Background

Degrees & Certificates

• Bachelor of Arts - Sociology & English | Carlow College, Pittsburgh PA
• Bachelors of Science – Nursing | University of the State of New York, Albany NY
• Masters of Science – Nursing | University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso TX (Cardiovascular Clinical Specialist)
• Post-Master’s Certificate | University of Colorado, Health Sciences Center, Denver (Primary Care of Adults, Nurse Practitioner)
• PhD – Human Rehabilitation | University of Northern Colorado, Greely
• Registered Nurse
• Nurse Practitioner
• Fellow of the American College of Health Care Executives
• Retired from Denver VA

Q & A

What do you do at CCD?

I teach nutrition as a pre-requisite for the nursing program as well as teaching students in all disciplines.

What awards have you received?

Nightingale finalist and various achievement awards during my tenure at the VA.

What do you enjoy most about your work?

I like being able to foster a desire for lifelong learning in our CCD students.

When you're not working, what do you do?

I like to travel and camp. When I retired my husband and I took a road trip for 15 months to go across the country. I also teach online classes.

What moment at CCD stands out as the most memorable?

I have several potential nurses in my nutrition classes. Getting an email message from them that they have been accepted into a nursing school always makes me feel good!

Who had the greatest influence on your education and/or career path?

My parents had the greatest influence. I have gone back to school several times in my life and they supported me with each new program.

What's the best advice you've ever received?

Lighten up! We live in a very busy world with many demands. Taking the time to stop, breathe and realize that you are doing OK is the advice I get from my husband and it works.

Which three people (living or dead) would you invite to dinner, and why?

• Florence Nightingale – she was an amazing woman who changed our world.
• John Donne – he is my favorite poet and talking to him over dinner would be fascinating.
• George Clooney – well, you know why!

What or who can't you live without?

My family – husband, son, siblings…..they keep me going!

Please list any research interests:

I am interested in the effects of exercise and good nutrition in our overall health and how they can help us to manage and prevent disease.

Publications

“Effects of a Structured Exercise Program in Older Veterans” (2002), Journal of the

            American Geriatric Society 25(4, Suppl.), S565.

“Drug Treatments and Topics in 2000” (2001), With Berardinelli, C. Nurse

            Practitioner Journal, 26(2), 18-31.

“Linezolid:  A New Class of Antibiotic” (2000), With Berardinelli, C.  Nurse

            Practitioner Journal, 25(11), 62-64.

“Insulin Glargine: A Novel Insulin Analog” (2000), With Berardinelli, C.  Nurse

            Practitioner Journal, 25 (9), 68,74-78.

“Alosetron:  A New Therapy for Irritable Bowel Syndrome” (2000), Nurse Practitioner

            Journal, 25(7), 95-100.

“Treatment for Intermittent Claudication” (2000), Nurse Practitioner Journal, 25(5),

            112-115.

“Drugs, Devices and Diagnostics:  An Update” (2000), Nurse Practitioner Journal, 25(2),

            41-50.

“Diabetes Mellitus” In Primary Care Across the Lifespan, (2000).  Robinson, D. &    

            Kidd, P., St. Louis: Mosby, 343-353.

"Keeping Up with Current Drug Approvals" (1999). Nurse Practitioner Journal, 24,

44-57.

"Advanced Practice Nursing in the Department of Veterans' Affairs" (1999). With

            Valentine, N., Antai-Otong, Lynn, M., & Chaffee, M. in Hickey,

            J. V., Ouimette, R. M. & Venegoni, S. L. (Eds.).  Advanced Practice Nursing: 

Roles and Clinical Application (2nd ed.). Philadelphia:  Lippincott-Raven.

 “Atorvastatin:  A New Agent for Hyperlipidemia” (1997).  Nurse Practitioner Journal,              

            22(11), 82-88, 90-93.

“Zafirkulast:  A New Treatment for Asthma” (1997).  Nurse Practitioner Journal, 22 (5),        182-190.

“Annual Review of Newly Approved Drugs” (1997).   Nurse Practitioner Journal,  22            (1),  136-140.

“Alprostadil for the Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction” (1996).  Nurse Practitioner

Journal, 21 (5), 143-145.

“A Comparison of Nicotine Delivery Systems in a Multimodality Smoking Cessation

            Program”  (1996). With Prochazka, A. Nurse Practitioner Journal, 21(2), 73-84.

“Tramadol:  A New Analgesic” (1995).  Nurse Practitioner Journal, 20 (11), 96-98.

“New Antidepressants” (1995).  Nurse Practitioner Journal, 20 (9), 64-67.

“Metformin: An Antihyperglycemic” (1995). Nurse Practitioner Journal, 20 (7), 70-72.

“New Drugs for Epilepsy” (1995).  Nurse Practitioner Journal, 20(5), 82-85.

 “Nurse Practitioners:Looking Forward, Looking Back”(1994). VA Practitioner,11, 29-33

 “Decisional Incapacity:  The Nurse Practitioner’s Role” (1991).  Journal of the American      Academy of Nurse Practitioners, 3 (3), 110-115.

“Basic Electrophysiology” and “The Cardiovascular Client with COPD” (1985). In 

Every Nurse’s Guide to Cardiovascular Care, Talkington, S. & Raternik, G. (Eds.), New York: Wiley & Sons, 19-34 and 345-354.