Grant Award
The National Cancer Institute awarded a $362,684 Pathway to Independence Award K99/R00 to Dr. Mary Killela, Postdoctoral Fellow, for her project titled Optimizing Artificial Intelligence for Financial Navigation Interventions Among Young Adult Cancer Survivors. Dr. Killela will develop innovative artificial intelligence tools to help young adult cancer survivors better understand and navigate health insurance, ultimately reducing financial hardship and improving access to survivorship care. Dr. Echo Warner, Dr. Anne Kirchhoff, Dr. Guilherme del Fiol, and Dr. Bob Wong will mentor Dr. Killela. The period of award is August 1, 2026 - July 31, 2028.
Global Learning
University of Utah Learning Abroad approved the Nursing Global Learning Experience in Rwanda, an innovative program that Dr. Katie Ward developed and that will launch in Spring 2027. This milestone creates unique opportunities for nursing students to engage in global learning, expand their cultural understanding, and gain valuable international healthcare experience.
Award
Dr. Laura Block, Postdoctoral Fellow, was awarded a National Institute on Aging Loan Repayment Program Award. Dr. Block will investigate how behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia evolve during the last two years of life for nursing home residents with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, and how these symptom patterns affect end-of-life care quality and family caregiver well-being. By combining analyses of large datasets with interviews of family caregivers, the study aims to identify opportunities to improve dementia care, support caregivers, and inform future interventions and policies. Dr. Caroline Stephens mentors Dr. Block.
University Service
Dr. Jennifer Macali was appointed to serve on the University Teaching Committee. Dr. Macali will serve a three-year term ending on August 1, 2029.
Dr. Julie Valentine was appointed to serve on the Graduate Admissions Committee through her role on the Graduate Council. Dr. Valentine began the appointment on June 21, 2026.
Professional Service
Dr. Gail Towsley was selected to serve on the Steering Committee for Oregon State’s plan on Alzheimer’s, Dementia, and Brain Health and as a member of the workgroup focused on strengthening dementia training for care partners and the workforce. The coalition brings together leaders from across the state to advance dementia risk reduction, early detection, care partner and workforce training, services and supports, and research and innovation that improves the lives of people living with dementia and their caregivers. Dr. Towsley began the appointment in April 2026, with the goal of having the state plan completed by the end of 2027.
Dr. Julie Valentine served as faculty for the Forensic Nurse Examiner Expert Witness Workshop. The workshop was sponsored by the Office of Legal Education, Executive Office for the United States Attorneys (EOUSA) within the U.S. Department of Justice, operating out of the National Advocacy Center (NAC) at the University of South Carolina in Columbia.
Student Recognition
Carly Peterson successfully passed her oral and written exams and defended her proposal titled Strength in the Storm: A Qualitative Exploration of Posttraumatic Growth Among Caregivers of Youth with Serious Emotional Disturbance. Committee members are Dr. Lauri Linder (Chair), Dr. Julie Valentine, Dr. Michael Thomas, Dr. Sara Jackson, and Dr. Laura Bradbury.
Presentations
The College of Nursing was well-represented at the Summer 2026 Undergraduate Research Symposium. The following students presented posters:
- Nursing student, Naomi Jenkins: Color Me Healthy: Where Children’s Voices Meet Clinical Care (Research Mentor, Dr. Lauri Linder)
- Nursing student, LeAnn Nguy: Characteristics of Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections in Children with Cancer and Those Undergoing Hematopoietic Cell Transplant: A 20-Year Perspective (Research Mentor, Dr. Lauri Linder)
- Native American Research Intern,Marleen Ogada: Unhoused Patients’ Perspective on HPV Self-Collection (Research Mentor, Dr. Deanna Kepka)
- Native American Research Intern, Avel Suchite: Strategies for Eliminating Cervical Center among Indigenous Maya Women (Research Mentor, Dr. Deanna Kepka)
Dr. Jackie Eaton gave a poster presentation titled Facilitators and Barriers to Dementia Caregiver Participation in the Enhancing Active Caregiver Training (EnACT) Intervention at the 2026 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in London. Co-authors were Dr. Moroni Fernandez Cajavilca, Dr. Sarah Neller, Amber Dailey, Dr. Julene Johnson, and Dr. Lee Ellington.
In the Media
In the Center to Advance Palliative Care blog titled Why Are Professional Associations from Other Specialties Championing Palliative Care?, Brynn Bowman wrote about how palliative care has become a trusted and valued partner across multiple medical specialties, moving from a niche service to a recognized component of high-quality care. Organizations such as the American Cancer Society, American Thoracic Society, National Kidney Foundation, and American College of Surgeons increasingly champion palliative care because of strong evidence showing it improves symptom management, communication, decision-making, and quality of life for patients with serious illness. The growth is attributed to dedicated palliative care leaders, such as Dr. Lynn Reinke, serving as advocates within their specialties, expanding educational initiatives, successful cross-disciplinary collaborations, and broader exposure to palliative care in hospitals and clinical training programs. Continued collaboration and advocacy will further integrate palliative care into mainstream health care and improve outcomes for patients and families. Dr. Reinke is noted as a leader with the Aging Special Interest Group of the American Thoracic Society, leading the charge in this important work.
Publications
Elmore CE, Ahn S, Alnajar M, Hebdon MT, Small SF, Stoddard GJ, Ornstein KA. Caregiving across distances: residential proximity, care activities, and mental health. Gerontologist. 2026;66(8):gnag150. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnag150
Neller SA, Fernandez Cajavilca M, Wong B, Johnson J, Ellington L, Eaton J. Identifying and mapping levels of active engagement within an arts-based intervention: A qualitative analysis and conceptual development. Int J Behav Med. Epub ahead of print. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-026-10479-x