SCHOLAR DIRECTORY

Catherine Ferris is a doctoral student at the University of San Diego, Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science. Ms. Ferris earned a BSN Degree and public health nurse certificate from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, and a MSN, Health Care Systems Management degree from Loyola University New Orleans. Ms. Ferris’ United States Navy and civilian nursing career has been devoted to the care of children. She is a plank owner for the Navy’s first and second Pediatric Intensive Care Units, a pediatric Alumnus CCRN, and a member of Sigma Theta Tau, and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Policy Academy. Ms. Ferris is a pediatric nurse with extensive experience, and has seen first hand the consequences of vaccine preventable illnesses. Promoting immunization as primary prevention of childhood vaccine preventable diseases has become her passion. In addition to her clinical experiences, Ms. Ferris teaches nursing students in didactic and clinical settings, and is a recipient of the Federal Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP) planning a career in nursing education and research. Ms. Ferris’ research interest focuses on examining healthcare inequities and parental perceptions of barriers to childhood immunizations among diverse parent groups. The goal is to empower health care professionals and policy makers with knowledge to develop effective childhood immunization programs and policies. A member of the San Diego and California Immunization Coalitions, Ms. Ferris is an advocate for childhood immunization policies to help reduce healthcare inequities and disparities among diverse groups and vulnerable populations.