2024 Spring Newsletter

 Spring 2024 is well underway and comes with a great deal of excitement and celebration! First, we have experienced many recent successes, including:

• A banner year outstanding graduates:
  • 172 Louisville traditional and 11 accelerated BSN
  • 48 Owensboro traditional and 3 accelerated BSN
  • 24 MEPN (BSN & MSN)
  • 11 MSN APRN
  • 5 Post-graduate APRN Certificates
  • 31 DNP APRN
  • 2 PhD
  • Extension of the RN-BSN Concurrent Enrollment Program (CEP) to all of KCTCS and Ivy Tech. Many students in the CEP program are supported by a private scholarship fund.
  • Enrollment of the inaugural Nurse Anesthesia cohort in Fall 2023.
  • Several faculty received small grants for research funding.  Dr. Mollie Aleshire continued her work on “A Community Engaged Feasibility Study of hrHPV Self-Sampling for Primary Cervical Cancer Screening in Sexual and Gender Minorities,” funded by the University of Louisville Health Equity Innovation Hub.
  • Multiple graduate and undergraduate students presented at local and regional conferences.
  • Renovation of seven classrooms with up-to-date teaching technology and highly conducive learning environment, including mobile tables, comfortable seating, and state-of-the-art device charging stations.  These renovations were made possible by a grant from the Gheen’s Foundation and a private donor.
  • Renovation nearly complete on our first floor to accommodate two simulation spaces: outpatient primary care clinic for APRN students and a fully functioning operating room for nurse anesthesia residents.
  • As a special tribute of the classroom renovation, Classroom 2022 was named for Flora Ponder, one of the two first African American students in the Louisville General Hospital School of Nursing. Ms. Ponder was a community health nurse leader in Louisville for many decades.
  • Awarding of two HRSA training grants totally $6.5 million.
    • Dr. Sara Robertson – Advanced Nursing Education Workforce (ANEW) for $2.5 million
    • Dr. Heather Mitchell: LPN to BSN Pathway for $3.9 million
    • Establishment of a dedicated Owensboro Scholarship Fund by the Hager Foundation
    • Appointment of Nurse Anesthesia faculty member, Dr. Jennifer Harpe-Bates, to the KBN
    • Establishment of HealthForce Kentucky in western Kentucky; Dr. Mary DeLetter represents the School of Nursing on the Board of Directors and Dr. Amy Higdon sits on the Academic Affairs Committee.
    • An in-person CCNE site visit for validation of our 2021 virtual visit.

 This seems like a busy year, but 2024 is shaping up to be just as productive:

• Our new MSN in Leadership, with tracks in Education and Practice, has just been approved and will enroll students in Fall 2024.
• President Kim Schatzel has been active in the legislative session, advocating for higher education, including a plea for a new Health Sciences Simulation Center and Collaboration Hub.
• Upcoming site visit for potential funding by the Hearst Foundation
• Implementation of the modified APRN and new Accelerated BSN curriculum that embraces our 2021 AACN Essentials for Nursing Education and competency-based education principles.  The new traditional BSN curriculum will be implemented in Spring 2025.

Our most exciting news is the celebration of the School of Nursing Golden Jubilee on April 12!  We have grown from a Division of Nursing which admitted the first class of 41 Associate Degree students to our current School of Nursing educating over 1,200 students in two sites (Louisville and Owensboro) at the bachelor's, master’s, and doctoral levels, along with post-graduate certificates. The continuous support of the university, our community partners, alumni, and the dedicated faculty and staff have assured that the School of Nursing has been consistently accredited and respected for quality education, compassionate student support, and community engagement. I thank each of you who have contributed to the School of Nursing over the last 50 years.

 Please join us at our Golden Jubilee Celebration as we honor the last 50 years of success and define our promising future!

School of Nursing 50th Anniversary Celebration

On April 12, 2024, The School of Nursing will celebrate its 50th anniversary of quality education, research, and service!  Please join us as we reflect on the school’s past accomplishments and celebrate its future endeavors. Tickets are on sale now, and seating is limited!   For more information on the 50th celebration, please visit our website University of Louisville - 2024 School of Nursing Golden Jubilee (uoflalumni.org)

Classroom Dedicated in Honor of Flora McGuire Ponder

By Matt Willinger

More than $700,000 in renovations at the UofL School of Nursing will help enhance the education of future nurses and other healthcare workers, thanks to $600,000 in financial support from The Gheens Foundation, along with additional funds from an anonymous donor. A ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 19 marked the official opening of the second-floor renovated classrooms. 

These generous gifts from The Gheens Foundation and an anonymous donor were used for renovations and upgrades to the classrooms that make UofL’s School of Nursing a competitive destination for students. With nearly 1,000 students across multiple degree programs ranging from undergraduate to graduate programs, students at all levels benefit from the newly renovated space.

“Thank you to our partners, The Gheens Foundation and an anonymous donor, for investing in UofL’s School of Nursing and our community’s next generation of nursing leaders,” said UofL President Kim Schatzel. “We want to attract the best students and provide them with an unrivaled nursing education environment so they are prepared to face today’s health care challenges.”

School of Nursing Interim Dean Mary DeLetter said faculty and students are thankful for the needed updates.

“With changes ranging from noise reduction and brightened teaching and learning spaces, to modern technology for teaching and learning, the positive and ultramodern environment allows students to focus on the didactic learning that immediately supports their clinical experiences and ultimately, strengthens their readiness to practice,” DeLetter said.

“The very existence of the Gheens Foundation is a testament to the love and generosity its co-founders, the late Edwin and Mary Jo Gheens, had for the citizens and the institutions of this community. I am confident they would be most pleased with the trustees’ decision to support the vital mission of the School of Nursing in a manner that will attract, recruit and educate nurses for generations to come,” said Barry G. Allen, president and treasurer of The Gheens Foundation, Inc.

Additionally, numerous private donors have been extremely generous in supporting the School of Nursing, including an anonymous donor who contributed to renovating multiple classrooms over the past few years. 

As part of the celebration, Room 2022 was dedicated in honor of Flora McGuire Ponder, who, in 1954, was one of the first African American students to enroll in the Louisville General Hospital School of Nursing – a precursor to the UofL School of Nursing. Ponder helped establish and served as director of nurses at the Park-DuValle Community Health Center. She also assisted in establishing the first emergency transportation service into what is now the Louisville EMS Service. Ponder and other Louisville General Hospital graduates have been recognized as adopted alumni of the UofL School of Nursing.

The School of Nursing graduates the highest number of bachelor’s-prepared nurses in Kentucky and is the only nursing school in the region that is part of a long-standing health sciences center.

Dr Mitchell’s grant, “LPN to BSN Pathway Project,” is the second grant the School of Nursing received to aid the nursing workforce.  In June 2023, Dr. Sara Robertson, Interim Associate Dean for APRN and DNP Programs, received a $2.6 million HRSA grant for Advancing Diversity and Health Equity in the Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Workforce.

Dr. Mitchell is implementing an incremental, accelerated Licensed Practical Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (LPN-to-BSN) pathway to improve the diversity of the RN workforce in medically underserved areas of Kentucky. The objectives are to: (1) Develop and implement an incremental, accelerated LPN-to-BSN educational pathway to prepare LPNs for success on the NCLEX-RN© and gainful employment post-graduation; (2) Increase the diversity of the RN workforce in medically underserved areas in Kentucky; (3) Grow the number of qualified diverse nursing faculty in Kentucky; and (4) Expand academic-clinical partnerships in medically underserved areas. This grant is funding the: (1) creation of an incremental, accelerated LPN-to-BSN pathway; (2) enhancement of the LPN-to-BSN curriculum; (3) recruitment and retention of diverse LPN-to-BSN students and nursing faculty; and (4) financial, academic, and social support for LPN-to-BSN pathway students.

 The program is a collaborative effort between the University of Louisville School of Nursing and the Kentucky Community and Technical College System and will align the curricula of the established LPN-to-RN bridge program and the RN-to-BSN program to create an LPN-to-BSN pathway. It also includes academic-practice collaborations with three large health systems across Kentucky—University of Louisville Health, Owensboro Health Inc., and Mountain Comprehensive Health Corporation. These health systems service medically underserved areas in Kentucky and are committed to supporting the LPN-to-BSN pathway program. They will offer priority clinical placements for the students, arrange experiences in medically underserved areas, and provide opportunities to interact with and care for medically underserved populations.

Dr. Robertson’s grant, “Advancing Diversity and Health Equity in the Primary Care and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Workforce.” Robertson is partnering with the UofL Department of Family and Geriatric Medicine, Family Health Centers of Louisville, and Mountain Comprehensive Health Corporation. The goal is to increase the education of nurse practitioners from diverse populations, including underrepresented minorities and those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

“We want the nurse practitioner workforce to more closely mirror the population of Kentucky in terms of diversity and enable NPs from rural areas in the state to earn an APRN degree and provide high-quality health care in their rural areas across the Commonwealth,” Robertson said. “To be able to offer scholarships for students whose dream is to work with vulnerable and rural populations is impactful. This funding will help make their dreams of becoming a nurse practitioner a reality and at the same time, improve access to quality health care across the state of Kentucky.”

 Kentucky has a severe shortage of health care providers, with at least some portion of 113 of the state’s 120 counties designated as Health Professional Shortage Areas, including parts of Jefferson County.

“These kinds of workforce pipeline grants are truly transformative and will make a lasting and tangible impact on the health and wellness of Kentuckians for generations to come,” said Interim Provost Gerry Bradley. “Our highly trained and committed nursing faculty are advancing the work that enables us to continue in our effort to expand access to high quality and diverse health care across the entire Commonwealth.” 

School of Nursing Interim Dean Mary DeLetter says she’s proud of the nursing faculty who worked tirelessly to secure these grants that benefit nursing students, the nursing profession, and ultimately, citizens across the state.

“These programs support opportunities to enhance clinical training and bring superior nursing care to all corners of the Commonwealth, from rural Appalachia to urban Jefferson County to rural western Kentucky counties,” DeLetter said.

Hines-Martin Says Goodbye After 25 Years

Dr. Vicki Hines-Martin, Professor and Associate Dean of Community Engagement, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion retired from the University of Louisville on December 31, 2023, after 25 years of service.  In addition to her role as Associate Dean of Community Engagement, Diversity, and Inclusion in the School of Nursing, Dr. Hines-Martin also served as the Director of Community Outreach in the HSC Office of Diversity and Inclusion, a Commonwealth Scholar in the School of Public Health and Information Sciences Commonwealth Institute of Kentucky, and the Associate Director of the Community Engagement Core in the NIH-funded Center for Integrative Environmental Health Sciences.

Dr. Martin is an accomplished professor with over 30 years of experience as an educator and researcher.  As PI or Co-PI, she received over $2.8 million in intramural and extramural funding from the American Nurses Foundation, the National Institute of Nursing Research, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, HRSEA, the US Department of Education, and Robert Wood Johnson.  Dr. Hines-Martin is a prolific writer with over 40 publications, 14 book chapters, and 2 books.  She served on over 25 graduate student’s thesis, project, and dissertation committees and has been a leader in local, regional, and national organizations, including KYANNA Black Nurses Association and the International Society of Psychiatric Nurses.  Dr. Hines-Martin is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and received numerous honors and awards for her exemplary service to her community and profession, especially service to underrepresented persons, advocacy for diversity, equity, and inclusion, and commitment to psychiatric-mental health nursing.

 The School of Nursing thanks Dr. Hines-Martin for her service longevity to the University of Louisville and the community. After such a long and productive career, Dr. Hines-Martin is well deserving of a peaceful and restful retirement!

Cynethia Bethel-Hines, Coordinator of Community Engagement and Inclusivity

Dr. Cynethia Bethel-Hines, Assistant Professor in the School of Nursing was appointed in January 2024 to serve as Coordinator of Community Engagement and Inclusivity. Dr. Bethel-Hines is hosting nine scheduled visits of middle and high-school students to the School of Nursing to learn about the nursing profession.  Thanks to the collaborative support of the Area Health Education Center (AHEC) workforce pipeline grant, the School of Nursing has been able to provide hands-on simulation experiences and CRP training to students from several local high schools.  According to Dr. Bethel-Hines, “In just 9 visits, we have witnessed the positive influence the faculty have had on these aspiring minds.  The faculty’s ability to share their passion for nursing has not only ignited curiosity but has also set the stage for transformative learning experiences.  I am confident that the students appreciate the effort faculty put into making each session meaningful and engaging.”

Tinker Selected as Fall 2023 Commencement Student Speaker

‘I’ve learned what I’m capable of’

A Q&A with December 2023 Student Commencement Speaker

By Bendon Hobson

Ellen Tinker is one of more than 900 graduates who will walk across the stage at commencement this week. Tinker, however, will play a prominent role as the December 2023 commencement ceremony student speaker.

Tinker, who earned her degree in nursing, is from San Diego, California. Originally from China, she was adopted by an American family as a child. “A big part of my story is being adopted from China,” she said. “So coming from that and being an orphan to being commencement speaker at an amazing university is something I’m very proud of and grateful for.”

She found her college home at UofL after discovering a new career path during the pandemic. At UofL, Tinker became involved in several groups, including serving as president of the Student Nursing Council. Her involvement helped her grow as a leader and set her up for success after graduation.

UofL News had the opportunity to speak with Tinker ahead of graduation to find out more about her experience at UofL and her plans moving forward.

UofL News: Why did you choose UofL?

Tinker: I chose UofL because I wanted an out-of-state school with both great academics and school spirit. I wanted research opportunities and a strong health care environment, but also a tailgate scene and things like that.

 UofL News: Why did you decide to on nursing as your career path?

Tinker: I went to school in D.C. until COVID hit. I had interned for the House of Representatives, and I was really into the Capitol Hill vibe. (But) I switched over to nursing. I was inspired by seeing what the nurses did during the pandemic. I just kind of made a big decision to change my path to nursing.

UofL News: How has the School of Nursing at UofL helped you?

Tinker: The School of Nursing is very, very special. I have a lot of friends in other majors, and we’ll chit-chat about the relationships they have with faculty … the faculty of the School of Nursing is by far the most supportive. They take an interest in their students individually. Just the mindset, there is always growth, so I feel like everyone’s always trying to make the School of Nursing the best that it can be.

UofL News: What professor had the greatest impact on you?

Tinker: I would say Imelda Wright. She was my first medical-surgical nurse and she’s just an angel on Earth. She always comes to class in really cool high heels and just is the epitome of a strong woman role model. The other one would be Paul Clark, he is just the most supportive, positive professor. He focuses on mental health in a way that I feel like most professors just don’t. Love them both.

UofL News: What was your most memorable moment at UofL?

Tinker: I would probably say rushing the field at the Notre Dame football game. We were right there at the front and my friends and I stormed the field and I got elbowed in the eye really hard. My contact popped out … I was running with one eye closed and it was just really fun.

UofL News: What are your plans after graduation? What type of nurse are you aspiring to become?

Tinker: I have accepted a job in the UofL Hospital Emergency Department, a Level 1 trauma center.

UofL News: How has UofL helped you grow?

Tinker: UofL has helped me grow through tough classes, clinical experiences, involvement like SGA, opportunities like the Research Scholars Program, leadership roles like being president of Nursing Student Council, etc. I filled my schedule to the max because of so many opportunities from classes to extracurriculars; I’ve grown from being pushed to my limits – usually in a good way! I’ve learned what I’m capable of. 

Research!Louisville Celebrates Another Successful Symposium

 Undergraduate Student Sarah Hedayati presenting her poster at Research!Louisville

Research!Louisville is an annual celebration of health-related research across the University of Louisville.  Its purpose is to generate additional funding for health science research, promote excellence in health sciences research, promote public awareness of health sciences research, promote health equity, and promote the Louisville Medical Center.  The symposium was held September 28 – October 6, 2023 across the Health Science Campus.  Participants had the opportunity to listen to keynote speakers, attend workshops, and research panel presentations, and view poster presentations from research faculty and students from the Medical, Dental, Nursing, and Public Health schools.

Congratulations to graduate student, Shubha Sapkota whose poster presentation, “Unveiling the Layers of Parenting Stress: Analyzing the Concept in the Context of Children with Autism,” was selected the School of Nursing Graduate Student Poster winner.  Dr. Ratchneewan Ross, School of Nursing Professor, also collaborated with Shubha on the presentation.

 Research!Louisville student poster winner, Shubha Sapkota

Traditional BSN Program Highlights

Dr. Heather Mitchell
Interim Associate Dean for Pre-licensure Programs (Louisville)

The Traditional BSN program continues to prepare students for the workforce through innovative ways.  Here are some of the highlights of the Fall 2024 semester in the BSN programs.

In August 2023 the first cohort of the newly launched Accelerated BSN program graduated 11 new nurses into the workforce.  There was 100% NCLEX pass rate for this group.  This program currently has 65 candidates ready to start the third cohort, which begins Summer of 2024.

Congratulations to Senior Alexa White who received the 2023 Mildred Metz Scholarship from The Kentucky Nurses Association.  The scholarship is named in memory of Mildred Metz who was the longtime director of the Norton Memorial Infirmary School of Nursing.

Congratulations also goes to Senior Madeline Martinez who was one of two Rhodes Scholar finalists selected from UofL.  Madeline flew to Washington, DC in November of 2023 where she was interviewed along with other finalist from institutions around the country.  President Schatzel hosted a reception to honor the finalists and send them off to DC with all the Cardinal wishes.  

The Pediatric Evidence-Based Poster Presentation, sponsored by BrightSpring Health Services was held on November 13, 2023. The event was well received, and many community partners expressed interest in the students' poster topics. Students were able to network with many people in the healthcare setting which is important for their future career development.  Many thanks to Dr. Becky Gesler who coordinated the event, and to Ms. Ashley Durham, Ms. Deidre Peters, and Dr. Sally Martens for assisting Dr. Gesler.

Senior Ellen Tinker was selected by the Dean of Students to be the student speaker for the Fall 2023 Commencement ceremony on December 15.  After graduation, Ellen plans to work at the University of Louisville Hospital Emergency Department for a while before she returns her graduate degree.  We are so proud of you Ellen!

Congratulations to all our students on their leadership and high achievements. 

RN-BSN PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

Dr. Diane Riff
Program Director

We are celebrating our second year for the Currently Enrollment Program this summer.  Any students enrolled in any of the KCTCS or Ivy Tech ADN prelicensure programs are eligible to enroll.  We have been hosting information sessions that have seen many students from KCTCS and Ivy Tech schools registered.

Several University of Louisville nurses have been involved in a residency program, which has been very strong.  In the program they complete an EBP project and have met all the objectives of an EBP research course.  They are building on their prior learning assessment.

APRN PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

Dr. Sara Robertson
Interim Associate Dean for APRN & DNP Programs

First Floor Renovations

With the increase in nursing programs, particularly the Nurse Anesthesia program, there was a growing need for simulation space.  A plan was developed to create simulation space that will predominantly serve the Nurse Practitioner and Nurse Anesthesia Programs.  Students can learn through simulation in a true clinic setting and simulated operating room.  With the assistance of funds from generous donors, the School of Nursing has been able to use space on the first floor of the building and make some cosmetic changes to expand our current simulation teaching/learning.  The walls have been painted, the floor has been professionally cleaned, a scrub sink was installed.  The operating room will meet the needs of the nurse anesthesia residents. The space also allowed the simulation lab to purchase a new washer and dryer!

(L to R: Before image of simulation operating room; after image of simulation operating room; new washer and dryers in simulation space)

SON Faculty to Present at National Conference

(L to R: Brittany Corniel, Elisabeth Volpert, Jackie Smith, Melissa Humphreys)

PHD STUDENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Dr. Lynne Hall
Associate Dean of Research/Interim Ph.D. Program Director

PhD student Joelle Hirst was a 2023 Daisy Award recipient.

PhD student Ahmad Alshurman won the Professional Nursing Educators Group (PNEG) Conference, “People’s Choice Poster Award” for his poster, Impact of Telephone Follow-up on the Rehospitalization Rates among HF Patients: A Review.

Eight students presented posters at Research!Louisville: Majduleen Abu Fasheh, Mifleh Al Araydeh, Eman Alsatari, Ahmad Alshurman, and Shuba Sapkota from the PhD program, Alisha Mitchell from the DNP program, and Ellen Tinker and Sarah Hedayati (Research Scholar) from the BSN program.

PhD student and GRA, Shubha Sapkota, won the Research!Louisville School of Nursing Graduate Student Poster Competition with her poster, “Unveiling the Layers of Parenting Stress: Analyzing the Concept in the Context of Children with Autism.” Shubha’s advisor and poster co-author was Dr. Ratchneewan Ross.

Dr. Jeanne Ward (PhD, May 2023) had one of her dissertation manuscripts accepted for publication. Ward, J., Sha, S., & Hardin-Fanning, F. (In press). Predictors of sun protective behaviors and sunburn in the United States population. The Journal of the Dermatology Nurses' Association.

Eman Alsatari, Sanju Kunwar, Mifleh Al-Araydeh, and Shubha Sapkota (PhD students), and Valenchia Brown and Sarah Markgraf (DNP students), had abstracts accepted for poster presentation at the 2024 Midwest Nursing Research Society Conference which will take place in February/March 2024. 

NURSE ANESTHESIA PROGRAM

Dr. Cheryl Parker
Director, Nurse Anesthesia Program

The Nurse Anesthesia program is continuing to grow!  The 1st cohort is entering their second semester and is looking forward to time in both the Simulation Lab and the Cadaver Lab.

On January 7 -9, the faculty in the Nurse Anesthesia Program recently conducted interviews for the second cohort.  They are looking forward to welcoming the new Nurst Anesthesia residents in August of 2024.

CRNA week was January 22 - 27, and CRNA Day at the Capitol was Tuesday, January 23, 2024.  The faculty and nurse anesthesia residents joined community CRNAs and nurse anesthesia residents from NKU in Frankfort to promote CRNA practice.   They also spoke to Governor Beshear and other legislators.  They collaborated with NKU to showcase their #1 skill: airway management.  Nurse Anesthesia Residents from both schools demonstrated (and taught legislators) how to intubate and mask ventilate using mannequins.  During this time Governor Beshear signed a proclamation declaring January 23, 2024 as CRNA day.  How exciting it was for our nurse anesthesia residents to be present during this historic moment.

News From Owensboro

OWENSBORO BSN PROGRAMS

Dr. Amy Higdon
Assistant Dean for Pre-licensure Programs (Owensboro)

The Owensboro Extension began offering Basic Life Saving (BLS) training for students in August at a discounted cost compared to previous arrangements. This was made possible by two full time faculty members who are BLS instructors that offered to teach the course, and by a donor who provided funds for the equipment.

In September an information session was offered for prospective students.

The Student Council facilitated a Trunk or Treat at an Owensboro community center in October.

The Owensboro faculty attended the unveiling of the HealthForce Kentucky mobile simulation unit in October. More information about this initiative can be located here: About – HealthForce Kentucky – Owensboro, Kentucky

Faculty accompanied the Owensboro academic advisor to recruitment events at schools, colleges, and universities across our service area throughout the fall semester.

Student Council facilitated a donation drive to provide Christmas stockings to over 70 children living in low-income households in an Owensboro community.

Faculty and Staff hosted a potential donor at the Owensboro extension. More exciting news to come about this in 2024!

Office of Community Engagement and Inclusivity

School Partnership Happenings

Between September 18th and September 22nd, the School of Nursing hosted 108 middle and high school students from Jefferson County Public Schools. The events included a full-day HSC/College Tour for 12 graders from Central High School. The students were able to use what they learned in the classroom at CHS and apply it to hands-on activities at the SON’s lab and simulation areas. The students had a lot of fun breaking out of the medical terminology “hospital escape room”! 

Students were able to learn more about UofL’s nursing program. One of the hands-on activities included students creating wounds on themselves. We had one of the teams of students” break out” of the escape room.

Arvine Education Center’s health science pathway students visited on October 9th. The 49 high school students from Oldham County High School, North Oldham County, and South Oldham County immersed themselves in the interactive experiences and information session.

The School of Nursing also hosted 7th graders from Grace James Academy.  The student engagement was wonderful, and the interactive experiences were met with excitement.

The School of Nursing plans to host more middle and high school students to get students more engaged and interested in pursuing a nursing career.

UofL Engaged Scholarship Symposium

The eighth annual U of L Engaged Scholarship Symposium was held on Friday, March 24, 2023. The theme for the symposium was “Making a Difference through University-Community Collaborations.” The symposium explored the nature of university-community collaborations and the difference they are making. The SON had a great showing with six faculty members highlighting their collaborations.  The next Engage Scholarship Symposium will be held this spring.  If you are engaged in research and teaching activities involving community partners and service, showcase the great things you are doing at the next symposium.  More information to come.

Nursing and Early Childhood Learning Collaboration to Assess Preschoolers’ Perception of Healthy Eating

Early childhood is an ideal time for establishing healthy eating habits. Our collaboration is a novel approach to establishing the earliest age at which children can differentiate between healthy and unhealthy foods. Preschoolers were recruited in this study which used drawing activities to determine awareness of foods that promote health.  Presenters include Dr. Frances Hardin-Fanning in the School of Nursing and Dr. Jill Jacobi-Vessels in the department of Special Education, Early Childhood & Prevention Science in the College of Education.

An Evaluation of COVID-19 Vaccination Rates of the Patients at the Kentucky Racing Health Services Center

This project was conducted as a component of a senior honor thesis by Aditya Mehta. The objective was to evaluate COVID-19 vaccination rates in a marginalized population at the Kentucky Racing Health Services Center. Data gaps relating to Latinx patients in Kentucky’s state records supported the need for this research.  Presenters included Kentucky Racing Health Services Center Director, Dedra Hayden, Assistant Professor, Krista Roach, and Student, Aditya Mehta.