Student Profiles
Joyce Thomas-Browning, MS, RN, is the Nursing Director for the Thoracic Surgery ICU and one of the Thoracic Intermediate Care units at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston. Joyce has over 20 years of experience in critical care. She obtained her BSN from UMass Boston and her MS in Nursing Leadership and Business Management from Regis College. Joyce is enrolled in the MS-PhD Population Health track and hopes to focus her research on improving cancer care and end of life care in the ICU environment.
Linda Connor, MHA, RN, CPN, is a staff nurse III at Children's Hospital Boston in the Perioperative Program. She mentors staff nurses in evidenced-based practice and professional advancement. Linda is also the coordinator of regulatory readiness for the perioperative program. She has 35 years of acute care experience in both pediatric and adult critical care, emergency room trauma, and perioperative nursing. Her previous research areas of interest include pediatric sedation, quality care, and family centered care. Linda’s goal in attending the UMass Boston PhD program in Nursing is the further develop her interest in research, education and healthcare with a focus on the impact of health care reform.
Ijeoma Julie Eche, BSN, RN, FNP-BC, CPON, is enrolled in the MS-to-PhD Population Health program. She received her BSN from Regis College and her MSN from the University of Massachusetts Boston. She currently works as a hematology/oncology staff nurse at Boston Children’s Hospital and a family nurse practitioner at CVS Minuteclinic. The main she chose UMass Boston are the student body’s diversity, the institution’s global outreach and respect for diverse backgrounds/cultures as evidenced by the many flags surrounding the campus. Her research interests focus on parental uncertainty and quality of life in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. She is a member of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, Children’s Oncology Group, the Association of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Nurses, Delta Epsilon Sigma Honor Society for Catholic Colleges and Universities, and Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Society.
Terry Kahlert Eng, PhD (c), RN, MS, is a research analyst at RTI International in the Division for Social Policy, Health, and Economics Research. Her current work includes a Center for Medicare and Medicaid project evaluating the impact of the Federal Hospital-Acquired Conditions-Present on Admission Program. Terry has over 25 years of experience in progressive nursing leadership roles in academic medical settings. She was educated in the BSN program at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, and received a MS degree in nursing with a focus in oncology and the role of clinical specialist from Boston University.
Hannah Fraley, MSN, RN, will be entering her first year as a PhD student in Health Policy/Population Health. Hannah is originally from Massachusetts where she received her BSN in 2002 from Simmons College. She completed her MSN in Nursing Leadership in 2011 from California State University, Fullerton. She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau, the Association of Women's Health Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses, and Intervarsity Nurses Christian Fellowship. She is a wife and mother of three young children; two sons and a daughter. Hannah comes with a background in Patient Safety and Quality and Nursing Management in the Women and Children's area from Kaiser Permanente and Catholic Healthcare West. She will be working as an Assistant Nurse Manager/Educator for the Level II Special Care Nursery at North Shore Medical Center in Salem, MA. While completing her MSN and working as a nurse leader for women and children's services, Hannah's eyes were opened to the plight of vulnerable populations of women and children in the United States and worldwide. Hannah hopes to use her PhD in Health Policy to become politically active, acting as a voice and advocate for women and children. She has a particular interest in breaking the silence of the worldwide problem of human trafficking and orphaned children.
Elizabeth Rose Gallagher, MSN, RN will be entering her first year in the MS-to-PhD program. She graduated from Rhode Island College with a BS degree in Nursing and Biology and from Northeastern University with a MSN degree with a concentration in clinical informatics. She is a member of HIMMS and Sigma Theta Tau International. She has 21 years of health care experience. Her work experiences include medical-surgical, transplant, step-down ICU, urgent care, school, paralegal, and home care nursing; paralegal, consultant, infection control coordinator, supervisor, research assistant, clinical informatics, and teacher. Elizabeth’s areas of interests include healthcare, education, wellness, preventative medicine, complementary medicine, and technology. Her research focus will be to find technology solutions that will improve patient education, health, and nursing education, environment, and outcomes. Elizabeth’s PhD program goals are to build upon her nursing knowledge and interests in research and education.
Amanda Green, MSN, PHCNS, is currently enrolled in the MS-to-PhD program’s Population Health track. She has worked at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago as a general medicine floor nurse and at Upham’s Corner Health Center in Dorchester as a triage nurse. She earned her BSN from Oakland University and her MSN from Boston College. She is interested in reducing health disparities in the urban community, specifically with asthma and other chronic disease management in school-aged children. She chose the UMass Boston because of its shared commitment to urban and global engagement and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences because of its strong nurse scholar leadership. Amanda is a Jonas Scholar and a member of Sigma Theta Tau.
Heather Harker, BSN, RN, will begin the BS-to-PhD Population Health program in the fall of 2012. She received her BA in Anthropology from the Barnard College and her BS in Nursing from Columbia University. She is currently the Program Nurse in the Preventive Cardiology Program at Children’s Hospital Boston, focusing on children with cardiovascular risk factors. Heather is excited to learn from prominent nurse researchers in her area of interest at the University of Massachusetts Boston, which include the prevention and treatment of hypercholesterolemia and hypertension in pediatric populations, and nursing education. Heather is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International, the American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing, and the Preventive Cardiology Nurses Association.
Dany M. Hilaire, BS, RN, is a graduate of Duquesne University. She is currently working as a Heme/Oncology nurse at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Dana Farber/Harvard Cancer Center. Her research will help initiate early prevention and early detection in minority oncology patients.
Audrey Jasey, BSN, RN, CMSRN, is enrolled in the BS-to-PhD Health Policy Program. She received her BSN from UMass Boston. Audrey is a staff nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital. She chose UMass Boston due to the availability of a program in health policy with a focus in nursing and disparities. She is currently interested in patient safety and disparity issues related to colorectal cancer screening. Audrey is a member of Sigma Theta Tau and the recipient of the Clinical Leadership Collaborative for Diversity in Nursing (CLCDN) scholarship and Gail Minor scholarship.
Mercy Kamau, BSN, RN, RN, was born in Kenya. She is enrolled in the BS-to-PhD program. Mercy graduated from the UMass Boston with a Bachelor’s degree in Management Science and Information Systems in 2003 and a BSN in 2007. She is the founder and president of the non-profit organization Health For Nations, Inc., a health promotion initiative that recruits health professionals who volunteer to travel to Africa and performs health promotion projects. Mercy is also the co-director of the Kenya Heart and Sole Program, a College of Nursing and Health Sciences project that has partnered with Health For Nations Inc, with a focus on surveillance, prevention and control of cardiovascular/metabolic risk factors and diseases in Kenya.
Jacob Kigo Kariuki, BSN, is enrolled in the BS-to-PhD program. He was born and raised in Kenya, where he started his career in nursing after graduating with a BSN degree from the University of Eastern Africa, Baraton in 2008. His most recent work experience was at P.C.E.A Tumutumu Hospital School of Nursing, where he worked as a nurse tutor until July 2011.
Maryum Kazmi, BSN, RN, is enrolled in the BS-to-PhD Program at UMass Boston. She graduated in 2006 from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ with a BSN. She formerly worked in Yale Medical Oncology and is currently working at Brigham Women’s/ Dana Farber Cancer Center as a staff nurse. Maryum’s area of interest is decision making in elderly patients in active treatment phase of cancer care. As a research assistant with Dr. Carol Ellenbecker, she was part of a survey study to evaluate BS-PhD programs across the country. She is a member of the Oncology Nursing Society, Scientific Research Society Sigma Xi and Sigma Theta Tau.
Gretchen Kilbourne, BSN, RN, received a degree in Psychology from Princeton University in 2004 and worked in sales and management for several years before becoming a stay-at-home mom. In the summer of 2010, Gretchen graduated first in her class from the MGH Institute of Health Professions Accelerated Baccalaureate Program and was the recipient of the MGH Institute Award for Academic and Clinical Excellence. She was also inducted into Society Sigma Theta Tau. Since then, she has been working as an RN in a Skilled Nursing Facility in Needham, MA focusing on Alzheimer’s and Dementia care. Gretchen’s areas of interests include mental healthcare, pediatric healthcare, education, preventative medicine, and wellness. Gretchen grew up in Wellesley, MA as the sixth of seven children, and is a former member of the US Women’s National Ice Hockey Team.
MinJin Kim, BSN, RN, is entering her second year in the BS-to-PhD Population Health program. She is from South Korea and received her BSN from Case Western Reserve University. She has been working as a research coordinator for Dr. Haeok Lee’s funded studies on Cambodian American Health Research Program for Hepatitis B and Human Papillomavirus prevention and the Healey Research Program for Hepatitis B prevention among Asian American and Pacific Islander Young Adults at-risk. Her research interests focus on spirituality, cancer, and health disparity among ethnic minority populations. MinJin Kim hopes to incorporate her global experience to increase awareness and emphasize cross-cultural understanding at the community level. MinJin is a member of Sigma Theta Tau and the Eastern Nursing Research Society.
Aimee Lyons, MSN, received her degrees from Northeastern University and Boston College. She is a third year PhD student at UMass Boston in the Population Health track. Aimee is the Director of Nursing/Patient Services for the Medical Surgical Intensive Care Unit and Critical Care Transport Program at Children’s Hospital in Boston.
Fatma Zohra Mataoui, MD, RN, BSN, will be attending her first year in the BS-to-PhD program at UMass Boston in the fall of 2012. She graduated from the Medical School of Algiers, Algeria in 1989 as a general practitioner and continued to work as a primary care physician in both hospital and clinical settings for two consecutive years. Once in the United States, she used her medical background to teach college-level science courses while raising a family of her own. Currently, Fatma works as an RN in a skilled nursing facility in Braintree, MA, primarily focusing on providing care to patients affected by Huntington’s disease. In the future, she hopes to make a difference in the prevention of breast cancer.
Ampicha Nawai, MS, RN, will be entering her first year in the MS-to-PhD program. She comes from Thailand and received her master’s degree from Chiang Mai University. She has been an instructor at a nursing college in Thailand. Ampicha has 10 years of experience in various nursing specialties, including orthopedics, adult health, geriatrics, community nursing, health promotion and nursing education. She was awarded a Royal Thai Government Scholarship to pursue her doctoral degree at UMass Boston. Her area of interest is gerontological nursing, with the aim of improving the health care of elderly people in Thailand.
Chizoba C. Nwosu, BSN, RN, FNP-BC, WCC, will be entering her first year in the UMass Boston MS-to-PhD program (Health Policy Track) in the fall of 2012. She earned her BSN from Boston College and her MSN from Emory University. She is a Nurse Practitioner at Boston VA Healthcare System where she works in General Surgery. She also serves as a mentor for nursing students as part of Simmons College Dotson Bridge and Mentoring Program. She is a member of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, Massachusetts Coalition of Nurse Practitioners, and Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Society. Her research will focus on the impact of nurse leaders on the retention of Advanced Practice Nurses.
Mary Jane O’Brien, PhD (c), RN, MS, CPNP, is a School Nurse in the Boston Public Schools. She is a founding member of the Massachusetts School Nurse Research Network. The Network promotes evidence-based practice in school nursing. Mary Jane’s research will examine school health services and the quality of health care delivery in the urban school setting.
Jonathan Padua, BSN, RN, is enrolled in the BS-to-PhD program. He earned his BSN from the University of Massachusetts Boston. He currently works as a staff nurse at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in the Thoracic Surgery Intensive Care Unit. His areas of interest include healthcare economics and healthcare delivery and efficiency.
Maria Theresa (Tess) P. Panizales, MSN, RN is the Quality Program Manager of the Center for Surgery and Public Health, Department of Surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. She is also involved in Global Surgery and Nursing. Tess completed her BS in Nursing in 1983 from West Visayas State University in the Philippines. While in NYC she finished her MSN from Hunter College with a dual major in Nursing Administration and Psychiatric and Mental Health as Clinical Nurse Specialist. Her nursing career experience ranges from academic, community health (international and local), disaster relief, long-term care and hospital management. Her research interests are in global health care delivery and nursing engagement. She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society, Theta Alpha Chapter.
Rebecca Penders, BSN, RN, is enrolled in the BS-PhD Health Policy Program. She received her BSN from the University of Maine in 2004 and has been working as a labor and delivery nurse ever since. She is currently a staff nurse at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, WA. Rebecca sought UMass Boston for her doctorate because of the program’s unique Health Policy focus. Her research interest is in breastfeeding health policy, particularly breastfeeding and the workplace, or employment policies that promote the health of infants, mothers and society. Rebecca is a member of the American Nurses Association, Sigma Theta Tau and is a recipient of the GAANN Grant and Lynch Fund Scholarship.
Hermine Poghosyan, PhD (c), MPH, is enrolled in the MS-to-PhD Health Policy Program. She received her BSN from the School of Health Sciences at Jönköping University in Sweden and her MPH from the American University of Armenia. Her areas of interest include tobacco control policy, smoking cessation programs, health disparities, and health related quality of life of patients with lung cancer. The PhD program in Nursing and Health Policy at UMass Boston has given her the opportunity to work with nationally and internationally known researchers and policy experts, and obtain new skills and knowledge. Hermine is a member of the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS), Sigma Theta Tau International, and Academy Health. She is a recipient of the Anne Kibrick Award, the ONS Foundation/ ONS 11th National Conference on Cancer Nursing Research Scholarship, a Global Supplementary Grant from the Open Society Institute, and an Excellence in Health Care Studies and Leadership Award from the University of Michigan.
Brenna L. Quinn, BS, RN, graduated from UMass Lowell's nursing program in May of 2011. She began as a student in UMass Boston's BS-PhD program in the fall of 2011. She works as a nurse at LABBB Collaborative, a school for students with multi-handicaps and special needs. Brenna is currently focusing her research on issues in pediatric pain. Brenna is a member of The National Association of School Nurses, The Massachusetts School Nurse Organization, The Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses, and Sigma Theta Tau (Eta Omega Chapter). In her spare time, Brenna enjoys baking, running, and travelling to Walt Disney World.
Leslie Rideout, PhD (c), FNP, completed her BS degree (1983) in Education from the University of Southern Maine, BSN degree (1993) from the University of Massachusetts Boston, MSN degree (1997) in the family nurse practitioner program from the University of Massachusetts Lowell, and her PhD (2012) from the University of Massachusetts Boston. Leslie came to UMass Boston because of the esteemed nursing faculty and the quality education. Her dissertation research was on the barriers to and facilitators of the implementation of the shaken baby syndrome prevention education initiative by nurses in birthing hospitals in Massachusetts. (An Act passed in 2006 providing for the prevention of SBS) Leslie is a member of Sigma Theta Tau. She is currently the pediatric trauma nurse coordinator at the Floating Hospital for Children/Tufts MC.
Jayne Rogers, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, CPHQ, is the Nursing Director for Inpatient Medicine at Children's Hospital Boston. With over 30 years of nursing experience, Jayne is a BSN graduate of Boston University and MSN graduate of Catholic University. In addition to her work at Children’s Hospital, she serves as adjunct faculty at Simmons, Regis and St. Joseph’s College of Maine. Jayne is enrolled in the Health Policy track at UMass Boston. Her interests lie in focusing on quality issues to improve healthcare for children and linking service and academia.
Kristin Roper, PhD (c), MS, RN, is Clinical Inquiry Specialist in the Phyllis F. Cantor Center for Research in Nursing and Patient Care Services at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. Her areas of interest include legislative and organizational policy initiatives relating to the HRQOL, patterns of return to work, and work productivity of the colorectal cancer survivor.
Kristine Ruggiero, MS, NP is an Assistant Professor at Bunker Hill Community College where she teaches Pediatric Nursing. Kristine received a Biology degree from Fairfield University and a Master’s in Nursing from Yale University specializing as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. Her work experience includes research at Mass General Hospital in Radiation Oncology, Pediatric Oncology and Adolescent Medical-Surgical at Yale New-Haven Hospital, and Pediatric Nurse Practitioner at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. Kristine’s goal in coming to UMass Boston’s PhD Program is to build on her interests in research, education and healthcare.
Semira Semino-Asaro, MS, RN, is matriculated in the MS-to-PhD program. She received her MS in Psychiatric Mental-Health Nursing from the University of Arizona, College of Nursing as well as a Certificate in Gerontology from the Department of Anthropology at the University of Arizona. She received her BSN from Boston College. Semira has clinical experience in intermediate coronary care, psychiatric nursing, and maternal-child nursing. She also has work experience in disease management and nursing education. While at UMass Boston, she has gained valuable research experience working with a variety of faculty on their grants and/or projects. Semira’s research interests include the influence of culture on human development and health across the life span and the preparation of the nursing workforce in addressing increasing diversity in the U.S. She chose UMass Boston because of its mission to address health disparities and the opportunity to learn from the interests of faculty in the nursing program. She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau’s Theta Alpha chapter at UMass Boston.
Joan Shea, MSN, RN, CPON®, received her BSN from Curry College and her MSN from UMass Boston. She is currently a Staff Nurse III on the Hematology/Oncology/Clinical Research Unit at Boston Children’s Hospital where she has spent the majority of the past twenty years. Joanie is a member of the Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nursing where she serves on the national level as a member of the steering council. She is also a member of the American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Sigma Theta Tau. Joanie’s primary interest involves the nursing care of pediatric hematology patients and families, particularly those affected with Sickle Cell disease. Joanie is enrolled in the MS-PhD in Population Health track and hopes to focus her research on adolescents and young adults with Sickle Cell trait.
Sarah Ann Smith, MSN, RN, CPNP, CCRN, CPEN, is enrolled in the Population Health Track. She received her BSN from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia and her MSN from Regis College. Sarah currently works on the Critical Care Transport Team at Boston Children’s Hospital and is a Clinical Instructor for the UMass Boston undergraduate nursing program.
Lori Stevens, MBA, BSN, NEA-BC, is the Associate Chief Nursing Officer at Hallmark Health. Lori received her BSN from the University of Massachusetts and her MBA from the Simmons School of Management and is currently working on her PhD in Nursing in Health Policy at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Lori has over 20 years of hospital nursing experience including clinical experience in medical surgical, critical care and labor and delivery. Lori transitioned to nursing administration in 2001 and has held roles with progressive leadership responsibility, including the role of director of ambulatory program development where she oversaw the development of a 43 million dollar comprehensive ambulatory care center in a community setting. Lori is a member of many professional nursing organizations including the Massachusetts Organization of Nurse Executives, where she serves on the Government Affairs Committee. In addition, Lori is a member of the American Association of Ambulatory Care Nursing where she serves as Chair of the Legislative Committee. Lori’s research interest is in conscientious objection by healthcare workers.
Manu Thakral, MS, is enrolled in the MS-to-PhD program. She graduated from Tufts University in 2002 and worked as a medical researcher in Family Medicine/Public Health at Tufts University School of Medicine before returning for a Master’s in Nursing at the MGH Institute of Health Professions. She is on the Board of Directors of Partners for Youth with Disabilities, a nonprofit organization which provides mentoring for youth and young adults with disabilities. Manu has presented nationally and locally on the education of nurses with disabilities and adolescents with disabilities transitioning into adulthood. Her research interest is health disparities of women with disabilities in reproductive healthcare.
Julio A. Toro, PhD (c), RN, OCN, was born in Puerto Rico. He is one of first two BS-to-PhD students enrolled in the fall of 2007.He came to Massachusetts in 1984 to earn a biology degree from Harvard College and later attended UMass Boston, graduating in 1995 with a BS in Nursing and Chemistry. Julio’s clinical experience includes psychiatric nursing and over ten years of experience as an oncology nurse, a role he reports “defined him”. He is interested in how an individual's time orientation affects his or her decision making. His dissertation is on determinants of colorectal cancer screening via colonoscopy.
Alan Wright, SM, RN, is enrolled in the MS-to-PhD program. He has over 30 years of healthcare experience with work as a nursing home orderly, refugee health educator, health insurance administrator and home health association executive. Since 2000, he has worked in the software field developing software and training Medicare agencies in data collection and analysis. He currently works for Bayada Nurses, a national home health company, as a senior data analyst. His research interest will be in understanding how providers and policy advocates can effectively utilize data in providing care and developing programs.
