SCHOLAR DIRECTORY

I am a PhD student in the College of Nursing at the University of Utah. My research interests are primarily in better supporting patients, family caregivers and clinicians in end-of-life settings. I am most interested in understanding how to foster growth through trauma and loss. I am a licensed clinical social worker with a Masters in Social Work from Portland State University. I previously worked at Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City with an organization that specializes in treating children who have suffered abuse, neglect or who have witnessed a traumatic event. I currently work as an oncology social worker at Huntsman Cancer Institute where I provide psychosocial support to patients, families and staff members. During my studies in the School of Social Work at Portland State University, I served as the student representative on the Executive Board of the National Association of Social Workers. During this time I was also awarded the Winkel award for excellence in Social Service Administration and Leadership. Before graduate school, I obtained Bachelor’s degrees in Community Health and Spanish at Tufts University. I graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2008. During my undergraduate career, I served as the Community Health Team Leader with Engineers Without Borders where I assisted in developing, administering and analyzing health surveys among populations in El Salvador and Honduras.