SCHOLAR DIRECTORY

Neesha Ramchandani, PNP, CDE, CDTC is a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in Diabetes. She received an AB in Chemistry with a minor in Psychology from Dartmouth College, her MA in Medical Sciences from Boston University School of Medicine, and her MSN from Yale University School of Nursing. She is currently pursuing her PhD from NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing, where she is focusing on using technology to improve both diabetes care and access to care. Clinically, Neesha believes in empowering patients to do their best with their self-management. She has been the program coordinator and/or advisor for pediatric diabetes practices at three major medical centers in NYC. In 2009, she was part of the team that was awarded a Medtronic Diabetes Center of Excellence, and in 2010, she was awarded the GOPIO Young Indian Professional of the Year award. Neesha has a strong interest in both diabetes technology and pediatric diabetes. She has published many papers on diabetes technology, including the first paper in the literature on insulin pumps from the time of diagnosis of type 1 diabetes without any additional agent and the first paper in the literature on why people do not use glucose sensors. Additionally, she authored the first paper in the literature on college students with diabetes. She also spent four years involved in research using the closed loop/artificial pancreas system. Neesha has presented her work around the world, including in the United States, many countries in Europe, Turkey, South Africa, and Israel.

I am currently a pre-doctoral fellow in Columbia University School of Nursing’s PhD program. My research interests include informatics, health disparities, and chronic disease management. In particular, I am interested in strategies for promoting sustained engagement of mHealth in individuals living with chronic diseases and in underserved populations. My research interests are primarily driven by my clinical experience as a cardiac nurse and my work completing a Masters of Public Health. I have undergraduate research experience with Dr. Vessey and Dr. Ye at Boston College, and while completing an MPH worked with Dr. Guillamo-Ramos at NYU investigating HIV prevention and Multipurpose Prevention Technologies (MPTs). Since coming to Columbia I have begun working on projects surrounding mHealth for chronic disease self-management both in the School of Nursing and in the Department of Biomedical Informatics at Columbia. I have also been nominated as the PhD President of the Doctoral Student Organization, a group designed to promote collaboration across PhD and DNP students within the School of Nursing.

LTC(ret) Jim Reed enlisted in the Army in October of 1983. After completing training he was assigned to the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Ft. Devens, Massachusetts. After his initial enlistment, he left the active Army and attended the University of Arizona earning a BSN while serving in the 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne). After commissioning Jim held various assignments in the Army Medical Department including Critical Care/Flight Nurse in the Army Burn Unit. In 2000, he graduated as the distinguished graduate from the US Army Graduate Program in Anesthesia Nursing. In 2001, he was chosen to join the ranks of an elite medical unit that supported Special Mission Units in Counter-Terrorist Operations. While a member of this unit, he deployed 9 times. He spent over 1500 days in combat zones conducting hundreds of combat missions and administering care to hundreds of casualties. He retired from the Army in 2011. Jim currently works as a CRNA at Firsthealth of the Carolinas in Pinehurst, NC. He is also the Duke University Nurse Anesthesia Program Clinical Coordinator. He is currently in the Duke DNP program. He and wife Holly have been married 25 years. Their two children serve in the US Army. Nick is a Second Lieutenant and their daughter Heather is a cadet at the United States Military Academy at West Point. Jim’s doctoral focus will be on eliminating preventable causes on death on the battlefield through an educational performance improvement project with active duty soldiers.

I am currently enrolled in the University of Cincinnati School of Nursing PhD program. I graduated from the University of Cincinnati, with a B.S. in Physics. and later obtained my B.S in Nursing. As a nurse in the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, I developed a passion for working with congenital heart patients and their families. I have also played an active role with the Patient Family Experience team at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, helping identify and implement best practices throughout the institution. My dissertation will focus on co-designing health care services for pediatric heart disease from the patient and family perspective. Using a participatory approach, I will promote collaboration between patients, families, and a broader healthcare team. It is my hope that this work will foster a new era where patients and families are seen as equal partners, valued as leaders of innovation central to improving quality and outcomes.