2021 News Archive

Wednesday, June 01, 2022 — The University of Rochester School of Nursing’s Council for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (CoDEI) presents a comprehensive guide to participate and advocate for the LGBTQ+ community.

Wednesday, December 22, 2021 — In observance of International Human Rights Day – December 10 – the Council for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion would like to highlight local organizations that are helping make a positive impact on the lives some of the most vulnerable among us: refugees.

Wednesday, December 22, 2021 — The University of Rochester School of Nursing has added two assistant deans to its leadership team. Lisa Brophy, EdD, RN, MSBA, CNE, and Carla DeLucia, EdD, have been named assistant deans for education and student affairs, respectively. Both report directly to Lydia Rotondo, DNP, RN, CNS, FNAP, associate dean for education and student affairs.

Tuesday, December 21, 2021 — You may have some familiarity with the existence of Kwanzaa, however its origins and practices may be obscure. Unlike the religious foundations of Christmas and Hanukah, Kwanzaa is a secular, cultural holiday that begins the day after Christmas and lasts until New Year’s Day. It is also a relatively newer holiday, established in 1965, by Dr. Maulana Karenga, a former activist who became a professor of African Studies at California State University-Long Beach, and a prolific scholar on African and African American culture and Afrocentric philosophies.

Tuesday, December 21, 2021 — The School of Nursing's Interdisciplinary Sexual Health and HIV Research (INSHHR) Group discussed continuing struggles and strides within HIV research, policies, and public health strategies during a panel discussion to help mark World AIDS Day on Dec. 13. The discussion was hosted by the Council for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusiveness and Student Affairs Office.

Monday, December 20, 2021 — Jinjiao Wang, PhD, RN, postdoctoral program director and assistant professor at the University of Rochester School of Nursing, received an award from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to improve infection control in home health care. The study, “Disparities in infection in home health and patients/caregivers’ perceptions (Dis-Infection in HHC),” is a five-year, over $2 million RO1 award. Wang and co-investigator Jingjing Shang, PhD, RN, FAAN, professor of nursing at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, will investigate socioeconomic disparities in COVID-19 cases and other infection events in home health care patients before and during the pandemic. Findings from the study will help develop a home-based infection prevention and control program.

Monday, November 29, 2021 — Mitchell J. Wharton, PhD, RN, FNP-BC, CNS, ACRN, University of Rochester School of Nursing’s associate dean for equity and inclusion, was named President-Elect of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (ANAC) Board of Directors.

Thursday, November 18, 2021 — An anonymous donor recently made a $1 million gift to the University of Rochester School of Nursing to support generations of future nurses. The donation has been earmarked to support the expansion of Helen Wood Hall, the home of the UR School of Nursing, which is currently undergoing a $15 million renovation to include more technologically enhanced experiential and collaborative learning spaces.

Wednesday, November 17, 2021 — Rochester researchers received an award from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) to address vaccine hesitancy and improve health literacy among middle and high school students. “The driving force behind the project is this passion to start incorporating health literacy and behavior change into the educational material that we're offering for our outreach programs,” said Danielle Alcéna-Stiner, PhD, RN, assistant professor at UR School of Nursing, and co-investigator on the new project.

Monday, October 18, 2021 — The University of Rochester School of Nursing has received the 2021 Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. This marks the fifth consecutive year that the UR School of Nursing has been chosen for this honor.

Friday, October 15, 2021 — Julie Gottfried, DNP, RN, CNS, CPNP-PC, assistant professor of clinical nursing at the UR School of Nursing, and Mary Starks ’17N, a student in the Family Nurse Practitioner to Doctor of Nursing Practice program, are among several colleagues and organizations, including the Rochester Black Nurses Association, who will be recognized for their accomplishments and contributions to health care within the Rochester community.

Monday, October 04, 2021 — Mitchell Wharton, University of Rochester School of Nursing’s associate dean for equity and inclusion, has been elected to serve as secretary of a new American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) network focused on diversity issues. Wharton will serve as one of the members of the steering committee of AACN’s new Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leadership Network (DEILN).

Tuesday, September 28, 2021 — The University of Rochester School of Nursing has been recognized as an Apple Distinguished School for its innovations in teaching, learning, and creating a digital learning environment to better prepare the nursing workforce of tomorrow. The UR School of Nursing has earned the distinction for a three-year period: 2021 to 2024.

Thursday, September 23, 2021 — Kathy Rideout, who sparked a period of growth and renewed prominence at the University of Rochester School of Nursing in more than a decade as dean, will step down as the school’s top leader effective June 30. A member of the UR School of Nursing faculty for more than 35 years, Rideout was officially installed as the school’s fifth dean in 2012 after serving in an interim capacity the previous year. A committee led by Eli Eliav, DMD, PhD, director of the Eastman Institute for Oral Health, will soon launch a national search for a new dean.

Friday, September 03, 2021 — The University of Rochester School of Nursing kicked off the 2021-22 academic year at its convocation ceremony on Tuesday.

Friday, September 03, 2021 — A pair of UR Nursing students were recognized with regional honors. Mary Starks ’17N, was selected as Nurse Practitioner Association (NPA) student of the year, while Khaleeyah Hudson ’20N received a Rochester Area Colleges Continuing Education (RACCE) Outstanding Adult Student award. 

Wednesday, August 25, 2021 — The University of Rochester School of Nursing will continue its tradition of hosting the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Summit. This year, nursing professionals, thought leaders, and policymakers will gather to explore ways nurses and institutions can support the challenging work of overcoming health disparities and achieving health equity in the U.S.

Monday, August 23, 2021 — In June, Martez Smith, LMSW, a doctoral candidate at the University of Rochester School of Nursing, received an F31 grant award from the National Institutes of Health titled, "Exploring associations of autonomy supportive health communication, needs satisfaction, and sexual health behaviors for Black MSM in the House Ball community." The study will investigate characteristics of sexual health communication embedded within social and sexual networks, and expand the understanding of how social networks and sexual health communication impact sexual health behaviors in the MSM House Ball community.

Wednesday, August 18, 2021 — Anne Swantz, '88N (MS), RN, MSN, C-PNP, was recently tapped to lead the Department of Advanced Practice, which includes the Margaret D. Sovie Center for Advanced Practice. Swantz is the new Chief Advanced Practice Officer, leading nearly 1,000 physician assistants, nurse practitioners and some midwives working throughout UR Medicine.

Tuesday, August 17, 2021 — The American Academy of Nursing (Academy) announced that it has selected Meghan Underhill-Blazey, PhD, APRN, assistant professor at the University of Rochester School of Nursing, into its 2021 Class of Fellows.

Wednesday, August 04, 2021 — Mitchell J. Wharton, University of Rochester School of Nursing’s associate dean for equity and inclusion, served as a guest editor of a special edition of the Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care. The issue focused on racism, discrimination, and health inequities associated with HIV and sexual and gender diversity.

Tuesday, August 03, 2021 — Juliana Weiss, chosen as one of the cohort’s class speakers, joined her classmates and participated in the December pinning ceremony from home due to COVID-19.

Wednesday, July 28, 2021 — As someone who thrives under pressure, Justin Wilks left behind the frying pan of cooking for the fire of nursing. After 10 years as a professional chef, he now works as an RN at Highland Hospital. His ability to succeed amid chaos was tested again, as he graduated summa cum laude from the UR Nursing RN to BS program despite acclimating to his new job during a global pandemic, welcoming a newborn baby, and moving into a new home.

Wednesday, July 28, 2021 — When Alana Ramos ’14N, ’21N (MS) read those words to describe the winner of the Elizabeth Clinger Young Award, only one name came to mind: Mom.

Friday, July 16, 2021 — Depression, anxiety, and suicidality in youth are a growing concern in New York and across the nation and are linked to traumatic experiences. The University of Rochester School of Nursing received nearly $1 million from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training for Professionals (BHWET) program to prepare UR School of Nursing Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) students to better serve children and adolescents through the addition of a trauma-informed care (TIC) curriculum.

Friday, July 02, 2021 — Recent UR School of Nursing alumna Sheniece L. Griffin, DNP, RN, CNL, is the University of Rochester Medical Center's newly appointed Nursing Director for Equity and Inclusion in Nursing Practice.

Monday, June 28, 2021 — The Council for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the University of Rochester School of Nursing is seeking nominations for the Student Diversity Engagement Award. The award will acknowledge a deserving nursing student for significant work that they have done related to diversity, equity, and/or inclusion.

Thursday, June 24, 2021 — Jinjiao Wang, PhD, RN, assistant professor at University of Rochester School of Nursing, received a one-year pilot award from the U.S. Deprescribing Research Network (USDeN), to improve the quality and outcomes of post-acute care and home health care for older adults with complex medical conditions who take multiple medications.

Friday, June 18, 2021 — A recent collaboration between the UR School of Nursing and the Department of Psychiatry took an innovative approach to educating students in suicide prevention.

Friday, June 18, 2021 — Established in 2019, the Clinical Scholar Fellowship Program is an internally-funded initiative that provides release time to clinical faculty to conduct and publish scholarly projects in a peer-reviewed journal.

Friday, June 18, 2021 — Proud to be CEO of a woman- and nurse-owned business, Patricia Larrabee also remains proud of her UR Nursing education. Last year she took steps to establish a lasting legacy at the school, creating an endowed scholarship fund. The Larrabee Family Nursing Scholarship will be used to assist with educational costs for students across all programs.

Friday, May 21, 2021 — In the May issue of our CoDEI newsletter we celebrate Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, a celebration initiated by Congress in 1979 as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week that was expanded to the full month of May in 1992. This year we recognize the significance in uplifting the voices, experiences, challenges as well as celebrations of our colleagues, friends, neighbors and community members who are of Asian and Pacific Islander descent, as we stand in solidarity against the rash of anti-Asian hate crimes that have been fueled by ignorance, fear and dangerous social and political rhetoric.

Thursday, May 13, 2021 — A doctor of nursing practice degree is a capstone to a career of helping kids with special needs get better access and care.

Thursday, April 29, 2021 — Chronic disease management programs led by nurses are effective in improving key health metrics, which may lower an individual’s risk for developing cardiovascular disease, according to a study by University of Rochester School of Nursing researchers.

Thursday, April 29, 2021 — The University of Rochester School of Nursing is making plans to return to fully in-person classroom learning beginning with the fall 2021 semester. School-wide safety protocols instituted during the pandemic, including mandatory masking, frequent hand washing, and daily health screenings, will continue for the 2021-22 academic year. Additionally, all School of Nursing undergraduate and graduate students who plan to enroll for the 2021-22 academic year will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Friday, April 16, 2021 — During a global pandemic that has underscored the importance of nursing, the profession took a moment to celebrate one of its living legends, Loretta Ford, who turned 100 in December.

Monday, April 12, 2021 — We look forward to recognizing the accomplishments of the Class of 2021 this May. 

Tuesday, April 06, 2021 — The transition of care from hospital to home can make all of the difference in a patient’s recovery from a stroke.

Monday, April 05, 2021 — Call it a clean sweep for the University of Rochester School of Nursing. All three nursing recipients of the Health Care Heroes awards presented by the Rochester Business Journal are graduates of UR Nursing programs. The 2021 honorees in the Nurse category are: Rebecca Alley, ’11N (MS), vice president and chief nursing officer for ambulatory services for Rochester Regional Health; Katharine Hiltunen, ’78N, manager of public health nursing services for Monroe County and an assistant professor of clinical nursing at the UR School of Nursing; and Kate Valcin, ’18N (MS), ’20N (DNP), director of critical care nursing at Strong Memorial Hospital

Thursday, April 01, 2021 — Sisters Ranae and Shanae McKenzie have done just about everything together for as long as they can remember. Born and raised in Jamaica, they are identical twins with identical passions. Both came to the U.S. for their undergraduate education and now are nursing students together. In September 2020, they both started the accelerated baccalaureate program for non-nurses at the University of Rochester’s School of Nursing (SON). They are slated to complete the program in the fall of 2021.

Tuesday, March 30, 2021 — For the second straight year, the University of Rochester School of Nursing ranks 26th among the nation’s best master’s nursing programs, according to the 2022 Best Graduate Schools guide produced by U.S. News and World Report. The UR School of Nursing ranked tied for 12th among adult gerontology primary care nurse practitioner programs in the issue’s rankings of individual master’s specialties.

Friday, March 05, 2021 — A look at the community award winners who were to be honored at the 2020 Dean's Diamond Circle Awards dinner.

Wednesday, March 03, 2021 — Brian Graves ’96N, ’01N (MS), ’12N (PhD) always had a deep love for the University of Rochester. You don’t graduate three times from a school you’re ambivalent about. But when Graves reached a crossroads in his career, he let fate – and the real estate market – be his guide.

Monday, March 01, 2021 — The community health component of NUR 377, the advanced medical-surgical nursing course, was both among the most challenging and most impactful experiences in University of Rochester School of Nursing student’s 12-month undergraduate journey. But in the spring of 2020, the school’s academic leadership team knew that big changes were necessary for the course. And they had to happen fast.

Monday, March 01, 2021 — From an early age, Megan Reynolds ’19N has had a passion for helping people. “Humanitarian work has always been integral in my drive to provide health care. My earliest memory as a kid was wanting to respond to the genocide in Sudan,” said Reynolds, a nurse in the Burn Trauma Intensive Care Unit at Strong Memorial Hospital who was honored by the School of Nursing in 2020 with its Humanitarian Award. “I’ve always known that I was going to end up doing this work in some capacity.”

Friday, February 26, 2021 — Many Americans recognize February as a time to celebrate Black History Month, but do you know the origins of this celebration?

Monday, February 22, 2021 — The installation of Kathi Heffner, PhD, and Vankee Lin, PhD, RN, as Wilson Professors was unlike any that had come before it. What made this event unique had nothing to do with the concessions made to a global pandemic, but with who was being honored.

Monday, February 22, 2021 — Jose Perpignan ’16N waited in front of his computer for an interview to begin one October morning, completely unaware he was moments away from winning a life-changing amount of money. On live TV.

Monday, February 22, 2021 — The University of Rochester School of Nursing remains in the top 30 in the 2020 annual rankings of research funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the 12th time in the last 15 years the school has secured a spot in the top 30 of all nursing schools.

Friday, February 19, 2021 — Year of the Nurse year in review video with Kathy Rideout and Karen Davis

Thursday, February 04, 2021 — The University of Rochester Medical Center is launching a new center to study the relationship between emotional well-being and dementia-related diseases, such as Alzheimer’s. The Network for Emotional Well-Being (NEW) and Brain Aging is a collaboration between researchers from the UR School of Nursing, the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience, the Department of Psychiatry, the UR Aging Institute and their colleagues at other universities across the country. It is one of five networks funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to examine the topic from different angles.

Monday, February 01, 2021 — The University of Rochester School of Nursing has renamed its Center for Research Support in memory of Harriet Kitzman. The area will now be known as the Harriet J. Kitzman Center for Research Support. The move is a fitting tribute to the legacy of Kitzman, who passed away in March 2020. A prolific researcher in her 60-plus year career as a nurse, professor, mentor, and leader, she was known on campus as much for her groundbreaking work with nurse-home visits as she was for encouraging and supporting others in their own lines of research.

Wednesday, January 27, 2021 — A study by University of Rochester Medical Center researchers provides new insights into the relationship between Alzheimer’s disease pathology and cognitive decline. In a paper titled “Longitudinal stability of medial temporal lobe connectivity is associated with tau-related memory decline” published in the eLife journal, URMC researchers explore the links between the measure of phosphorylated tau (Ptau) in cerebrospinal fluid and changes in brain structural connectivity over time.

Tuesday, January 26, 2021 — Mitchell J. Wharton, an accomplished educator, researcher, and clinician, has been named associate dean for equity and inclusion at the University of Rochester School of Nursing, The appointment shatters glass ceilings at the school. When he begins his new duties on a part-time basis on February 1, Wharton will be the first male and the first person from a group underrepresented in nursing to serve at the associate dean level of senior administration.

Tuesday, January 19, 2021 — A leading researcher at the University of Rochester School of Nursing is aiming to improve the nutrition of the people who help put healthy food on our tables.

Wednesday, January 06, 2021 — As we look forward to new beginnings, let’s remember the events that made 2020 one of the most memorable years in the University of Rochester School of Nursing’s history.