Award
Amanda Keddington, Janine Roberts, and Dr. Perry Gee presented a poster titled Community Health Worker Interventions for At-Risk Populations at the 2022 Rural Health Association of Utah (RHAU) conference, and won the RHAU Best of Conference Award. Also, Dr. Linda Edelman advised Amanda. The poster summarized the team’s literature review regarding the impact that Community Health Workers (CHWs) have on at-risk populations, including older and diverse adults who live in rural areas. Use of CHWs may lower readmission rates and emergency department visits, in addition to improving patient satisfaction and self-reported well-being.
Faculty Spotlight
Dr. Cristi Creal spearheaded formation of the College of Nursing BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) student group. The group brings BIPOC students together to create an empowering and supportive environment. The group provides peer-to-peer support and mentoring about navigating college, connects students with opportunities to explore their identities and cultures, engages in community service projects, and collaborates with cultural- and identity-based organizations on campus.
Community Engagement
Alumna Chelsea Gamero invited Marissa Smith, Kristen Mahoney, Sonja Jensen, Dr. Sue Chase-Cantarini, and Dean Marla De Jong to brief nursing and education representatives from the University of Utah Health Affiliate Network about topics such as, but not limited to, the College of Nursing’s academic programs, programs of study for the pre-licensure and RN-BS tracks, pathways to nursing, the Acute Care RN-BS Diversity Scholars Program, admission requirements, tuition rates, availability of scholarships and financial support, and tracks that the College offers online. In addition, Dr. Sue Chase-Cantarini described the College’s inaugural summer camp for racially and ethnically diverse middle schoolers.
The University of Utah and the University of Utah Health welcomed a delegation from Perú, including Utah’s Peruvian Counselor, Perú’s Minister of Health, five members of Peru’s Congress, five Peruvian university presidents, and six Peruvian business leaders. The Office for Global Engagement invited Dr. Kimberly Garcia to participate in a round table discussion about potentially establishing partnerships among the University of Utah and Peruvian universities, offering faculty exchanges and educational mentoring, conducting and publishing academic studies, and working on public health projects such as self-testing for human papillomavirus in Perú. Attendees from the University of Utah included Dr. Brian Gibson, Juan Carlos Negrette, Emma Huston, Dr. Martell Teasley, and Dr. José Rodriguez.
Presentation
Dr. Valerie Flattes shared her personal and professional story, Being Black in America, with the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS).
College Kudos will not be published on December 26, 2022 or January 2, 2023.