults and Children. 9th ed. St. Louis: Elsevier, 2023:987-1019.
Community Service
Danielle Puri, Leslie Crandall, Dr. Van Gip, and student volunteers – BSN student Elaina Briscoe and DNP student Emily Royce – administered shots at the annual Boo to the Flu Clinic.
Professional Service
Dr. Lisa Taylor-Swanson was invited to serve as a Review Editor on the Editorial Board of Menopause, a specialty section of Frontiers in Reproductive Health.
Dr. Victoria Tiase was elected to a 2nd term on the American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) Board of Directors. AMIA is a community committed to the vision of a world where informatics transforms people’s care.