This week, College of Nursing faculty received national awards, earned a federal research grant, presented at national and regional conferences, and held an alumni special event.
Grant Award
The National Cancer Institute awarded a 1-year $169,999 P30 supplement to Project Lead Dr. Neli Ulrich, Co-project Leads Dr. Djin Tay and Aik Choon Tan, Arabella Young, and Dr. Jia-Wen Guo for their research titled Investigating Health-related Quality of Life Associated with Immune-related Adverse Effects (irAEs) among Long-term ICI-treated Cancer Survivors using Large Language Models. Using multimodal data from the electronic health record, the study team will develop, validate, and apply a large language model to examine health-related quality of life among long-term cancer survivors who received immune checkpoint inhibitors.
Awards
Dr. Cathy Maxwell and Dr. Caroline Stephens each received the Distinguished Educator in Gerontological Nursing Award from the National Hartford Center of Gerontological Nursing Excellence (NHCGNE). They received their awards at NHCGNE’s 2025 Annual Conference, held virtually.
Staff Recognition
Brent Vawdrey led work to complete the comprehensive 2025 American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s Annual Survey. The following helped compile and synthesize data for the survey.
- Dr. Cynthia Beynon
- Heather Clarkson
- Dean Marla De Jong
- Lynn Dixon
- Emilee Elkin
- Dr. Julie Gee
- Dr. Linda Hofmann
- Shelley Kern
- Dr. Lauri Linder
- Carrie Radmall
- Steve Seckinger
- Deidre Schoenfeld
- Shiver
- Minhvan Thach
- Dr. Josh Wall
- Megan Whittaker
Event
The College held its annual Half-Century Society Induction and Alumni Awards Ceremony. Members of the Planning Committee included Miriam Lovin, Mindy Francis, Minhvan Thach, Gabriel Mayberry, Dani Hartin, Isabelle Vaughn (work study student), Terese Cracroft (Alumni Council), and Jenna Hoff. Undergraduate nursing students Hunter Dixon, Anagha Rao, and Liv Mastalerz presented pins to alumni who were inducted into the Half-Century Society.
- 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. Katy Welkie (BS 1983) received the 2025 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. Joan Carpenter (PhD 2016) received the 2025 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. Larkin Mortuary – Rob Larkin and Melissa Larkin Anderson – received the 2025 Distinguished Service Award.
Presentations
Dr. Jesika Chavez-England and Dr. Carolyn Scheese presented a podium presentation titled AI in Action: Building Interactive Workshops that Strengthen NPDP Practice at the Fall 2025 Utah Nursing Professional Development Conference in Lehi.
Dr. Gwen Latendresse was invited to present Prevention of Perinatal Depression among At-risk Individuals through Integration of a Multimedia, Web-Based Intervention Within The Healthcare System at the Huntsman Mental Health Institute’s 4th Annual Mental Health, Brain, and Behavioral Science Research Day.
Dr. Gwen Latendresse was invited to present Prevention of Perinatal Depression among At-risk Individuals through Integration of a Multimedia, Web-Based Intervention Within The Healthcare System to the Utah Chapter of Postpartum Support International.
Dr. Gwen Latendresse and Ryoko Kausler were invited to present Prevention of Perinatal Depression among At-risk Individuals through Integration of a Multimedia, Web-Based Intervention Within The Healthcare System at a Utah Department of Health & Human Services’ ACT (Ask, Collaborate, Teach) Session.
Dr. Seneca Perri Moore, Dr. Bob Wong, and Dr. Cathy Maxwell presented a poster titled Trust Perceptions of Generative AI among Older Adults at the National Hartford Center of Gerontological Nursing Excellence 2025 Annual Conference, held virtually.
Dr. Van Gip-Duran, Dr. Gwen Latendresse, Dr. Diane Chapman, Dr. Ann Butt, and Somer Aly gave a podium presentation titled Simulation-Based Clinical Preparation for Student-Led Clinics: Empowering Students and Preceptors to Participate in and Lead Patient-centered Care in Underserved Populations at the Society of Student-Run Free Clinics Annual Conference in Chicago.
Dr. Lisa Taylor-Swanson was invited to present at The Menopause Society’s 2025 Annual Meeting in Orlando. The theme was Optimizing Health and Longevity at Menopause and Beyond.
- During a Menopause in Special Populations Plenary Symposium, Dr. Taylor-Swanson presented Menopause in Indigenous and Hispanic Populations.
- Dr. Taylor-Swanson, Dr. Micaela Besser, Dr. Tammy Dunklebarger, Wen Tu, Dr. Xiaoming Sheng, Dr. Bob Wong, and Dr. Camille Moreno presented a poster titled Feasibility and Acceptability of MENOGAP: Optimizing Health with Combined Conventional and Integrative Menopause Care and Group Acupuncture.
Faculty, staff, and students delivered presentations and a workshop at the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) 70th Annual Conference in Palm Springs.
Podium Presentations
Addressing the Strengths and Challenges of Midwifery Education. Holly Houston, Dr. Jessica Ellis, Jennifer Jagger Kaeser
Therapeutic Effects of Community Connection vs. Content: A Mixed Methods, Randomized Controlled Trial of a Telehealth Group Intervention to Reduce Perinatal Depression Symptoms. Dr. Gwen Latendresse, Dr. Sara Simonsen, Ryoko Kausler, Marcia Williams, Dr. Eli Iacob, Marcela Smid, Uma Dorn
Telehealth as a Pathway to Accessible Perinatal Mental Health Support: Perspectives from Under-Resourced Communities. Dr. Sara Simonsen, Dr. Gwen Latendresse, Ryoko Kausler, Marcia Williams, Tumilara Aderibigbe, Wen Tu, Marcela Smid, Uma Dorn
Social Needs Identified among Pregnancy and Postpartum Patients in an Academic Health System in the Intermountain West. Dr. Sara Simonsen, Dr. Bob Wong, Sandra Carpio, Maiyer Lor, Ernest Grigorian, Dr. Jacqueline Kent-Marvick, Nasser Sharareh, Dr. Jia-Wen Guo, Dr. Brenda Luther, Dr. Andrea Wallace
Poster Presentations
Every Midwife is a Leader: Launching the ACNM Midwifery Leadership Development Framework Leadership. Michelle Burtner, Michelle Collins, Dr. Jessica Ellis, Shaina French, Linda Hunter, Daniell Molinar, Melissa Nelson, Sharon Taylor-Smalls, Suzanne Wertman, Sara Price, Denise Smith
Focus Groups with Lay Midwives in Remote Guatemala about Their Lived Experience with Preeclampsia. Dr. Jessica Ellis, Dr. Cheryl Armstrong, Dr. Jill Johnson, Dr. Kimberly Garcia
Let’s Bridge the Postpartum-primary Care Gap: Patients’ Healthcare Experiences Following High-risk Pregnancies that Increase Long-term Risk for Cardiometabolic Disease. Dr. Jacqueline Kent-Marvick, Tumilara Aderibigbe, Cori Poynot, Dr. Clarisa Medina-Poeliniz, Dr. Shinduk Lee, Dr. Sara Simonsen
PechaKucha Presentation
Workshop
Manual Rotation of the Persistent Occiput Posterior Fetus. Dr. Jessica Ellis, Kelley McBroom
Professional Service
Dr. Jessica Ellis serves on the ACNM Board of Directors, representing Region VI. Dr. Ellis represents Arizona, Colorado, Indigenous Peoples Affiliate, Montana, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming; maintains contact with local members to assess needs and provide support; reports quarterly to the ACNM board; serves as liaison to ACNM divisions, committees, and collegial organizations; conducts regional meetings during the ACNM Annual Meeting, and supports advocacy efforts.
Publication
Killela MK, Garcia S, Keim-Malpass J, Soto S, Schwartz T, Williams J, Santacroce S. Stress and support present in medical crowdfunding in pediatric cancer. Cancer Rep. 2025;8(10):e70375. https://doi.org/10.1002/cnr2.70375