College of Nursing Fellows
Sharon Bigger, PhD, MA, RN, CHPN, CNE
Dr. Bigger’s research focuses on global community engagement with Hispanic/Latino populations for palliative care intervention development. She received her PhD in nursing from East Tennessee State University, where her dissertation research examined advance care planning protocols and acute care services use in skilled home health agencies nationwide. Clinically, she has worked in neuroscience and hospice settings since 2002. She holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology with a minor in Spanish, a second bachelor’s degree in nursing, and a master’s degree in philosophy and religion with a concentration in global women’s studies.
As a former medical interpreter, Dr. Bigger is bilingual in English and Spanish and has applied a language justice framework to examine interpreting in palliative care settings.
Dr. Bigger maintains a collaborative relationship with the End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC)-Mexico team. As an ELNEC trainer, she teaches palliative care communication skills and provides consultative services to those promoting palliative care education among health professionals and family caregivers alike.
Dr. Bigger remains focused on global community engagement for developing palliative care interventions. Currently, she works with a Hispanic/Latino community advisory board to examine family caregiver training, palliative care communication, as well as advance care planning interventions among Spanish-speaking Hispanic/Latino persons living with dementia. Her post-doctoral work is supported by the Dick and Timmy Burton Post-doctoral Fellowship.
Faculty mentor: Dr. Kara Dassel, PhD, FGSA, FAGHE
Selected publications:
Bigger SE, Obregon D, Keinath C, Doyon K. Language justice as health equity in palliative care: A scoping review. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management. 2025;69(3):269-288. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2024.11.012
Clayton JL, Utz RL, Aruscavage N, Bybee SG, Bigger SE, Iacob E, Dassel KB. Using Community Engagement with FRAME: Framework for Reporting Adaptations and Modifications to Evidence-Based Interventions. Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications. 2024; 42:101398. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conctc.2024.101398
Bigger SE, Zanville N, Wittenberg E, Towsley GL, Glenn L. Palliative care communication training among interprofessional home health staff: A randomized controlled trial of feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness. American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. 2023;0(0):1-8. https://doi:10.1177/10499091231165013.
Bigger SE, Haddad L, Ahluwalia, SC, Glenn L. Advance care planning protocols and hospitalization rates in Home Health Value-Based Purchasing. Home Health Care Management and Practice. 2021;33(4):1-8. https://doi.org/10.1177/10848223211021393
Clarisa Medina Poeliniz PhD, MSN, APN, CPNP
Dr. Medina Poeliniz is strongly committed to research at the intersection of behavioral sleep science and lactation physiology. Her current work centers on developing a maternal sleep and pumping intervention during the critical early postpartum period - a pivotal window for establishing milk volume. This work has the potential to shape clinical guidelines and improve health trajectories for NICU mothers and infants.
She completed her bachelor’s degree from Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville. Clinically, she has experience in a variety of settings related to maternal-child health that spans over 20 years and for the past 15 years, she has worked as a pediatric nurse practitioner. Dr. Medina Poeliniz completed her master’s degree and a post-master’s certificate from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She went on to complete her PhD from Rush University, College of Nursing with a focus on the role of maternal obesity on biological lactation outcomes and translated the utility of human milk biomarkers as an objective measure of secretory activation.
Faculty Mentors: Sara Simonsen, PhD, CNM, MSPH, BSN and Kelly Glazer Baron, PhD, MPH, DBSM
Selected Publications:
Medina Poeliniz, C. Talboys, L. S., Aderibigbe, T., Villalta, J., Arones, Y., Simonsen, E. S., Baron, G. K. (2025). Voces Latinas: A Qualitative Study of Cultural Values and Sleep Health, Insights from Latina Community Health Workers. [Manuscript submitted for publication]
Medina Poeliniz C, Hoban R, Janes J, Meier PP. Pumping Behaviors of Breast Pump-Dependent Mothers of Preterm Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Breastfeed Med. 2025 Jul;20(7):493-501. doi: 10.1089/bfm.2024.0396.
Bookhart LH, Devane-Johnson S, Esquerra-Zwiers A, Golan Maor Y, Gomez J, Kivlighan KT, Medina Poeliniz C, Walker R, Johnson TJ, Parker LA. Integrating Biological, Behavioral, and Economic Factors in the Practice and Study of Early, Unplanned Lactation Cessation. Breastfeed Med. 2025 Jul;20(7):460-469. doi: 10.1089/bfm.2025.0071.
Bookhart LH, Devane-Johnson S, Kivlighan KT, Medina Poeliniz C, Parker LA, Esquerra-Zwiers AL. Point-of-Care Techniques to Identify Risks for Early, Unplanned Lactation Cessation Among Term Mother/Infant Dyads: An Integrative Review. Breastfeed Med. 2025 Jul;20(7):470-483. doi: 10.1089/bfm.2025.0111.
Bendixen MM, Pei Q, Meier PP, Medina Poeliniz C, Hoban R. Once- Versus Twice-Daily Measures of Mothers' Own Milk Biomarkers: Does It Make a Difference in Research and Practice?. Breastfeed Med. 2025 Jul;20(7):521-527. doi: 10.1089/bfm.2025.0026.
Johnson TJ, Medina Poeliniz C, Meier PP, Parker LA, Hoban R. Pumping Behaviors, Pumped Milk Volume, and Maternal Opportunity Cost for Breast Pump-Dependent Mothers of Preterm Infants in the First 14 Postpartum Days. Breastfeed Med. 2025 Jul;20(7):502-511. doi: 10.1089/bfm.2025.0057.
Hoban, R., Medina Poeliniz, C., Signorile, M. et al. (2024) Correction: Early postpartum pumping behaviors, pumped milk volume, and achievement of secretory activation in breast pump-dependent mothers of preterm infants. J Perinatology.
Parker, L. A., Hoban R., Bendixen, M. M., Medina Poeliniz, C., Johnson J.T., & Meier P. P. (2024). Milk biomarkers of secretory activation in breast pump-dependent mothers of Preterm infants: An integrative review. Breastfeeding Medicine, 19(1), 3-16.
Medina Poeliniz, C. Hoban, R. Schoeny, E. M. Engstrom, L. J. Patel, L. A. & Patel, Meier, P. P. (2022). Prepregnancy BMI is Associated with Time-Dependent Changes in Secretory Activation Measures During the First 7 Days Postpartum in Breast Pump-dependent Mothers of Premature Infants. Breastfeeding Medicine. 17:2,1-9.
Hoban, R., Medina Poeliniz, C. Somerset, E., Lai Tat, C., Janes, J., Patel, A. & Meier, P. P. (2020). Mother’s own milk biomarkers predict coming to volume in pump-dependent mothers of preterm infants. The Journal of Pediatrics. 2021;228:44-52.
Medina Poeliniz, C. Engstrom, L. J., Hoban, R. Patel, A. & Meier, P. P. (2020). Measure of secretory activation: An integrative review. Breastfeeding Medicine.15(4):191-212.
Hoban R., Patel L. A., Medina Poeliniz C., Ching Tat Lai, Janes, J., Geddes, D. & Meier, P. P. (2018). Human milk biomarkers of secretory activation in breast pump-dependent mothers of premature infants. Breastfeed Medicine.13:5, 352-360.
Mary Killela, PhD, RN
Dr. Killela is a nurse scientist committed to the adaptation and implementation of interventions that minimize the financial toxicity experienced by patients and caregivers in their cancer journey. This multi-faceted goal involves evaluating current financial toxicity interventions and leveraging emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, to enhance their reach and adoption.
Dr. Killela completed her PhD in Nursing from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she was a Hillman Scholar in Nursing Innovation and a predoctoral trainee on the Interventions for Preventing and Managing Chronic Illness T32. She also completed three undergraduate degrees- B.S. in Nursing, B.S. in Biology and B.A. in Chemistry- at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Her dissertation research focused on the costs of pediatric cancer care and how families cope by using medical crowdfunding. Specifically, she explored the online text that occurs in these web spaces and assessed what topics are discussed, who is present on these pages, and how activity on these pages corresponds to what is happening clinically. Additionally, she has examined the different types of social support that is exchanged on crowdfunding pages
Faculty Mentors: Echo Warner PhD, MPH and Anne Kirchhoff PhD, MPH
Selected Publications:
Killela, M., Turner, C. A., Chevrier, A., Stefanou, M., Vaca Lopez, P. L., Kaddas, H. K., van Thiel Berghuijs, K. M., Warner, E. L., Perez, G. K., Waters, A. R., Fair, D. B., Nelson, R. E., Lewis, M. A., Park, E. R., & Kirchhoff, A. C. (2025). CHAT-S Study Protocol: A randomized controlled trial of a health insurance literacy education program for young adult cancer survivors. Preventive oncology & epidemiology, 3(1), 2455706. https://doi.org/10.1080/28322134.2025.2455706
Killela, M. K., Adynski, H., Adynski, G., Allen Myer, E., Dictus, C., Morgan, L., Hmiel, H., & Williams, J. (2025). Preparing PhD Students for Tenure-Track Faculty Positions. Nursing research, 74(2), E11–E14. https://doi.org/10.1097/NNR.0000000000000791
Killela, M., Biddell, C., Keim-Malpass, J., Schwartz, T. A., Soto, S., Williams, J., & Santacroce, S. (2023). The Use of Medical Crowdfunding to Mitigate the Personal Costs of Serious Chronic Illness: Scoping Review. Journal of medical Internet research, 25, e44530. https://doi.org/10.2196/44530
Moroni Fernandez Cajavilca, PhD, MS, RN
Dr. Fernandez Cajavilca is a nurse scientist dedicated to promoting equitable healthcare access and mitigating disparities in marginalized populations, specifically immigrant and Latino populations. His long-term goal is to leverage data to inform evidence-based, culturally sensitive intervention development and inclusive policies related to healthcare access. Currently, he leads and collaborates on various studies related to dementia, family caregiving, and avoidable healthcare utilization. Clinically, he practices as a registered nurse in acute care settings and has prior experience in intensive and long-term care settings (as a direct-care worker).
His program of research utilizes both quantitative data disaggregation and qualitative community-based research methods. During his postdoctoral fellowship, he aims to gain career-development training on intervention development, econometric methodologies (e.g., cost analysis to assess cost-effectiveness of interventions), and the immigrant long-term care workforce.
Dr. Fernandez Cajavilca received his BS in Nursing ('21) and MS in Gerontology ('22) from the University of Utah and his PhD in Nursing Research and Theory Development from New York University ('25).
Faculty mentor: Sara Bybee, PhD, LCSW
Selected publications:
Fernandez Cajavilca, M., Zheng, A., Bamidele-Sanni, K., & Sadarangani, T. (2024). Exploring Family Caregivers’ Likelihood of Adopting a Novel App That Connects Care Teams of Persons Living With Dementia: A Mixed-Methods Study. Gerontology & Geriatric Medicine, 10, 23337214241275638. https://doi.org/10.1177/23337214241275638
Fernandez Cajavilca, M., Lee, M., & Ðoàn, L. N. (2025). Reviewing and Advocating for Data Disaggregation in Aging-Related Health Research: NIA Grants and Recommendations for Equity. The Gerontologist, 65(4). https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnaf013
Laura Block, PhD, RN
Dr. Block’s research focuses on improving care for persons living with dementia and their caregivers by addressing their complex and interrelated biopsychosocial needs alongside access to quality behavioral health supports. Dr. Block’s research is informed by her experiences as a long-term care nurse, where the multidimensional challenges meeting the needs of residents with dementia and their families were evident alongside the prominent role behavioral symptoms play in influencing care and experiences.
Dr. Block received her PhD in Nursing in 2025 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. With funding from a National Institutes of Health National Institute on Aging National Research Service Award (Award Number: F31AG080941) and a University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Nursing Research Award, she conducted a mixed methods dissertation study exploring patterns of dementia and serious mental illness co-occurrence among nursing home residents and the relationship to behavioral symptomatology and care.
Faculty mentor: Dr. Caroline Stephens, PhD, GNP, MSN, BSN
Selected Publications:
Block L, Gilmore-Bykovskyi A, Maust D, Roberts T. Caring for nursing home residents with dementia and serious mental illness: a qualitative study. Innov Aging. 2024 Dec 31;8(Suppl 1):1194–5. PMCID: PMC11692460.
Block L, Hekman DJ, Maust DT, Roberts TJ, Gilmore-Bykovskyi A. The Real-World Context of Long-Term Care Data. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2025 Jul;26(7):105587. PMCID: Policy Exempt – Not resulting from NIH funding.
Roberts T, Block L, Madrigal C. Preferences and Quality of Life in Nursing Home Residents: A Mixed Methods Study. J Gerontol Nurs. 2024 May;50(5):7-13. PMCID: Policy Exempt – Not resulting from NIH funding.
Block L, Hovanes M, Gilmore-Bykovskyi AL. Written discharge communication of diagnostic and decision-making information for persons living with dementia during hospital to skilled nursing facility transitions. Geriatr Nurs. 2022 May-Jun;45:215-222. PMCID: PMC9327092.
Block L, Gilmore-Bykovskyi AL, Jolliff A, Mullen S, & Werner NE. Exploring dementia family caregivers’ everyday use and appraisal of technological supports. Geriatr Nurs. 2020 Nov-Dec;41(6):909-915. PMCID: PMC7738396
Gilmore-Bykovskyi A, Mullen S, Block L, Jacobs A, Werner NE. Nomenclature Used by Family Caregivers to Describe and Characterize Neuropsychiatric Symptoms. Gerontologist. 2020 Jul 15;60(5):896-904. PMCID: PMC7362619.