The outstanding contributions and internationally-recognized scholarly accomplishments of four USF Health professors have earned them the university’s highest honor -- recognition as 2008 distinguished professors. One faculty member -- Laurence Branch, PhD, College of Public Health -- was awarded the title Distinguished University Professor. Three have been named Distinguished University Health Professor – C. Hendricks Brown PhD, College of Public Health, Susan McMillan, PhD, College of Nursing; and David Sheehan, MD, MBA, College of Medicine.

Originally established in 1998, the Distinguished University Professor (DUP) award recognizes USF senior faculty across all disciplines who have distinguished themselves among their peers both within and outside the university through their research, scholarship and creative activity. Selection is based on a process of nomination to the provost and external peer review. The recipients will have their titles formally bestowed at the university’s Fall 2008 Honors and Awards Ceremony.

The Distinguished University Health Professor (DUHP) award was established and presented for the first time in 2007. The award recognizes USF Health faculty members for their highly distinctive achievements in research, teaching and service. Like the DUP award, the DUHP is selected through a rigorous process of internal recommending review and external peer review. DUHP recommendations are forwarded to the senior associate vice president for USF Health. Each awardee will receive a commemorative medallion and be invited to present at the 2008-09 USF Health Lecture Series scheduled to begin this fall.

As leading experts in their fields, these distinguished professors attract millions of federal research dollars to USF, publish in prestigious journals, teach and mentor students who have earned top spots as health leaders in their disciplines, and share their time and talent with the community.

Distinguished University Professor

Susan McMillan, PhD
College of Nursing

Internationally known for her contributions to oncology nursing and quality of life at the end of life, Dr. McMillan is the Lyall & Beatrice Thomson Professor of Oncology Quality of Life Nursing at USF. She was inducted into the prestigious American Academy of Nursing in 1993 in recognition of her national and international stature as a nursing leader – making her one of only 1,500 nurses out of nearly 3 million nationally who have received this honor. Dr. McMillan was named American Cancer Society Professor of Oncology Nursing from 1990 to 2000, the maximum time allowed for any professor to hold the award. At USF, she has garnered many honors, including the Jerome Krivanek Distinguished Teacher Award, the Theodore and Venette Askounes-Ashford Distinguished Scholar Award, and the College of Nursing’s Outstanding Graduate Faculty Award. Currently the principal investigator for two large NIH grants, Dr. McMillan is recognized worldwide for her research and development of tools to measure symptom management and quality of life in patients with cancer.

Dr. McMillan founded and continues to direct the Oncology Nursing Program that prepares advanced practice nurses in oncology – a field of nursing in great demand. Her NIH training grant in cancer care was among the first to provide interdisciplinary education for nurses and physicians. She founded and played a key role in successfully transforming an interdisciplinary research group into the USF’s Center for Hospice, Palliative Care and End of Life Studies, which partners with hospices across West Central Florida.

Dr. McMillan has been active in research at Moffitt Cancer Center since its inception and is affiliated with the hospital’s Psychosocial Oncology Program, where she mentors post-doctoral fellows.

Top PNI scholars from across the nation will travel to Tampa to share their research through presentations, and discussions when the USF College of Nursing hosts a National conference for the Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, entitled “Frontiers in Psychoneuroimmunology: The Emotional Interface”, September 18-21, 2008 at Saddlebrook Resort in Tampa, FL.
 
“Frontiers in Psychoneuroimmunology 2008: The Emotional Interface”, brings together the nation’s top researchers who are examining the bi-directional pathways between the brain and immune system and the subsequent connections with health and disease. Topics will include all aspects of the field from stress and immunity to the global health implications of PNI research. Conference topics include the links between emotions and cancer, the involvement of the immune system in fibromyalgia, and the impact distress, sleep and fatigue have upon the immune system. New research revealing that infection and inflammation can trigger changes in the brain—and significant behavioral and health consequences, including depression, will also be discussed.
 
“The symposium provides what nurses and front-line health care providers have asked for: a national symposium beginning with a full day pre-conference training program in meditation, before two days of evidence based research revealing the extensive links between the brain and immune system” said Director of the USF College of Nursing Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, Dr. Nick Hall. “This program impacts participant health as well as that of their patients and clients. Conference attendees are charter members of one of the most relevant annual symposiums ever offered to nurses on the subject of mind and body.”
 
Guiding the symposium, the Center for Psychoneuroimmunology advisory board brings together experts in the field of PNI. Prestigious members include Peter Bourne, former health advisor to President Jimmy Carter, and Dr. Lydia Temoshok, author of the well-known 1992 book, The Type C Connection: The Behavioral Links to Cancer and Your Health (NY: Random House).
 
Disseminating cutting edge information is just one purpose of hosting this unique gathering of scientists. Another is to bring national attention to the USF College of Nursing Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, and the fact a valuable resource is now available to individuals and corporations.
 
“More than anything else, Psychoneuroimmunology is about preventing illness and optimizing treatments. At the CON, we have some very talented people capable of helping companies to reduce health care expenditures and to enable their teams to better cope with stress and change.”
 
The center’s director, Dr. Nick Hall is seeking to build partnerships with the business community so cutting edge research can be rapidly translated into practical solutions.
 
For registration and additional information please visit www.cme.hsc.usf.edu/PNI

The University of South Florida College of Nursing is partnering with James A. Haley Veterans Hospital to expand education for nursing students and health care for veterans.

USF was competitively selected as one of seven nursing schools across the nation this year to join the VA Nursing Academy. The nursing school was awarded a $3.5 million grant from the VA for the partnership. The Academy is a virtual organization that boosts learning opportunities for nursing students at VA facilities, funds additional faculty positions to increase baccalaureate student enrollment, and increases recruitment and retention of nurses.

Read more…
Department of Veterans Affairs news release
St. Petersburg Times article
Story on USF Health

• Welcome New Nursing Faculty!
  • Marisa Belote RN, MBA
    Marisa Belote RN, MBA, received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Florida and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of South Florida. Her clinical expertise is in adult trauma and she has previously enjoyed working as flight nurse paramedic and for Critikon, Inc., A Johnson and Johnson Company as a Marketing Research Consultant, National Director of the Sales Support Program and Clinical Sales Training Coordinator. She is working on her PhD at the University of South Florida College of Nursing.
  • Susan Kennel, PhD, RN, CPNP
    Susan Kennel, PhD, RN, CPNP holds a PhD from the University of Virginia School Of Nursing where she was previously Director of the Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Program. In 2007, Dr. Kennel received the Excellence in Teaching Award from the University of Virginia School of Nursing. Dr. Kennel’s main teaching interest is primary care for children. Her research interests include children with developmental disabilities, children with ADHD, and risk behaviors in children and adolescents with developmental disabilities.
  • Cindy Tofthagen, MSN, ARNP, AOCNP
    Cindy Tofthagen, MSN, ARNP, AOCNP received her Master of Science in Nursing with a focus in oncology from the University of South Florida in 2006. She is currently working toward a doctoral degree in nursing at the University of South Florida and hopes to graduate in December of 2008. Her entire nursing career has been in oncology, first as a staff nurse on an inpatient surgical oncology unit, then as a medical oncology nurse in private practice. She continues to work as a nurse practitioner in medical oncology. Her research interests include symptom management, psychological aspects of cancer, and survivorship issues. Cindy is a member of the Oncology Nursing Society, Florida Nurses Association, Sigma Theta Tau, and Southern Nursing Research Society. She is a reviewer for the Oncology Nursing Forum and Associate Editor for the Oncology Nursing Society Website


• Congratulations to Quiet Quality Award Winner Vincente Saadeh! Vincente is a professional and accomplished member of the College of Nursing Instructional Design Team and is highly appreciated and often receives unsolicited accolades from his colleagues and customers alike for his outstanding work and willingness to always give that extra effort. He is attentive to the needs of faculty and students in the College of Nursing, always has a wonderful attitude, and is truly an asset to USF. Congratulations Vincente!


• Congratulations to Cecile Lengacher, RN, PhD, Versie Johnson-Mallard, ARNP, PhD, Shirley Fitzgerald, PhD, Melissa Molinari Shelton, RN, MS, Michelle Barta, BS, MPH, and Kevin Kip, PhD! Their abstract, “Reduced Fear of Cancer Recurrence: A Mechanism of MBSR In Breast Cancer Survivors in Transition Off Treatment” was accepted as a poster at the 10th National Conference on Cancer Nursing Research in Orlando, Florida to be held February 12-14, 2009.


• Congratulations to new faculty member and current doctoral student, Cindy Tofthagen, MSN, ARNP, AOCNP. Her abstract, "Recruitment of Patient-Caregiver Dyads for an Interventional Study Evaluating a Psychoeducational Intervention for Caregivers of People with Cancer" was accepted as a poster at the 10th National Conference on Cancer Nursing Research in Orlando, Florida to be held February 12-14, 2009.


• Dr. Brandy Lehman’s abstract, "Sleep Depression, Stress and Immunity in Dementia Caregivers: A Seven Day Study" was accepted for presentation at the Gerontological Society of America’s 61st Annual Scientific Meeting in November.


• Deborah Williams, CRNP, PhD has been competitively selected to participate in the Leadership Institute at USF Health Class of 2010. Congratulations Dr. Williams!


• VMS Team Clinical Faculty, Desiree' Metzger, MSN, ARNP-C has been invited and accepted to speak at the National Stroke Association (NSA) National meeting in Atlanta, GA in October. She will be speaking on Stroke Systems of Care. Also, Metzger was appointed to the Department of Health's Cardiovascular Health Council on Stroke Systems Team. Florida is a national leader in stroke care and has made many strides with the Florida Stroke Act, which coordinates EMS and hospitals, to leading the nation in the number of JCAHO certified primary care stroke centers.


• Versie Johnson-Mallard, PhD, WHNPc will present, “Women and self- efficacy of Protective Sexual Behaviors” at the 2008 National State of the Science Congress in Nursing Research in October.


• Mary Evans, RN, PhD, FAAN has had a book chapter published: Brennan, E. M., Evans, M.E. & Spenser, S.A. (2008). Mental health services and supports for children and families in J.M Rosenzweig & E. M. Brennan Work, life and the mental health system of care: A guide for professionals supporting families of children with emotional or behavioral disorders (pp 119-141) Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes Publishing.


• Also, Dr. Evans will present, "Understanding Conflict and Its Resolution in Systems of Care for Children with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders" at the National State of the Science Congress.


• A proud congratulation to Susan McMillan, PhD, RN, Lyall & Beatrice Thompson Professor of Oncology Quality of Life Nursing, for being recognized with the highest award of distinction from the university and USF Health, the title of Distinguished University Health Professor. Dr. McMillan is a member of the second group of outstanding senior faculty to be honored with this merit. This USF Health awards program honors USF Health professors with significant achievement in advanced clinical care, education and research that have set themselves apart from their peers. In addition to being granted the State University System title of Distinguished Professor and receiving a raise, Dr. McMillan will receive a commemorative medallion to be worn at formal university functions and events as well as have the opportunity to speak as a Distinguished USF Health Professor at a newly established annual lecture series.


• USF College of Nursing 2007 MSN- PhD graduates, and 2008 Patient Safety Fellows, Chris Olney and Lee Barks were awarded nursing research postdoctoral fellowships by the Veterans Administration Office of Academic Affiliations, beginning August 18, 2008 at the Patient Safety Research Center, Tampa VA. They will each receive a two-year stipend and additional research funding. Dr. Olney’s program of research is on pressure ulcer prevention with spinal cord injury. For her postdoctoral research she will focus on understanding attitudes toward turning patterns in veterans with SCI. Dr. Barks program of research is on postural management of persons with severs disabilities. For her postdoctoral research she will focus on strategic wheelchair positioning and patient outcomes in elderly veterans. Both will be mentored by Audrey Nelson, PhD, RN, FAAN, and Gail Powell-Cope, PhD, ARNP, FAAN. The College of Nursing mentor for Dr. Olney is Susan McMillan, PhD, RN, FAAN and for Dr. Barks is Cecile Lengacher, PhD, RN.


• Welcome new staff member Dewel Lindsey, Academic Program Specialist for the Undergraduate program. Welcome Dewel!


• Theresa Beckie, PhD, FAHA was notified that, "Examining the Challenges of Recruiting Women into a Cardiac Rehabilitation Clinical Trial" has been accepted for publication in the Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention.


• Arlene Vicker's Spring 2008 Capstone paper, "Evidence-Based Guidelines for Skin Cancer Screening" has been accepted for publication by Dermatology Nursing.


• PhD student Liw Villagomeza has achieved doctoral candidacy this summer and will now be conducting her dissertation research.


• MS-PhD student Jacqueline Munro has achieved doctoral candidacy. Her dissertation topic is; "Nurse Manager (NM) Emotional Intelligence (EI) as a Predicator of Job Satisfaction, Practice Environment Satisfaction (PES), Nurse-Sensitive Indicators and Hospital Outcomes"


• Nursing Faculty Member Appointed to Defense Health Board Health Care Delivery Subcommittee
  
  Mary E. Evans, RN, Ph.D, FAAN, Associate Dean for Research and Doctoral Study at the USF College of Nursing has been appointed to the United States Department of Defense, Defense Health Board (DHB) Health Care Delivery Subcommittee.
  
  The Defense Health Board is a Federal Advisory Committee to the Secretary of Defense that provides independent scientific counsel regarding health policy, research, and requirements for the treatment and prevention of disease and injury, promotion of health and the delivery of health care to Department of Defense beneficiaries.
  
  Congratulations again Dr Evans!


• Welcome new College of Nursing staff member, Ana Duque, Program Assistant for the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) program for Sierra Gower, CRNA, MS, ARNP, Director of the Nurse Anesthetist Program and Greg Morris, CRNA, MS, ARNP, Assistant Director of the Nurse Anesthetist Program.


• Dr. Cahill was the sole Nurse Practitioner serving on the following six hour CME project which uses a case study format and includes materials. Cady, R.K., Cahill, C., Mannix, L.K., Kramer, J.F., and Wentzel, R. G. (Eds.) (2008). “Clinical Challenges: Optimizing Assessment and Counseling of Patients with Headache”, Norfolk, CT: Educational Awareness Solutions can be obtained through www.cmewebsite.org/headache.


• Susan McMillan, PhD, ARNP, FAAN, Cindy Tofthagen, MS, ARNP, AOCNP, and Mary Ann Morgan, MS, ARNP-BC recently published, “Relationships Among Pain, Sleep Disturbances, and Depressive Symptoms in Outpatients From a Comprehensive Cancer Center,” in the Oncology Nursing Forum, Volume 35, Number 4.


• College of Nursing’s Mary Evans Receives Scholar in Residence Fellowship
  
  Mary E. Evans, RN, PhD, FAAN, Associate Dean for Research and Doctoral Study at the USF College of Nursing received a Scholar in Residence joint Fellowship with the American Academy of Nursing and Institute of Medicine for 2008-2009. The program prominently engages nursing leaders in health policy development at the national level, and allows Dr. Evans to pursue interests in implementation of recommendations to improve the mental health of Americans.
  
  “My work will provide information on factors that could facilitate the timely and effective implementation of recommendations from recent IOM committee reports and, hopefully, by implication other work underway at the IOM as well as in other scientific venues across the nation,” said Dr. Mary Evans.
  
  Obtaining information on factors, particularly social, economic and political factors, could lead to more effective implementation of IOM recommendations. The project will also codify strategies to better prepare the legislative environment at the national level for implantation of IOM recommendations, and will be completed in cooperation with Mental Health America (MHA), the largest and oldest mental health advocacy and public education organization in the United States.


• In June, Kripa Varghese was awarded the Chloe Trammel Scholarship from the Florida Division of the National League for Nursing.


• Dr. Cas Cahill presented "Asking the Right Questions: Results of the American Migraine Communication Study" at the annual American Association of Physicians Assistants meeting in San Antonio, Texas on May 24, 2008.


• Dr. Cas Cahill presented "Optimal Dialogue about Migraine Frequency and Impairment" at the NPACE 2008 National Primary Care Conference in Cape Cod, MA on June 26, 2008.


• Laura Gonzalez and Joan Perl’s abstract, “Integration of Personal Digital Assistants (PDA) at the Baccalaureate Nursing Level” was accepted as a poster presentation for the Emerging Technologies Conference in Seattle, July 13-15, 2008.