SCHOLAR DIRECTORY

Kari Firestone is currently pursuing her Ph.D. at Oregon Health & Sciences University in Portland, Oregon. She completed a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Walla Walla College in 1994 and her Master of Science in Nursing with a focus in nursing education from Loma Linda University in 2006. Ms. Firestone is devoted to advancing the health of children and families, and for 20 years has worked with children in a variety of clinical settings. Since obtaining her master’s degree in 2006, she has focused on teaching in nursing as a full-time faculty member in pediatrics and nursing research at Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA. Most recently, she has accepted the position of Associate Dean of Nursing at Walla Walla University in College Place, WA. Ms. Firestone’s clinical and academic interests include the care of children, with a particular focus on the management of chronic illness, pain and symptom management to enhance quality of life. She recently received the 2014 Corrine Barnes Research Award/Grant from the Society of Pediatric Nurses for her research with adolescents with chronic pain. Her doctoral research, now in the dissertation stage, examines the use of yoga as a form of low-intensity exercise as an intervention for pain in adolescents experiencing chronic widespread pain.