PhD Profiles

Watch the video above to hear from some of our international PhD alumni, who were unable to attend the anniversary event in person.

Becky Brotemarkle, PhD '13, MSN, MBA, BSN, AA, PCC, CEC, NBC-HWC
CEO and Professional Coach, MacroLife Coaching, LLC

Area of Research/Specialty: HIV & palliative care; factors affecting length of stay and discharge disposition

Recent Accomplishments: Completed certification in ADHD coaching and as a certified mindfulness and meditation teacher. Accepted in the consultant program with Melissa Orlov, author of "The ADHD Effect on Marriage" and "The Couples Guide to Thriving with ADHD." Continuing my work as a Leadership and Executive Coach and also a Certified End-of-Life and Grief Coach. Have had a few publications from a research project exploring palliative care in HIV positive young men with Dr. Carla Alexander of University of Maryland, Baltimore.

How did the PhD position you for success: My experience in the PhD program was a lesson in patience and perseverance since there were many roadblocks, including losing my first dissertation chair midway through the program, the death of my father, and both my daughter and sister having to go through chemotherapy. I found support during these challenging times through a few of my fellow students. The PhD program did give me a different way of seeing the world and also helped clarify what I wanted to do in life.

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Ha Do Byon, PhD '16
Associate Professor, University of Virginia School of Nursing

Area of Research/Specialty: Workplace violence, home healthcare, biostatistics

Recent Accomplishments: I am an associate professor at the University of Virginia School of Nursing. 

How did the PhD position you for success: The program truly prepared me for an academic faculty position. It provided me with a strong foundation in research and teaching. I particularly appreciated how the program faculty helped me grow in both conducting and teaching biostatistics.

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Mary Chaffee, PhD '08, JD, RN, FAAN
Elected delegate to the Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates, Brewster MA

Area of Research/Specialty: Hospital disaster preparedness

Recent Accomplishments: I retired from the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps in 2010 with 27 years of service. I’ve continued my public service over the last 13 years running for elective office 9 times (winning all). I currently serve on the Brewster, MA, Select Board and as a Delegate to the Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates (Cape Cod’s county legislature). I graduated from the Univ. of Mass. Dartmouth School of Law in 2017 and was one of 10 U.S. law students recognized with a Burton Award for Distinguished Legal Writing. I completed legal studies in comparative environmental law in Como, Italy.

How did the PhD position you for success: Upon completing my PhD in 2008, I served as Disaster Research Coordinator at the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD until my retirement from the Navy. My doctoral dissertation, “A Predictive-Correlational Study of Military Hospital Personnel’s Willingness to Work in Disaster,” applied directly to that work. As Chair of the Brewster, MA, Select Board during the pandemic, my doctoral work proved valuable in navigating community response. I published an opinion piece in the Cape Cod Times titled “Will Our Health System Withstand Coronavirus” (Mar. 26, 2020) that referenced my dissertation.

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Yao-Mei Chen, PhD '08, RN, CNS, FAAN
Associate Professor of the College of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University, Taiwan
Senior Specialist in the Superintendent Office, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital

Area of Research/Specialty: Case management, adult health, gerontological nursing, dementia care, stroke care, nursing administration, skill-mixed care, nursing work environment, work stress and health, human resource management, nursing workforce and staffing, retention and turnover

Recent Accomplishments:

• 2023 Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN)
• President of Taiwan Medical Case Management Association (2018-)
• Vice President of Taiwan Nurses Association (2021-)
• Lead Trainer of ICN Leadership for Change (LFC) Program Taiwan, International Council of Nursing (2022-)
• 2023 Nursing Scholar of Global Nursing Leadership Institute (GNLI), ICN

How did the PhD position you for success: My PhD program majoring in nursing administration at the University of Maryland was transformative, providing rigorous academic training and invaluable mentorship from Dr. Mary Ellen Meg Johantgen, which equipped me with skills in management, strategic planning, and policy advocacy. Working as a research assistant at the Work and Health Research Center under Dr. Jane Lipscome was instrumental in developing my interdisciplinary perspective on work environment and workforce health. These experiences have been crucial in my role as the nursing faculty and the hospital administrator, enabling me to contribute to professional development and work environment improvement through research, leadership, and mentorship.

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Mona Choi, PhD '06
Professor, University Health System School of Nursing South Korea

Area of Research/Specialty: Nursing Informatics, Digital health, Data analytics

Recent Accomplishments: I served as an associate dean of the graduate program from 2020-2022. I'm working as an editorial board of the Healthcare Informatics Research, an official journal of the Korean Society of Medical Informatics.

How did the PhD position you for success: "All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten"

In my journey through the PhD program, I have learned so many things from my PhD program, knowledge, professional attitudes, student mentoring, and networking. 

I'm very grateful to UMSON for providing such a supportive environment that has helped me grow professionally!

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Freda DeKeyser Ganz, PhD '90, RN
Director, Center for Nursing Research, Hadassah Hebrew University School of Nursing

Area of Research/Specialty: Intensive care, palliative care, end-of-life, ethics

Recent Accomplishments: 

• Full Professor
• Former Chair, Sigma Theta Tau International, Research and Scientific Advisory Council
• Former Department Chair, Hadassah Hebrew University School of Nursing
• Former Dean, Faculty of life and Health Sciences, Jerusalem College of Technology

How did the PhD position you for success: Our PhD program provided me with a strong background in nursing theory, research and statistics which I continue to utilize today.  These skills helped me develop and then become the head of a new nursing clinical master's program and a new nursing doctoral program.

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Mazen El Ghaziri, PhD '13, MPH, RN
Associate Professor and Associate Chair, SON College of Health Sciences UMass Lowell

Area of Research/Specialty: Occupational Health

Recent Accomplishments: Mazen is an associate professor and associate chair at the Solomont School of Nursing, Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. He is a nurse scientist specializing in occupational health and wellness, with a particular focus on workplace violence in the correctional and healthcare workforce. His key goal within this area is centered on the opportunities for primary and secondary prevention using participatory Total Worker Health® approach. Mazen is currently an investigator within the Center for the Promotion of Health in the New England Workplace, a Total Worker Health® Center of Excellence funded by the NIOSH.

How did the PhD position you for success: When I think about my PhD program experience and my current career path, I credit my progress to the rigorous research training I received in courses like statistics (including multilevel modeling, structural equation modeling, and item response theory), research design, executive healthcare leadership, and organizational psychology. The exceptional mentorship and support from the faculty, along with the invaluable camaraderie and lasting friendships formed with my cohort of fellow PhD students, were crucial. All these factors prepared me for my postdoctoral position and subsequent faculty roles in nursing academia.

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Mary Fey, PhD '14, RN, CHSE-A, ANEF, FAAN
Associate Director, Harvard Center for Medical Simulation

Area of Research/Specialty: Education, Simulation, Feedback

Recent Accomplishments: 

• Curriculum Coach for American Association of Colleges of Nursing, consulting with schools of nursing across the country.
• Fellow, American Academy of Nursing
• Fellow, Academy of Nurse Educators
• Provided the Debra Spunt Memorial lecture at the National League for Nursing Education Summit, 2021
• Principal and Managing Partner, Transformative Teaching, LLC

How did the PhD position you for success: My experience in the PhD program transformed my thinking.  Because of the many diverse perspectives I was exposed to, I became much more curious (and less certain) about how other people think and  experience the world. This has served me well as an educator and a developer of others.

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Patty Hale, PhD '94, RN
Retired

Area of Research/Specialty: Health Behaviors, Public Health

Recent Accomplishments: I've been retired for 8 years. Highlights of my career include being inducted into the AAN and selection as the Carnegie U.S. Professor of the Year.

How did the PhD position you for success: The faculty and doctoral courses were excellent in preparing me for leadership opportunities within university settings. The solid research courses and related experiences were used throughout my career and were invaluable in receiving grants and conducting evaluations.

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Carol (Reineck) Huebner, PhD '90, CENP, FAAN
Professor Emerita of Nursing, University of TX Health Science Center at San Antonio TX

Area of Research/Specialty: My specialty was Indirect Nursing.  My area of study was a cross-sectional, correlational investigation concerning the civilian RN workforce in Army Hospitals.  My electives were in labor economics.  My research area was the nursing workforce.  

Recent Accomplishments: After retirement from the Army (2001) and UT Health (2013), I transitioned to active involvement in ministries through my church and in volunteer service helping others.  I completed the Westberg Institute Faith Community Nursing program, am a Stephen Ministry Leader, and a GriefShare Co-Facilitator.  I serve on the Board of Directors of the Army Residence Community and the University of Texas System Foundation Board.  I assist doctoral students with their dissertations and practice inquiry projects.  Paying it forward with a grateful heart, I established nursing scholarships at all levels of nursing education, including a doctoral scholarship at UMB.

How did the PhD position you for success: I am eternally grateful for the rigor of my doctoral education at UMAB.  My cohort began with about 10 students and we were treated to the instruction of Dr. Suppe, Dr. Lenz, and Dr. Waltz to name a few.  My first realization was that science can only approximate truth, getting as close as possible with sound conceptualization and instrumentation with psychometric strength.  I went on to complete funded research through the Tri-Service Nursing Research Program and the American Association of Critical Care Nurses, in great part due to the preparation I received in the UMB SON.

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Gail Havens, PhD '96, MS, BS, RN, RN-BC 
Retired

Area of Research/Specialty: Bioethics/Nursing Ethics

Recent Accomplishments: 

2004 - 2005:
Assistant Professor, College of Nursing, University of Utah
Assistant Professor, School of Medicine, University of Utah

Nurse Ethicist
Intermountain Healthcare

How did the PhD position you for success: My coursework and practicum prepared me advantageously to successfully practice, teach and conduct research in a multidisciplinary field.

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Tinagene Pia Inguito, PhD '08, RN
 Assistant Professor, University of Delaware School of Nursing

Area of Research/Specialty: Adult Health/Gerontology

Recent Accomplishments: 

From 2015-2022, I was the Director of the Traditional, Accelerated, and RN-BSN Programs at the University of Delaware School of Nursing. During summer of 2022, I completed Drexel University's Certification in Simulation Training. Starting fall of 2024, I will be in a 2-year fellowship as the Dr. Jeanne K. Buxbaum Gerontology Fellow for Student Nurse Training of undergraduate and graduate scholars.

How did the PhD position you for success: I had the best experience in my PhD Program at UMB SON!  With the support from my peers, the UMB SON faculty especially Drs. Barbara Resnick and Sue Thomas, and from the John A. Hartford BAGNC Scholarship Program, I was able to accomplish my goal!  After I finished my PhD, I have had opportunities to take on administrative and leadership positions at the University of Delaware School of Nursing throughout my career. I will always have fond memories of my time in the doctoral program!  Congratulations on 45 years of the PhD Program!

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Stacey Iobst, PhD '18, RNC-OB, C-EFM, CNE
Assistant Professor, Towson University

Area of Research/Specialty: Maternity Care 

Recent Accomplishments: 

Grants:

• 2023 Recipient of Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nursing (AWHONN) Every Woman, Every Baby Grant for the study titled “Relationships among Autonomy in Decision-Making, Respect, and Perinatal Depression in U.S. Maternity Care” 

2022 Recipient of 2022 Sigma small grant for the study titled "A Longitudinal Perspective of Professional Quality of Life and Intention to Stay Among Perinatal Registered Nurses during the COVID-19 Pandemic”

Service:

• 2022: Appointment to the Editorial Advisory Board for the Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing (JOGNN)
• 2020-present: Maryland Section Chair for the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nursing (AWHONN)

How did the PhD position you for success: I gained strong grant-writing, qualitative, and quantitative research skills during my PhD program, which have led to my success as an independent researcher. My experience as a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Future of Nursing Scholar during my PhD program helped me developed strong leadership skills that have supported me as a faculty member and in my service roles.

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Robyn Gilden, PhD '10, RN
Associate Professor and Director of the Environmental Health Certificate Program, University of Maryland School of Nursing

Area of Research/Specialty: Children's environmental health, pesticides, climate change 

Recent Accomplishments: I am Director of the Environmental Health Certificate program and hope to make it available across campus. I am Co-PI  on two Interprofessional Education Center grants that support collaboration with faculty from the UMB graduate, law, medical, nursing, social work schools and UMCP/UMMS MEES program on climate change, health and society. This grant supports an existing course, symposiums, speaker's series, and further curriculum development. Additionally, I serve as Co-I on several grants that fund UMSON Community Public Health and Environment Initiative (CPHEI), which provides nursing services to Early Head Starts, Head Starts, and Family Support Centers in Baltimore City/surrounding areas. 

How did the PhD position you for success: I provide my research and statistical analysis knowledge to outcome measures survey development for CPHEI. I manage associated pilot studies with the EHS/HS centers we partner with to generate objective data to support environmental health supportive policy changes. In addition, I collaborate with my colleagues to identify feasible, scalable solutions for climate issues in Baltimore and Maryland.

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Linda Keldsen, PhD '20, MBA-HC, MS,  CPHRM
Director Academic and Nursing Affiliations Thomas Jefferson School of Nursing Philadelphia

Area of Research/Specialty: Qualitative research into the rapid digitalization of business operations, especially as it relates to the performance of onboarding functions used to bring health profession trainees and other new employees into organizations and its effect on engagement

How did the PhD position you for success: The UMSON PhD program creates a foundation for scientific inquiry. The program layers the insight of experienced researchers to provide depth of scientific inquiry presented by mentors and other faculty members. Mentors are critical to success. Dr. Eun-Shim Nahm is an inspiration to all informaticians. Her fount of knowledge is without measure. Dr. Carla Storr (retired) worked tirelessly to ensure that we pursued our goals and brought them to fruition. The University of Maryland is more than just a learning environment, it sets you on the path for the future that you envision for yourself.

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JuHee Lee, PhD '06, RN, FAAN
Professor and Director, BK21 Global Nurse Scientist Program, South Korea

Area of Research/Specialty: Gerontology

Recent Accomplishments: My research area is care for people with Parkinson's disease and caregivers. I 've been funded from the National Research Foundation for more than 10 years for developing non-pharmacological interventions. Currently, I am the only nurse scientist in the Parkinson's disease Advisory Board in Korea. I was inducted as a member of FAAN in 2023. 
 Additionally, I am a director of Brain Korea 21 program in our college to innovate graduate program which aims to educate global nurse scientists, funded $3.87 million/seven years from the government. My accomplishments in research and education are learned while I was studying at UMB.

How did the PhD position you for success: From the experience at UMB,  passion for research on care of older adults with Parkinson's disease has earned a reputation as an expert in the field nationally. As the principal investigator in developing and testing innovative non-pharmacological interventions for lessening the sufferings of debilitating chronic symptoms of Parkinson's disease and their caregivers, sustained government funding for research and dissemination of new findings through 85 publications in top-tier national and international journals are all learned outcomes from UMB. The best experiences are various research methodologies, mock presentation with faculty members and colleagues, sigma theta tau induction, and simulation opportunity at UMB.

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Sun-Mi Lee, PhD '04
Professor, Catholic University School of Nursing, South Korea

Area of Research/Specialty: Data Mining

Recent Accomplishments: I received research funding from the  National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) for a project titled "Development of a Tailored Risk Management Platform for Enhancing Patient Safety and Expanding Nurse Roles." 

How did the PhD position you for success: Studying with students from different countries and receiving a Dissertation Grant from AHRQ has been helping me broaden my perspective and conduct research at the school where I am currently employed.

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Margaret McNeill, PhD '08, RN, APRN-CNS, CCNS, EBP-C, CCRN, TCRN, CPAN, NEA-BC, NHDP-BC, FASPAN, FCNS, FAAN
Fredrick Health

Area of Research/Specialty: PeriAnesthesia, Critical Care

Recent Accomplishments: Peggy McNeill is currently the Director of Nursing Quality and Professional Practice and the Nurse Scientist at Frederick Health. She retired from the U. S. Air Force with the rank of Colonel, and has led in various roles including Clinical Nurse Specialist, administrator, and nurse scientist. She has been recognized for contributions to the Department of Defense with awards including the Bronze Star Medal. She has presented and published, and has been inducted as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, NACNS, and ASPAN. She served on the Board of Directors for ASPAN as the Director of Clinical Inquiry.

How did the PhD position you for success: The Faculty at the University of Maryland embraced me and my interests, and helped me to flourish as I learned critical concepts to conduct nursing research. More importantly, they fostered continuous learning and development. The program allowed me to succeed as a nurse scientist and mentor others in the pursuit of new knowledge, innovation, evidence based practice, and quality improvement; all to improve the lives of our patients.

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Marik Moen, PhD '18, MPH, RN
Associate Professor of Nursing, University of Maryland School of Nursing

Area of Research/Specialty: SDOH, Public Health, substance use disorders, HIV

Recent Accomplishments: 

• Co-I with UMSOM colleagues in NIDA R24 re: engaging Rural Marylanders w polysubstance use;
  Invited (as Co-I) to submit to PCORI comparative effectiveness application re: SUD & peer interventions.
• PI on internal UMB pilots re: social needs, social isolation.
• Helped Dean Ogbolu and RICH project (hypertension & SDOH in West Baltimore) with successful bid for 5 years of state funding.
• Working with colleagues from UMSOM, UMMC, BC Health Dept. on Baltimore City &State opioid response (based on connections as nurse lead at Lord Baltimore COVID19 ctr).
• Secured internal funding w JHSPH, UMBC, Mayor's Office re: evaluating influence of guaranteed income on health.

How did the PhD position you for success: My advisor and PhD program prepared me with strong foundations in quantitative and qualitative and mixed methods to hold my own as a scholar and in grant applications and research projects. The mentorship and encouragement and connections made me capable and confident to pursue current projects.

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Vycki Nalls, PhD '20, GNP-BC, ACHPN, CWS
Director of Learning and Development, Capital Caring

Area of Research/Specialty: Geriatrics/Palliative wound care

Recent Accomplishments:

• Board member for PAWSIC (Post-Acute Wound & Skin Integrity Council) and GAPNA (Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association)
• Co-author of updates to a chapter in Advanced Practice Palliative Nursing 2nd Ed. and Acute & Chronic Wounds 6th Ed.
• Starting a CE program and developing CE approved content for my job/organization
• Adjunct faculty for UMSON

How did the PhD position you for success: I am forever grateful for my time at UMSON. I gained the best mentors, and this experience really guided my career. I have continued on in corporate education and learned crucial fundamentals for quality content development, despite not having a formal education degree, thanks to the PhD program. I have colleagues from other universities and organizations connect to partner on different projects together.

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Susan Newbold, PhD '06, RN, NI-BC, FAAN, FHIMSS, FAMIA
Owner Nursing Informatics Boot Camp

Area of Research/Specialty: Nursing Informatics

Recent Accomplishments: Dr. Newbold is the Recipient of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing 2019 Virginia K. Saba Nursing Informatics Leadership Award and the 2023 AMIA Virginia K. Saba Informatics Signature Award. She was selected as the first recipient of the Ball State University College of Nursing Lifetime Achievement.

How did the PhD position you for success: Where I succeeded the most is when I found mentors that treated me as a colleague.

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Bukyung Park, PhD '14, RN
Associate Professor, Kyungpook National University

Area of Research/Specialty: Nursing informatics, Pediatric nursing, Children with cancer and their families

Recent Accomplishments: I’m conducting a government-funded research project (2020–2024) entitled “Development and Evaluation of the SNS-Based Hospice and Palliative Care Evaluation Program for Pediatric Patients and Their Families” funded by the National Research Foundation in Korea. I recently published peer-reviewed journals:

• Kim, J.Y., & *Park, B.K. (2023). Relationships among self-esteem, ego-resilience, and caregiver burden among families of children with hematologic and oncologic disease: A cross-sectional study. Heliyon, e22652.
• Park BK, Oh SI, et al. Reliability and Validity of the Korean version of the Center for Neurologic Study Bulbar Function Scale (K-CNS-BFS): An observational study. Medicine (Baltimore). 2024 Jun 21;103(25):e38216.

How did the PhD position you for success: GRA program and research rotation course, working as a Graduate Research Assistant (GRA) provided me with the opportunity to actively engage in various research projects, such as NIH R01. Additionally, participating in the Research Rotation Course allowed me to collaborate with top professors and researchers in the nursing and healthcare field. These experiences were instrumental in helping me successfully apply for and secure several government-funded research projects!

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Anju Paudel, PhD '21, MSG, RN
Assistant Professor of Nursing, Penn State School of Nursing

Area of Research/Specialty: Enhancing caregiver efficacy in dementia care, Behavioral and educational interventions, Dyadic Communication/interaction, Nonpharmacological Interventions to optimize communication and interaction in dementia care, Tool development and testing

Recent Accomplishments:

• 2024–2026: Alzheimer’s Association Advancing Research on Care and Outcome Measurement (ARCOM) Grant (ARCOM-24-1250069)
• Development and testing of the QUALity of Interactions Inventory (QUALII) 
  Role: Principal Investigator 
  

How did the PhD position you for success: While enrolled in the PhD program at the UMSON, I was able to find opportunities to engage in in research, as well as some teaching and service activities presented through graduate assistantship and other programs. The experience I had from those opportunities positioned me well for my current position in the academia.

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Kristen Rawlett, PhD '14, FNP-BC, FAANP, CNE
Associate Professor, Family Nurse Practitioner, University of Maryland School of Nursing

Area of Research/Specialty: Adolescents, Mindfulness, Substance Use, Family Practice, Occupational Health

Recent Accomplishments:

• 2024: Appointed AANP State Liaison for Maryland Family Nurse Practitioner at Dispatch Health-Baltimore Region Academic Nurse Educator Certificate Award (MHEC)
• 2023: Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) certified from NLN UMB Faculty Leadership program
• 2022: Promoted to Associate Professor UMSON
• 2021: Chair-UMSON Faculty Council Fellow-Nurse Leadership Institute (MHEC)
• 2020: Fellow- American Association of Nurse Practitioners Appointed to Maryland State Children's Environmental Health and Protection Advisory Council
  Owner/Founder KER Healthcare Consulting

How did the PhD position you for success: The PhD program at UMSON opened doors for me that I didn't even know existed. I learned how to think differently and critically making positive changes in healthcare and nursing. The program strengthened my nursing knowledge while also giving me a broad understanding of how nurses can step out of 'traditional' nursing roles to be leaders clinically, academically, conducting research and creating policy to improve overall health outcomes across populations.

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Keisha Robinson, PhD '23
Faculty and clinical and practice, Mercy Medical Center

Area of Research/Specialty: Clinician exposure to birth trauma

Recent Accomplishments:

• Oral presentation at the Sigma Theta Tau- March 2024 "Nursing Resilience"
• Cross-Sectional Study of Burnout in OB Clinicians Exposed to Traumatic Childbirth Events. Accepted for publication in The American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing. (Accepted March 12, 2024).
• 2024 Recipient of  Faculty “Honorable Mention in Research Award “Coppin State University.”

How did the PhD position you for success: The UMSON PhD program has equipped me with the necessary skills to effectively lead research efforts, adeptly present my research findings in manuscript form, and proficiently submit them for publication.

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Carol Romano, PhD '93, RN, FACMI, FAAN
Dean, Graduate School of Nursing, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Area of Research/Specialty: Informatics/ Academic Administration

Recent Accomplishments: Carol Romano, Rear Admiral, USPHS (Ret), is Professor and Dean of the Daniel K. Inouye Graduate School of Nursing at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland since 2015. With extensive experience in leadership roles in USPHS, she now oversees strategic planning and operations, achieving Center of Excellence recognition and top national rankings for the graduate nursing school. A pioneer in nursing informatics, her 38-year tenure at NIH includes groundbreaking work in electronic medical systems and curriculum development. Her contributions span research, education, and emergency response, earning her numerous prestigious awards and accolades

How did the PhD position you for success: The UMSON PhD program provided outstanding faculty leadership and mentorship as well as a strong curriculum in the psychometrics and theoretical basic skills needed for research. The program enhanced my critical thinking and evaluations skills that I continue to use. The role models provided influence my own leadership style and my ability to mentor and support graduate students in my role as faculty and Dean. I am grateful for the education I received that positioned me for leadership roles in the federal government and in academia.

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Eleanor Schron, PhD '08, FAAN, FSCT, FAHA
Board of Visitors, University of Maryland School of Nursing
Retired: National Institutes of Health, USPHS Commissioned Corps (CAPT/06)

Area of Research/Specialty: Cardiovascular Clinical Trials, Vision Research, Quality of Life, Recruitment and Retention in clinical studies, participant and protocol adherence.

Recent Accomplishments: In recent years, I successfully fostered the inclusion of protocols to evaluate quality of life in national and international multi-center clinical trials, specifically in the fields of cardiovascular and vision research. This effort emphasized the critical role of psychosocial variables on patient well-being, providing a more comprehensive understanding of patient outcomes.

By integrating quality of life assessments into these trials, we better captured the multifaceted impact of cardiovascular and vision conditions on patients. These protocols incorporated psychosocial factors such as mental health, social support, and overall life satisfaction, recognizing their significant influence on treatment effectiveness and patient recovery.

How did the PhD position you for success: I am deeply grateful for my experience in the PhD program. It has given me greater self-confidence, increased my competence in research, and refined my research skills. Overall, I have an enhanced appreciation for the significant multi-disciplinary collaboration required to generate knowledge to guide evidenced-based medical and nursing care. Importantly, I established and strengthened relationships with mentors, resulting in life-long friendships.

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Hohyn Seong, PhD '23
Assistant Professor, University School of Nursing South Korea

Area of Research/Specialty: Patient-centered digital health interventions for older adults with chronic conditions, quality of life, Health Promotion

Recent Accomplishments: Hohyun Seong earned his PhD in 2023 and completed his postdoctoral training at Kyung Hee University in South Korea. He is currently an Assistant Professor at the College of Nursing, Keimyung University in South Korea since March 2024. He focuses on developing an eHealth intervention for psychoneurological symptoms in older adults with chronic conditions and improving their resilience. 

How did the PhD position you for success: My PhD program at the University of Maryland School of Nursing equipped me with advanced research skills and a deep understanding of nursing science. I received comprehensive training in gerontology research and nursing informatics, which honed my expertise in my research interest area. The program's rigorous academic environment and mentorship from esteemed faculty, combined with my research experiences and achievements in the UMSON, positioned me for success in academia. This foundation enabled my transition to an Assistant Professor role and facilitated my contributions to impactful research and teaching in nursing.

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Ruby Wesley Shadow, PhD '87, MEd, BS, RN
Retired Veterans Affairs Associate Chief Nursing Education and Research
Health Educator for Seniors, Wellness Center Wash, DC focusing on Fall Prevention 

Area of Research/Specialty: Rehabilitation Nursing

Recent Accomplishments: I work with a Senior Wellness Program in Washington DC. Our focus is on the 2nd leading cause of death, which is from complications of falls. The programs are evidence based for fall prevention. We have graduated over 35 seniors since we started April 2023. The programs are from Western Kentucky University, American University and Northern Virginia Fall Prevention Association.

How did the PhD position you for success: The PhD program allowed me to examine nursing theory and research. I was able to publish texts on nursing theory. Several of my positions in nursing was because of my PhD credentials. I was able to work with some of my colleagues in higher education as well. I can sum up by PhD experience as a door opener. 

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Phyllis Sharps, PhD '88
Professor Emerita, Johns Hopkins School of Nursing

Area of Research/Specialty: Maternal Infant Health

Recent Accomplishments:

• 2019: Nurse of the Year, Black Nurses Association of Greater Washington, D.C. Area (March)
• 2018: Provost Award for Excellence in Diversity (Honorable Mention), Johns Hopkins (University (May)
• 2018: Excellence in Nursing for Diversity in Nursing, Modern Health Care (January)
• 2017: National League for Nursing, NLN Lilian Wald Humanitarian Award, NL Education Summit, San Diego (September)
• 2017: FNINR President’s Award for President’s Award, Leadership of Interdisciplinary Research Teams.
• 2016: Elsie M. Lawler Endowed Chair, Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, Baltimore
• 2016: Lifetime Achievement in Education and Research Award, Association of Black Nursing Faculty
• 2015: Visionary Pioneers Award, University of Maryland School of Nursing

How did the PhD position you for success: The doctoral education and research experiences I had at the School of Nursing was phenomenal. The role-models, mentors and connections to other nurse scientist was extremely helpful in launching my research career and to achieve leadership roles as a nurse scientist.

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Sharon Thomas, PhD '23
Assistant Professor, University of Maryland School of Nursing

Area of Research/Specialty: Nursing, Chronic Pain, Resilience

Recent Accomplishments: My dissertation examined the role of resilient factors in chronic orofacial pain and patient expectations of analgesia. Current publications include research addressing psychological contributors to chronic pain outcomes in the European Journal of Pain in 2022 and co-authored publications addressing chronic pain experiences and placebo effects in the Journals Pain Reports and Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics. I presented on emotional regulation in April 2022 at the Baltimore Brain Series and provided poster presentations at the IASP World Congress in 2018 and 2022.

How did the PhD position you for success: I was provided with a rigorous course of study. The conceptual framework, epidemiology, and statistical classes ultimately helped me plan and implement the final proposal. Exposure to presenting posters and other seminars gave me the valuable public speaking experience needed to defend my proposal and dissertation. Working with other PhD Students from other disciplines gave me a unique connection with other students and diversified my experience. In addition, the support of my fellow PhD cohort was invaluable throughout the process. Finally, my advisor/mentor encouraged me to pursue opportunities and experiences that broadened my capabilities as a PhD Student.

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Paul Thurman, PhD '18, RN, ACNPC, CCNS, CCRN, CEN
Nurse Scientist/Assistant Professor, University of Maryland School of Nursing

Area of Research/Specialty: Respiratory Protection/Trauma

Recent Accomplishments: My recent research endeavors reflect a deep commitment to advancing healthcare practices and understanding critical issues. From 2022 to the present, I have co-investigated the use of reusable elastomeric respirators in healthcare settings, funded by NIOSH (75D30122C13118). I am also involved in examining offender-victim relationships in Baltimore City gun violence and investigating skills determination, decay, and delay in medical settings. Additionally, I serve as the principal investigator on a study addressing risk factors for recurrent assault-related injuries. My contributions include developing guidelines for managing agitation in traumatic brain injury patients and evaluating violence intervention programs, among other impactful projects.

How did the PhD position you for success: The PhD program at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, equipped me with essential skills for my research career. Mentorship from Drs. Johantgen, Friedmann, and Rowe was invaluable, fostering my development in longitudinal methods, working with large datasets, and geospatial analysis. These experiences prepared me to lead diverse study teams effectively, enabling rigorous investigation into complex healthcare issues. The comprehensive training I received has been instrumental in my ability to conduct and lead multifaceted research projects, advancing knowledge and practice in critical care and trauma.

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Mary Patricia Wall, PhD '04, RN
Clinical Associate Professor, Seton Hall University College of Nursing

Area of Research/Specialty: Respiratory health

Recent Accomplishments: Educating future professional nurses

How did the PhD position you for success: The courses were rigorous and the faculty had high expectations. (Not all PhD programs have such high standards).

 

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Joan Warren, PhD '04, RN, NPD-BC, NEA-BC, FAAN
Retired

Area of Research/Specialty: Workforce Development and Advancement, Nurse Residency Programs, Evidence-based Practice, Nursing Professional Development

Recent Accomplishments: My contributions as a leader, educator, and researcher advanced Maryland nursing education through the implementation of statewide nurse residency programs; built capacity for nursing schools through grant-funded innovative academic-practice projects and research; improved hospital environments through the infusion of evidence-based practice and research and innovative nursing excellence, professional development, and advanced nursing degree programs; and transformed the specialty of Nursing Professional Development by re-envisioning the role and building a national program of research. I am honored to have received many awards and be selected as a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing for my contributions to the profession.

How did the PhD position you for success: As Isaac Newton said, “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants.” What made the UMSON PhD program stand out was the quality of the faculty and its rigor. I left the program with a strong background in research design, measurement, statistical analysis, and grant writing. I am grateful to the many faculty who showed me the path to a successful career and who I have had an opportunity to work with following graduation. I thank all of those who helped me become who I am today.

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Mei-Ling Yeh, PhD '96
Distinguished Professor, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences

Area of Research/Specialty: I specialize in integrative healthcare, merging nursing with Chinese medicine. My research work has validated integrative healthcare models and improved evidence-based nursing practices.

Recent Accomplishments: I am a distinguished professor at the National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences in Taiwan. I specialize in integrative healthcare, merging nursing with Chinese medicine. My research work has validated integrative healthcare models and improved evidence-based nursing practices. I am honored to be an International Nurses Researcher Hall of Fame inductee and a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing.

How did the PhD position you for success: The PhD program at the University of Maryland School of Nursing was pivotal in positioning me for success, enabling impactful research and international recognition. With 200 published research papers, my work has validated integrative healthcare models and improved evidence-based nursing practices. I am honored to be an International Nurses Researcher Hall of Fame inductee and a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing. I am deeply grateful to the University of Maryland School of Nursing.

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George Zangaro, PhD '05, RN, FAAN
Chief Policy and Scientific Officer American Association of Colleges of Nursing

Area of Research/Specialty: Nursing Workforce

Recent Accomplishments: Completed a survey to assess burnout and wellness in over 3,000 nursing faculty.

How did the PhD position you for success: As I look back at my years in the UMSON, I had many great professors and mentors, and the education I received within and outside the classroom prepared me to make some very significant contributions to the profession of nursing. For that, I will always be thankful to the UMSON.