This week, the College of Nursing celebrated record-breaking donations on Giving Day, faculty and students received prestigious awards, and we hosted distinguished guests, including renowned experts in caregiving and aging.
Rankings
U.S. News & World Report ranks Doctor of Nursing Practice programs. The College of Nursing is ranked #22 (tied; up from #25 last year) among 167 ranked schools and is the only ranked Doctor of Nursing Practice program in Utah.
U.S. News & World Report ranks Best Midwifery Programs. The College of Nursing is ranked #6 (tied) among 36 ranked schools and is the only ranked Midwifery program in Utah.
Awards/Recognitions
The Office of Undergraduate Research recognized students and faculty at its Awards Ceremony.
- Joshua Seabury (faculty mentor: Dr. Rebekah Perkins) received the 2025 Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher Award for the College of Nursing.
- Sofia Flowers (faculty mentor: Dr. Lauri Linder) received the 2025 Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher Award for the Honors College.
- Dr. Lisa Taylor-Swanson received the 2025 Outstanding Undergraduate Research Mentor Award for the College of Nursing.
Krystal Nguyen, undergraduate LEAP student, Karissa Mirus, Dr. Catherine Elmore, and Dr. Michelle Litchman presented a poster titled Developing an American Sign Language Glossary of Cardiometabolic/Cardiovascular Terms at the Undergraduate Research Symposium: Spring 2025. Krystal Nguyen received the Best in Social Impact Spring Symposium Poster Prize.
During a University-Wide Advancement Meeting, the College of Nursing Advancement team was recognized with one of the inaugural “Top-10 Advancement Awards” for their work and efforts that contributed to the University being named a top-10 Advancement organization. University of Utah Advancement leaders selected Mindy Francis, Jenna Hoff, Miriam Lovin, and Mary Wheeler based on their outstanding contributions and for exemplifying the University’s core values of belonging, collaboration, empowerment, and integrity. Heidi Woodbury, Vice President for Advancement, praised the team’s hard work and tenacity, qualities that are clearly driving impact for both the College of Nursing and the University’s broader Advancement efforts. Heidi Green, Interim Lead for Health Academic Units, expressed pride regarding the team’s accomplishments.
The SYSTECH team reached a significant milestone by successfully implementing a comprehensive suite of cybersecurity tools, and meeting all requirements of the 18 Center for Internet Security Critical Security Controls. This achievement fulfills a key certification of the University of Utah’s Cybersecurity Program, a multiphase cybersecurity initiative that President Taylor Randall commissioned. A team effort, Kelly Marosok led work to bring all Windows computers into compliance, and Rebwar Baesmat, David Blanford, Amen Koutowogbe, Gabe Mickel, Muazzam Faraaz Mohammed, Cody Rasmussen, Dylan Russel, Steven Seal, and work study students Gabriel Henrichsen and Siddharth Sisode brought processes, the server infrastructure, and Edge clients into compliance.
WIN Conference
The College was well-represented at the 2025 Western Institute of Nursing Conference in Spokane. While many presentations and posters were previously highlighted, additional poster presentations merit recognition.
- Dr. Jesika Chavez-England and Dr. Luana Schmelter presented a poster titled Enhancing self-report pain assessments for post-sedated patients: A needs assessment.
- Esther Kang presented a poster titled Improving OB Clinicians’ Readiness for Social Needs Screening in SDOH.
- Mari Kimoto presented a poster titled Teaching Nursing Students Adolescent Suicidal Risk Assessment Skills.
Gabriel Mayberry wrote Over 60 Strong: College of Nursing’s Presence at WIN 2025, a College of Nursing blog that summarizes the Western Institute of Nursing Conference and includes photos.
Presentations
Dr. Diane Chapman delivered a podium presentation titled Empowering Novice Nurse Educators: The Success Academy Model at the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties 51st Annual Conference in Denver. The conference theme was Re-envisioning NP Education to Lead the Future. Dr. Cheryl Armstrong, Dr. Carolyn Scheese, and Dr. Rebecca Wilson contributed to development of the presentation.
Hailey Haffey and Dr. Brenda Luther delivered a podium presentation titled Narrative Medicine and Simulation for OUD/SUD Care: An Interprofessional, Multiyear Collaboration to Address Health Priorities in Rural and Under-Resourced Healthcare at the Health Humanities Consortium Conference 2025, which was held at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.
Dr. Lynn Reinke was invited to speak at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Strategies and Interventions to Strengthen Support for Family Caregiving and to Alleviate Caregiver Burden: A Workshop on June 5-6 in Washington, D.C. Dr. Reinke’s speech will showcase impactful work being conducted in the College of Nursing.
Dr. Caroline Stephens and Amy Cizik delivered invited podium presentations at the Consortium for Families and Health Research Annual Spring Symposium.
- Dying with Dementia in Nursing Homes: A Population-Based Analysis of Decedents and their Families
- The Role of Families in Caregiving to Deliver Value-Based Healthcare: A Journey from Outcomes to Health Economics to Caregiving
Giving Day
On U Giving Day, more than 155 alumni, students, parents, staff, faculty, university leaders, members of the Board of Advocates, and friends of the College donated $29,840 for student scholarships and a mobile simulation station used for the competency-based resuscitation quality improvement (RQI) program! Alumna Tiching Baird, alumni Dr. Heidi Favero and her husband Silvio, and Dean Marla De Jong provided matching funds; and loyal supporter Gary Rodgers and a generous anonymous donor offered challenge matches. Mary Wheeler, Mindy Francis, Miriam Lovin, Heather Clarkson, Dr. Jennifer Clifton, Breck Bartholomew, Gabriel Mayberry, and Jenna Hoff planned, publicized, and executed the campaign. Donors were from 13 states and allocated their contributions as follows: scholarships 55%, ripple/emergency scholarships 41%, mobile simulation station 1%, and nursing development fund 3%.
University Service
Dr. Valerie Flattes was appointed to the Community Center Panel of the University of Utah Institutional Review Board (IRB). The IRB reviews and oversees human subject research. The review process is designed to protect the rights and welfare of human subjects by ensuring equitable subject selection, assuring adequate informed consent, assessing and minimizing risks, and maintaining privacy and confidentiality.
Professional Service
Dr. Caroline Stephens shared her expertise as committee and panel member, and subject matter expert.
- Served on the planning committee for the 2024 American Federation for Aging Research Beeson Annual Meeting.
- Participated on a 2024 Delphi Expert Consensus Panel to review new and revised gerontological nursing competencies for entry level professional nursing education programs.
- Serves as a Subject Matter Expert for the Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health in Nursing Facilities (COE-NF). Funded by a $4.5 million grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), this national initiative was created to improve the behavioral health knowledge and skill set for all staff working in the 15,000 CMS-certified nursing facilities across the United States. The COE-NF provides training, technical assistance, and workforce development to facilities that serve residents with serious mental illness, substance use disorders, and co-occurring disorders. Last year, Dr. Stephens supported session five of a six-part Behavioral Health Action Network series, presenting Incorporating Behavioral Health and SUD into Individualized Assessment and Person-Centered Care to more than a dozen cohorts of learners from nursing homes. This year, she is part of a smaller three-part learning series with four additional cohorts that are focusing on enhancing the skills of nursing home staff regarding person-centered care, engaging with residents, and de-escalating with expert guidance and peer support.
Professional Service
Board members of the Gamma Rho chapter of Sigma, in collaboration with the College Student Council, hosted a wound care kit assembly event to support Odyssey House, a non-profit substance abuse and mental health treatment center in Salt Lake City. Thanks to strong participation from both faculty and students, they successfully created more than 300 wound care kits! Leslie Crandall and prelicensure student Maren Busath organized the event, and Dr. Cheryl Armstrong, Dr. Lisa Barry, Annie Harris, Dr. Josh Wall, Sofia Flowers, andAnida Pathammavong supported and facilitated it.
Professional Service
The College of Nursing recently hosted the Educational Resource Development Council (ERDC) for a tour of the College and the Simulation Center, and discussions with researchers. Dr. Cathy Maxwell shared insights regarding her healthy aging research, emphasizing the role of mitochondria. Dr. Julie Valentine presented about forensic nursing, highlighting her work to combat domestic violence in Utah. Dean Marla De Jong facilitated an engaging and insightful question and answer session, enriching the experience for all attendees.
ERDC, an association of more than 90 women leaders, fosters relationships between University of Utah Health and the community through educational programming and advocacy. Since its founding in 1997, ERDC has established eight endowments worth more than $900,000, funded more than 475 scholarships, and supported more than 250 faculty research projects, contributing more than $3M to University of Utah Health. This year, ERDC will award $5,000 scholarships to six College of Nursing students.
Faculty and staff who planned and participated in the visit included:
- University of Utah Health Annual Giving Team: Lynne Koenig, Simi Khurana, Sami Peterson
- College of Nursing: Yvonne Bass, Deb Boulter, Dr. Ann Butt, Bobby Cody, Mindy Francis, Kristy Gauthier, Jenna Hoff, Lauren Kelley, Sherri Kerney, Shelli King, Amen Koutowogbe, Miriam Lovin, Dr. Cathy Maxwell, Henri Sasa, Steve Seckinger, Mandy Thomson, Dr. Julie Valentine, Mary Wheeler, and Dean Marla De Jong
- University of Utah and University of Utah Health Advancement: Peter Bower, Jerome Davies, and Heidi Green
- College of Pharmacy Advancement: Laura Thomas
- Dr. Katie Davis and Dr. Valerie Flattes modified class times to accommodate the meeting.
Investiture Celebration
An investiture celebration was held to honor Dr. Cathy A. Maxwell as the newest Robert L. and Joyce T. Rice Presidential Endowed Chair in Healthy Aging. This prestigious honor recognizes Dr. Maxwell’s visionary leadership, excellence in research, and advocacy for proactive aging. The endowed chair is a testament to the Rice family's vision and generosity, ensuring continued innovation and leadership in aging-related health care for years to come. Speakers include Mitch Rice, son of Robert and Joyce, Dean Marla De Jong, and Dr. Maxwell. Dr. Maxwell was joined in the celebration by her husband, daughter, son, daughter-in-law, granddaughter, brother, and sister-in-law. Miriam Lovin, Mary Wheeler, Mindy Francis, and Jenna Hoff planned the celebration.
In the Media
The University of Utah Health Made Better By You series featured Dr. Echo Warner in which she shares how self-reliance, caregiving, and research have shaped her life and career coming from a small rural Utah community.
Publication
Luther B, Bybee S, Elmore C, Grigorian E, Wang, C-Y, Butler J, Wallace A. From screening to support: Exploring patient engagement with health-related social needs services. AJPM Focus. Epub ahead of print. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.focus.2025.100346
Distinguished Guests
Dr. Katherine Ornstein, Family Caregiving Collaborative Visiting Scholar from Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, visited the College of Nursing. An internationally recognized aging and caregiving scientist, Dr. Ornstein met with the Utah Caregiving Population Science (C-PopS) team, met with students and faculty to discuss their caregiving research projects, and continued collaboration concerning National Institutes of Health grant submissions. In addition, Dr. Ornstein was guest discussant for the College of Nursing Postdoctoral Fellow Seminar. Her visit culminated in a Utah C-PopS Family Fun Night that Dr. Caroline Stephens, Director of C-PopS, hosted at her home.
Dr. Ken Covinsky, MD, MPH from the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine Division of Geriatrics, presented Disability in Older Patients for the annual Gerald Rothstein, MD Endowed Lectureship. To honor Dr. Covinsky’s distinguished career in aging research and exemplary mentorship, Dr. Caroline Stephens co-hosted a dinner at her home. Guests included Dr. Alayne Markland (D. Keith Barnes, M.D. and Dottie Barnes Presidential Endowed Chair in Medicine; Professor and Chief, Division of Geriatrics, University of Utah School of Medicine; Executive Director, University of Utah Center on Aging) and several former, current, and prospective National Institute on Aging Paul B. Beeson Emerging Leaders in aging research from nursing and medicine.
In Other News
Dr. Shinduk Lee and her husband welcomed baby Orianna Onyoo on April 4. Shinduk and Orianna are doing well.
Dr. Xiaoming Sheng and his wife welcomed baby George on March 26. Mom and George are doing well.