Oct 2015 Highlights: UMSN faculty receive highest honors in health science, plus new findings, funding and collaborations showcase nursing contributions to patient care

High Honors

For in the second straight year, University of University of Michigan School of Nursing (UMSN) faculty is represented in new elections to the National Academy of Medicine (NAM), formerly known as the Institute of Medicine. NAM membership is one of the highest honors in health and medicine. U-M now has 54 past and present members of the NAM on faculty. UMSN’s Marita Titler, PhD, RN, FAAN, professor and chair of UMSN’s Department of Systems, Populations and Leadership, was selected for her extensive contributions to nursing science. She focuses on outcomes effectiveness and implementation science, and in improving care for older adults. Her work demonstrates the contributions of nursing in improved outcomes and lowered costs. She directs the National Nursing Practice Network, a community of more than 100 practices and health systems promoting evidence-based practices to improve health care and population health. 

Inductions

• UMSN Dean Kathleen Potempa, PhD, RN, FAAN, was selected for membership in the prestigious institute in 2014 and was officially inducted during NAM’s
  recent Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.
• Clinical Assistant Professor Michelle Aebersold, PhD, RN, and alumni Suzanne Miyamoto (’02, ’04, ’09), Jeff Adams (’96), Tondi Harrison (’88) and Laureen Smith (’91, ’03) were inducted as American Academy of Nursing Fellows during the Academy’s annual policy conference. Fellows are selected based on a significant contribution to nursing and health care, sponsorship by two current fellows, and a review by a panel of fellows.  Dr. Miyamoto also received the Honorary Friend of National Institutes of Nursing Research award during FINR’s annual NightinGala. Dr. Miyamoto is the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Senior Director of Government Affairs and Health Policy. 

Global Impact

UMSN was part of a global conference focused on helping victims of human trafficking. Hillman Scholar and PhD student Kristen Choi, Associate Dean for Global Affairs Jody Lori, PhD, CNM, FACNM, FAAN, and Clinical Associate Professor Sue Anne Bell, PhD, FNP-BC, were invited panelists for a discussion on interdisciplinary collaboration. The conference was hosted by the U-M Law School, which operates the first clinical law program solely dedicated to the issue of human trafficking. Nursing faculty and students are involved in the Law School’s efforts to establish an interdisciplinary clinic in Ethiopia to provide comprehensive services for survivors of human trafficking.

Dr. Bell, Assistant Professor Michelle Munro-Kramer, PhD, CNM, FNP-BC, and U-M Law School collaborators Bridgette Carr and Eva Foti-Pagan received a new grant to support their efforts in Ethiopia. The funding, from U-M’s Institute for Research on Women and Gender, will be used for their project “SELAM (Supporting Ethiopian Survivors of Exploitation and Abuse in Mental Health).”

Two UMSN students shared their global health experiences at the Wallenberg Summer Travel Award presentations. The humanitarian awards are granted to U-M students to take part in a community service project or civic participation anywhere in the world. During senior Lucia Michelazzo Ceroni’s presentation, she focused on La Matria in Argentina, where she worked with young adults on health care, gender issues and access to care. Katie Finn, a UMSN Hillman Scholar, used her award to work with children in Uganda who are cognitively impaired due to malaria. Learn more about summer global health experiences of UMSN students.

Dr. Stephen Strobbe, a UMSN clinical associate professor, recently served as a senior clinical consultant for a nursing conference in Yangon, Myanmar (formerly Burma), and presented on the topic, “Understanding, Preventing, and Responding to a Mental Health Crisis.” 

Research Highlights

An observational study by Associate Professor Milisa Manojlovich PhD, RN, CCRN, and fellow researchers provides new insights into insertion practices of indwelling urinary catheters in emergency departments.  They found major breaks in aseptic insertion technique in 59% of observed catheter insertions. The researchers believe certain emergency department environmental factors and common practices contributed to the problem and are areas for potential improvement. “This small study provides additional support for the notion that the work environment influences nurses’ ability to provide safe care,” says Dr. Manojlovich.

Primary care providers, including nurse practitioners, can positively impact  glycemic control in  patients with diabetes by increasing recognition of  the underemphasized connection between diabetes and gum disease (periodontitis) and applying simple, efficient, additions to their practice. UMSN Clinical Assistant Cynthia Darling-Fisher, PhD, FNP-BC, and colleagues describe ways to enhance oral health history taking and examination, educate diabetes patients about their oral health needs and proper preventative care, and promote collaborative relationships with dentists during routine diabetes care. Taking such a  proactive approach can improve glycemic control, promote early identification of those at risk for diabetes, as well as,  help delay or prevent some complications. The findings are published in the October 2015 issue of The Journal for Nurse Practitioners. 

UMSN Assistant Professor Sarah A. Stoddard, PhD, CPNP, and colleagues took a deeper look at connections between youth dating violence, alcohol use and mental health. They surveyed patients, ages 14-20, who received care from the U-M emergency department. The researchers, led by U-M’s Vijay Singh, MD, MPH, MS, found that nearly 1 in 4 of patients who screened positive for alcohol use were also involved in dating violence as either a victim or perpetrator. In addition, they found connections between dating violence, mental health concerns and emergency room visits. Dr. Singh and colleagues say these findings suggest the emergency room could be an important location to identify and help youth involved in dating violence.

New Funding

Dr. Stoddard will serve as a co-investigator on a new $6 million grant at the Michigan Youth Violence Prevention Center. With funding from the CDC, the researchers will study the effects of vacant property improvements on violence and property crimes. A key element of the work includes engaging residents with a special focus on young adults. They will focus on communities in Flint, MI; Youngstown, OH; and Camden, NJ.

Associate Professor Marcelline Harris, PhD, RN, is part of the U-M leadership team in a new $8.6 million collaboration dedicated to conducting clinical research more efficiently, with a stronger emphasis on patient-focused research. The Patient-Centered Network of Learning Health Systems (LHSNet) includes partners across six states and nine academic medical systems, plus health care systems and public health departments. Now LHSNet is part of the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) PCORnet, the National Patient-Centered Clinical Research Network. Dr. Harris and colleagues from U-M’s Medical School will lead the grant investigative team for the collaboration.

In the News

Dean Potempa targets the health impacts of climate change in her most recent Wall Street Journal Health Experts post. “We who are responsible for educating future clinicians must ensure they will have the skills to meet the changing health needs of their patients and communities,” writes Dr. Potempa. She explains how clinicians often see climate-related impacts such as exacerbated asthma symptoms during periods of high temperatures. Earlier this year, Dean Potempa and 30 other deans from medical and health science schools recently signed a pledge committing to improving climate-related education for health care students.

“It’s time we focused on caring for our health care professionals the way they care for us,” writes UMSN Assistant Professor Christopher Friese, PhD, RN, AOCN, FAAN, in an op-ed article for the Lansing State Journal. Dr. Friese is both a researcher and advocate in the area of improving safety for health care workers. While Dr. Friese supports specific action, such as educating nurses who work in cancer treatment centers to use personal protective equipment, he says the greater challenge is shifting to a culture where health care workers consider their own health and safety as they care for patients.

Student Spotlight

PhD student Rattima Sirihorachai is featured in a U-M Rackham Graduate School Student Spotlight. Sirhorachai’s research interest is developing effective care strategies to reduce distractions and interruptions in acute and primary care settings. She shares how she’s hoping her focus in patient safety will make a different in health care.

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