Events
The College of Nursing held several events to celebrate its 75th Anniversary.
- Psychiatric Mental Health Reunion
- College of Nursing Simulation Center Open House
- 75th Anniversary Gala
- Laser Drone Show
- Half Century Society Induction & Alumni Award Luncheon
- Homecoming Alumni Tailgate
Led by Miriam Lovin, Mindy Francis, and Mary Wheeler, many persons from the College of Nursing, University of Utah, University of Utah Health, and the community planned and carried out these events.
College of Nursing
- Yvonne Bass
- Will Biesinger
- Debbie Boulter
- Ann Butt
- Bobby Cody
- Beth Cole
- Terese Cracroft, Dean’s Advancement Board & Alumni Association Council
- Lynn Dixon
- Kenzie Fong
- Adrynne Huo
- Trisha Jensen, President, Alumni Association Council
- Sherri Kerney
- Shelli King
- Mike McIntosh
- Lee Moss, Dean’s Advancement Board
- Henri Sasa
- Deidre Schoenfeld
- Mandy Thomson
- Annie Williams
- Eren Yaman
- Dean Marla De Jong
University of Utah, University of Utah Health, and the Community
- Brooke Abel, Assistant Director of Major Gifts, University of Utah Advancement, and University of Utah Athletics
- Dallan Alder, J. Willard Marriott Library
- Allison Allred, J. Willard Marriott Library
- Jeff Bagley, Chief Creative Officer, University Marketing & Communications
- Cate Baker, Private Events Coordinator, Ken Garff University Club
- Scott Bigler, J. Willard Marriott Library
- Michael Bigler, J. Willard Marriott Library
- Joe Borgenicht, Senior Director, Strategic Communications, University of Utah Health
- Kris Bosman, Chief Alumni Relations Officer, University of Utah Office of Alumni Relations
- Heidi Brett, J. Willard Marriott Library
- Sara Davis, J. Willard Marriott Library
- Kendall Eisenberg, Events Manager, Rice-Eccles Stadium
- Kellie Esters, Senior Executive Director of Advancement, University of Utah Health
- Curt Garner, Poll Sound
- Ian Godrey, J. Willard Marriott Library
- Steve Griffin, Contract & Assignment Photography
- Zack Gutierrez, Tech Services Manager, Rice-Eccles Stadium
- Jeff Hanson, Executive Producer/Writer, University Marketing & Communications
- Hillary Hettich, Account Executive/Copywriter, University Marketing & Communications
- Ali Jackson, Event Sales Director, Ken Garff University Club
- Kristan Jacobsen, Contract & Assignment Photography
- Aaron Lovell, Associate Director, Marketing, University of Utah Health
- Keaten McDonald, Associate Director of Events, Rice-Eccles Stadium
- Cory Nelson, Senior Advancement Director, Alumni Engagement, University of Utah Office of Alumni Relations
- Mary Neville, Advancement Officer, School of Dentistry
- Eric Nhem, Executive Assistant, School of Dentistry
- Open Sky Productions, Drone Company
- Jessica Peterson, Senior Strategic Communications Manager, University of Utah Health
- Lala Phunkang, Director of Marketing & Sales, Development
- Sadaf Rahimi, J. Willard Marriott Library
- James Swensen, Skymail
- Carmin Smoot, Digital Publishing Coordinator, Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library
- Anna Tibbitts, Director of Advancement, College of Health
- Wesley Thomas, Owner, YUMI
- Elaine Thorton, Assistant Director for the History of Health Sciences Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library
- Aaron White, Director, Stadium and Arena Events, Rice-Eccles Stadium
- Cayley Wintch, Special Events Coordinator, Thomas S. Monson Center
Generous Sponsors of the Gala and Laser Drone Show
- Annette Cumming, Cumming Foundation
- Claire Dumke-Ryberg and Steve Ryberg
- Tim and Candace Dee
Ranking
U.S. News & World Report ranked 656 Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs. The College of Nursing is ranked #31 (tie), and is the highest-ranked Bachelor of Science nursing program in Utah.
Awards
Denise Reeves received the Utah Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses Nursing Excellence Award for Education. The person who nominated Denise wrote, “Denise Reeves is an exceptional educator, experienced nurse, and incredible human. In her 20 year nursing career, Denise has elevated the care of women and newborns by promoting policy and practice change to improve outcomes. She has been an integral part of quality improvement projects and safety bundle implementation at the University of Utah Hospital, with years of effort, dedicated to improving the organization’s rapid response training to postpartum emergencies. She is a champion for diversity, equity, and inclusion, expanding education surrounding racial disparities within the maternal/infant population. She uses every opportunity to teach and encourage the people around her. Denise is a respected charge nurse, inspired educator, and passionate patient advocate. Her efforts broadly impact the implementation of evidence-based practice for a multidisciplinary team.”
Dr. Lauri Linder and clinical team members Cheryl Gerdy, Yeonjung Jo, Crystal Stark, and Andrew Wilson from Primary Children’s Hospital received the 2023 Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nursing Writing Award for their article Changes in central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) rates following implementation of levofloxacin prophylaxis for children and adolescents with high-risk leukemia that was published earlier this year. This award was presented at the 2023 Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Annual Conference.
The Utah Chapter of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (UHIMSS) honored Dr. Catherine Staes as the 2023 Most Influential Woman in Health Information and Technology (IT). UHIMSS provides statewide leadership for the advancement and management of healthcare information and technology, and is dedicated to improving Healthcare IT locally through advocacy, collaboration, and education, and to promote quality patient care throughout the state of Utah.
The College of Nursing Dean’s Advancement Board sponsored three awards.
- The Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes College of Nursing alumni who graduated 15 or more years ago and have attained a high level of professional accomplishment and/or have advanced nursing or gerontology through practice, research, education, or administration. Adjunct faculty member Dr. Sheryl Steadman received the 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award.
- The Young Alumni Award recognizes College of Nursing alumni who graduated within the last 10 years and have attained a high level of professional accomplishment and/or have advanced nursing or gerontology through practice, research, education, or administration. Dr. Diane Chapman received the 2023 Young Alumni Award.
- The Distinguished Service Award recognizes both alumni and non-alumni who have dedicated personal time, talents, and energy to strengthen and improve the community in which they live. Adjunct faculty member Dr. Heidi Vawdrey received the 2023 Distinguished Service Award.
Grant Awards
The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute awarded a $3,792,619 R01 grant to Dr. Kelly Baron, Dr. Sara Simonsen, and Dr. Ivette Lopez for their project titled Addressing Sleep Health Disparities from Within: A Community-engaged Study to Understanding Sleep and Cardiometabolic Disease Risk among Women of Color. This community-engaged project will increase understanding of women’s time use, and how the relationships between time spent for sleep, physical activity, and other demands affect risk for cardiometabolic disease. Study findings will result in novel interventions to improve the sleep and health of women of color.
The National Cancer Institute awarded a $214,999 P30 supplement to project lead Dr. Deanna Kepka and co-investigator Dr. Lisa Taylor-Swanson for their project titled Rural Community Health Center Partnerships to Develop and Implement Process for HPV Self-collection and Follow-up among Women Overdue for Cervical Cancer Screening.
The Rita and Alex Hillman Foundation awarded a $50,000 research grant to Dr. Djin Tay for her study titled Cultivating Financial Self-Advocacy Among Rural Cancer Patients. Collaborators include Dr. Kathi Mooney and Dr. Toby Campbell (University of Wisconsin). Cancer is one of the most expensive health diagnoses. Rural patients are more vulnerable to non-medical sources of financial hardship associated with cancer treatment, such as increased costs for travel accommodation during cancer treatment, and cancer-related employment impacts. Using community-engaged methods, the investigators will partner with patient and families, nurse navigators, and healthcare system partners to co-develop a nurse-led financial self-advocacy intervention targeted for rural cancer patients and families. Together, the partners will 1) co-develop a nurse-led clinical workflow to assess, reevaluate, and intervene on cancer-related financial impacts including nurse-navigator cost-of-care conversations and team-based communication strategies, 2) co-develop culturally congruent materials and messaging to reduce stigma and support self-advocacy in seeking financial assistance in the clinical setting, and 3) adapt patient- and family-centered informational resources from existing patient advocacy organizations for rural cancer patients and families’ continued self-advocacy across the cancer trajectory.
Community Engagement
The American Association of Critical Care Nurses recognized Dr. Anna Alder for professional dedication and support as a volunteer Entry-level Preceptor E-learning Content Writer from July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023. A team of nurses from across the country developed content for a new preceptor course with five modules about topics such as establishing goals, providing feedback, creating meaningful learning experiences, and supporting emotional resilience. The course is intended to help guide entry-level critical care or progressive care nurse preceptors through the process of orienting a new nurse.
Presentations
Dr. Heidi Favero presented Thyroid and Adrenal Emergencies at the 7th Annual Huntsman Advanced Practice Clinician Continuing Medical Education Oncology Conference.
Dr. Julie Gee was an invited to deliver a podium presentation titled Deconstructing Research: Synthesis and Translation to Practice at the Rocky Mountain Regional Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse conference in Salt Lake City.
Dr. Lauri Linder, Dr. Christine Platt, Dr. Jia-Wen Guo, and Dr. Kristin Stegenga delivered a podium presentation titled Content Validity and Reading Level of Instruments to Measure Self-efficacy for Symptom Self-management for Children with Cancer and their Parents at the Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses 47th Annual Conference & Exhibit.
PhD student Malek Alnajar presented a poster titled A Conceptual Model Application to Obtain Equity in Providing Palliative Care for Cancer and Non-cancer Patients with Serious Illnesses at the 2023 Palliative Care Showcase at The Medical University of South Carolina on September 27, 2023.
Dr. Deanna Kepka presented Pioneering Progress: New Frontiers in Gynecological Cancer Prevention & Treatment at the Turangi Community Health Centre in Turangi, New Zealand, on September 13, 2023.
Dr. Deanna Kepka received a $250 travel award from the New Zealand Society for Oncology to travel to their Together for a Brighter Future conference in Napier, NZ, and present three posters.
- Higher Levels of HPV Vaccine Hesitancy and Less Provider Support for the HPV Vaccine for Young Adults in Some Racial Subgroups in the United States. Kaila Christini, Hannah Aanderud Tanner, Charles Teames, Sara Mann, Mya Thomas, Neal Davis, Gloria Coronado, Amanda F. Petrik, Chun-Pin Esther Chang, Mia Hashibe, and Deanna Kepka.
- Building Partnerships in Uganda to Improve Cervical Cancer Prevention. Deanna Kepka, Debra Penney, Mya Thomas, Becca Slagle, Stephen Gubler, Kaila Christini, Rose Clarke Nanyonga, Annette Mbeiza, and Schola Matovu.
- Cannabis Use Among Individuals With and Without a Previous Cancer Diagnosis in The Era of COVID 19 Pandemic, United States. Kaila Christini, Deanna Kepka, Lauren Cowan, Chun Pin Chang, Mia Hashibe, and Tracy Onega.
Dr. Julie Valentine presented and co-presented podium presentations at the International Conference on Forensic Nursing Science & Practice in Phoenix.
- Dr. Julie Valentine – The Issue Is ... Dating App-facilitated Sexual Assaults.
- Dr. Julie Valentine – Does Age Matter? Descriptive Data and Sexual Assault Kit DNA Analysis Findings of Elderly Sexual Assault Victims.
- Nancy Downing, Dr. Julie Valentine, and Elaine Avshman – Myth Busters! How Emergency Contraception Works and Implications for SANE Practice.
Faculty, staff, and students presented posters at the University of Utah Center on Aging Annual Research Retreat on September 28, 2023.
- Jordana Clayton, Dr. Kathie Supiano, Nancy Aruscavage, Dr. Rebecca Utz, Dr. Eli Iacob, Dr. Kara Dassel – Advance Care Planning Conversations: Concordance in ADRD Dyads. Jordana received a student award for the best social science poster.
- Amber Thompson, Anna Hsu, Catherine Sparks, Dr. Bob Wong, Dr. Eli Iacob, Alexandra Terrill, Dr. Mike Caserta, Dr. Rebecca Utz – Age and Computer Proficiency: Using Digital Inequality Framework to Evaluate Tech Delivered Interventions.
- Dr. Rebecca Utz, Dr.Eli Iacob, Dr. Bob Wong, Amber Thompson, Catherine Sparks, Alexandra Terrill, Dr.Mike Caserta, Anna Hsu – Time for Living and Caring: An Online Intervention to Support Dementia Caregivers’ Use of Respite.
- Dr. Kathie Supiano, Troy Andersen, Laura Bradbury, Kimberly Ponce Gonzalez – Training Nursing Home Social Workers to Deliver Pre-Loss Group Support to Dementia Family Care Partners Via Telehealth.
Dr. Linda Edelman, College of Nursing professor and co-director of the Utah Geriatric Education Consortium (UGEC), and Dr. Natalie Sanders, Associate Professor in the Division of Geriatrics, co-lead the 4th year Medical Student Geriatrics Elective. Students from U Health and other medical schools complete the month-long elective, which includes a Dr. Edelman-led foundations of gerontology didactic course, and Dr. Sanders-led clinical hours in geriatrics and geropsychiatry at U Health and George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs geriatrics clinic. Students select a research project to present to geriatrics faculty and present in poster format at the University of Utah Center on Aging Annual Research Retreat. U Health students earn a certificate from the Gerontology Interdisciplinary Program. This year, 16 students presented:
- Ryan Tatton – Benzodiazepine Deprescription in Older Adults.
- Sheryl Cherian – A Multi-Level, Case-based Approach to Understanding Caregiver Burden.
- Emily Chanak – Dermatology Principles and Guidelines in Older Adults.
- Jeremy Bergman – Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion Devices: A Review on Current Guidelines for Stroke Prevention in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation.
- Forest Riekhof – Evaluation and Management of Heart Failure in Older Adults.
- Parker Howe – An Overview of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor (ICI) Cancer Therapy in Older Adults.
- Christian Peterson – Current Outcomes of Deep Brain Stimulation Use in Parkinson’s Disease.
- Shreya Aditi Sreekantaswamy – The Underrepresentation of Older Adults in Randomized Clinical Trials for JAK Inhibitors to Treat Atopic Dermatitis: Barriers and Recommendations.
- Christy Jesme – Social Isolation, Loneliness and Dementia: A Review of Associations, Screening and Interventions.
- Elzard Sikkemma – Supporting Caregivers for the Optimal Management of Patients with Dementia.
- Alec Hansen – The Importance of a Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment in Older Adults with Cancer.
- Aaron Perez – The Geriatric Emergency Department: An Examination of Current Trends, Benefits, Barriers, and Implementation.
- Courtney Reid – Social Determinants of Health Create Disparities in Stroke Outcomes.
- Cora Lubchenco – Effectively Discussing What Matters Most for Rural Geriatric Patients at the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit.
- McKenzi Yocus – Statin Therapy in Geriatrics: An “Age-Friendly Health Systems” Approach.
- Ria Sandu – Dementia among Indigenous Americans: A Discussion of the Cultural Perspectives of American Indian/Alaska Native People and Recommendations for Care.
Publications
Advisory Board Council member Dr. Beth Cole authored History of Graduate Education in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing, University of Utah, 1957-2023.
Christensen SS, Snyder C, Parkin ED, Austria MJ. Understanding nursing workplace violence trends for safer clinical oncology settings. Clin J Oncol Nurs. 2023;27(5):497-505.
Dalky HF, Alnajar M, Dalky AF, Mahmoud N, Al-Ma'ani M, Mosleh S, Hamdan-Mansour AM. Social cognitive elements of mental illness stigma among healthcare professionals currently working in general hospitals: A cross-sectional study from Jordan. Nurs Open. 2023;10(10):6980-6988.
Jeon N, Sanders JN, Hanson H, Kent-Marvick J, Simonsen SE. Comparing factors associated with postpartum depression among primaparous adolescents and adults: A large retrospective cohort study. Birth. Accepted.
Martinez M, Christini K, Kepka D, Kent-Marvick J, Digre KB, Stark LA, Davis FA, Lee D, Mukundente V, Napia E, Sanchez-Birkhead A, Tavake-Pasi OF, Villalta J, Brown H, Simonsen SE. Do interventions targeting women impact children’s health behaviors? Utah Women’s Health Review. Accepted.
Reinke LF, Fasolino T, Sullivan DR. Goals of care and end-of-life communication needs of persons with chronic respiratory disease. Curr Opin Support Palliat Care. 2023. Epub ahead of print.
In Other News
Dr. Linda Edelman has led the Utah Geriatric Education Consortium (UGEC) since 2016, developing professional partnerships that provided the UGEC with the expertise and support to develop and deliver training programs across Utah and nationally – programs that are improving the quality of care that older adults receive. The Health Resources and Services Administration approved Dr. Kara Dassel as the UGEC Program Director for the remainder of current funding. As Co-Director, Dr. Edelman will support Dr. Dassel during this leadership transition. In addition to leading grant writing, Dr. Dassel will oversee student and community training programs.
In the Media
KSL.com – University of Utah College of Nursing celebrates 75 years
University of Utah Health – Celebrating a History of Excellence: 75 Years of Nursing at the University of Utah