A Day in the Life of "Dean for a Day"

Vikash Singh, a second year MD student, and Anna Pate, a fourth year Nursing student, pose with a photo of the real Dean Stephen Klasko, USF College of Medicine, and Dean Patricia Burns, USF College of Nursing. Both students had a unique opportunity to go behind the scenes of their colleges by way of “Dean for a Day“.

USF College of Nursing “Dean for a Day” Anna Pate took office and retired on the same day, September 21, 2007.

During the course of the day she shadowed the real Dean, Patricia A. Burns, attending events, meetings and lectures. In a creative experiment, the fourth year nursing student attended all the events not as “student” Anna Pate, but as the acting Dean for a Day.

Ms. Pate was selected for the unique experience during a USF Health raffle drawing at the Carnival Bash this past Spring.

“It’s a great opportunity for our students to learn what happens behind the scenes and see how the collaborative efforts of the faculty, administrators, staff and students blend to make a college function, said Dean Patricia Burns, “The Dean for a Day raffle was extremely successful”.

On the morning of her day-long tenure, Ms. Pate attended the College of Nursing’s Faculty Council meeting and presented the Nursing Dean’s Report. During the well received report, Pate introduced new nursing faculty, relayed business from the University’s Council of Deans meeting, spoke of upcoming events and announced a large donation made to the college.

“It’s a lot of work and it takes a lot of knowledge,” said the Dean for a Day. “You have to know about finance and marketing, as well as nursing”.

Later on in the morning, Ms. Pate introduced and presented a plaque to the College of Nursing’s first in a series of scheduled Distinguished Lecturers, Dr. Kathy Richards. Ms. Pate and Dean Burns both attended Dr. Richard’s engaging lecture and research presentation on “Behavioral Interventions for Insomnia and Older Adults.”

As another eventful Friday at the College of Nursing continued, the gathering space of the college filled with music and food and as well as faculty, staff and students wearing costumes from their native culture or heritage. The Dean for a Day welcomed and thanked faculty, staff and students for their attendance and participation in the Diversity Celebration organized by the College of Nursing’s Diversity Committee. The event included a costume contest, cultural display and pot-luck lunch. To close, Ms. Pate presented the Outstanding Costume Award to Nursing master’s student, Marilyn Aluoch, chosen for her traditional Kenyan attire.

After lunch, Dean Burns took Ms. Pate on a tour of the college and the USF Health facilities, introducing the Dean for a Day to important people as they went along. “I’m new to USF so being able to go around and see all of the different parts of the college and USF Health was really interesting,” said Ms. Pate. “It’s great. Someone else will be very lucky to get to do this next year too”.

Asked what surprised her most about the experience or Dean Burns, Ms. Pate responded with a smile. “She started out in pediatrics, of which I had no clue. I thought that was neat”, said Ms. Pate who graduates next May intent on specializing as a Pediatric Nurse.

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Nursing Students from University of Panama Arrive Eager to Learn

At the USF College of Nursing, they are marking a milestone in the exchange program with the University of Panama’s Nursing School. In its second year, the “Community Health in Nursing from a Global Perspective” exchange program between the universidad and USF’s College of Nursing saw its first nursing students travel from Panama to the U.S. for a ten day visit at the USF Health campus. Until now, only USF nursing students had made the journey to Panama for the summer exchange program. Fresh off the plane, the delegation was quick to point out what they wanted to see most- the USF College of Nursing Simulation Lab.

“I’ve heard so much about it. I’ve imagined what it looks like”, said 22 year old Liris Castillo, a third year nursing student from Universidad de Panama’s Colegio de Enfermeria. “My professors say we can practice in virtual reality – totally contrary to what we do in Panama!” says Liris in rapid Spanish.

Celeste Cedeño adds “It (the lab) can even simulate a heart attack?! In Panama, we would have to wait for that moment to happen in real life. And then when it does, we, as nursing students, are not allowed to be in the forefront. Only in cases where our help is needed are we allowed up close. Here, it’s super different!” she said with excitement.

While the conversation may sound a bit morbid to a passer-by, it’s indicative of the passion nursing students have to learn and be the best they can be. The Nursing Simulation Lab on the campus of USF Health provides students with a unique hands-on experience in “real time” scenarios - helping them save more lives in the “real world”.

“Practicing in that lab will better prepare me for the moment when the patient is real. When that heart attack happens, I will be more confident about what to do”, said Celeste, also in her third year at the Universidad de Panama.

Liris, who is interested in possibly becoming an obstetric nurse, noted that classmates and professors back home gave her a long list of things to report back on. “Many of my professors asked that we focus on the different methods used to teach the same subject. Let’s see which ones they can adopt in their classes.”

Celeste, who is undecided between specializing in epidemiology or public health, said “They’re specifically interested in everything there is to know about the simulation lab that your nursing students learn in. My professor of mental health asked me to try and remember as much about it as possible. She wants me to describe it in detail when I get back.”

Top Nursing Students from Panama Chosen

The two women from the capital city of Panama were chosen among 8 finalists – top students in the university’s Colegio de Enfermeria. Traveling with them on this inaugural Panama – USF Health student exchange visit was Profesora Lourdes De Alguero, a 16 year professor of Public Health and a 24 year nursing veteran. “This is an excellent opportunity for our students to expand their academic horizons”, said the profesora. “It provides them with new experiences, specifically, teaching them the different ways that nursing students in other countries learn their profession.”

Barring differences of culture and technology, Profesora De Alguero said the foundation of nursing remains universal. “I believe the essence of nursing – the humanitarian aspect of our profession- remains the same no matter where you are learning it”, said Profesora De Alguero.

Sandra V. Cadena, PhD, ARNP, Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Studies and Director of Global Health in the USF College of Nursing says it’s wonderful to be on the receiving end for a change. Until now, the profesora and her colleagues in Panama have been the ones to host Dr. Cadena and two groups of USF nursing students – first in Summer of 2006, then in the Summer of 2007. “The 10 day educational visit by the Universidad de Panama students and faculty represents the next landmark step in the exchange of knowledge, cultural opportunities and strengthening of the relationship between the two colleges of nursing”, said Dr. Cadena.

“By integrating the visitors into the daily life of a USF nursing student in the classroom, in a variety of clinical experiences and the simulation lab, it creates additional opportunities to enhance research and teaching possibilities between the two universities – moving us closer to the next level of global understanding”, said Dr. Cadena.

Intense Ten Days

During their ten day visit at USF Health, the delegation from Panama participated in several simulation procedures and “mock codes” at the USF Nursing Simulation Lab, under the direction of the lab’s director Laura Gonzalez. The team also visited several area hospitals. The differences in technology are significant, said the two students from Panama who practice at the Hospital Santo Thomas in their nation’s capital, a facility that dates back to the 1920’s.

Catching Bulls Fever!

And what trip to USF would be complete without an immersion in Bulls fever? To the delight of the profesora, Liris and Celeste their trip was punctuated by the USF Homecoming Night. Trading in their Panamanian white coats for green and gold attire, there was no mistaking. The delegates on the float alongside USF Health students would return home with a severe case of Bulls fever.

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Maureen Groer, PhD, heads Center for Women's Health Research at USF Nursing

Maureen Groer, PhD, RN, FAAN, a nurse physiologist with nearly 20 years experience in immunology research was recently appointed Director for the Center for Women's Health Research, a new program established in March at the USF College of Nursing. The Center was created to fund pilot research in women's health, assist in research development, foster collaboration between senior and junior researchers and target federal funding opportunities to be used for research dollars. Dr. Groer will lead the Center in developing new theoretical perspectives and methods for studying health in women across the lifespan.

"The USF College of Nursing is open to new ways of thinking. I am very excited be a part of such a great opportunity to enhance the research capabilities at the College by adding biological measures to faculty members' areas of research, which will lead to new and exciting explorations in nursing science," said Dr. Groer.

Before joining USF, Dr. Groer was the Associate Dean for Research and Evaluation at the University of Tennessee College of Nursing, where she developed and directed research in the College. She established a wet lab conducting and supervising several projects, including a National Institute for Nursing Research-funded study on stress and immunity. She also served as Director of Nursing and later as President of the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Institute of Health Professions in Boston from 1992-1997.

After completing her PhD in human physiology and biophysics, she continued training through summer faculty programs at the Oak Ridge National laboratory, and the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. While at MGH she was an associate investigator on a Harvard Medical School Nutrition Center grant.

She has completed studies on immunity and inflammation in multiple populations (infant mice, postpartum women, healthy adult males, post-operative cardiac patients), using the lens of psychoneuroimmunology to examine relationships between stress and immune function. The types of assays that Dr. Groer has used in her work include flow cytometry, electron microscopy, tissue culture, Northern and Southern blots, RT-PCR, proliferation assays, ELISAs, chromatography, radioisotopes and radioimmunassay, electrophoresis, and most currently multiplex techniques for protein analysis. Dr. Groer has been accepted into an intensive two-week training program in molecular biology techniques this summer at Smith College. Dr. Groer has mentored many doctoral students and new investigators.

Dr. Groer's research interests include the immunology of the postpartum, breast milk immunology, and the responses of women to life stressors such as trauma.

Dr. Groer has received numerous awards such as The Mayor's Award for Outstanding Achievement, John Hilton Knowles Endowed Professor, and The University of Tennessee Alumni Outstanding Teaching Award. She is a member of the Society of Behavioral Medicine, Sigma Theta Tau, the Psychoneuroimmunology Research Society, and the American Academy of Nursing.

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Kevin Kip heads College of Nursing Research Center

Researcher and data analyst, Kevin E. Kip, PhD, has been named the new Executive Director of the USF College of Nursing Research Center, a center created to promote the growth of research initiatives in the college. Formerly associate professor of epidemiology and medicine at the University of Pittsburgh.

Dr. Kip will focus on significantly broadening the research portfolio of the college, including multidisciplinary and multi-institution collaborations, and substantially upgrading research infrastructure and capacity. This will include enhanced administrative support and expertise in data management, project management, and statistical analyses. In addition, Dr. Kip will teach a course for nursing students on the principles of epidemiological research, including web-based courses that can be self-paced and used as self-study.

“My goal is to foster an environment that leads to larger and more diverse research opportunities.” — Kevin Kip, PhD, executive director of the College of Nursing Research Center.

Dr. Kip holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology, separate master’s degrees in industrial/organizational psychology and epidemiology, and a PhD in epidemiology from the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Kip previously held a joint appointment with the Cardiovascular Institute and the Department of Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh, serving as resident epidemiologist and biostatistician and mentoring faculty conducting clinical research.

An expert in the scientific study of factors affecting the health and illness of populations, Dr. Kip brings a plethora of knowledge and experience to the USF College of Nursing. He has served as the principal investigator of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Dynamic Registry of Percutaneous Coronary Interventions (PCI), a registry that has enrolled more than 10,000 patients with PCI at clinical centers across North America since 1993. He has also been the principal investigator for several industry-funded studies in interventional cardiology, and a co-investigator on studies funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) across many disciplines including cardiology, diabetes, oncology, ophthalmology, gastroenterology, psychiatry, and complementary and alternative medicine.

Dr. Kip is a co-author on more than 60 peer-reviewed publications. He recently wrote a chapter on principles of epidemiology for pharmacists. He has served on data and safety monitoring boards and as an invited grant reviewer for the government department in charge of medical research, NIH.

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Nursing professor recieves publishing excellence award

USF nursing professor Susan McMillan, PhD, ARNP, FAAN, received a prestigious publishing excellence award from the Oncology Nursing Society, the world’s largest professional oncology association.

Dr. McMillan was awarded the 2007 Excellence of Scholarship and Consistency of Contribution to the Oncology Nursing Literature Award at a publishing reception this spring. She was honored at the Mandalay Bay Convention center during the 2007 ONS Annual Congress in Las Vegas, NV, with a $4,000 stipend and photo display of her contribution to the field of nursing.

“It’s a great honor, a fairly limited number of oncology nurse researchers have been honored in this way” said Dr. McMillan, who holds the Lyall and Beatrice Thompson Professor of Oncology Quality-of-Life Nursing at the USF College of Nursing.

The award is given to ONS members who demonstrate longevity, consistency, breadth and depth of professional writing in a variety of forums: peer-reviewed journals, books, book chapters, monographs, editorials, book reviews, etc. Recipients also support professional development of colleagues and write materials that are frequently used and cited by other authors.

Dr. McMillan has contributed an invaluable amount of research and knowledge to nursing oncology. Recently she was published in the journal Cancer, the Oncology Nursing Forum and the American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine for her research with others on using COPE intervention to improve symptoms of hospice homecare patients and the spiritual needs of people with advanced cancer.

Her research into pain and quality of life at the end of life is ongoing. Dr. McMillan is currently funded for two large studies sponsored by the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) and the National Institute of Health (NIH) — a four-year $1.65 million project titled Systematic Assessment to Improve Hospice Outcomes and a $1.7 million, four-year project at Moffit Cancer Center titled Caregivers of Cancer Pain Patients: Coping Intervention.

“I hope to improve cancer patients’ quality of life through direct care, by working through nurses. The research is supportive of that,” Dr. McMillan said.

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• Dr. Cecile Lengacher has had two poster presentations accepted for the American Psychosocial Oncology Society (APOS) 5th Annual Conference on February 2, 2008 in Irvine, CA. They include: “Participation, Adherence, and Compliance to Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) among Breast Cancer Survivors” with members of Dr. Lengacher’s team including Melissa Molinari RN, Dr. Versie Johnson-Mallard, and Dr. Kevin Kip listed as authors on the poster and “Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction: Research Synthesis and State of the Science” with Dr. Cecile Lengacher, Stacy Boutilier RN, MS, Leah Buck RN, MS, and Melissa Molinari RN.
  
  
• Rea Rhodes’ capstone paper, “Diagnosing Vocal-Cord Dysfunction in Young Athletes” has been accepted for publication by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.
  
  
• Rosemarie Grebe’s summer 2006 capstone paper, “Informed Consent for Patients with Cognitive Impairment” will be published in the December issue of The Nurse Practitioner.
  
  
• VMS team clinical adjunct, Susan Rainey gave an oral presentation, “Retrospective Longitudinal Chart Review of Lightning Strike Injuries: A Ten Year Review” in addition to winning second place for her poster presentation, “Retrospective Longitudinal Chart Review of Burn Injuries Suffered While Smoking on Home Oxygen” both at the Southern Medical Association Regional Burn Meeting in early November.
  
  
• College of Nursing PhD student and Nurse Practitioner at St. Joseph’s Hospital Tampa Care HIV/AIDS Clinic, Patricia Gilliam, Med, MSN, ARNP, BC participated in the poster presentation at the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care’s 20th Annual Conference earlier this November in Orlando, Florida. The poster was titled: Transitional Care for Adolescents with HIV.
  
  
• Tampa General Hospital Administrative Director of HIV Services, College of Medicine Division of Infectious Diseases and International Medicine Instructor, and College of Nursing PhD candidate, Don Kurtyka, ARNP-BC, MS, MBA delivered two presentations at the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care’s 20th Annual Conference; “HIV Resistance Testing Update” and “Caring of the Treatment-Experienced Patient”
  
  
• On November 30, 2007, Don Kurtyka successfully defended his dissertation, “The Effects of a Structured Adherence Intervention to HAART on Adherence and Treatment Response Outcomes”.
  
  
• Tomika S. Harris, MSN, CPNP, Doctor of Nursing Practice student, successfully presented her Evidence Based Project, “Preventive Health Care for Adolescents: Putting Guidelines For Adolescent Preventive Services (GAPS) Into Practice” on November 30, 2007.
  
  
• Sophie Suzanne Hutchins, MSN, RN, Doctor of Nursing Practice student, successfully presented her Evidence Based Project, “Predicting Success of First Semester ADN Nursing Students Using GPA and Reading Comprehension Scores” on November 30. 2007.
  
  
• Denise Passmore’s presentation, “Online Nursing Education: Faculty Experiences with Assessment” has been accepted for the 2008 American Educational Research Association (AERA) Annual Meeting held in New York. The proposal was one of more than 12,000 proposals received by AERA and was sent to five reviewers during the peer review process.
  
  
• Mary Evans received the Carl A. Taube award for outstanding contributions to mental health services research on November 5, 2007. The award is given by the Mental Health section of the American Public Health Association at the 135th meeting of the APHA. At this meeting Dr. Evans also presented a talk entitled, “Some Looking Back, Some Looking Ahead.”
  
  
• Jessica Brumley, CNM, PhD candidate presented “Race, Racism, and Pregnancy Outcomes” at the USF Research Symposium Soiree organized by the Office of Graduate Student Success at USF. Her research was chosen to be one of the 5 oral presentations while another 6 graduate students presented their work by poster.
  
  
• The College of Nursing is the #3 overall top USF collector for the Tampa Bay Heart Walk, collecting over $2,000 thanks to the enthusiasm of the college’s team captains, Anne Phillips and Melissa Molinari, the #5 overall individual collector.
  
  
• Nursing doctoral student Jessica Brumley is presenting “Race, Racism, and Pregnancy Outcomes” today, Friday November 9, 2007 at the USF Research Symposium Soiree from 2:30-6:00pm at Gibbons Alumni Center Traditions Hall.
  
  
• Cas Cahill was invited by the National Headache Foundation to develop an interactive CE-accredited, enduring material and education kit for Nurse Practitioners entitled, “Clinical Challenges: Optimizing Assessment and Counseling of Patients with Headache.” She also recently spoke at the Association of Family Practice Physician Assistants Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada on “Preventive Management of Migraine Headaches” in October, 2007.
  
  
• The College of Nursing Diversity committee appreciates the volunteers who contributed to the success of this semester’s Diversity Celebration Lunch at the College of Nursing in September including those who went above and beyond: the CRNA students, Tae Garrison, Mary Bergin, Georgia Vong, Marisa Belote, Cat Chirardonna, Leah Buck, Sheila Crowell, Elizabeth Manzano-Boulton, Susan McMillan and others. On Sunday, November 18, 2007 at 2:00pm, The College of Nursing Diversity Committee is participating in the Fourth Annual USF Health Cultural Fiesta celebrating traditions with food, music and cultural attire.
• Nursing Education Masters student Toni Linick won two scholarships from the Florida Nurses Foundation biennial convention on September 27, 2007 in Daytona Beach: The Evelyn Baxter Memorial Fund scholarship and the Edna Hicks VA Nurse Scholarship.
  
  
• Faculty member Cas Cahill presented, “Migraine Management: A New Standard of Treatment” September at a nurse practitioners conference in Dallas and will present, “Migraine Headache Prevention” at the Nurse Practitioner Associates for Continuing Education (NPACE) conference in October.
  
  
• Cecilia Jevitt and Afriyie Johnson provided primary care during National Primary Care Week. Along with ARNP students Tai Hutchinson, Rosemarie Grebe and Deb Davis, they performed more than 30 women’s health screening exams with the Catholic Mobile Medical Services in Baum on Wednesday, October 17th. Organized by CON Courtesy Faculty member, Sr. Sarah Proctor, PA, the group provided breast cancer screens and Pap smear testing to women without health care coverage. Several women were referred to gynecologists with the USF Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology who provide ultrasound exams and gynecological treatments twice monthly with Sr. Sarah’s program.
  
  
• Dr. Jevitt’s manuscript Liability Insurance in Midwifery Education: Faculty and Student Needs Versus Academic Realities has been published in the September-October issue of the Journal of Professional Nursing, the journal of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.
  
  
• Heather Weckman received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Department of Veterans Affairs for participation as a ‘Subject Matter Expert’ for the Pharmacy Re-engineering Project in August 2007. The project focused on enhanced drug order checks for patient safety, improved access to drug information, and transitioning of the VA National Drug File to the VA Enterprise Product List.
  
  
• CNL Student, Nancy Oliver was awarded a Mary York scholarship from the Florida Nurses Foundation biennial convention on September 27, 2007 in Daytona Beach.
  
  
• Dr. Theresa Beckie was accepted for and completed the American Heart Association 33rd Ten-Day Seminar on the Epidemiology and Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in Tahoe City, California from July 29 to August 10, 2007. In addition to the fellowship Dr. Beckie received a travel scholarship from the American Heart Association.