SCHOLAR DIRECTORY

Deborah R. Lee is a second year PhD student at Michigan State University School of Nursing pursuing her research interest which includes the role of exercise in the treatment of vincristine-induced peripheral neuropathy in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Deborah has been actively engaged in research at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center with adult cancer survivors investigating a web-based platform for symptom reporting, monitoring, and management in breast cancer patients. In addition, she is assisting with the development of a measurement tool for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. Her clinical practice involves work as an acute care nurse practitioner and Director in Critical Care Services at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo, Michigan where she has developed and implemented a Rapid Response Team, Stroke Team, and ST-elevation Myocardial Infarction Team. She is also a full-time faculty for the University of Michigan Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Program. Deborah is certified as a family nurse practitioner and an acute care nurse practitioner.

I am a bilingual registered nurse in Miami, Florida. Since 2014, I have worked for Baptist Health System South Florida in Miami, at its West Kendall location. I currently work in a medical-surgical and telemetry unit which focuses on orthopedic, oncology, stroke and colorectal patients. Prior to working for Baptist, I worked at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, Florida. I am also chemotherapy biotherapy certified by the Oncology Nursing Society. I have treated patients in a variety of settings, including medical-surgical, telemetry, ICU, mother-baby, and psychiatric departments. Additionally, I previously worked on a step-down unit that received patients who had undergone gynecological, urological, or nephrological surgery. Since 2011, I have balanced the demands of working as an RN while attending school, first in the ASN-BSN program at Miami-Dade College, followed by Florida International University’s BSN-DNP program, in which I am currently enrolled. Throughout my studies, my passion for becoming a Nurse Practitioner has grown. While earning my BSN I shadowed and worked with NPs in a community clinic, at a private office, and within an Emergency Department. While earning my MSN, which I completed in August 2016, I trained in a pediatric urgent care center, an emergency department, a community clinic, a private clinic, and a private, geriatric-centered practice. I expect to receive my Doctorate in December 2017. The focus of my Doctorate work will be on negative pressure wound therapy. Following graduation, I would like to focus on preventative care within the community care setting.

Heather Lewis is a PhD student at the University of Kansas School of Nursing. She earned her BSN (2009) and MSN (2012) from Research College of Nursing, where she currently teaches as an Assistant Professor in the BSN program. Her research interests concern including the arts in nursing education to enhance student engagement and learning. Song is the focal art for her dissertation work, but she hopes to expand this research to different forms of poetry and drama. Prior to becoming a nurse, Ms. Lewis earned a BSed and an MA in Theatre, which inform her research and practice as a nurse educator. She is passionate about nursing education and student success. Clinically, Ms. Lewis was a nurse on a cardiac telemetry unit. She has been a member of Sigma Theta Tau International since 2009 and has served on the board of the Upsilon Tau chapter since 2011. Awards include the Dean’s Award for Graduate Achievement (2012) and the Jonas Nurse Leader Scholar (2016).

I am part time PhD student at Wayne State University going into my second year. My research interest include Obesity and health disparities among African American women. I have interest in vulnerable populations such as African American women and Veterans. I am currently employed at the VA as nurse/facility educator. Many of our Veterans have health issues that have to have some cultural sensitivity considerations similar to African American Women. As an nurse educator at the Department of Veteran Affairs in Detroit Michigan, I have the pleasure ensuring staff are prepared and are up to date with the most recent evidence as it pertains to practice and patient care. I have received many awards concerning my dedication. I ensure our nurses give the best quality care for those who served. My masters degree has prepared me extremely well for my current role as a nurse/facility educator, but I feel I need more. As a professional nurse, I encounter a lot of why questions and sometimes the current research does not answer those burning questions. By obtaining my PhD, not only can I begin to answer those burning questions as a nurse researcher, but my doctorate degree will help me mentor those interested in research at the VA (especially nursing) and will enhance my role as an educator in the VA by giving me tools and resources. I believe what I learn in my Doctorate program will have a direct effect on how I help nurses help Veterans as well.

Cecilia Lijauco is the Healthcare Improvement Coordinator at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. Ms. Lijauco graduated with Bachelors of Nursing degree from Philippine Christian University – Mary Johnston School of Nursing in June 1980. In 1982, Ms. Lijauco was hired by the Hospital Corporation of America and migrated to the United States to work at Brownwood Regional Hospital in Brownwood, Texas, then Odessa Regional Hospital in Odessa, Texas. 1990, Ms. Lijauco left her role as assistant manager of the Coronary Care unit and moved to Dallas, Texas to work for Baylor University Medical Center (BUMC) and obtain her Master of Science in Nursing degree in Patient Care Management from Baylor University As a clinical nurse at BUMC Cardiothoracic, heart and lung transplant Intensive Care Unit, Ms. Lijauco headed the process improvement team and implemented the rapid extubation protocol for post open heart patients. As a program manager of the transplant department, she started the process to obtain the Joint Commission accreditation for the Left Ventricular Assist Device program. As a Director of the newly opened Baylor Heart and Vascular Hospital, Ms. Lijauco was instrumental in maintaining the hospital’s excellent scores in various governmental and various stakeholders performance measures. She is a certified nurse executive with the American Nurses Association Credentialing Center and a healthcare quality professional by the National Healthcare Quality Association. Her recent award as the Dallas Fort-Worth Great 100 Nurse is a testament of the difference she has made in nursing, both clinical and public service.

I currently work as psychiatric nurse practitioner in a clinic setting for adult patients with mental illnesses. I am enjoying the DNP program at NYU thus far. My clinical passion is to integrate neuroscience into treatment for OCD and its related disorders. I also have an academic passion for regulating nursing education curriculum. My background includes neuroscience nursing, nursing education and nursing clinical faculty. I graduated as Valedictorian from the 1999 nursing program at Sullivan County Community. I received the Dr. Scannell-Desch Scholarship in my graduate program at Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, NY and College.