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Research & Scholarship
Research Contacts
ORS Navigator
ORS@uab.edu
GDRM Navigator
SON-Grants@uab.edu
(For all pre & post award grant activities)
Associate Dean for Research & Scholarship
Dr. Marie Bakitas
mbakitas@uab.edu
Assistant Dean for Research & Scholarship
Dr. Ellen Smith
esmith3@uab.edu
Director of Research Operations
Cathy Tarver
cotarver@uab.edu
  • The Faculty Scholars and Mentor Development (FSMD) supports individual faculty, SON departments, and other offices by providing resources and facilitating high quality mentorship that will support academic productivity for all faculty. Services and support are provided in collaboration with relevant Associate and Assistant Deans, Department Chairs, and other leadership team members. This assistance includes developing an appropriate mentoring team for newly hired faculty, all assistant professors and other faculty as needed.

    FSMD Faculty & Staff

    Co-Director, Faculty Scholar Development Ellen Smith PhD, MSN, RN, AOCN, FAAN
    Co-Director, Faculty Scholar Development Patricia Patrician PhD, RN, FAAN
    Director, Faculty Mentor Development Mirjam-Colette Kempf PhD, MPH
    Research Grants Writer Winston Gu PhD
    Program Manager Mikela Knox MS

    FSMD support falls within two main areas:

    1. Scholarship Support:

    • Assess faculty interests and needs.
    • Offer workshops based on faculty needs. Examples include referencing program training, poster development, public speaking tips, IRB application tips, navigating the tripartite academic missions, strategies for finding and using protected time and grant writing.
    • Develop and provide administrative support for SON scholarship collaboratives—groupings of faculty and trainees with broad, yet overarching scholarship interests that work together to leverage expertise and advance team scholarship for all. Scholarship collaboratives are inclusive and benefit all faculty, regardless of the departmental alignment, or research, teaching or clinical interests. Collaborative group meetings which will serve as writing groups, scientific think tanks, peer support and review teams.
    • Identify and communicate sources of funding for sustainable research, teaching and service activities.
    • Provide editorial support for scholarly products in progress (e.g., posters, papers, grants).
    • Leverage existing UAB resources (such as the Center for Clinical and Translation Science).

    2. Mentorship Support & Guidelines:

    • The Faculty Scholars and Mentor Development service will facilitate high quality mentorships and encourage all mentors to develop their own mentoring capacity, with the goal that faculty will skillfully mentor newer faculty, students and trainees.
    • Participate in designing mentorship teams for faculty, doctoral students and other trainees.
    • Identify mentorship competencies and assist in mentorship training through a variety of offerings from the UAB Office of the Graduate School, Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL), Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS) and other relevant University Wide Interdisciplinary Research Centers (UWIRCs) and School of Nursing lunch-and-learn sessions.
    • Maintain a work environment that is intellectually stimulating, emotionally supportive, safe, equitable, and free of harassment without regard to gender, race, national origin, religion, disability, or sexual orientation. (SEE RESOURCES TABS FOR MENTORING GUIDELINES).
  • Scholarship Collaboratives

    The purpose of the UABSON Scholarship Collaborative infrastructure is to establish topically focused groupings of scholars who work together to advance individual- and group-produced scholarly products. Scholarship Collaboratives will facilitate research-, teaching- and practice-related scholarship by enhancing access to team-based collaboration, shared work, and scholar-scholar mentorship for students and faculty.

    What is a Scholarship Collaborative?

    A Scholarship Collaborative is a formal or informal intellectual community whose members collaborate in learning and scholarship. It is characterized by shared goals, coordinated effort and collective responsibility for outcomes, including manuscripts, grants and other forms of scholarship date.

    Cystic Fibrosis

    Leader: Sigrid Ladores

    Purpose: To advance CF science and improve the health and quality of life of individuals with CF.

    Membership: Open to students and faculty at all levels, from SON and other schools. Interested individuals should contact Dr. Ladores.

    Meetings: Irregular

    Global Health

    Global Health Leader: Ada Markaki

    Purpose: To implement tasked scholarship activities by PAHO/WHO for each 4-year designation period; currently near completion of the 2019-2023 designation period.

    Membership: Membership is based on expertise, availability of slots and desire to work in a WHOCC activity/project. The group is open to SON faculty and post-doctoral fellows by invitation only. Email Dr. Markaki if you are interested.

    Meetings: Twice per month (or as needed) with specific timelines to adhere for the Terms of Reference related to our PAHO/WHOCC designation.

    Graduate Education Leadership Scholars

    Leaders: Curry Bordelon - Tedra Smith - Aimee Holland - Becky Suttle - Kelley Borella

    Purpose: To lead innovative graduate education through scholarly dissemination.

    Membership: At this time membership is limited to the leaders above but other authors may be brought in for special projects.

    Meetings: Monthly on an irregular schedule

    Instructor Guides for Advanced Health Assessment for Nurse Practitioners

    Leader: Laura Steadman

    Purpose: To review and submit the instructor guides for publication and to identify other disciplines in which the teaching could be used, write manuscripts, and submit for publication.

    Membership: Faculty from the SON and other schools, no new members at this time.

    Meetings: Not meeting at this time.

    Joint Department Writing Group (JDWG)

    Leaders: Bryan Wilbanks - Loretta Lee

    Purpose: The Joint Department Writing Group is a resource available for faculty development within the SON. The JDWG provides faculty mentorship to promote skills necessary for successful scholarly writing for publication. Our focus is on the basic mechanics of writing and manuscript structure for beginner to intermediate writers, but we support all levels of writing skills. The JDWG is ideal for new faculty who need to expand their scholarly productivity.

    Membership: All faculty are welcome to join.

    Meetings: Monthly on a schedule TBD

    Midwifery Writing Group

    Leader: Sharon Holley

    Purpose: This is a writing collaborative specific to Midwifery.

    Membership: Open to all interested

    Meetings: On zoom, time TBD

    Neonatal Scholars Interest Group (NSIG)

    Leader: Katherine Dudding - Allison Shorten

    Purpose: To make a difference in the lives of neonates through research, scholarship, and teaching.

    Membership: The group is open to SON students, post-doctoral fellows and faculty by invitation only. Email Dr. Dudding or Dr. Shorten if you are interested.

    Meetings: Monthly

    Neurocognitive Working Group

    Leader: David Vance

    Purpose: To publish papers and submit grants related to neurocognition.

    Membership: Open to all with an interest in neurocognition

    Meetings: Biweekly on Wednesdays at 1:30pm

    Palliative and Supportive Care Research

    Leaders: Marie Bakitas - J. Nicholas Odom

    Membership: Open to those involved or interested in learning more about palliative & supportive care research (inquiries should be directed to Dr. Bakitas)

    Meetings: Monthly, in-person, zoom available, on a TBD schedule

    PATH Clinic

    Leaders: Michele Talley - Bela Patel - Cori Johnson

    Purpose: To provide guidance and support on writing in teams and with others with specialty interests.

    Membership: Open to anyone in a clinical practice

    Meetings: TBD

    PC4Famly Research Lab: Early Career Professional Development Forum

    Leaders: J. Nicholas Odom

    Purpose: Engage with early career peers to foster a safe space of networking, collaboration, and professional relationships; promote early career professional development and skills; support development of emerging research ideas and works in progress.

    Membership: Mentees of Dr. Odom; No new members at this time.

    Meetings: Biweekly

    PEDS (PEDIATRIC EXPERTS ADVANCING SCHOLARSHIP)

    Leaders: Marti Rice - Tedra Smith - Jeremy Jordan

    Purpose: To provide a collaborative environment for scholars to promote quality pediatric care and support achievement of career goals through education, research, scholarship, and practice.

    Membership: Open to pediatric-focused faculty

    Meetings: Biweekly on Tuesdays at 1:00pm

    Practice Scholarship

    Leaders: Michele Talley - Candace Knight

    Purpose: To provide guidance and support on writing in teams with others with specialty interests.

    Membership: Open to all

    Meetings: Monthly on the first Wednesday at 12:00pm

    Quality & Safety/Health Systems Research

    Leaders: Pat Patrician - Rebecca Miltner

    Purpose: The focus is quality and safety/health systems research.

    Membership: Open to all

    Meetings: Biweekly on Wednesdays at 9:00am

    Scholarship of Multidisciplinary Team – Teaching Effort in Education

    Leader: Karen Coles

    Purpose: To review and submit original manuscripts for publication.

    Membership: SON Assistant Professors. No new members at this time.

    Scholarship of Teaching: Transition to Expertise in Academia

    Leader: Pat Speck

    Purpose: Review and submit manuscript for publication and identify other disciplines that the teaching could be used, write manuscripts and submit for publication.

    Membership: SON Assistant Professors. No new members at this time.

    Symptom Science and Cancer Control

    Leader: Ellen Smith

    Purpose: To work together to leverage expertise to facilitate scholarship productivity via frequent review and feedback, and advanced planning.

    Membership: The group is open to anyone whose scholarship focuses on symptom science (any disease) or cancer control.

    Meetings: Tuesdays from 9:00–10:30am

    Women’s Health Writing Group

    Leader: Lisa Pair

    Purpose: To assist faculty who have a topic or desire to write with others of similar interest; to facilitate team writing.

    Membership: Open to all. Contact Dr. Pair

    Meetings: At least once per semester

  • Scholarship Grand Rounds

    The purpose of monthly SON Scholarship Grand Rounds is to share ongoing work of SON faculty in the areas of research, education, and practice in order to stimulate discussion and promote a scholarly community. Faculty scholars across the missions are encouraged to present their ongoing work.

    Dr. Curry Bordelon will present "Let the Evidence Guide Your Practice"

    Photo of Curry Bordelon

    Presented: April 2, 2024 (Watch the recorded presentation on Youtube)

    Bio: Curry Bordelon, DNP, MBA, NNP-BC, CPNP-AC, CNE is an Associate Professor for the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing. He is the Assistant Dean for Graduate Clinical Education-DNP Pathways. Dr. Bordelon’s educational background includes a BSN from Northwestern State University, an MSN from Emory University, and a DNP from UAB School of Nursing. Dr. Bordelon completed an MBA from the University of New Orleans. Dr. Bordelon has extensive leadership experience as a nurse practitioner manager, member of the Executive Committees and Educational Liaison for the Academy of Neonatal Nurses, Vice President for the American Associate for Men in Nursing, and Past-President for the UAB Nu at-Large Chapter of Sigma. Dr. Bordelon participates in the Curricula Leadership Committee for NONPF and led a curricula taskforce for AACN to develop toolkits for faculty to migrate to the new essentials. Dr. Bordelon is a nationally recognized expert in curricula design and evaluation and has several publications and presentations focusing on teaching innovations, neonatal care, curricula, and leadership.


    Dr. Michael Daniel will present "Green tea extract and duloxetine to mitigate oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy: The importance of translational research”

    Photo of Michael Daniel

    Postponed until a rescheduled date is determined.

    Bio: Michael Daniel, PhD is an Assistant Professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Nursing (SON) and a translational scientist. He received his PhD in biology, with a concentration in cancer biology, from UAB in December 2017. After graduation, Dr. Daniel completed two years postdoctoral training in the UAB Department of Genetics where he focused on novel therapies to treat mutation-caused disorders. He then completed an additional year of training under the mentorship of Dr. Ellen Smith in the SON, where he began his transition towards symptom science research.

    Dr. Daniel currently focuses on the prevention and control of cancer-treatment associated symptoms, particularly chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) and associated neuropathic pain. He is particularly interested in the exploration and advancement of non-pharmacological interventions to treat and/or prevent CIPN. He recently led a pilot study to explore the effects of green tea extract (GTE) to mitigate oxaliplatin-induced allodynia using a rat model of neuropathic pain, and those findings will be used to inform a future, randomized clinical trial.


    Drs. Loretta Lee and Liz Muñoz will present “Eliminating Size Bias: Person-first Language in Nursing Academics, Practice, and Scholarship.”

    Presented: February 27, 2024 (Watch the recorded presentation on Youtube)

    Photo of Loretta Lee

    Bio: Dr. Loretta Lee is a PhD-prepared, board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner and Certified Nurse Educator focused on health promotion and health policies affecting underserved populations. She is passionate about addressing the high prevalence of obesity among historically marginalized communities. Lee is in her second term serving as co-chair for the Nurses Obesity Network (NON), a diverse group of nursing organizations committed to changing the way we view, treat, and advance care for people living with obesity — including members of our nursing profession.

    With a national perspective and realizing the need to bridge the gaps between healthcare and health policies that affect underserved populations, Dr. Lee has leveraged her 20 + years of advanced practice nursing experience and 18 years of academic expertise to inform the implementation of state and national programs to increase access to care and advocate for federal health care policies that contribute to inequities in health outcomes for historically marginalized people. As co-chair of the NON and chair of the National Black Nurses Association (NBNA) Health Policy Committee, Dr. Lee has garnered Congressional support for the passage of the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act (TROA), S.596. If passed, this bill would expand Medicare coverage to include screening and treatment of obesity from a diverse range of healthcare providers specializing in obesity care. The bill also provides coverage of FDA-approved medications for chronic weight management.

    Photo of Liz Muñoz

    Bio: Dr. Liz Muñoz, is the Assistant Director of the Nurse-Midwifery Pathway and an Assistant Professor at UAB SON. She is originally from Atmore, Alabama and now lives in Champaign, IL, where she practices as a CNM. She is passionate about growing the profession of nurse-midwifery in Alabama and expanding nurse-midwifery scopes of practice nationally, including nurse-midwives caring for pregnant individuals in larger bodies and pregnant individuals experiencing substance use disorders. She has been a CNM for 10 years and is a graduate of Vanderbilt University’s School of Nursing for both her MSN and DNP. Dr. Muñoz has presented nationally for the Annual Meeting of the American College of Nurse-Midwives and regionally for ACNM affiliate conferences. Her publications have appeared in The Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health, Advances in Primary Care Nursing, and Women’s Healthcare, and she has co-authored an appendix in the up-coming edition of Varney’s Midwifery on communication techniques when discussing health behaviors with clients. She is a distance faculty member at UAB and is excited to support the UAB student nurse-midwives as they advance through the pathway and enter into practice!

    Dr. Muñoz will speak on the profession of nurse-midwifery, including a review of the history of nurse-midwifery from a bird’s eye view in the US and in AL. She will review information on the history of UAB’s NMW program and the rebirth of the current program and service line at UAB hospital. Additionally, Dr. Muñoz will focus on nurse-midwifery scholarship and research, including current projects at UAB, and how future innovative models of care can help solve the maternity care shortages in Alabama.


    Dr. David Vance will present “Neurocognitive Research and Interventions in HIV and Other Clinical Populations: Tricks and Tips”

    Photo of David Vance

    Presented: February 6, 2024 (Watch the recorded presentation on Youtube)

    Bio: Dr. David Vance is a Professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Nursing and psychologist actively pursuing research in positive and negative neuroplasticity, neurocognitive aging, neurocognitive remediation, aging with HIV, and more recently neurocognition in cancer survivors. With a passion for successful cognitive aging and for mentoring scientific leaders, Dr. Vance’s work has resulted in +350 publications (+280 peer-reviewed articles with 66% as first/senior author) including numerous book chapters and editorials, and he has disseminated his research prolifically in national and international presentations across +23 countries/territories.

    He has received a White House invitation to attend the first forum on aging with HIV and has participated as an invited member of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Think Tank – Working Group on HIV and Aging sponsored by the Office of AIDS Research to develop the national research agenda, published in the Journal of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndromes. He has been heavily involved in several NIH grants as co-investigator, and several as Principal Investigator (R01, R21, R03, etc.). In 2022, he was awarded a $404,000 grant from the National Institute on Aging titled: “Executive Function Training to Reduce Cognitive Intra-Individual Variability in Adults with HIV”.


    Dr. Hiboombe Haamankuli will present "Prostate cancer: Diagnosing and treatment disparities."

    Photo of Hiboombe Haamankuli

    Presented: November 15, 2023 (Watch the recorded presentation on Youtube)

    Bio: Hiboombe Haamankuli, DNP, CRNP, ACNP-BC is an instructor in the UAB School of Nursing, primarily teaching in the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) track. He is a board-certified Acute Care Nurse Practitioner with 16 years of experience in critical care medicine, cardiology, and hospital medicine. He received his Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree from UAB in 2010 and his Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa in 2016. Prior to his full-time appointment at the school of nursing, Hiboombe was a lead nurse practitioner for a hospital medicine group at St Vincent’s East and served as an adjunct clinical instructor for the AGACNP track simultaneously for 10 years.

    His scholarly interests are on prostate cancer, with special interest on the disparities that currently exist in the diagnosing and treatment of prostate cancer. This interest led him to become a community health advisor with the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center. He collaborates mainly with the “Hey Fellas” program, which is a prostate cancer outreach program that provides opportunities for men in Alabama and Mississippi to have designated safe spaces to discuss men’s health topics with prostate cancer being the focus. Through this program, he has has led several prostate cancer awareness initiatives in the city of Birmingham and Jefferson county.


    HRSA PANEL
    Photo of HRSA Panel presenters

    Presented: October 12, 2023

    About: The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) aims to improve equitable health care high for communities and people at high risk in the US. Populations served include people with low income, people with HIV, pregnant women, children, parents, rural residents, transplant patients and the health workforce. HRSA fulfills its mission by providing grants and cooperative agreements to investigators interested in these problems. Examples of HRSA funding are the Nurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention (NEPQR) awards, the Advanced Nursing Education Workforce awards (ANEW), the Advanced Nursing Education awards (ANA), the Nurse Faculty Loan Program awards (NFLP), awards supporting the behavioral health workforce (e.g. BHWET), Health Workforce Resiliency Training awards, the Nurse Anesthetist Training award and the state AHECs.

    School of Nursing Scholarship Grant Rounds on October 12, 2023 will feature a panel of four distinguished SON faculty who have or previously had HRSA funding.

    Dean Maria R. Shirey will present NEPQR – Transitional Care Clinic for Patients with Heart Failure Recently Discharged from UAB Hospital.

    Dr. Patricia Patrician will present Health Workforce Resiliency – WE CARE.

    Dr. Tedra Smith will present Bright Healthy Future: Partnering to Promote Healthy Lifestyle Habits in Children and their Families.

    Dr. Michele Talley will present NEPQR – PATH, Behavioral Health Workforce Education Training program – BHIP.


    Dr. Liz Muñoz will present "Growing Nurse-Midwifery in Alabama: Looking to History to Inspire the Future"

    Photo of Liz Muñoz

    Presented: October 2, 2023 (Watch the recorded presentation on Youtube)

    Bio: Dr. Liz Muñoz, is the Assistant Director of the Nurse-Midwifery Pathway and an Assistant Professor at UAB SON. She is originally from Atmore, Alabama and now lives in Champaign, IL, where she practices as a CNM. She is passionate about growing the profession of nurse-midwifery in Alabama and expanding nurse-midwifery scopes of practice nationally, including nurse-midwives caring for pregnant individuals in larger bodies and pregnant individuals experiencing substance use disorders. She has been a CNM for 10 years and is a graduate of Vanderbilt University’s School of Nursing for both her MSN and DNP. Dr. Muñoz has presented nationally for the Annual Meeting of the American College of Nurse-Midwives and regionally for ACNM affiliate conferences. Her publications have appeared in The Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health, Advances in Primary Care Nursing, and Women’s Healthcare, and she has co-authored an appendix in the up-coming edition of Varney’s Midwifery on communication techniques when discussing health behaviors with clients. She is a distance faculty member at UAB and is excited to support the UAB student nurse-midwives as they advance through the pathway and enter into practice!

    Dr. Muñoz will speak on the profession of nurse-midwifery, including a review of the history of nurse-midwifery from a bird’s eye view in the US and in AL. She will review information on the history of UAB’s NMW program and the rebirth of the current program and service line at UAB hospital. Additionally, Dr. Muñoz will focus on nurse-midwifery scholarship and research, including current projects at UAB, and how future innovative models of care can help solve the maternity care shortages in Alabama.


    Dr. Shena Gazaway will present “Addressing Health Disparities Through Community-Based Collaborative Research Methods and Practices”

    Photo of Shena Gazaway

    Presented: April 6, 2023 (Watch the recorded presentation on Youtube)

    Bio: Shena Gazaway PhD, RN is currently an Assistant Professor in the School of Nursing at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She received her Master’s in Nursing Education from Brenau University in Gainesville GA and her PhD in Nursing Research from August University, the former medical College of Georgia, in Augusta. GA.

    Shena’s research interests are focused on developing and optimizing, community informed decision support interventions for individuals living with chronic kidney disease and the caregivers, particularly those who live in built environments that limit their access to resources that can support the self-management of their disease. Shena is currently funded by the Palliative Care Research Cooperative Pilot Grant Program and the UAB Integrative Center for Aging Research, in addition she was a 2021-2022 SON Dean’s Scholar Award recipient. She is a 2022 Research Scholar and newest co-chair of the Early-Career Special Interest Group for the Hospice and Palliative Association of Nurses.


    Dr. Somali Nguyen will present "Ultrasound Everything: Implementing Ultrasound Into a Graduate Nursing Program to Improve Clinical Practice"

    Photo of Somali Nguyen

    Presented: March 7, 2023 (Watch the recorded presentation on Youtube)

    Bio: Somali Nguyen, DNP, CRNP, AGACNP-BC is an instructor in the UAB School of Nursing. He is a board-certified Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) with over twelve (12) years of clinical experience in Emergency Medicine. He graduated with his Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree (2010), Master of Science in Nursing degree (2014), and Doctor of Nursing Practice degree (2019) all from the UAB School of Nursing. He was the Lead Nurse Practitioner for the Comprehensive Vascular Access Team (CVAT) and Medical Emergency Team (MET) at UAB hospital and UAB Highlands in which he help to establish in 2017.

    In 2019, he receive a faculty appointment at UAB School of Nursing in which he is currently the Specialty Track Coordinator (STC) for the AGACNP track as well as the Academic Integrity Coordinator for the MSN program. Dr. Nguyen currently has a faculty practice in the emergency department at UAB and also continues to assist with CVAT and MET. His clinical experience and training has given him the opportunity to advance his skills with the ultrasound (US) and implement US into the AGACNP track. He offered UAB School of Nursing’s first US mini-conference in 2022 and has disseminated his work with the implementation of US into a graduate course at international, state, and local conferences. He has completed advanced training in simulation from the Center of Medical Simulation.


    Dr. Lisa Pair will present "Updated Evidence on Care of Women with Pelvic Organ Prolapse and Urinary Incontinence"

    Photo of Lisa Pair

    Presented: February 15, 2023

    Bio: Lisa S. Pair, DNP, WHNP-BC, CRNP became a WHNP back in 1992 when there were only 307 NPs in the State of Alabama at that time. She spent over 20 years of her career in clinical practice providing care for women across the lifespan. During her time in clinical practice, she also participated in many departmental research grants assisting the interprofessional team in research clinical data collection. Her specialty focus has been pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence in women.

    Her Fellow status in the Association of Urologic Nurses and Associates is an honor granted to recognize her outstanding sustained contribution to urologic and urogynecologic education, clinical practice, or research. She moved to the UAB School of Nursing in 2015 and has since become the Women's Health Nurse Practitioner Track Coordinator for the MSN and DNP Pathways. She continues her scholarship through presentations and publications and continues with a clinical faculty practice.


    Dr. Penni Watts will present "Excellence in Simulation for Improving Patient Care"

    Photo of Penni Watts

    Presented: January 12, 2023 (Watch the recorded presentation on Youtube)

    Bio: Penni Watts is currently the assistant dean for clinical simulation and training and the interim associate dean for the office of technology and innovation. She is also the Assistant Director for Program Implementation in Office of Interprofessional Curriculum (OIPC) at UAB. She has extensive training in clinical simulation focusing on nursing and interprofessional experiences. She has expertise in simulation faculty development, simulation design and delivery.

    Dr. Watts has received simulation training at the Center for medical simulation in Boston, Mass. She is very active in the Society for Simulation in Healthcare and the International Association for Simulation and Learning and holds leadership positions in both organizations. Her scholarship focuses on best practice and faculty development in simulation and interprofessional education.


    Dr. Frank Puga will present “Daily and Long‐Term Patterns of Depression Among Individuals Living with Chronic Illness and Their Caregivers”

    Photo of Frank Puga

    Presented: November 10, 2022

    Bio: Dr. Frank Puga is an assistant professor in the Department of Acute, Chronic, and Continuing Care at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Nursing. His expertise includes stress, resilience, and mental health in older adults living with chronic illness and their families. His main research focus is on inter-and intra-individual variation in mental health experiences over time and factors that increase resilience to stress in older adults, specifically among diverse patient populations disproportionately impacted by dementia and cancer.

    He is currently interested in how social and cultural factors interact with disease-related stress to increase resilience and decrease the risk of daily anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. The main goal of his work is to develop and test cognitive and behavioral interventions that promote healthy aging. He received his Ph.D. in psychology with a concentration in behavioral neuroscience from the University of Texas at Austin.


    Dr. Sharon Holley will present “Public Health Nurses, Midwives, Physicians and Historical Perspective on 5 Maternity Services in Alabama during the 1940's”

    Photo of Sharon Holley

    Presented: October 12, 2022

    Bio: Dr. Holley is a Certified Nurse-Midwife with over 25 years of clinical practice. Administrative roles include practice director for the Vanderbilt Faculty Nurse-Midwife Practice in Nashville, Tennessee and Chief, Division of Midwifery at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Massachusetts where she was the first Advanced Practice Nurse to receive a faculty appointment with the University of Massachusetts School of Medicine – Baystate.

    Her contributions are in the areas of quality and safety in perinatal care through interprofessional collaboration in development and deployment of evidence-based clinical guidelines. She is a fellow of ACNM serving on a variety of committees at the national level including the Quality and Business committees, Committee for Advancement of Midwifery Education, and Quality Committee. Her publications have been cited 440 times. She is currently an Associate Professor of Nursing and Director for the nurse-midwifery program at University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing.


    Dr. Richard Taylor will present “Life‐space Mobility in Older Adult Cancer Survivors”

    Photo of Richard Taylor

    Presented: September 8, 2022

    Bio: Richard Taylor, PhD, DNP, CRNP, APN-BC is an Assistant Professor in the UAB School of Nursing. He graduated from UAB School of Nursing in 1985 with a Bachelor’s degree, received his Master’s degree in Adult Oncology Nursing from the University of California, San Francisco in 1987, a postgraduate Adult Nurse Practitioner degree in 2000, a Doctor of Nursing Practice from UAB in 2010, and a PhD in nursing from UAB in 2022.

    He was the Lead Nurse Practitioner in the Adult Neuro-Oncology program at UAB for 14 years and the Director of Nursing for the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center’s CMS Innovation Award (lay navigation for older cancer survivors) before joining the graduate faculty at the UAB SON eight years ago. He has a part-time faculty practice in the UAB Supportive Care and Survivorship Clinic at The UAB Kirklin Clinic. He is engaged as a palliative care interventionist in multiple palliative care clinical trials. He is currently a UAB Geriatric Scholar. His clinical experience includes geriatric oncology, hematology-oncology, hospice, neuro-oncology, and palliative care. His research experience and interests involve cancer survivorship, palliative care, and quality of life in older adults. His dissertation topic was life-space mobility in the older adult, community-dwelling cancer survivor in the Deep South: A secondary data analysis.

  • Scholarship Toolkit Series

    The SON Scholarship Toolkit sessions are designed to teach the UAB School of Nursing Community about the use of helpful tools to make your scholarship endeavors easier. Each session is held live through Zoom, with previously held session recordings being accessible through the links found below.

    "Forming and Managing a Scholarship Collaborative"

    Presented by: Ellen Smith, PhD

    Presented on: April 11, 2024

    Watch the recorded presentation on Youtube

    "Writing for Professional Journals: How to get started?"

    Presented by: Pat Patrician, PhD

    Presented on: March 21, 2024

    Watch the recorded presentation on Youtube

    "An Overview of NVivo"

    Presented by: Shena Gazaway, PhD

    Presented on: February 8, 2024

    Watch the recorded presentation on Youtube

    "Working Effectively"

    Presented by: Edwin Aroke, PhD

    Presented on: January 30, 2024

    Recorded presentation coming soon.

    "An Overview of OVID Synthesis"

    Presented by: Shea Polancich, PhD

    Presented on: January 11, 2024

    Watch the recorded presentation on Youtube

    "How to Turn an Abstract into a Publication"

    Presented by: David Vance, PhD

    Presented on: November 16, 2023

    Watch the recorded presentation on Youtube

    "Understanding and Visualizing Interaction Effects Using R and SPSS"

    Presented by: Liang Shan, PhD

    Presented on: November 8, 2023

    Recorded presentation coming soon.

    "How to write an abstract: Teaching-focused"

    Presented by: Tedra Smith, DNP

    Presented on: October 19, 2023

    Watch the recorded presentation on Youtube

    "How to write an abstract: Practice-focused"

    Presented by: Shannon Layton, DNP

    Presented on: October 17, 2023

    Watch the recorded presentation on Youtube

    "How to write an abstract: Research-focused"

    Presented by: Ellen Smith, PhD

    Presented on: October 10, 2023

    Watch the recorded presentation on Youtube

    "An Overview of Endnote and other Resources"

    Presented by: Amanda Jenkins

    Presented on: October 3, 2023

    Watch the recorded presentation on Youtube

    "Factor analysis in instrument development and validation: EFA or CFA or both?"

    Presented by: Peng Li, PhD

    Presented on: September 6, 2023

    Watch the recorded presentation on Youtube

    "Scoring Psychometric Instruments"

    Presented by: Andres Azuero, PhD

    Presented on: May 10, 2023

    Watch the recorded presentation on Youtube

    "An i2b2 Overview"

    Presented by: Dale Johnson

    Presented on: April 19, 2023

    Watch the recorded presentation on Youtube

    "Qualtrics Overview"

    Presented by: Lauren Antia

    Presented on: March 2, 2023

    Watch the recorded presentation on Youtube

    "REDCap Overview"

    Presented by: Sally Engler

    Presented on: February 21, 2023

    Watch the recorded presentation on Youtube

    "Introduction to Power BI"

    Presented by: Sarah Khalidi

    Presented on: February 8, 2023

    Watch the recorded presentation on Youtube

  • Mentoring Resources

    “The mediocre mentor tells. The good mentor explains. The superior mentor demonstrates. The greatest mentor inspires!" –Lucia Ballas Traynor
    How do they inspire?
    Great mentors see brilliant diamonds amid rough cut stones. They can see your potential when you cannot. They believe in you when you don’t believe in yourself.
    Which type of mentor do you want to be?
    Below are some resources to enhance your mentoring skills. A certificate is awarded for completing most of the programs.
    CCTS – Case Studies in Mentoring
    Consists of a series of 9 one-hour sessions on Zoom. The series repeats approximately every ten weeks allowing participants to complete cases that they missed certificate awarded following completion. Further information is available on the Center for Clinical and Translational Science website.
    Mentoring Matters
    Run by ELearning and Professional Studies, this course is in the academic instance of Canvas and users can submit a request to be enrolled as students. The URL for the course is https://uab.instructure.com/courses/1572174.
    For more information, contact Cheri Hamilton at cdhamilt@uab.edu.
    Mentoring and Leadership Graduate Certificate
    Run by UAB Graduate School, the Mentoring and Leadership certificate is designed to provide students with opportunities to build strong mentoring and leadership skills while exploring what it takes to be a mentoring leader. The certificate offers courses in mentoring, leadership, communication skills, and more.
    Further information is available on the UAB Graduate School website.
  • Recorded Presentations

  • Early Career Faculty Trainees

    Photo of Elizabeth M. Byrd

    Elizabeth M. Byrd, PhD

    Funded Project

    Anosognosia for Hemiplegia and Stroke Rehabilitation Outcomes

    Dean’s Scholar Award

    Loss of awareness is a common phenomenon after acute ischemic stroke, but its effect on stroke rehabilitation outcomes is unclear. Dr. Byrd's funded project aims to explore the relationship between the loss of awareness (anosognosia for hemiplegia) and stroke rehabilitation outcomes.

    Photo of

    Michael Daniel, PhD

    Funded Project

    Green Tea Extract and Duloxetine to Mitigate Painful Oxaliplatin-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy

    Intramural Smith Impact Grant—UAB

    Mentor: Ellen M. Lavoie Smith, PhD

    The primary goal of this pilot study is explore the mitigating and/or preventative effects of green tea extract (GTE) on oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy (OIPN), as measured by allodynia and an axonal damage biomarker, neurofilament light chain (NfL), in a rat-pain model. To date, there are no known preventative interventions for OIPN, with duloxetine being the only ASCO recommended treatment for certain chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathies. Thus, another goal of this study is to explore the combinatorial effects of GTE and duloxetine on OIPN prevalence and/or severity. It is expected that this study will provide preliminary evidence of a pragmatic, feasible, and cost-effective non-pharmacological intervention that allows for maintenance of chemotherapy dose intensity and optimizes patient outcomes and survival.

    Photo of Tracey Dick

    Tracey K. Dick, PhD

    Funded Project

    Introduction of an Innovative Care-Based Delivery Model of Nursing

    Clinical Transformation Award

    Dr. Dick has been awarded the inaugural Clinical Transformation Award from the School of Nursing as project director for “Introduction of an Innovative Care-Based Delivery Model of Nursing”. The purpose of this project is to improve staff satisfaction, perceived adequacy of unit staffing, intent to leave, satisfaction with teamwork, communication, and delegation skills by implementing an innovative care-based delivery model on one unit at UAB hospital. She also serves as the Research Advisory Subcommittee Chair for the Alabama State Nurses Association which allows her to assist with data analysis and reporting of ASNA survey findings.

    Photo of

    Deborah Ejem, PhD

    Funded Project

    Addressing Communication Challenges Confronting Older African Americans with Multiple Chronic Conditions and their Family Caregivers

    NPCRC Kornfeld Scholars Award

    Mentors: Marie Bakitas, DNSc Raegan Durant, MD Monica Baskin, PhD Mary Tinetti, MD

    The purpose of this study is to adapt the Patient Aligned Decision-Making Program©, a facilitated values elicitation exercise with patients that is then communicated to providers, to African Americans with Multiple Chronic Conditions via qualitative interviews and subsequent pilot testing.

    http://www.npcrc.org/grantee-detail.aspx?id=1529

    Photo of

    Shena Gazaway, PhD

    Funded Project

    Determining the Influence of Cultural Values of Black, Rural Caregivers on Decision-making for Seriously Ill Loved Ones

    NIH/NINR Diversity Supplement – Parent Grant 5R01NR017181-04

    Mentors: Ronit Elk, PhD Marie Bakitas, DNSc

    The goals of this supplement are to explore the cultural values, beliefs and attitudes of rural African American family caregiver participants in the parent randomized trial about serious illness, consideration of treatment options, and determine how these factors influence the decision-making goals of care for their loved one.

    https://reporter.nih.gov/search/woD7fzyC9kOxDMDKoCr1jQ/project-details/10173904

    Photo of

    Rachel Wells, PhD

    Funded Project

    Optimizing an Early Palliative Care Intervention for Older Adults Living with Advanced Heart Failure

    NINR K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award

    Mentors: Marie Bakitas, DNSc Raegan Durant, MD J. Nicholas Odom, PhD

    The overall goal during the R00 phase is to conduct an optimization pilot using a 2x2x2x2 factorial design to assess acceptability, feasibility, and potential efficacy of the newly refined early palliative care, lay navigator-led UPHOLDS intervention components on quality of life (primary outcome) at 12- and 24- weeks after baseline. The results will directly support an R01 application to conduct a fully powered optimization trial to test the effects of individual PC intervention components on outcomes of persons with advanced HF.

    https://reporter.nih.gov/search/Gxt2Xz50jUueX1nPWZ_TIg/project-details/10386866

    Photo of

    Jenni Wise, PhD

    Funded Project

    The Impact of Environmental and Psychosocial Stressors on Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Women Living with HIV: A Mixed Methods Study

    NIH/NHLBI-UAB School of Public Health

    Mentor: Mirjam Colette Kempf, PhD

    The purpose of this K12 award application is to support the PD to receive the essential training and mentorship necessary to become an independent investigator in the field of HIV and cardiovascular disease (CVD) research.

    https://sites.uab.edu/mwccs/2020/10/30/dr-wise-receives-k12-funding-award-from-nhlbi/

  • Dean’s Scholar Award

    The purpose of the Dean’s Scholar Award Program (DSA) annual award program is to support pilot projects in research, innovative educational programs, and/or clinical partnership programs. The DSA is consistent with the School of Nursing (UABSON) mission to enhance nursing scholarship through research, education, and clinical practice.

    This funding opportunity is designed to facilitate faculty contributions to the development and advancement of nursing scholarship through research, education, and practice, and/or to foster collaborative interdisciplinary partnerships with scientists and clinicians within UAB, University Hospitals, and the larger health care community.

    Pilot and feasibility studies for partnerships with the UAB hospital are encouraged.

    Eligibility:

    The primary applicant must hold a full-time primary faculty appointment as an Assistant Professor or above in the School of Nursing. The applicant will hold responsibility and accountability for their project if awarded a DSA. Co-applicants may be other UAB faculty, post- doctoral trainees, and/or clinical partners.

    • Priority will be given to applicants who demonstrate an innovative approach and the ability to apply for a larger competitive extramural application within six months of the DSA completion.
    • Applicants who received a Dean Scholar Award as a PI or Co-PI in the past 5 years are not eligible.

    For more information about the DSA program click here.

    Awardees 2023-2024
    Photo of Felesia Bowen

    Felesia Bowen, PhD

    Funded Project

    Everyone Counts Everyday: An Evidence-Based Preceptor Training Intervention to Improve UAB Nurse Anesthesia Student Clinical Experience

    Co-Pi: Susan McMullan, PhD

    The specific aim of this study is to develop and evaluate an evidence-based intervention to enhance the knowledge of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) concepts among clinical preceptors in the UAB Nurse Anesthesia Pathway (NAP), and to improve the educational experiences of NAP students. Reports of negative interactions in the clinical setting are increasing among students in advanced nursing pathways. Recent literature has illustrated a need for additional training for clinical preceptors teaching and interacting with students, and that continued education highlighting the importance of DEI topics is vital to the success of students. 1-8 To mitigate the effects of the negative experiences reported by NAP students, we will partner with the UAB School of Nursing Office of DEI to develop an evidence-based workshop intervention for NAP clinical preceptors that focuses on unconscious bias, microaggressions, and cultural humility.

    Photo of Rita Jablonski

    Rita Jablonski, PhD

    Funded Project

    “Care-Resistant Behavior Internet Training for Caregiver Networks (CuRB-IT:CaN)

    In the United States, an estimated 11 million family caregivers provide unpaid care to 6 million people living with dementia (PLwD). The dyad model of dementia caregiving is being replaced by informal networks of two plus family caregivers. Two-thirds of caregivers experience care-resistant behaviors (CRBs) Half of family caregivers report engaging in elder abuse and neglect (EAN) behaviors, especially when confronted with CRBs. Aims: 1) to obtain preliminary data about the composition of caregiver networks faced with care-resistant behavior by PLwD in the home; 2) to test the feasibility of providing the CuRB-IT intervention to caregiving networks composed of unpaid family caregivers; and 3) to examine if the intervention improves caregiver coping skills and reduces abuse and neglect behaviors for caregivers in the network. Design: A quasi-experimental design will be used to meet the aims and answer the research questions. This design will allow pre- and post-intervention measurement of coping skills and EAN behaviors, with participants serving as their own controls. Approach: 76 caregivers will be recruited nationally from 24 informal family caregiving networks. They will receive the coaching intervention, 9 1-hour sessions delivered over a 12-week period by a coach. Measures: Participants will complete a demographic instrument, a battery of questionnaires, and 7 days of daily diaries that capture EAN before and after the 12-week intervention. Analysis: Descriptive statistics will describe network member characteristics. Generalized linear mixed models will examine relationships between caregiver characteristics, care-giving related variables, completion of intervention, and EAN behaviors.

    Photo of

    Susan McMullan, PhD

    Funded Project

    Everyone Counts Everyday: An Evidence-Based Preceptor Training Intervention to Improve UAB Nurse Anesthesia Student Clinical Experience

    Co-Pi: Felesia Bowen, PhD

    The specific aim of this study is to develop and evaluate an evidence-based intervention to enhance the knowledge of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) concepts among clinical preceptors in the UAB Nurse Anesthesia Pathway (NAP), and to improve the educational experiences of NAP students. Reports of negative interactions in the clinical setting are increasing among students in advanced nursing pathways. Recent literature has illustrated a need for additional training for clinical preceptors teaching and interacting with students, and that continued education highlighting the importance of DEI topics is vital to the success of students. 1-8 To mitigate the effects of the negative experiences reported by NAP students, we will partner with the UAB School of Nursing Office of DEI to develop an evidence-based workshop intervention for NAP clinical preceptors that focuses on unconscious bias, microaggressions, and cultural humility.

    Photo of Allison Shorten

    Allison Shorten, PhD

    Funded Project

    The Mothers and Infants of Rural Alabama Research (MIRAR) Birth Pilot Study

    Skilled childbirth care is critical for improving maternal-infant outcomes. Rural labor and delivery unit (LDU) closures in Alabama have created access gaps or “maternity care deserts,” whereby only 17 of 54 rural counties have hospitals with active LDUs. A retrospective study (2017–2022) of 11 rural northeast Alabama (RNEA) hospitals identified 122 unplanned out of hospital births (UOOHB) resulting in seven neonatal deaths. Understanding determinants of UOOHB in RNEA is essential for reducing maternal-infant morbidity and mortality. This study will increase knowledge about critical health determinants predisposing women in RNEA to UOOHB. Aim 1a: Examine data from patients who experienced UOOHB and attended one of 8 RNEA hospitals during 2017-2022, along with matched controls, to identify contributing factors. Aim 1b: Using survey and interview data from identified mothers, integrated with medical record data analysis, determine social determinants of health (SDoH) associated with UOOHB.

    Photo of Allison Jones

    Allison Jones, PhD

    Funded Project

    “Preparing Emergency Responders to Control Bleeding: The PRESS Study

    Uncontrolled hemorrhage remains the primary preventable cause of death following injury. Stop the Bleed® training was introduced in 2015 to disseminate bleeding control education to the lay community. The purpose of this study is to evaluate Stop the Bleed® training outcomes and assess current adoption and implementation practices among emergency responders. We will use an observational, descriptive design with a mixed-methods approach. Participants (N=60) will include emergency responders who completed initial Stop the Bleed® training in the past 6-12 months and will be recruited from Birmingham Fire & Rescue Service (existing clinical partnership), Birmingham Police Department, and the UAB Police Department. Electronic surveys will be used to collect baseline sociodemographic data, bleeding control knowledge, and emergency response experience. On enrollment, participants will demonstrate tourniquet placement to determine rate of accuracy. We will also complete group interviews with emergency responders including those in leadership roles to assess current Stop the Bleed® adoption and implementation practices, including barriers and facilitators, associated costs, access to supplies, and plans for skill maintenance and sustainability of training. Our primary outcome of interest will be level of bleeding control knowledge and rate of tourniquet placement accuracy. We anticipate a decline in bleeding control knowledge and tourniquet placement accuracy with greater time since initial training. Widespread dissemination of Stop the Bleed® training is essential to promote patient survival in the pre-hospital setting. Evaluation of training outcomes and implementation among emergency responders will inform practices in the community setting.

    Photo of Marti Rice

    Marti Rice, PhD

    Funded Project

    “An Exploration of Direct Patient Care Pediatric RN Shortages and Transition to Practice

    Pediatric direct care registered nurse (PDCRN) shortages and inability to transition to practice impact the care of pediatric patients. It is unclear what factors influence PDCRN shortages and successful transition to practice. Some factors that may impact successful transition to practice are undergraduate preparation for practice and transition to practice programs. If nursing management or newly graduated PDCRNs do not feel that they are prepared to practice, this could also influence PDCRN shortages in initial hiring and retention. Shortages of PDCRNs could, subsequently, result in fewer graduate level nurses, providers, pediatric nurse scientists, and pediatric nursing faculty.

    The purpose of this mixed methods research project is to examine factors that impact PDCRN shortages, transition to practice, and workforce. Using a Design Thinking framework to guide this study, nursing management and newly graduated PDCRNs from three facilities in Alabama will first be surveyed about pediatric workforce shortages and transition to practice. These stakeholders will then be interviewed in separate focus groups to understand their perspectives. Survey data will be analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis. Data from focus groups will be analyzed using an inductive thematic analysis with constant comparative method.

    Awardees 2022–2023
    Photo of Elizabeth Byrd

    Elizabeth Byrd, PhD

    Funded Project

    Anosognosia for Hemiplegia and Stroke Rehabilitation Outcomes

    It is common for those who have suffered a stroke to overestimate their ability to perform activities of daily living. The purpose of this study is to understand the impact of that.

    Photo of Karen Heaton

    Karen Heaton, PhD

    Funded Project

    Firefighter Cardiovascular Risk Reduction Using a Kiosk and Telehealth Approach: The Redline Study

    Co-PIs: Michele Talley, PhD and Penni Watts, PhD

    The purpose of this study is to examine the efficacy and feasibility of using a kiosk and telehealth coaching to optimize hypertension and obesity management among a sample of full-time, paid, career fire fighters.

    Photo of Jeremy Jordan

    Jeremy Jordan, PhD

    Funded Project

    Day-to-Day Pulsatility Index Change in Pediatric Brain Injury: A Proof-of-Concept Study

    Co-PIs: Peng Li, PhD, Karin Reuter-Rice, PhD and Nicole O’Brien, MD

    The purpose of this study to provide proof-of-concept of a novel biomarker of brain injury using a transcranial doppler ultrasound in children. The results of this study will help clinicians utilize a non-invasive neuromonitor to help in the diagnosis, management and prognostication in pediatric neurologic injury.

    Photo of Peng Li

    Peng Li, PhD

    Funded Project

    Day-to-Day Pulsatility Index Change in Pediatric Brain Injury: A Proof-of-Concept Study

    Co-PIs: Jeremy Jordan, PhD, Karin Reuter-Rice, PhD and Nicole O’Brien, MD

    The purpose of this study to provide proof-of-concept of a novel biomarker of brain injury using a transcranial doppler ultrasound in children. The results of this study will help clinicians utilize a non-invasive neuromonitor to help in the diagnosis, management, and prognostication in pediatric neurologic injury.

    Photo of Michele Talley

    Michele Talley, PhD

    Funded Project

    Firefighter Cardiovascular Risk Reduction Using a Kiosk and Telehealth Approach: The Redline Study

    Co-PIs: Karen Heaton, PhD and Penni Watts, PhD

    The purpose of this study is to examine the efficacy and feasibility of using a kiosk and telehealth coaching to optimize hypertension and obesity management among a sample of full-time, paid, career fire fighters.

    Photo of Penni Watts

    Penni Watts, PhD

    Funded Project

    Firefighter Cardiovascular Risk Reduction Using a Kiosk and Telehealth Approach: The Redline Study

    Co-PIs: Karen Heaton, PhD and Michele Talley, PhD

    The purpose of this study is to examine the efficacy and feasibility of using a kiosk and telehealth coaching to optimize hypertension and obesity management among a sample of full-time, paid, career fire fighters.

    Photo of Christina Wilson

    Christina Wilson, PhD

    Funded Project

    Identification of Knowledge & Needs to Reduce Anxiety and Pain and Improve Dilator Usage

    The purpose of this study is to identify the content to use in an educational video as part of a multi-component educational intervention to improve dilator usage in patients with cervical cancer. A content analysis of the semi-structured interview transcripts will be conducted using a deductive analytic approach to identify the most common topics to address within the video.

    Awardees 2021–2022
    Photo of Pamela Bowen

    Pamela Bowen, PhD

    Funded Project

    Pa2TH (Providing Physical Activity Access through Healthcare)

    Co-PI: Stephanie Hammond, DNP

    This project will address previous gaps related to the need for clinic-based physical activity (PA) interventions that examines the impact of the “Exercise is Medicine” initiative for increasing healthcare providers’ (HCP) PA self-efficacy for PA discussions, promoting self-regulation of PA among vulnerable populations, and increasing and sustaining long-term PA outcomes behaviors

    Photo of Deborah Ejem

    Deborah Ejem, PhD

    Funded Project

    Exploring spiritual concerns, needs, and resources in outpatient care: A case for spiritual care as a core service in facilities serving under-resourced patients

    This study expands on prior work that African America heart failure patients and family caregivers expressed the importance of their spiritual beliefs in coping with illness; and viewed prayer as a way for participants to release the emotional burden of illness. Data from this exploratory study will be directly used to develop and pilot test a small-scale intervention to be submitted for a National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities

    Photo of Benjamin Galatzan

    Benjamin Galatzan, PhD

    Funded Project

    A Pilot Study to Examine the Hand-Off Communication Content in Specialty Nursing Units

    The purpose of this pilot study is to determine the feasibility of the data collection techniques and the within-methods triangulation data analyses to examine the contextual and linguistic meaning of the nursing hand-offs about patients who have experienced a clinical event.

    Photo of Sarah Gallups

    Sarah Gallups, PhD

    Funded Project

    Formative Evaluation Informing the Development of a Communication-Enhanced Oncology Patient Navigation Capacity Program

    This study’s purpose is to better understand the essential elements of a capacity building program for oncology patient navigators on interpersonal communication among key stakeholders (patients, caregivers, oncology patient navigators, patient navigator supervisors/administrators, oncology providers

    Photo of Shena Gazaway

    Shena Gazaway, PhD

    Funded Project

    Developing a Collaborative Community Intervention to Train Chronic Kidney Disease Family Caregivers in providing Decision Support

    The purpose of this study is to explore the needs, challenges, and experiences of chronic kidney disease patients and their caregivers facing health-related decisions and to elicit their feedback on the format, content and delivery of tentative intervention components based on the Ottawa Decision Support Framework.

    Photo of Stephanie Hammond

    Stephanie Hammond, DNP

    Funded Project

    Pa2TH (Providing Physical Activity Access through Healthcare)

    Co-PI: Pamela Bowen, PhD

    This project will address previous gaps related to the need for clinic-based physical activity (PA) interventions that examines the impact of the “Exercise is Medicine” initiative for increasing healthcare providers’ (HCP) PA self-efficacy for PA discussions, promoting self-regulation of PA among vulnerable populations, and increasing and sustaining long-term PA outcomes behaviors

    Photo of Sigrid Ladores

    Sigrid Ladores, PhD

    Funded Project

    Program Evaluation: A Focus on PhD Student Recruitment Strategies

    Co-PI: Nancy Wingo, PhD

    This project will evaluate UABSON strategies to recruit PhD students, identify program strengths/weaknesses, and inform next steps to optimize student recruitment, retention, and support.

    Photo of Nancy Wingo

    Nancy Wingo, PhD

    Funded Project

    Program Evaluation: A Focus on PhD Student Recruitment Strategies

    Co-PI: Sigrid Ladores, PhD

    This project will evaluate UABSON strategies to recruit PhD students, identify program strengths/weaknesses, and inform next steps to optimize student recruitment, retention, and support.

    Awardees 2020–2021
    Photo of Gwendolyn Childs

    Gwendolyn Childs, PhD

    Funded Project

    Evaluation of the RN BSN and ADN Joint Enrollment Pathway

    The purpose of the project is to evaluate the UABNCCP JEP to determine progress toward elimination of barriers to BSN education, achievement of program goals, and short-term impact of the program.

    Photo of Jessica Corcoran

    Jessica Corcoran, PhD

    Funded Project

    Exploring Adolescent Healthcare Providers’ Sexual Health Discussions and STI Screening Practices

    The purpose of this pilot study is to examine adolescent healthcare providers’ knowledge, practices, experiences, and attitudes surrounding sexual health discussions and STI screening at routine well-child visits. This pilot study will inform the development of a larger study to develop and test an intervention to increase healthcare providers’ sexual health discussions with adolescents and improve STI screening rates.

    Photo of Katherine Dudding

    Katherine Dudding, PhD

    Funded Project

    Improving Patient to Nurse Communication through Early Detection of Pain in the Neonate

    The purpose of this study is to create a learned data model using data collected through electronic sensors and monitors and a psychometric valid pain scale. The physiological and behavioral indicators of pain in the neonate will be annotated and categorized based on the agreement of two research nurses’ perceptions of videoed neonates experiencing pain and non-pain events. The categorizations will be further validated by using the scale to assign a pain score and as a measure of pain intensity. Once the categorizations are created, a cross validation framework will be used to statistically and concurrently validate the categorizations to generalize to a learned data model to develop and build an automated, real-time, and reliable pain assessment algorithm to improve patient outcomes.

    Photo of Frank Puga

    Frank Puga, PhD

    Funded Project

    Suicidal Ideation Among Dementia Caregivers

    The purpose of the project is to examine the experiences of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias caregivers to identify risk and protective factors that increase or decrease the daily odds of suicidal ideation.

    Awardees 2019–2020
    Photo of Leigh Ann Bray

    Leigh Ann Bray, PhD

    An Exploration of Paths to Motherhood among Women with Cystic Fibrosis
    Photo of Katherine Dudding

    Katherine Dudding, PhD

    Improving Patient to Nurse Communication Through Early Detection of Pain in the Neonate
    Photo of Tedra Smith

    Tedra Smith, DNP

    A Distance Accessible Education Model for Continuing Education
    Awardees 2018–2019
    Photo of Edwin Aroke

    Edwin Aroke, PhD

    A Pilot Study of Epigenetic Changes in Chronic Low Back Pain
    Photo of Bryan Wilbanks

    Bryan Wilbanks, PhD

    Comparing the Effectiveness of Video-facilitated Self-reflection and Faculty Led Debriefing on Anesthesia Students’ Clinical Performance Indicators and Satisfaction During High Fidelity Simulations
Research Contacts
ORS Navigator
ORS@uab.edu
GDRM Navigator
SON-Grants@uab.edu
(For all pre & post award grant activities)
Associate Dean for Research & Scholarship
Dr. Marie Bakitas
mbakitas@uab.edu
Assistant Dean for Research & Scholarship
Dr. Ellen Smith
esmith3@uab.edu
Director of Research Operations
Cathy Tarver
cotarver@uab.edu