SCHOLAR DIRECTORY

During the years in the BSN-PhD program I developed a research interest for substance use among vulnerable populations. My current focus is on e-cigarette use among adolescents. I’ve been taking graduate addiction courses and training to become certified addiction specialist and tobacco treatment specialist. I have also been volunteering for the AHEC’s iQuit pilot project at the UF Health (Shands) hospital units. This volunteering is helping me develop my tobacco counseling skills. My work as a Research Assistant on my mentor’s (Dr. Linda Haddad) intervention study is helping me gain knowledge on motivational interviewing. I am also developing my leadership skills through serving as a Vice President for the UF College of Nursing Graduate Student Council and as a Student Representative for the UF College of Nursing Academic Affairs Committee. Prior to starting the Accelerated BSN program (2013-2014) at the UF College of Nursing, I worked as an assistant for the Teaching Lab at the UF Microbiology & Cell Science Department (2012-2013). I plan on developing my teaching skills further by serving as a teaching assistant for UF College of Nursing faculty this upcoming school year (2016-2017).

I am enrolled in the doctorate of education at Teachers College Columbia University with an anticipated graduation of May 2021. I hold a Master of Nursing Science with a nursing education focus from University of Southern Indiana and a Bachelor of Nursing Science from Baptist College of Health Sciences in Memphis, TN. I currently serve as an Assistant Professor of Nursing at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, AR. Primary didactic focuses on maternal/newborn nursing and evidence based practice at the associate, bachelor, accelerated bachelor, and RN-BSN levels. Clinical practicum experience includes health assessment practicum and maternal/newborn nursing. Previous work experience includes labor and delivery, postpartum and newborn nursing. Research interest includes simulation and improving the maternal/newborn experience, especially in the male nursing student population. Another particular interest is the correlation between the amount of sleep and content preparation leading up to a nursing test and performance. I serve on numerous committees at the school and college level at my university, including admission, progression, and credits, handbook committee (Chair for 2016-2017), and faculty development, and numerous ad hoc committees. I serve as a delegate for Eta Theta Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International. I am a board member of Arkansas Early Learning, which is the local Head Start location.

I am a non-traditional doctoral nursing student, immigrant from Mexico and naturalized US citizen, which matriculated directly to doctoral studies upon graduation from the UCLA master’s entry pre-licensure nursing education program (MECN). My personal and professional interest is to design and implement research that helps maintain the health, including school health, of our communities. After careful careful consideration, I came to realize that my passion lies in soccer-related injury research among our youth, to help prevent injuries and maintain healthy development of our future generations, including school health. Soccer-related injuries are a healthcare crisis in the United States, and while interest dates to 1994, injuries continue to be a health concern with increased participation. Soccer-related injuries vary widely from sprains and strains to head injuries. Nearly 13-15% of soccer-related injuries result from head trauma, with 2-11% diagnosed as mild traumatic brain injury (TBI), which includes concussions. Although TBI resulting from heading is a concern, official rules allow heading, where players use the head to direct a ball purposefully. Currently, soccer play is evolving to include alternative forms of play: futsal vs. field soccer. Futsal requires fewer players (5 vs. 11), an indoor or outdoor barrier-free arena, and a smaller diameter ball, with similar weight and inflation when compared to field soccer ball. Fundamentally, these differences result in a futsal ball that is denser with lower resilience on impact, whether struck on ground or in-flight. I aim to research preventive strategies to soccer-related injuries, including TBI, in different forms of play.