"Dr. Gephart’s and Dr. Taylor-Piliae’s exceptional record of accomplishments makes them uniquely qualified for this highly competitive national award.  We are so proud of Shelia and Ruth, congratulate them on this well-deserved recognition, and look forward to celebrating with them in October.” ~ Ki Moore, PhD, RN, FAAN, Dean, UA Nursing

Currently comprised of more than 2,600 nurse leaders in education, management, practice, policy, and research, the AAN serves the public and the nursing profession by advancing health policy, practice, and science through organizational excellence and effective nursing leadership. The Academy's fellows are nursing's most accomplished leaders in education, management, practice, and research. They have been recognized for their extraordinary commitment to the promotion of the public’s health through evidence and innovation. 

Through a competitive process, Drs. Gephart and Taylor-Piliae were selected based on their contributions to increase access, reduce cost, and improve quality through nursing theory, practice, and science. Induction into the Academy is a significant milestone in a nurse leader’s career where their accomplishments are honored by those within the nursing discipline.

“Induction as a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing is one of the most prestigious honors for nursing leaders and based on specific evidence of outstanding contributions to the improvement of nursing and/or health care at national or international level,” said UA Nursing Dean Ki Moore, PhD, RN, FAAN.  “Dr. Gephart’s and Dr. Taylor-Piliae’s exceptional record of accomplishments makes them uniquely qualified for this highly competitive national award.  We are so proud of Shelia and Ruth, congratulate them on this well-deserved recognition, and look forward to celebrating with them in October.”

Dr. Gephart studies technical and parent-engaged solutions to reduce the burden of necrotizing enterocolitis. Her methodological expertise in spreading innovations using informatics, especially clinical decision support technologies, has included algorithm development and testing of tools to measure Electronic health record related unintended consequences. The goal of Dr. Taylor-Piliae’s research is to increase physical activity among older adults with heart disease and stroke through the implementation of innovative interventions such as Tai Chi, to improve physical functioning, reduce fall rates and improve quality of life.

“I am proud to welcome this incredible class of leaders to the American Academy of Nursing," said Academy President Karen Cox, PhD, RN, FACHE, FAAN. "Their amazing accomplishments have changed health and health care across the country and around the globe. I look forward to celebrating the new fellows at our 2019 policy conference and working with them in the future so that our collective knowledge can impact and influence health policy." 

"Dr. Moore has demonstrated exceptional leadership for the college over the past 10 months in her interim role and has worked tirelessly to establish a collaborative, positive culture for faculty, staff and students.” ~ Michael D. Dake, MD, senior vice president for the UA Health Sciences

The Anne Furrow Endowed Professor at the college and a long-standing member of the UA Cancer Center, Dr. Moore has 25 years of research experience, primarily investigating the impact of central nervous system (CNS)-directed cancer treatment for pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia and brain tumors. She has written more than 150 publications in the area of pediatric oncology.

She also has been principal investigator on extramurally funded clinical studies of the long-term effects of CNS-directed treatment including interventions to improve outcomes among children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and pre-clinical studies on mechanisms of CNS tissue injury and gene expression changes associated with chemotherapy.

Her extensive knowledge of research funding, her pursuit of collaborative partnerships, and her ability to develop opportunities for professional development will continue to advance the excellent reputation of the college, elevate its Top 10 ranking, and further strengthen its graduate programs and NIH research ranking.

Dr. Moore earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing from the University of Iowa, and received her doctorate from the University of California, San Francisco. She joined the UA in 1988, progressively serving in several key positions in the college. Among many honors, she won the Winograd Professorship from the University of New Mexico in 2015; the UA Henry and Phyllis Koffler Prize for Scholarship in 2012; the Association of Pediatric Hematology Oncology Nursing’s Distinguished Researcher Award in 2012; and the Friends of the National Institute of Nursing Research Pathfinders Award in 2011.

"I’ve walked in their shoes and I’ve talked their talk, whether they’ve been talking to a surgeon in an operating room, a legislator in a state house, or a clinical preceptor as an educator. Having been in each of those fields, I know what that is. That experience is a key to what I bring to the table.”~ Kristie Hoch, DNP, CRNA

Though this is her first national office in the AANA, Dr. Hoch has made her leadership presence known by serving as an AANA State President as well as on the AANA Arizona Board.  A natural-born leader and a true people person, she’s excited about the opportunities serving as Director will bring not only to her profession at large, but to Arizona Nursing’s DNP-NA program. Fulfilling her campaign promises is her first priority and she is ready and raring to go. “Advanced Practice Nurses bring a lot to the table and we haven’t always been recognized for what we do and how we can do it. CRNAs are the sole anesthesia providers in almost 100% of rural America, so we ensure access to care. I want people to know that.”

Asked about the skills she brings to the job, she says, “My greatest strength is my ability to listen. I’ve learned that if you sit quietly, members will tell you what their concerns are and it may be something that you can help them with and support them with and it may be something that you have to research on your own. I’ve walked in their shoes and I’ve talked their talk, whether they’ve been talking to a surgeon in an operating room, a legislator in a state house, or a clinical preceptor as an educator. Having been in each of those fields, I know what that is. That experience is a key to what I bring to the table.”

As Dr. Hoch works to improve communication between the national association and each of the state associations, she will also continue to bring positive attention to Arizona Nursing’s Nurse Anesthesia program. Since she joined the College’s faculty, her stewardship has helped build enrollment in the program. “Part of that is that people in the national association know who I am,” she says, noting that whenever she brings a stack of business cards to meetings or conferences, she returns empty-handed. “It’s going to mean a lot more work but it’ll be worth it, and it will solidify a lot of things that I want to do with Nurse Anesthesia, our program and our profession.”

It’s also her meaningful connection with students that has led Dr. Hoch on her path to success. As an educator, she is keenly aware that she is a gatekeeper for her profession. She may have her eye on the day-to-day big picture for Region 5 CRNAs, but she is keenly invested in the future of her profession. “I want to instill the future of leadership in our students,” she says. “I want them to understand that in our profession it takes more than being able to provide a quality anesthetic. I also want them to be leaders in our profession because somebody needs to take this torch and ensure our future.”  

“Our graduates have been trained to be leaders that care about patients and our healthcare system and as educators, we need to make sure they have the knowledge and critical thinking skills they need." ~ Sharon Hitchcock, DNP, RN-CU

“I saw a need for an educator on our unit and actually created my own position,” she says. “I found that I absolutely loved teaching my peers and bringing new grad nurses in and helping them get started.” Earlier in her career, she says, the thought of standing in front of a group of people as a teacher gave her the chills. “But then when I was actually forced to, I found that I really enjoyed it.”

It was in her capacity as a hospital educator that she met Arizona Nursing’s Connie Miller, DNP, RNC-OB, CNE, CCCE, who encouraged her interest in furthering her nursing career as an educator. After earning her master’s degree, Dr. Hitchcock joined the College of Nursing faculty. Four years after that, she completed her DNP degree.  She has now been with the college for six years and says, “Teaching nursing students has brought me more joy than I ever imagined.”

“Sharon is passionate about her day-in, day-out work at the University of Arizona and the nursing students she serves,” says Dr. Miller.  “She takes pride in the creative ways she teaches, her drive to help students become scholars, and she looks for ways to engage and excite students regarding obstetrical topics.”

Educating nursing students about the importance of providing new parents with sleep safety guidelines is Dr. Hitchcock’s abiding passion. “There are about 3500 deaths a year of mostly preventable deaths related to infant sleep,” she says, noting that this breaks down to 10 U.S. infant deaths per day. “This is a complex, and sometimes controversial topic, and there’s a lot of education that parents need. Nurses are at the forefront of this. If we were able to adequately educate parents, we could prevent most of these deaths.”

In service of this important goal, Dr. Hitchcock and her colleague Melanie Welch, MSN, RN, teach Arizona Nursing’s Obstetrics course for Bachelor of Science in Nursing students. “Our students probably get a bigger dose of sleep safety than some other schools, without apology,” she says. “We make it fun. We come into the classroom with a basinet that’s unsafe, we come in as a mom who is resistant to the safe sleep recommendations, and we role play. The way we prepare them in the classroom works, because when we go into the hospital setting they’re well-prepared to talk to parents, and they do it! It’s a matter of knowing what the recommendations are for protecting your baby and using a little bit of that nurse persuasion.”

Additionally, Dr. Hitchcock is involved in the issue of infant safety on both the national and state level. She is part of the national Association of Women’s Health Obstetrics and Neonatal Nurses and in Arizona she is a member of the state’s Safe Sleep Task Force, which works to promote safe sleep though home visiting programs that work directly with families and in hospitals around the state. 

Dr. Hitchcock’s advocacy extends to her research interests and scholarly contributions. She has penned several articles about the importance of infant sleep safety and conducted presentations on the subject for nurses at Tucson Medical Center and via a live webinar for the National Institute of Health. With Karen Owen, BSN, RNC, a colleague at St. Joseph’s Hospital, she also developed and copyrighted a crib card printed with the safe sleep recommendations intended for use with hospital basinets. The simple-yet-effective innovation was co-opted by healthcare organizations across the country and was adopted by the Arizona Department of Health Services.

All of her efforts boil down to a passion for education. Asked what the March of Dimes nomination means to her, Dr. Hitchcock says, “I am humbled and I feel very honored. I am passionate about this topic and my desire to decrease infant mortality.” As an educator, she strives to not only prepare students with the technical skills they need, but also with the sense of caring they need as they go forward to work with patients.

“Our graduates have been trained to be leaders that care about patients and our healthcare system,” she says, “and as educators, we need to make sure they have the knowledge and critical thinking skills they need.   I tell our students, ‘We’re sending you out with a bachelor’s degree, and that means you’re going to go into our health care organizations to be great nurses, and leaders that can solve big problems.’”

“I was truly blown away by the overwhelming positive response I received from the expo and the honors college. There was a wide variety of amazing research on display at the expo, and for my thesis to be chosen as the winner was an incredible honor. It felt amazing to be able to share my findings with such an enthusiastic and receptive audience." ~ Shane Pendleton, UA Nursing BSN Alumnus

Why did you choose a career in nursing?

I chose to pursue a career in nursing after experiencing what it was like to be a patient in the hospital as a child. I know how scary it is to be lying in a hospital bed and not know what is happening. I also know how big of an impact the nurse can have on a patient's hospital stay. Because of this experience, I want to give back and provide quality care for patients so that they receive the best care possible. I think nursing is a challenging yet rewarding field, and I am excited to begin work as a nurse soon.

Who did you choose Arizona Nursing to pursue your studies?

I chose Arizona Nursing for many reasons. I knew that the College of Nursing was a highly ranked program with excellent faculty and resources. The program's numerous clinical sites included many renowned hospitals such as Banner University Medical Center and Tucson Medical Center. I also respected the College of Nursing's efforts to increase the diversity of the nursing workforce as well as the extensive training that we received on integrative care. After finishing my degree, I am confident that the college has given me the foundation that I need to become a great nurse.

Tell us about your experience as an ANIE Vanguard Scholar?

I was in the very first group of students to participate in the ANIE program through all semesters of nursing school. The program was invaluable to me not only through financial support, but through the supplemental education and training that we received. The faculty worked tirelessly to provide useful and meaningful workshops to enhance our education. Lectures on sleep hygiene, self-care, and study strategies all contributed to my well-being and gave me resources I wouldn't have had otherwise. Most importantly, ANIE made me feel comfortable and confident at the College of Nursing. I always felt like I had a strong support system and an extensive number of faculty members that I could turn to for help.

Tell us more about your award-winning honors project?

My honors thesis was on the topic of treating chronic low back pain without the use of opioid medications. The current opioid crisis has shown us that opioids are dangerous medications with very limited usefulness and high potential for overdose. They have been shown to not be a viable treatment for chronic back pain, but they are still being used in practice. I wanted to focus on a lifestyle change that the patient could do for themselves to reduce pain without using medication. In my research, I found that core exercise was extremely effective for controlling chronic pain over time. I chose to study yoga, Pilates, and core stabilization as core exercise modalities for reducing chronic pain. All three were shown to significantly reduce pain and increase quality of life. The final step of the project was creating a unique protocol for implementing these modalities into practice. After completing this project, I am confident that there are strong alternatives to opioid analgesics and I hope we see them implemented into practice in the near future.

What inspired your interest in this topic?

The shocking statistics on opioid related overdoses and deaths really inspired me to research why opioids are being used in the first place and to look into alternatives where possible.

After graduation, do you plan on pursuing your research further?

My two faculty advisors, Linda Perez and Cheryl Lacasse, have both encouraged me to continue to work on this project and apply to have my research published. I think that having my research published would be a great experience, and it would be an amazing feeling to have my research disseminated to healthcare professionals.

What did it feel like to be the winner of the Honors Thesis/Capstone Category for the Honors Engagement Expo?

I was truly blown away by the overwhelming positive response I received from the expo and the honors college. There was a wide variety of amazing research on display at the expo, and for my thesis to be chosen as the winner was an incredible honor. It felt amazing to be able to share my findings with such an enthusiastic and receptive audience. I think this really emphasizes the significance of finding alternatives to opioids and ending the countless overdoses happening in the United States every day.

Speaking of the future: What are your plans now that you’ve graduated?

I will be starting my first position as an RN in the Cardiovascular ICU at Banner University Medical Center. I love working in critical care, and I believe that this position will be the perfect opportunity to challenge me to make a difference in patients’ lives.

The word ‘nurse’ makes most people think of clinical or hospital settings. There’s no denying those are important fields for the profession, but every day around the country, more than 800 medical transport helicopters or airplanes take to the skies to aid some of our most vulnerable populations. University of Arizona College of Nursing Master of Science in Nursing Clinical Systems Leadership (RN-MSN) alumna Jolene Platero is one such high-flying nurse. A member of the Navajo Nation, Platero pursued a career in nursing to help people after being confronted with the nursing shortage when her grandmother was seeking hospital care. Platero wanted to be part of the solution to that problem, thereby providing more progressive and culturally relevant care to her community.

“A lot of contract nurses were coming through who didn’t really know the region and the community,” explains Platero. “There was a disconnect between western medicine and traditional Navajo cultural beliefs and teachings, so I felt that I could play a part in bridging the two.”

After honing her skills as an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurse for eight years, Platero decided to make a career move to flight nursing. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” she says.  “In the United States, we know there are certain regions that have limited access to health care, but using the capabilities of flight allows us to get these patients to more tertiary facilities.”

“I get to really help people and I also get to interact with communities throughout my region. I like that they can see my face, and they can say, 'Wow, she's from my area, she's from our community, and she's helping.' I want them to see that if I can do this, they can do this too" ~ Jolene Platero, Flight Nurse, UA Nursing RN-MSN Alumna

Why choose the UA Nursing program for your masters?

The University of Arizona is known in my community for its elite status, and so there are a lot of great things that come out of the UA Nursing program.  You hear about what they’re working on, what they’re venturing out into, and I wanted to be a part of that.

What was the most valuable thing you learned during your studies?

How the health care system works and how we all play an important role in improving health care here in the United States. That includes health care as a whole here in the U.S., everything from politics to policy making to disease processes and data collection; how the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare play a part, how joint commissions play a part, and how that not only influences health care in hospitals and clinic setting but also how it influences flight medicine as well.

Describe a typical work day as a Flight Nurse.

Our workdays revolve around safety. In the morning, we check all of our equipment. We also make sure that everything works when we need it to work. We also check our aircraft. And we double-check each other to make sure we’ve got everything that we need. We also will do a follow-up on the patients we’ve transported to see how they’re doing. Then we’ll take time to sit and brief with our pilot and the partners we’re going to be flying with. We’ll talk about different scenarios, different aspects of patient care and flight, what the weather outlook is, where can we fly to, how much weight can we take today as far as patients go. If we can’t go west, what hospitals do we have travelling east or north? And if we have any didactics as far as education goes, we’ll go ahead and complete those too. And then we’ll settle in and we’ll wait for the calls to come in. We’ll usually do 2-3 flights a day.

What do you find most meaningful about your work?

I get to really help people and I also get to interact with communities throughout my region. I like that they can see my face, and they can say, ‘Wow, she’s from our area, she’s from our community, and she’s helping.’ I want them to see that if I can do this, they can do this too. I also like that my days on shift are always different. Who knows where I’ll go, who knows who I’ll help on any given day. I also like that when I go into these facilities, I interact with members of the community.

What do you see when you look into the future?

I’m considering a few avenues. With nursing, you can almost do whatever you want to do in the health care field. We play such an important role within health care here in the United States, and so if I wanted to advance my career and become a Nurse Practitioner, I have the opportunity to do so. If I wanted to go into leadership or management, that would also be a possibility. Also, if I want to just take some time and explore the rest of the nation and do travel nursing I could also do that.

“After learning about advocacy for the nursing profession at the Arizona state level through my state nurses' association, I wanted to learn about advocacy on a national level ." ~ Claire Bethel, MSN, RN-BC

What led you to create your AACN video? Will the video be used in the classroom setting?

Drs. Rainbow and Martin-Plank originally shared the information about the conference. After I returned, they invited me to create a short video on my experience at the AACN Student Policy summit for their NURS642 Health Policy and Economics course. I had such a great experience at the AACN student policy summit and wanted to share my enthusiasm with other students, especially students who have received Title VIII funding like NFLP or ANIE funding themselves. During appropriations season members of Congress really need to hear the stories of student nurses who have received the funding and how it has made a difference for them.

Why did you choose a career in nursing?

I was drawn to nursing because of my interest in science and helping others. I stayed in nursing because I saw it was a privilege to advocate for others in the most vulnerable moments in their lives.

Why did you choose UA Nursing?

For nearly two years, I searched for the right PhD program. In fact, I interviewed a lot of faculty members and students at several programs throughout the west to be sure. One day in August of 2017 I emailed a faculty member at UA Nursing, Dr. Barbara Brewer, to set up a time to meet, and right away she invited me to come to visit the College. It turns out that was the last day of RISE, which is the intensive summer experience prior to the start of each academic year for the nursing graduate programs. The nursing graduate students were pitching their research areas of interest and others were presenting their posters during a reception. Dr. Brewer took me under her wing to introduce me to meet and discuss my interest area with the students and other faculty. I could clearly see how I, as a student, could learn from the faculty and benefit from the curriculum at UA. Dr. Brewer helped me see that I, and research interests, would fit right in.

Tell us about your experience in the PhD program.

I have had such an excellent experience in the PhD program. Not only has the cohort experience been essential to my success as a student, but the faculty are also incredibly supportive and truly invested in the success of us as students. One of my favorite experiences this year was walking the halls of the UA College of Nursing and Dr. Janice Crist inviting me in to her office for an impromptu chat on what it means to be a nurse. This is precisely the thought-provoking and challenging experience I craved to have as a PhD student.

What is it like being both a PhD student and a clinical instructor in the MEPN program? It must give you a unique perspective.

It’s really fun! I think, as a clinical instructor, being a student helps me appreciate what my students are going through. I love to ask my students probing questions that I ponder as a doctoral student such as, “is caring unique to nursing?” As a student, being a clinical instructor gives me hands-on experience in what it is that I ultimately wish to do- teach!

What does the future hold for you?

My passion for nursing lies in the preparation of nurses. This keys into both my passion as a nurse educator and fuels my research interests.

“Our increased NIH funding was a result of a team effort. UA College of Nursing faculty, staff and appointed personnel worked hard to make this happen." ~ Judith S. Gordon, PhD, interim associate dean for research

“We anticipate continued upward movement in the rankings, which represents our national reputation for being a leader in Health Determinants Science, Precision Science, and Data and Systems Science,” said professor Judith S. Gordon, PhD, interim associate dean for research. “Our increased NIH funding was a result of a team effort. UA College of Nursing faculty, staff and appointed personnel worked hard to make this happen.”

The BRIMR rankings underestimate the amount of research being conducted by UA College of Nursing faculty, Dr. Gordon said, adding the rankings include only NIH funding to faculty members listed as principal investigators within the College. The rankings do not reflect faculty’s roles on grants funded to other colleges or universities or other types of extramural funding, such as the Health Resources and Services Administration, Department of Defense, NASA or private foundations. 

“The University of Arizona College of Nursing has a large, diverse portfolio of research and training grants,” Dr. Gordon said.

“I was humbled to learn that I was selected to be a fellow. My professional nursing career started at UA Nursing, and I feel most grateful for the wonderful education and the diverse opportunities I had to deepen my research interests along the U.A.-Mexico border." ~ Rev. Rudy Valenzuela, PhD, NP, FAANP

“I was honored to be nominated by Drs. Judith Berg and Sally Reel to the American Academy of Nursing,” said Dr. Valezuela. “I was humbled to learn that I was selected to be a fellow. My professional nursing career started at UA Nursing, and I feel most grateful for the wonderful education and the diverse opportunities I had to deepen my research interests along the U.S.-Mexico border.”

Dr. Valenzuela has recently been recognized by the Arizona Medical Association by bestowing on him the David O. Landrith Humanitarian Award, He was named the University of Arizona College of Nursing Alumni of the Year in 2014 and Yuma County nurse of the year in 2009. He is past president of the National Association of Hispanic Nurse and founder of the Yuma Chapter of Hispanic Nurses, Angeles del Desierto.

Dr. Valenzuela is internationally known for his work at the U.S.-Mexico border, and for his expertise on caring for underserved populations, especially migrant workers and homeless. For the past 20 years, Dr. Valenzuela has served in numerous national and state boards and committees and has served as a mentor and clinical preceptor for numerous students from various universities. His work at the primary and community level have helped improved the health of populations on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.

The Academy fellows represent all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and 29 countries. Dr. Valenzuela is one of only seven Latino male nurses to hold such an honor.

The Academy is currently comprised of more than 2,500 nurse leaders in education, management, practice, policy, and research. Academy fellows include hospital and government administrators, college deans, and renowned scientific researchers.

Fellow selection criteria include evidence of significant contributions to nursing and health care, and sponsorship by two current Academy fellows. Applicants are reviewed by a panel comprised of elected and appointed fellows, and selection is based, in part, on the extent the fellow's nursing career has influenced health policies and the health and wellbeing of all. New fellows are recognized with the use of the FAAN credential (fellow of the American Academy of Nursing) after their name and title.

Learn more about Dr. Valenzuela in the engaging video profile created especially for Nurses Week 2019.