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Contents

Research
Community leadership
International programs
Events
Faculty
Students
Alumni
In memory
About the Connell School

Research

The American Holistic Nurses Association awarded Associate Professor Jane Flanagan a research grant for her project 鈥淏ringing Yoga Home: Exploring the Use of a Web-based Yoga Intervention for Breast Cancer Survivors,鈥� and she received a three-year grant for 鈥淎 Pilot Study of a听Health-coached Walking Program for Family Caregivers of Persons with Dementia鈥� from Boston College鈥檚 Institute on Aging.听

Assistant Professor Holly Fontenot received federal funding for three research projects:

• A team she is leading in a study, 鈥淯sing Mobile Application Strategies to Increase HPV听Vaccination Rates among Young Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM),鈥� a two-year project with funding听from the National Institutes of Health (NIH)/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases听
• 鈥淒eveloping Tools to Engage Adolescent Men,鈥澨齛 three-year project Fontenot is pursuing with a team of researchers from the Fenway Institute, the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), funded by the CDC division of Adolescent and School Health
• 鈥淧re-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Peer Navigator for Young MSM,鈥� a one-year project Fontenot and a team of researchers at the Fenway Institute are pursuing with support from the NIH/Centers for AIDS Research

Assistant Professor Allyssa Harris and Sonia Chiamaka Okorie 鈥�17, a KILN (Keys to Inclusive Leadership in Nursing) scholar,听presented Harris鈥檚 research on 鈥溾�� at the National Black Nurses Association鈥檚 annual conference in Memphis.

Boston College鈥檚 Institute on Aging awarded Assistant Professor Carina Katigbak a three-year grant for her project 鈥淎n Exergaming Intervention to Enhance Physical Activity for Community Dwelling Immigrant Elders.鈥澨�

Assistant Professor Tam Nguyen received a grant from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute for the first tier of her project 鈥淧atient Engaged Efforts to Reduce (PEER) Diabetes among Asian Americans.鈥�

Assistant Professor Jinhee Park received the Eastern Nursing Research Society鈥檚 inaugural Nursing Research Authorship Award for her paper 鈥淔actors Associated with Feeding Progression in Extremely Preterm Infants,鈥� which was published in the journal鈥檚 May/June 2015 issue.

The Roy Adaptation Model marked its 50th anniversary in 2016. Named for Connell School Professor and Nurse Theorist Callista Roy, C.S.J., this widely used framework for theory, practice, and research in nursing sees the individual as a set of interrelated biological, psychological, social, and spiritual systems. The nurse鈥檚 role is to help the patient maintain a balance among the systems and a changing environment. The Roy Adaptation Association, an international society of nursing scholars that seeks to advance nursing practice by developing knowledge based on Roy鈥檚 model, celebrated its 25th anniversary as well.

Lelia Holden Carroll Endowed Professor Judith Vessey and Lauren Pfeifer, a student in the Ph.D. program, presented a session on bullying in the nursing workplace at the Eastern Nursing Research Society鈥檚 annual Scientific Sessions in Philadelphia. Vessey was inducted into the Sigma Theta Tau International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame at the Society鈥檚 International Nursing Research Congress in Cape Town, South Africa.

Community leadership

Professor Ann Wolbert Burgess was the guest speaker at the听16th annual Boston College Veterans Remembrance Mass and Ceremony听on Friday, November 11. The Connell School also hosted a panel that day with VA Hospital representatives on the current state of mental health care for veterans.

Boston College鈥檚 new campus recreation center will be named in honor of the Connell family in recognition of a $50 million Light the World campaign gift from听Boston College Trustee Associate Margot C. Connell, widow of the late William F. Connell 鈥�59, the School of Nursing鈥檚 benefactor and namesake. The recreation center is slated to open in 2019.

Professor Dorothy Jones and Associate Professors Jane Ashley and Jane Flanagan, working with nurses from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Massachusetts General Hospital, developed three online courses to teach nurses how to manage symptoms caused by cancer immunotherapies. Stand Up To Cancer and CVS Health supported the project.

International programs

Five undergraduate nursing students studied abroad for the fall 2016 semester and 34 students spent the spring 2017 semester studying in countries including Australia, Brazil, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Philippines, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

In January 2017, two faculty members and five Boston College seniors traveled to Santiago, Chile, to join undergraduates from Chile and Switzerland for Comparative Health Care, a course that combines lectures and seminars with tours of urban and rural health care facilities, where the students learned some of the basics of providing direct patient care and educating indigenous people about health.

Eight seniors and two graduate students traveled to the Dominican Republic with Clinical Instructors Rosemary Byrne and Melissa P茅rez in January 2017. They developed presentations on health care topics chosen by the communities they visited, participated in home visits, and spoke at two elementary schools about bullying and healthy and safe play.

Eleven students traveled with Clinical Instructor Rosemary Byrne to Quito, Ecuador, in May 2017 for Global Health Perspectives, a month-long program that provides an in-depth, interdisciplinary exploration of comparative health policy.

Three students traveled to Lourdes, France, on an annual Order of Malta pilgrimage. They helped care for ill patients and their families who were on their way to the Grotto of Massabielle in search of inspiration and healing.

In January 2017, Clinical Assistant Professor Donna Cullinan traveled to L茅og芒ne, Haiti, with 11 undergraduates and five graduate students, where they administered care and taught health programs to approximately 1,200 people in mobile clinics and orphanages.

In March 2017, eight juniors, three graduate students, and alumna Veronica Pena Vargas 鈥�91 traveled to Nicaragua with faculty Rosemary Byrne, Sherri St. Pierre, and Ronna Krozy as part of the course Population Health Practice in the Community.

In summer 2016, four Boston College faculty members and one graduate teaching assistant taught as part of the program 鈥淧athways to Optimal Nursing Care: Strategies and International Perspectives鈥� in Lausanne, Switzerland. Fourteen Boston College undergraduates joined students from Chile, China, and Switzerland for a series of lectures and small group seminars that explored health care systems in the four countries. Students also participated in four days of clinical observation in Swiss health care agencies.

Events

National Library of Medicine Director Patricia Flatley Brennan spoke about the power of data-driven discovery to improve nursing research and practice at the Connell School鈥檚 spring Pinnacle Lecture in March.听

Darlene (MacIsaac) Hinojosa 鈥�86, a nurse practitioner and colonel in the US Army Reserve鈥檚 Army Nurse Corps, received the Connell School鈥檚 2016 Dean Rita P. Kelleher Award for alumni achievement.

Loretta Sweet Jemmott, Drexel University鈥檚 vice president for health and health equity and a professor at the College of Nursing and Health Professions, considered the skills and characteristics of nursing leaders in her fall Pinnacle Lecture on November 30.

Marking its 70th anniversary in January, the Connell School of Nursing hosted an open house for students, faculty, alumni, and other members of the University community. The event featured an exhibition of nursing objects from University archives, including uniforms, yearbooks, and photographs, and a brief history of the school presented by Clough Millennium Professor of History James O鈥橳oole.

Faculty

The Connell School welcomed Assistant Professor Nadia Abuelezam and Clinical Instructor Sheila Tucker to its faculty. Abuelezam conducts research on the intersection between health and society. Tucker is dedicated to expanding the role of nutrition across the lifespan.

The American Academy of Nursing named Professor Ann Wolbert Burgess a Living Legend in October at its annual conference in Washington, DC. Burgess was one of only five nurses to receive the AAN鈥檚 highest honor in 2016.

The Cambia Health Foundation named Susan DeSanto-Madeya, a clinical associate professor, a member of its Sojourns Scholar Leadership Program.

Associate Professor Jane Flanagan was one of five nurses inducted into the second class of NANDA International Fellows. 听(NANDA is dedicated to defining the knowledge of nursing.)

The Association of Women鈥檚 Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses presented Assistant Professor Holly Fontenot with its Award of Excellence in Scholarly Education at the association鈥檚 national meeting in June.

Dean Susan Gennaro moderated a workshop, 鈥淧ublish for Success but Beware of Predators,鈥� at the Eastern Nursing Research Society鈥檚 Annual Scientific Sessions in Philadelphia.

Faculty member Allyssa Harris, who holds three degrees from Boston College, was promoted to associate professor with tenure.

The American Nurses Association Massachusetts named Professor Dorothy Jones a Living Legend in Massachusetts Nursing. Jones has been a Connell School faculty member for nearly 40 years.

Ellen Mahoney, interim associate dean for research and an associate professor, is working with the Providence VA Medical Center on 鈥淓valuation of Veteran-Directed Home and Community Based Services鈥� to provide training and assistance for veterans to live more independently.

Lelia Holden Carroll Endowed Professor Judith Vessey received an I CARE Award from the VA New England Healthcare System Network for her integral role in establishing NERVANA (Northeast Region VA Nursing Alliance).

Associate Professor Danny Willis was inducted as a fellow into the American Academy of Nursing during the Academy鈥檚 annual conference in Washington, DC.

Students

Doctoral degree student Kim Pomerleau Angelini 鈥�11 presented 鈥淪creening for Urinary Symptoms Among a National Sample of Nurse Practitioners鈥� at the Eastern Nursing Research Society (ENRS) Early Ph.D. Student Poster Session during the ENRS鈥檚 29th Annual Scientific Sessions. 听

Three Connell School undergraduates received听Ever to Excel听Awards from Boston College鈥檚 Office of Student Involvement:听

• Helen Au 鈥�18 was given the Paul Chebator and Mer Zovko Award, which honors a junior who is instrumental in creating community in his or her environment
• In a year marked by the illness and death of her father, Stephanie Makowski 鈥�17 was awarded the Jeffrey S. Keith Award, given to a student who faces a significant challenge while continuing to excel
• Joselyn Giron Noriega 鈥�18 received the St. Alphonsus Rodriguez Award, which recognizes a standout student employee who has been a model in the workplace

Seven CSON students were selected to attend the National Student Nurses鈥� Association鈥檚 65th Annual Convention in Dallas in April. Brittney Bentivegna 鈥�17, Dana Cavanaugh 鈥�18, Charlotte Chang 鈥�18, Sydney Conti 鈥�19, Abiola Lawal 鈥�17, Kesla Silaj 鈥�17, and Sarah Woods 鈥�17 attended.

Four members of the Class of 2018 were awarded Boston College Advanced Study Grants to design and pursue independent projects:

• Dana Cavanaugh went to Ghana to research 鈥淪ocial Determinants of Exclusive Breastfeeding in Rural Ghana鈥�
• Lanah Han traveled to South Korea to gather information for her project 鈥淓xploring Options for US Health Care:听Lessons to Be Learned from South Korea鈥�
• Lea Nelligan went to Ecuador to explore 鈥淐are of the Whole Person: Medicine and Cultural Connection鈥�
• Nicholas Raposo traveled to Brazil to gather information on 鈥淐ross-Cultural Solutions: Volunteer Work & Cultural Immersion in Salvador, Brazil鈥�

Doctoral degree student Erin Flaherty 鈥�10, M.S. 鈥�12; Assistant Professor Carina Katigbak; Jennifer Rowland 鈥�18; and Matt Gregas, Boston College鈥檚 senior research statistician, presented their poster 鈥淩outine Exercise Positively Impacts Sleep in College Students鈥� at the Ph.D. Student Research Poster Exhibit during the Eastern Nursing Research Society鈥檚 29th Annual Scientific Sessions.听

At the 42nd Annual Oncology Nursing Society鈥檚 Congress in May, Ph.D. candidate Debra Lundquist presented two posters: 鈥淟iving and Functioning with Advanced Cancer: An Integrative Review,鈥� which she co-authored with Donna Berry, director of the Cantor Center at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute; and 鈥淩esults of the Implementation of a Nurse-led Program to Promote Genetic Testing in an Underserved Population,鈥� which Lundquist co-authored with colleagues from the Cancer Resource Foundation, the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Northeastern University, and the University of Massachusetts Worcester.

Ph.D. student Kathryn Post, M.S. 鈥�07, was chosen to present 鈥淏reast Cancer Care Redesign as an Approach to Streamline Survivorship Care: Outcomes and Challenges鈥� at the American Society for Clinical Oncology鈥檚 Cancer Survivorship Symposium in San Diego in January.

On the last Monday in April, members of the CSON Senate set up a table outside Gasson Hall and offered CPR training to passing students, faculty, and staff.

Alumni

In June, Boston鈥檚 Brigham and Women鈥檚 Hospital honored Ben Dalton 鈥�15 with a Medicine Residency Nursing Award鈥攁 recognition of nurses鈥� outstanding service and commitment to patient care at BWH, its Faulkner Hospital, the Boston/West Roxbury Veterans Administration Health Care System, and outpatient clinics. Dalton is a staff nurse in BWH鈥檚 surgical ICU who was a 2015鈥�16 VA Boston Healthcare System Nurse Resident.

Elizabeth Jean Donahue 鈥�05, M.S. 鈥�10, received the 2017 Distinguished Nurse Practitioner Award from the Massachusetts Coalition of Nurse Practitioners at its annual conference in May.

Maureen Gormley 鈥�85 was appointed deputy director for management at the NIH National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke in August.

In November, the American Public Health Association awarded its 2016 Ruth B. Freeman Award to Pamela Kulbok 鈥�70, M.S. 鈥�75, the Theresa A. Thomas Professor of Nursing at the University of Virginia School of Nursing.

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