News Archives

Cunningham to Receive 2022 Norma M. Lang Award for Scholarly Practice and Policy

January 25 -

The award is given biennially to a Penn Nursing faculty member or a graduate from the School’s doctoral program who has made a distinguished contribution to nursing through scholarly practice. It honors Norma M. Lang, PhD, the Professor and Dean Emerita of Penn Nursing for her world-renowned contributions to health policy and practice. The 7th Norma L. Lang Lecture will take place on Wednesday, April 6, 2022, 3:00 – 5:00 pm in the Ann L. Roy Auditorium.

Forwarding Nurse-Led Innovation

January 20 - In order for nurses to lead in health and health care innovation, schools of nursing and nursing programs must think strategically about the knowledge and skills the next generation of nurses will need and then support those innovation needs at all levels of research, education, and practice.

Addressing Substance Use and Pain Key to Limiting Self-Directed Hospital Discharge

January 19 - It is not uncommon for people with opioid-related conditions, including opioid dependence and opioid use disorder (OUD), to be regularly hospitalized to treat infections, trauma, or other emergent conditions. Data show that patients with substance use disorders (SUD) are much more likely to self-discharge against medical advice than patients admitted for similar conditions without SUDs. This can lead to poorer health outcomes including worsening illness, readmissions, and death.

Gabriela Meléndez-Peláez to Receive 2022 Penn Nursing Renfield Foundation Award for Global Women’s Health

January 13 -

Gabriela Meléndez-Peláez, a Guatemalan nurse-midwife, maternal health advocate, and the Founder of Asociación Corazón del Agua, will receive the 2022 Penn Nursing Renfield Foundation Award for Global Women’s Health for her tireless work in addressing maternal health inequities in Guatemala. The award ceremony will be held virtually on March 29, 2022.

Environment Key to Injury Recovery

January 12 -

Black men are disproportionately impacted by injuries in the United States. This disparity is glaring given that injury is one of the top ten causes of death. Data show that injured Black men from disadvantaged neighborhoods experience higher injury mortality, years of life-expectancy loss, and psychological symptoms that persist after initial wounds have been treated.

Successful Medicare Initiative Increases the Supply of Nurse Practitioners to Address Primary Care Shortages

January 10 - A new study recently published in Health Affairs shows that Medicare support for clinical training for nurse practitioners would increase their numbers and address the national shortage of primary care. The study, by researchers at the Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, and the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics shows that universities participating in the $200 million Graduate Nurse Education (GNE) Demonstration significantly increased the number of primary care NPs they graduated.

Three UPenn SON Hillman Scholars Receive Fall Pilot Awards

December 20 - University of Pennsylvania Hillman Scholars, Charisse Ahmed, Cassis Boateng, and Kierra Foley applied for pilot awards this fall and were approved for funding by the Hillman Scholars In Nursing Innovation National Program Office. Read the full article for details on their projects.

New Penn Collaboratory Aims to Improve Care for Older Adults

December 20 -

The Penn Artificial Intelligence and Technology Collaboratory for Healthy Aging (PennAITech) seeks to explore the use of artificial intelligence and other technologies to improve in-home care for older adults and individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. The Collaboratory will leverage extensive expertise in artificial intelligence, consumer informatics and aging, access to patient cohorts and resources of Penn’s School of Nursing, the Perelman School of Medicine, and other departments across the University of Pennsylvania. PennAITech is made possible through a grant from the National Institute on Aging (NIA), a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The award is expected to total $20 million over five years.

A First-of-its-kind Academic Social Entrepreneurship Lab

December 17 -

The Eidos LGBT+ Health Initiative, anchored in the School of Nursing, is part of a $750 million University investment in science, engineering, and medicine.

National Award for Penn Nursing Professor

December 16 -

The National Hispanic Council on Aging (NHCOA) recently honored Adriana Perez, PhD, ANP-BC, FAAN, Assistant Professor in Penn Nursing’s Department of Family and Community Health with its Research Recognition Award during its 2021 special awards ceremony – United for Equity – on December 9, 2021. The ceremony focused on inequalities impacting health and economic security.

Penn Nursing Awarded Pennsylvania State Grant

December 15 -

Penn Nursing’s Center for Global Women’s Health (CGWH) has been awarded a $30,000 grant through It’s On Us PA, a statewide campaign that aims to end sexual assault by bringing together college and university presidents, superintendents, administrators, teachers, students, families, and community members to reframe the conversation around sexual violence and pledge to be part of the solution.

Humans of Penn Nursing: Marissa Kesse, Nu’23

December 9 - I was so excited to have been placed on the trauma unit: emergent gunshot wounds, groups of nurses on top of a patient performing CPR, code reds, blues, and greens. To me, trauma held the glitz and glam of nursing.

Illinois Nurse Staffing Legislation Predicted to Reduce Hospital Deaths and Improve Care

December 8 -

According to a new study published in the scientific journal BMJ Open, proposed state legislation in Illinois—HB 2604 Safe Staffing Limits Act– would significantly improve nurse staffing in hospitals and likely save thousands of lives. The cost of improving nurse staffing could be offset by cost savings achieved by the impact of better nurse staffing on shorter length of hospital stays.

University Professorship for Penn Nursing Professor

December 8 -

George Demiris, PhD, FACMI, a Penn Integrates Knowledge Professor (PIK), with joint faculty appointments in Penn Nursing’s Department of Biobehavioral Health Sciences and in Perelman School of Medicine’s Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Informatics, will become the Mary Alice Bennett University Professor. University of Pennsylvania President Amy Gutmann made the appointment.

Exploring the Effectiveness of Telehealth in Opioid Use Disorder

December 6 -

The majority of individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) face access barriers to evidence-based treatment. While the COVID-19 pandemic offered an opportunity to address OUD treatment access barriers by allowing for expanded use of telehealth, is it not yet clear if this technology will help eliminate those barriers or exacerbate pre-existing treatment inequities.

Prestigious Fellowship for Penn Nursing Professor

November 30 -

Connie M. Ulrich, PhD, RN, FAAN, MSN, the Lillian S. Brunner Endowed Chair in Medical and Surgical Nursing, Professor of Medical Ethics and Health Policy and Nursing in Penn Nursing’s Department of Biobehavioral Health Sciences, has been elected one of 24 new Fellows of The Hastings Center.

Putting Community First, in a New Social Justice Initiative

November 30 -

The Community Collaboratory for Co-Creation, led by Penn Nursing and Penn Engineering, will focus on research, education, and community engagement and outreach.

After COVID-19: Priorities for Health System Transformation

November 23 -

Penn Nursing’s Mary Naylor, PhD, R, FAAN, the Marian S. Ware Professor in Gerontology and Director of the NewCourtland Center for Transitions and Health, and co-chair of the Culture Inclusion & Equity Action Collaborative—one of the four collaboratives under the National Academy of Medicine’s Leadership Consortium that convened experts and stakeholders across nine sectors of health, health care, and biomedical research to review how each sector responded to COVID-19, identify challenges encountered in combating the pandemic, and outline opportunities to reinforce, revitalize, and transform the health system.

Impressive Showing for Student Nurses at Penn During Annual Convention

November 22 -

The Student Nurses at Penn (SNAP) were a powerhouse – winning awards/scholarships/elections, having legislative impact, making presentations – at the 69th Annual Convention of the Student Nurses’ Association of Pennsylvania held November 18-19, 2021, in Harrisburg.

Exploring Psychological Resiliency of Older Adults with Diabetes

November 15 -

Studies suggest that exposure to the COVID-19 pandemic has been associated with a variety of different mental health consequences including reports of depression, loneliness, and insomnia. People who are more than 65 years of age and those with underlying medical conditions such as type 2 diabetes and obesity are particularly vulnerable to negative outcomes from COVID-19. Until now, few investigations have identified and separated the mental health consequences of exposure to the COVID-19 pandemic from preexisting factors in this age group. A new prospective study of a large cohort of older adults with type 2 diabetes and overweight/obesity from across the U.S. has explored this subject with surprising results.

New Grant Supports Penn Nursing Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Work

November 15 -

Penn Nursing’s efforts to further integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion into its curricula received a boost recently, thanks to a new grant from The Trustees’ Council of Penn Women (TCPW).

Melanie Martin, GNu’21, Nu’21

November 9 - I work part-time as a student geriatric associate at HUP. I encounter many patients who suffer from dementia.

With More Kids Eligible for Vaccines, is the Pandemic in a New Phase?

November 3 -

With the FDA authorization last week, 28 million more children are eligible to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Penn Nursing’s Melanie Kornides, ScD, and other experts from Penn Medicine, share their thoughts about what to expect in the weeks and months to come.

Kimberly Reda, GRN’23

November 1 - “I have been lucky enough to work in multiple areas of nursing including ER, trauma, critical care, cath lab and then cardiology and cardiac surgery as a NP.

Moving Past Conflation of Race and Genetics

October 26 -

Race is not genetic. Race is a social and political construct. However, the conflation of race and genetics is one way that racism persists in medicine and research.

Humans of Penn Nursing: Zyanna Marie Almonacy, Nu’21

October 22 - “This past month, during my clinical in HUP’s Surgical ICU, the health care team made the decision to hold a meeting with my patient and his family. Earlier in the month, he was diagnosed with metastatic brain cancer.

Forging a New Path Forward

October 21 - Penn Nursing’s strategic plan, Leading to a Healthier, More Equitable Future, is about unstoppable drive, doing more, and forging a new path forward.

Mandates Likely Work to Increase Vaccine Uptake

October 21 -

Rather than causing a backlash, vaccination requirements will succeed at getting more people inoculated, according to research from PIK Professor Dolores Albarracín, the Alexandra Heyman Nash Penn Integrates Knowledge University Professor with appointments in the Annenberg School for Communication and the School of Nursing, and fellow colleagues at Penn.

National Award for Renz

October 11 -

Penn Nursing’s Susan Renz, PhD, DNP, GNP-BC, Primary Care Program Director and Practice Associate Professor in the Department of Family and Community Health, will receive a 2021 Distinguished Gerontological Nurse Educator award from the National Hartford Center of Gerontological Nursing Excellence (NHCGNE). The awards will be presented at the NHCGNE Leadership Conference to be held virtually, October 26 – 28, 2021.

Isabel Buckingham, Nu’22

October 5 - As a recently enrolled sub matriculant in Penn Nursing’s Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program, my primary goal for this past summer was to supplement my psychiatric clinical rotation with additional experience to confirm my interest in pursuing the mental health nursing field.