Ph.D. Graduates

Katherine Chike-Harris
South Carolina

Research Interest: Telehealth - Application and Education
Research Mentor: Dr. Teresa Kelechi

Publications:
Chike-Harris, K. E., Miller, S. N., Nichols, M. G., McElligott, J. T., & Kelechi, T. J. (2023). The management of pediatric asthma using telehealth: An integrative review. Telehealth and E-Health.

Presentations:
Podium
Chike-Harris, K. E., Kelechi, T. J., Nichols, M. G., & Miller, S. N. (2024, May). Preceptor’s, caregiver’s, and children’s perceptions of telehealth in pediatric asthma management. In 2024 Lowcountry Nursing Research Conference.

Posters
Newman, S. D., Chike-Harris, K. E., Vestal, E., Phillips, S., & Kelechi, T. J. (2024, January). An alternative to the comprehensive exam: supporting PhD students in the transition to candidacy. In American Association of Colleges of Nursing Doctoral Education Conference. American Association of Colleges of Nursing.

Chike-Harris, K. E., Kelechi, T. J., Miller, S. N., & Nichols, M. G. (2024, July). Stakeholder perceptions of the management of pediatric asthma using telehealth. In Sigma Congress.

Elisabeth Vestal
North Carolina

Research Interest: Access to Care for Rural-dwelling Children with Complex Chronic Conditions – Barriers and Facilitators
Research Mentor: Dr. Shannon Phillips

Publications:
Vestal, E., Newman, S., & Phillips, S. (2024). Barriers and facilitators to accessing pediatric specialty care for rural-dwelling children with complex chronic conditions: An integrative review. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 77, e385–e393. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2024.05.001

Poster Presentation:
Vestal E, Mueller M., Peltz A, Whatley J, & Phillips S (2024). Characterizing access barriers and facilitators to pediatric specialty care among rural-dwelling children with complex chronic conditions. 16th Department of Pediatrics and Darby Children’s Research Institute Research Symposium Precision and Personalized Medicine in Pediatric Research. May 2024; Charleston, SC.

Newman, SD, Chike-Harris, K, Vestal E, Phillips S, & Kelechi T (2024). An alternative to the comprehensive exam: supporting PhD students in the transition to candidacy. 2020 Doctoral Education Conference. American Association of Colleges in Nursing. January 2024; Naples, FL.

Kylie Newsome
South Carolina

Research Interest: Resilience in Undergraduate Nursing Students
Research Mentor: Dr. Michelle Nichols

Lianne Cole
Massachusetts

Research Interest: Pediatric Congenital Heart Disease and the Familial Response
Research Mentor: Dr. Shannon Phillips

Suzanne Hakeos
Ohio

Research Interest: Suicide Prevention for Police Officers and PTSD
Research Mentor: Dr. Sarah Miller

Stephanie Neary
South Carolina

PAEA 2020-2021 Research Fellow
Research Interest: The intersection of flourishing and the social determinants of health among medical, physician assistant, and nurse practitioner students.
Research Mentor: Dr. Michelle Nichols

Awards & Grants
Breitman-Dorn Research Fellowship, PA Foundation, 2023
Physician Assistant Education Association, Don Pedersen Research Grant, 2023-2024
Yale Department of Internal Medicine Educational Research Grant, 2023-2024

Publications:
Neary S, Kamauf R, Ruggeri M. Transparency of parental leave policies to prospective students in U.S. Physician Assistant programs: a cross-sectional study. J Physician Assist Educ. 2023;34(1):72-75. doi:10.1097/JPA.0000000000000485

Oral Research Presentations:
Neary S, Doolittle B, Mueller M, Nichols M. The relationship between intrinsic factors, the social determinants of health, and perceived flourishing among medical, physician assistant, and nurse practitioner students. Oral presentation at: American Academy of Physician Assistants Conference; accepted May 2024. Houston, TX.

Neary S, Doolittle B, Newman S, Nichols M. The drivers and barriers to clinical health professions student flourishing. Oral presentation at: International Association of Medical Science Educators Education Virtual Forum; October 2023; Online.

Neary S, Kamauf R, Ruggeri, M. (2022). Parental leave policies of Physician Assistant programs. American Academy of Physician Assistants Conference. Research in Action. Indianapolis, IN. [from quant course paper]

Research Posters:
Neary S, Doolittle B, Mueller M, Nichols M. (2023). Promoting flourishing: A comparative, individual values-based scoring approach to the Secure Flourish Index among medical, physician assistant, and nurse practitioner students. American Academy of Physician Assistants Conference. Houston, TX.

Neary S, Doolittle B, Newman S, Nichols M. (2023) Organizational Drivers and Barriers of Flourishing Among Clinical Health Professions Students: An Integrative Review. Virtual poster at The Global Flourishing Conference; Online.

Neary S. (2022). Exploring the Social Ecological Model and the Role of Meaning and Purpose in Human Flourishing. Virtual poster at International Association of Medical Science Educators Education Forum. Online.

Neary S, Kamauf R, Ruggeri, M. (2022). Transparency of Parental Leave Policies at U.S. Physician Assistant Programs: A Cross-Sectional Study. Yale University Medical Education Day. New Haven, CT. (online) [from quant course paper]

Theresa Skojec
South Carolina

Research Interest: The Impact of Uncertainty in Illness on Psychological Adjustment to Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Research Mentor: Dr. Teresa Kelechi

Publications:
Skojec TA, Davidson TM, Kelechi TJ. The relationship between uncertainty in illness and psychological adjustment to chronic illness. Journal of health psychology. 2024;13591053241249861–13591053241249861.

Megan Wayne
South Carolina

Research Interest: Mental Fatigue in Oncology Patients and Informal Caregivers
Research Mentor: Dr. Teresa Kelechi

Amy Gulledge
South Carolina

Research Interest: Social Isolation in Adults with Cystic Fibrosis
Research Mentor: Dr. Sarah Miller

Dixie Rose
Texas

Research Interest: Peer Support of Caregivers of Individuals with Brain Injury or Stroke
Research Mentor: Dr. Susan Newman

Katrina Wu
Massachusetts

Research Interest: Utilization of Telemedicine in Routine Prenatal Care
Research Mentor: Dr. Michelle Nichols

Rising Star of Research and Scholarship

Publication:
Wu, K., Lopez, C., & Nichols, M. (2022) Virtual visits in prenatal care: An integrative review. Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health, 67(1), 39-52. DOI: 10.1111/jmwh.13284

Poster Presentations:
The Normalization and Implementation of Telemedicine in Prenatal Care
Poster presented at Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing’s 33rd International Nursing Research Congress in Edinburgh, Scotland

The Integration of Virtual Visits in Routine Prenatal Care During the Pandemic
Poster presented at the American College of Nurse-Midwives 67th Annual Meeting & Exhibition in Chicago, IL

John Ambrose
Massachusetts

Research Interest: Resilience in Healthcare Teams
Research Mentor: Dr. Michelle Nichols

Recipient Sigma Theta Tau
Rising Star of Research and Scholarship 2020

Publications:
Ambrose, J., et al . A Qualitative Protocol to Examine Resilience Culture in Healthcare Teams during COVID-19
MDPI Healthcare (2021) https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/9/9/1168

Ambrose, J., et al. A systematic concept analysis of healthcare team resilience in times of pandemic disasters Nursing Forum (2022) https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/nuf.12723

2022 Resilient Healthcare Society
Annual Meeting, Jönköping, Sweden

Research Presentation: A qualitative study on resilience in interprofessional, healthcare teams, and its impact on patient safety during the COVID-19

Kathryn Shady
Delaware

Research Interest: Inpatient care of adults with communication difficulties (CD) secondary to autism and/or intellectual and developmental disorders.
Research Mentor: Dr. Susan Newman

Jessica Madiraca
New Jersey

Research Interest: Palliative Care for End-stage Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Research Mentor: Dr. Sarah Miller

2022 Stewart Dissertation Award winner
ATS Abstract Scholarship Recipient

Publication:
Madiraca, J., Lindell, K., Coyne, P. & Miller, S. (2023). Palliative Care Interventions in Advanced Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: An Integrative Review. Journal of Palliative Medicine.
http://doi.org/10.1089/jpm.2022.0356

Poster Presentation:
Madiraca, J., Lindell, K.O., Phillips, S. Coyne, P., & Miller, S. (2023, May). Exploring the Unmet Care Needs of Women with Advanced Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (COPD). Poster Presentation presented at the American Thoracic Society (ATS). Washington, D.C.

Samantha Bernstein
New Hampshire

2021 Steward Dissertation Award Winner

Research Interest: Human Factors and Obstetric Patient Safety
Research Mentor: Dr. Lynne Nemeth

Logan Camp-Spivey
South Carolina

Research Interest: School Based Weight Management Interventions
Research Mentor: Dr. Michelle Nichols

Cherie Hauck
Texas

Research Interest: Oncology Clinical Trials Research
Research Mentor: Dr. Teresa Kelechi

Bree Maddray, 2015 Cohort
South Carolina

Research Interest: Patient and Provider Communication in Sickle Cell Disease
Research Mentor: Dr. Shannon Phillips

Kelly Potter
Iowa

Research Interest: Prediction of Post-critical Illness Physical Disability Research Mentor: Dr. Sarah Miller

Alexandra Ruppe
Georgia

Research Interest: Heart Failure Symptom Clusters
Research Mentor: Dr. Gayenell Magwood

Alejandra Schimmel
Spain

Research Interest: Supportive Care Needs of Advanced Prostate Cancer Survivors
Research Mentor: Dr. Suparna Qanungo

Melissa Fluharty
South Carolina

Research Interest: Implementation of Kangaroo Care for Neonates
Research Mentor: Dr. Lynne Nemeth

Imani Sumpter
California

Research Interest: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Health Service Research, Implementation Science
Research Mentor: Dr. Gayenell Magwood

Related Links

Ph.D. Graduates