Hala Darwish, RN, APN, Ph.D., FAAN

Hala Darwish

Associate Professor
University of Michigan Medical School, Department of Neurology
Department of Systems, Populations and Leadership
Room 4345 NURS1

University of Michigan School of Nursing
400 North Ingalls Building
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5482

Telephone: 734-647-4929

In the news

Interests

  • Cognitive Function
  • Cognitive Rehabilitation
  • Neurocognitive disorders
  • Mental health
  • Health disparities

Dr. Hala Darwish is a researcher in the fields of nursing science and cognitive neuroscience. Her research focuses on cognitive impairment and rehabilitation in neurocognitive disorders, such as traumatic brain injury and Alzheimer’s disease. She is proficient in basic science, translational, and clinical research. She has ongoing research projects investigating cognitive and affective functions, and cognitive fatigue. She received NIH training and individual research grants and has presented her work at national and international forums. Dr. Darwish is a member of the Michigan Concussion Center and affiliate of the Michigan Neuroscience Institute. She is the first Neuroscience scholar within the School of Nursing.  She is a member of the Nursing Honor Society - Sigma Theta Tau and a fellow of the American Academy of the Nursing and other international and national professional organizations. She has authored several research papers about the topic.

Current Research Grants and Programs

  • U-M School of Nursing Donor Award funding (Intramural) Cognitive Health Research Award, A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of A Comprehensive Cognitive and Affective Intervention for Neurocognitive Disorders (CoINTEGRATE), PI

Teaching

Dr. Darwish’s teaching expertise includes classroom teaching, undergraduate and graduate levels, and one-on-one mentoring of masters and doctorate students, including thesis and dissertation chairing. Dr. Darwish takes pleasure and pride in teaching and giving guidance to students.

Affiliations / Service

  • Member of the International MS Cognition Society (2019-present)
  • Member of the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (2018-present)
  • Member of the International Organization of MS nurses (2013-present)
  • President of the AUB Alumni Nurses Chapter (2010-2015)
  • Member of the European Brain and Behavior Society (2010-2012)
  • Member of the Order of Nurses in Lebanon (2004-present)
  • Member of the Society for Neuroscience (2003-present)
  • Member of the Midwest Nursing Research Society (2002-2010)
  • Member of the Michigan Nurses Association (2000-2013)

Notable Awards / Honors

  • Fellow, American Academy of Nursing, 2018
  • International Organization of Multiple Sclerosis Research Award, 2017
  • Member of the Nursing Honor Society, Chi- Iota Chapter, Sigma Theta Tau International, American University of Beirut, 2014
  • Member of the Nursing Honor Society - Sigma Theta Tau International - Rho Chapter- University of Michigan- Ann Arbor, 2002

Education

  • Ph.D., University of Michigan, 2007
  • MSN, University of Michigan, 2007
  • Teaching Diploma, American University of Beirut
  • BSN, American University of Beirut, 1997

Publication Highlights

  • Dahham J, Rizk R, Hiligsmann M, Daccache C, Khoury SJ, Darwish H, Evers S, Kremer I (2021). The Economic and societal burden of multiple sclerosis on lebanese society: a cost-of-illness and quality of life study protocol. Expert review of pharmacoeconomics & outcomes research. Nov 27:1-8.

  • Saba, E. S., Karout, M., Nasralla, L., Kobeissy, F., Darwish, H., & Khoury, S. J. (2021). Long-term cognitive deficits after traumatic brain injury associated with microglia activation. Clinical immunology (Orlando, Fla.), 108815

  • Darwish, H., Zeinoun, P., Farran, N., Ghusn, H., Yamout, B., & Khoury, S. J. (2021). The Brief International Cognitive Assessment in Multiple Sclerosis (BICAMS): Validation in Arabic and Lebanese Normative Values. J Int Neuropsychol Soc, 1-10. doi:10.1017/s1355617721000102

  • Puzantian, H., & Darwish, H. (2021). Redesigning a PhD measurement course for a new era in nursing science. J Prof Nurs, 37(2), 387-390. doi:10.1016/j.profnurs.2020.04.019

  • El Ayoubi, N. K., Bou Reslan, S. W., Baalbaki, M. M., Darwish, H., & Khoury, S. J. (2021). Effect of fingolimod vs interferon treatment on OCT measurements and cognitive function in RRMS. Mult Scler Relat Disord, 53, 103041. doi:10.1016/j.msard.2021.103041

  • Zeinoun, P., Farran, N., Khoury, S. J., & Darwish, H. (2020). Development, psychometric properties, and pilot norms of the first Arabic indigenous memory test: The Verbal Memory Arabic Test (VMAT). J Clin Exp Neuropsychol, 42(5), 505-515. doi:10.1080/13803395.2020.1773408

  • Darwish, H., Farran, N., Hannoun, S., Tadros, N., Yamout, B., El Ayoubi, N. K., & Khoury, S. J. (2020). Serum vitamin D level is associated with speed of processing in multiple sclerosis patients. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol, 200, 105628. doi:10.1016/j.jsbmb.2020.105628

  • Farran, N., Safieddine, B. R., Bayram, M., Abi Hanna, T., Massouh, J., AlKhawaja, M., . . . Darwish, H. (2020). Factors affecting MS patients' health-related quality of life and measurement challenges in Lebanon and the MENA region. Mult Scler J Exp Transl Clin, 6(1), 2055217319848467. doi:10.1177/2055217319848467

  • Maalouf, F.T., Alamiri, B., Atweh, S., Becker, Cheour, A E., Darwish,H., Ghandour,L.A., Ghuloum,S., Hamze,M., Karam,E., Khoury,B., Khoury,S.J., Mokdad,A., Meho,L.I., Okasha,T., Reed,G.M., Sbaity, E., Zeinoun, P., Akl, E.A. (2019). Mental health research in the Arab region: challenges and call for action. The Lancet Psychiatry, 1-6.

  • Fares, S., Dirani, J., Darwish, H ( 2019). Arabic Validation of the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 (HSCL) in a Lebanese sample of Adults and Older Adults. Current Psychology, 1-8.

  • Darwish, H., Farran, N., Assaad, S., & Chaaya, M. (2018). Cognitive Reserve Factors in a Developing Country: Education and Occupational Attainment Lower the Risk of Dementia in a Sample of Lebanese Older Adults. Front Aging Neurosci, 10, 277. doi:10.3389/fnagi.2018.00277

  • Darwish, H., Zeinoun, P., Farran, N., & Fares, S. (2018). Rey Figure Test with recognition trial: normative data for Lebanese adults. Clin Neuropsychol, 32(sup1), 102-113. doi:10.1080/13854046.2018.1480802

  • Darwish, H., Haddad, R., Osman, S., Ghassan, S., Yamout, B., Tamim, H., & Khoury, S. (2017). Effect of Vitamin D Replacement on Cognition in Multiple Sclerosis Patients. Sci Rep, 7, 45926. doi:10.1038/srep45926

  • El Ayoubi, N. K., Ghassan, S., Said, M., Allam, J., Darwish, H., & Khoury, S. J. (2016). Retinal measures correlate with cognitive and physical disability in early multiple sclerosis. J Neurol, 263(11), 2287-2295. doi:10.1007/s00415-016-8271-4

  • Darwish, H., Zeinoun, P., Ghusn, H., Khoury, B., Tamim, H., & Khoury, S. J. (2015). Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D predicts cognitive performance in adults. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat, 11, 2217-2223. doi:10.2147/ndt.S87014