Awards & Recognitions
The Awards & Recognitions section highlights the achievements and honors earned by College of Nursing faculty, staff, students, and alumni
Valerie Flattes
PhD, APRN-ANP
American Association of Nurse Practitioners 2025 State Award for Outstanding Contributions
Deanna Kepka
PhD, MPH
Utah Silver Syringe Award, Utah Department of Health & Human Services

Gwen Latendresse
PhD, CNM, FAAN, FACNM
Silver Award for Excellence, Association of American Medical Colleges Group on Institutional Advancement

Michelle Litchman
PhD, FNP-BC, FAAN FAANP, FADCES
Presidential Scholar, University of Utah
Paula Meek
PhD, RN, ATSF, FAAN
Anna M. Shannon Mentorship Award, Western Institute of Nursing

Ana Sanchez-Birkhead
PhD, APRN, WHNP
Sarah Gomez Erlach Humanitarian Award, National Association of Hispanic Nurses

Kathi Mooney
PhD, RN, FAAN
Big 12 Faculty of the Year Award
Lisa Taylor-Swanson
PhD, lAC, Dipl OM, NCCAOM
2025 Outstanding Undergraduate Research Mentor, Office of Undergraduate Research

Julie Valentine
PhD, RN, SANE-A, FAAFS, FAAN
Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault Beacon of Hope Award
Emily Winn
DNP, APRN, PMHS
2024 Preceptor of the Year, Utah Area Health Education Center

Cathy Maxwell
PhD, RN, FAAN
Robert L. and Joyce T. Rice Presidential Endowed Chair in Healthy Aging
Cathy Maxwell was appointed in 2024 as the Robert L. and Joyce T. Rice Presidential Endowed Chair in Healthy Aging. Maxwell, a nationally recognized expert in geriatric trauma and aging, leads interdisciplinary work at the college to advance research and improve care for aging adults.
Since arriving at the College of Nursing (CON) in the summer of 2024, She has focused her efforts on advancing the field of geroscience and science communication related to aging. Her pilot study at Vanderbilt University on mitochondrial fitness was published in JMIR Formative Research in December 2024. She has co-authored a total of eleven publications with one as first author, five as senior author, and three others as accepted or pending publication.
She led members of the American Academy of Nursing’s Expert Panel on Aging to develop a policy dialogue titled Ageism: Removing Stereotypes through a Geroscience Lens that will be presented in February 2026. Maxwell coordinated membership of the University of Utah on the Global Forum on Innovation in Health Professional Education with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
Maxwell has been appointed to college and university-based committees and has taught courses in the Gerontology and PhD Programs. Her research endeavors also include submission of a grant application in March 2025 for a Catalyst Award with the National Academy of Medicine to examine biomarkers of aging in community-dwelling adults. She also collaborated with CON researchers Seneca Moore, PhD, RN, and Bob Wong, PhD, to examine levels of trust among aging adults related to generative artificial intelligence and healthy aging. The team has completed a national survey with over 200 respondents and submitted a grant application for the University of Utah’s Digital Health Initiative to develop a chatbot on mitochondrial fitness for older adults. Using her published pilot data, Maxwell plans to submit an R01 application to the National Institute on Aging (NIA) in October 2025 for a randomized clinical trial to test her science communication intervention on mitochondrial fitness for older adults.
Maxwell earned a nursing diploma from Georgia Baptist Hospital School of Nursing in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1978. She obtained Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees from Troy University in Troy, Alabama, in 2005 and 2007, respectively. Maxwell later completed a PhD in Nursing from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2012.
Ann Butt
EdD, RN, ANEF, CHSE
National League for Nursing Academy of Nursing Education
Diane Chapman
DNP, APRN, FNP-C, CNE
University of Utah Health Academy of Health Science Educators

Katarina Friberg-Felsted
PhD, MS, FAGHE, FGSA
Behavioral and Social Sciences Section, Gerontological Society of America

Shawna Sisler
PhD, MS, MA, MAPP, RN, C-PNP-PC
University of Utah Health Academy of Health Science Educators

Andrea Wallace
PhD, RN, FAAN
Western Academy of Nurses

Sara Bybee
PhD, lCSW
- Fostering Equitable Dementia Care for Hispanic/Latino Communities
- Developing an Inclusive Measure of Financial Hardship for People Living with Dementia and their Care Contributors

Deanna Kepka
PhD, MPH
- Precision Outreach to Enhance HPV Vaccination Through Education and Community Tailoring

Lauri Linder
PhD, APRN, CPON, FAAN, FAPHON
- mHealth Intervention to Support Symptom Communication for Children with Cancer

Kathi Mooney
PhD, RN, FAAN
- Rural Huntsman at Home: Maneuvering a Paradigm Shift in Cancer Care
- Sustaining and Scaling Rural Huntsman at Home
Schola Matovu
PhD, RN
- A Nurse-led Diabetes Management Intervention for Grandparent-caregivers in Rural Utah
- Development and Testing of BAJJAJJA: An Intervention to Promote Economic Empowerment and Health of Grandmothers who Provide Primary Care for Grandchildren in Uganda

Katherine Supiano
PhD, lCSW, APHSW-C, FT, FGSA
- Implementation and Dissemination of Suicide Grief Group Support
- Grief from Overdose Death Project- Phase IV
- Suicide Bereavement Support

Lisa Taylor-Swanson
PhD, LAc, Dipl oM, NCCAOM
- Confirming the Effects of Acupuncture Treatments to Relieve Symptoms of Gulf War Illness

Julie Valentine
PhD, RN, SANE-A, FAAFS, FAAN
- What about us? Formative Evaluation of Forensic Nursing Program Delivery of Intimate Partner Violence Medical Forensic Examinations
Andrea Wallace
PhD, RN, FAAN
- Enhanced Digital Access to Bridge Social Needs and Reduce Health Disparities: The e-SINCERE Study

Echo Warner
PhD, MPH
- Evaluating the Need for Dyadic Intervention Adaptation in the Health Insurance Navigation Tools (HINT) Intervention

Kait Otero
PhD, RN, FAAN
Jonas Scholar, Jonas Nursing and American Association of Colleges of Nursing

Jonas Nursing, a national leader in advancing doctoral nursing education, and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) selected DNP student Kait Otero as a Jonas Scholar for the 2024–2026 cohort. The prestigious program is designed to strengthen the pipeline of PhD- and DNP-prepared nurses who will serve as future educators, researchers, and policy leaders in health care.
Otero joined a distinguished group of 63 doctoral nursing students from across the country, selected for their academic excellence, commitment to teaching, and passion for addressing today’s most pressing health care challenges. Her DNP Quality Improvement project focuses on integrative psychotherapeutic and psychotropic interventions to improve mental health outcomes for children, adolescents, and adult trauma survivors.
In March, Otero attended the 2025 Jonas Scholars Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C., where scholars engaged in leadership development sessions, policy discussions, and collaborative networking. “It was inspiring to connect with other scholars, industry leaders, and nursing educators at the conference,” said Otero. “I look forward to applying what I learned to make meaningful contributions to psychiatric mental health nursing education and practice.”
Upon completing the program, Otero plans to advance mental health equity through clinical practice, community engagement, and teaching, with the goal of mentoring the next generation of psychiatric nurse practitioners.

Linda S. Edelman
Linda Edelman joined the University of Utah College of Nursing in 2008, building a career focused on aging, rural health, and workforce development. She earned a Master of Philosophy in Experimental Pathology and Immunology in 1993 and worked as a bench scientist researching aging in a rodent model. She later transitioned to nursing, earning her BS and PhD from the college.
Her work advanced the nursing workforce across vulnerable populations, older adults, and those experiencing substance use disorder and opioid addiction. She directed the Utah Geriatric Education Consortium and the Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program, improving long-term care through the Age-Friendly Health Systems approach. She also led the Health Resources & Services Administration-funded Utah Nurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention program, which provided training and expanding roles for RN’s who work in rural areas.
Edelman taught across graduate programs, led the Health Systems and Community-Based Care Division, and mentored Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program and Honors students, nurse residents, and PhD candidates. She helped launch the online Nurse Residency Program for long-term care and contributed to COVID-19 hospice research.
Valerie Flattes
Valerie Flattes joined the University of Utah College of Nursing in 2004 after decades of clinical nursing experience across the U.S. She earned an interdisciplinary gerontology certificate and PhD from the college and served as director of the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care specialty track within the DNP program for six years.
Flattes taught extensively in the DNP program, chaired scholarly project committees, and mentored students and faculty across disciplines. She was the college’s first Associate Dean for Outreach, Collaboration, and Organizational Enrichment. Flattes served as the first chair of the Executive Committee of College Council. She directed the College’s junior high and high school summer camp program (2022-2025) and played a key role in launching Proxima, a partner that helps students from historically underrepresented backgrounds to prepare for a career in health care.
Flattes served on the Academic Senate and Health Sciences diversity committees, led multiple community outreach efforts, and partnered with the Utah Department of Health, the African American Health Task Force, and Salt Lake County Aging Services to improve access to culturally responsive care, promote health education, and address health disparities in underserved communities across Utah.
Pam Hardin
Pam Hardin joined the College of Nursing in 2001 as an assistant professor, transitioning to the career-line in 2006 and being promoted to associate professor in 2010. She taught across the baccalaureate, Master’s, DNP, and PhD programs, and in various formats such as in-person, synchronous and asynchronous online instruction, and short-term intensives.
Hardin served as Director of the Teaching in Nursing track and Assistant Dean for the MS and DNP Programs, playing a key role in establishing the MS-DNP Organizational Leadership track. She also contributed significantly to Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education accreditation and the development of ten core DNP courses.
In 2014, Hardin became the associate director of the Center for Teaching Excellence, leading faculty development programs and the Graduate Student Institute. During the pandemic, she helped faculty across the university pivot to online instruction, organizing seminars and providing mentorship.
Hardin launched the Graduate Certificate in Teaching in Higher Education in 2024. Her scholarly work, including presentations and peer-reviewed publications, and leadership on nursing workforce projects have deeply impacted the college’s teaching mission.

Tek Kilgore
Tek Kilgore served as an Assistant Professor (Clinical) in the University of Utah College of Nursing from 1997 until his retirement in 2024. A three-time graduate of the College, he earned a BS in Nursing in 1986, an MS in Family Practice Nursing in 1989, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree in 2008.
As a certified Family Nurse Practitioner at the University’s Student Health Center, Kilgore provided comprehensive, evidence-based, and patient-centered care to students and their families.
He was a lead faculty and co-faculty member for some of the most important courses within the DNP program, where he was particularly effective in helping students interpret clinical information in the context of how patients present. He served as director of the Family Primary Care specialty track and later as interim director for the Adult Gerontology Primary Care specialty track.
Kilgore served on the Health Resources & Services Administration–funded Advanced Nursing Education Workforce project team, chaired and served on the DNP and Graduate Scholarship committees, the university’s Athletic Advisory Council, and an Academic Senate Ad Hoc Committee on a tobacco- free campus initiative. His record of leadership, teaching, clinical practice, and scholarship will have lasting impact within the University of Utah, CON, and the profession of nursing.

Ana Sanchez-Birkhead
Ana Sanchez-Birkhead joined the College of Nursing in 2012 as Associate Professor, and subsequently earned tenure. She began her nursing career in 1988 and went on to earn BSN, MSN, and PhD degrees. She made lasting research contributions, addressing health disparities among Hispanic and immigrant communities.
Sanchez-Birkhead’s research, frequently supported by major organizations such as the National Institutes of Health, focused on cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular care. Her work emphasized structural barriers to health and the delivery of culturally responsive care.
Over the course of her career, Sanchez-Birkhead mentored more than 40 PhD and DNP students and played a pivotal role in supporting many first-generation scholars.
She held leadership roles in organizations such as the Utah Clinical and Translational Science Institute’s Community Collaboration and Engagement Team, the Utah Cancer Action Network, the Hispanic Health Care Task Force, and the National Association of Hispanic Nurses.
Among her many honors is the prestigious Sarah Gomez Erlach Humanitarian Award, reflecting her lifelong dedication and service. Sanchez Birkhead leaves a powerful legacy of scholarship, mentorship, and community impact.

Katherine Supiano
Katherine Supiano earned a PhD in Social Work from the University of Utah in 2012. She joined the University of Utah College of Nursing in 2007 and was promoted to professor in 2023. With over 45 years of experience as a geriatric licensed clinical social worker and thanatologist, her research focused on grief, bereavement, and the needs of marginalized populations, including those impacted by suicide, overdose, and dementia, as well as veterans and persons with COVID-19.
Supiano is renowned for her work on prolonged grief disorder and evidence- based therapy. She completed numerous randomized controlled trials, impacting older adults and underserved populations by improving access to grief care, reducing prolonged grief, strengthening family caregiving, and creating scalable models of support. Her work received substantial funding, including grants supporting grief recovery training for professionals in Utah and beyond.
As director of Caring Connections: A Hope and Comfort in Grief Program for nearly two decades, Supiano expanded the program into a nationally recognized resource. She oversaw its rapid move online during COVID-19, reaching thousands of bereaved and long COVID survivors. She’s trained more than 5,000 professionals, mentored emerging scholars, and published over 75 peer-reviewed articles. Supiano’s leaves a legacy of advancing grief care, expanding hope and healing for countless individuals and families.

COLLEGE KUDOS: RECOGNIZING EXCELLENCE EVERY WEEK
Explore the spotlight of achievement in our weekly update, “College Kudos,” curated by Dean Marla De Jong. Each week, we highlight the remarkable strides made by our faculty, staff, and students, from impactful research to prestigious awards and inspiring contributions to health care.
Stay connected with the College of Nursing community and celebrate the people driving innovation and excellence in nursing. Visit nursing.utah.edu/college-kudos to learn more.