Faculty accomplishments
Recent updates from the College of Nursing faculty.
Associate Professor and Director of Diversity and Inclusion Jeanne-Marie Stacciarini, PhD, RN, FAAN, was named a UF Research Foundation Professor for 2019-2022. This recognition goes to UF faculty who have a distinguished current record of research and a strong research agenda that is likely to lead to continuing distinction in their fields. Stacciarini is also the recipient of a 2019 UF Research Opportunity Seed Fund. She is one of 15 at UF who will receive $85,000 over a two-year period starting June 1 for her research on the mental health and wellness of LGBT adolescents in rural areas.
Stacia Hays, College of Nursing
Clinical Assistant Professor and Doctor of Nursing Practice Program Director Stacia Hays, APRN, DNP, CPNP, CCTC, is the recipient of the International Transplant Nurses Society’s 2019 Transplant Nurses Day Award. In 2005, Hays served as the Smith family’s “Transplant Avenger” when their son Alex was undergoing an extremely difficult and painful journey that required a liver transplant at UF Health. Throughout the years, the Smiths never forgot how Dr. Hays helped them through the process, serving as their advocate, educator and an all-around amazing nurse, even bringing them homemade soup to their hospital room. The Smiths nominated Hays, who was selected and honored on Transplant Nurses Day this spring.
Debra Lynch Kelly
Clinical Lecturer Shari Huffman, MN, APRN, CNE, CPNP-PC, and Assistant Professor Debra Kelly, PhD, RN, OCN, CNE, join 10 College of Nursing faculty in being a Certified Nurse Educator by the National League for Nursing. This certification establishes nursing education as a specialty area of practice and creates a means for faculty to demonstrate their expertise in this role. It communicates to students, peers and the academic and health care communities that the highest standards of excellence are being met.
Debra Lynch Kelly
Assistant Professor Debra Kelly, PhD, RN, OCN, CNE, and Associate Professor Robert Lucero, PhD, MPH, RN, FAAN, were selected for University Term Professorships beginning in the 2019-20 academic year. Each academic year, the university has awarded University Term Professorships to eligible tenure-track faculty. Awards are based on a record of ongoing academic accomplishment and run for three academic years.
Executive Associate Dean and Thomas M. and Irene B. Kirbo Endowed Chair Debra Lyon, PhD, RN, FNP-BC, FNAP, FAAN, will receive a UF Faculty Enhancement Opportunity, or FEO, award for the fall. During the month of July, Debra will work on-site with collaborators from the University of Maryland and University of Connecticut to further the collaborative genetics and symptom science research consortium. In addition, she will attend the Human and Mammalian Genetics and Genomics: The 60th McKusick Short Course at The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine.
Clinical Assistant Professor Sally Bethart, DNP, MSN, APRN-BC, PHNA-BC, received her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from University of South Florida during spring commencement ceremonies. Her project was “Inclusive Palliative Care for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ+) Patients, Families and Caregivers: A Pilot Training for Palliative Care Providers.”
Lisa Scarton
Assistant Professor Lisa Scarton, PhD, BSN, was selected as a 2019 Health Disparities Research Institute Scholar by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, a highly competitive program. The goal of the Health Disparities Research Institute is to provide participants with a broad overview of the leading issues facing minority health and health disparities research and stimulate discussion of proposed research projects. Activities include lectures, seminars, interactive sessions and small group discussions with leading scientists and NIH staff. Scarton is also first author of a study published in the June issue of Research in Nursing and Health: “Developing a culturally tailored multigenerational intervention to prevent and manage type 2 diabetes in American Indian families living in rural settings: Findings from a focus group study.” Co-authors include recent BSN graduate Ilse Velazquez and Prairieview Trust – Earl and Margo Powers Endowed Professor Diana Wilkie, PhD, RN, FAAN.
Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs Denise Schentrup, APRN, DNP, and a group of UF interprofessional colleagues (Erik Black from the College of Medicine, Amy Blue from the College of Public Health and Health Profession and Karen Whalen from the College of Pharmacy) recently published an article about an innovative, nurse-led practice model at the College of Nursing’s practice, Archer Family Health Care, in the May issue of The Journal for Nurse Practitioners.
Leslie Parker Named Faculty Mentor of the Year
Clinical Associate Professor Leslie Parker, PhD, APRN (NNP-BC), FAAN, was selected for the University of Florida Undergraduate Faculty Advising/Mentor Award for 2018/2019. In the nomination letter for Parker, Department Chair and Associate Professor Ann Horgas, RN, PhD, FGSA, FAAN, wrote that Parker “engages students in her research, facilitates their ‘ownership’ of their research projects and builds effective research teams. She truly partners with the students to guide them, while at the same time holding them to high standards of personal responsibility and productivity. Her students have regularly presented and published with her, and several have gone on to PhD programs at prestigious universities. Dr. Parker is highly respected in our College for her expertise and commitment to the students.”
