Research Centers - University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Nursing Research Assistant Professor
Karen B. Hirschman, SW ’96, SWP ’01,
PhD, MSW, works with Dr. Naylor and
Jason Karlawish, MD, Jennifer Kapo, MD,
and David Casarett, MD, MA, from Penn
Medicine’s Division of Geriatrics to study
advance care planning, medical decisionmaking,
caregiver burden, and end-of-life
care, especially for dementia patients and their
families. “My background in geriatric social
work and social welfare, my postdoctoral
training in neurodegenerative diseases, and my
current position in the School of Nursing
brings a unique interdisciplinary twist to my
work with elders and their families,” says
Dr. Hirschman.
Associate Professor of Nursing
Barbara J. Riegel, DNSc, RN, CS, FAAN,
who is internationally renowned for her
studies on heart failure self-care, recently
received a Fulbright Fellowship to conduct
a research study in Australia. Working with
Sanford A. Schwartz, MD, Daniel Polsky,
PhD, and Steve Sayers, PhD, all of the
School of Medicine, and members of the
Penn Sleep Center, Dr. Riegel is investigating
the relationship between excessive
daytime sleepiness and heart failure selfcare.
Dr. Riegel is also collaborating with
James Kirkpatrick, MD from the School of
Medicine’s Department of Cardiology to
create an intervention to improve self-care
in challenging patient populations.
As a new entity, the Center for
Transitions and Health is challenged with
maintaining the momentum it has generated
within the last year as it continues to build
a national and international reputation for
research excellence. The Center’s members
have demonstrated a strong commitment to
the group’s collective body of work. Using the
NIH Study Section model, members critically
review their colleagues’ proposals. “Only the
top proposals are funded and a researcher
might only have one or two opportunities
to submit a research plan,” says Dr. Naylor.
“Our researchers are dedicated to helping
each other put together the most competitive
research proposals possible.”
“Receiving pilot money to help
provide support for our infrastructure
and administrative costs is crucial,” says
Dr. Naylor. “Expanding our collaborative
research efforts is exceedingly important in
attracting funding.” In addition to research
proposals, the Center members also critique
manuscripts and presentations under
development. Cultivating these types of
mentorship activities for the membership is
essential to sustaining the Center.
“This is a critical time for nursing
research,” adds Dr. Naylor. “As the world
realizes that nursing is a key link to finding
the best care solutions, opportunities for
researchers in our field are growing by leaps
and bounds. How we capitalize on this
opportunity is our challenge.”
CENTER FOR TRANSITIONS AND HEALTH
Established: 2006
Director: Mary D. Naylor, PhD, RN, FAAN
School of Nursing faculty members:
Katherine Abbott, PhD
Katherine Bowles, PhD, RN, FAAN
Karen B. Hirschman, PhD, MSW
Arlene D. Houldin, PhD, APRN, BC
Anne Keane, EdD, CRNP, RN, FAAN
Kathleen McCauley, PhD, RN, CS, FAAN
Helene Moriarty, PhD, RN, CS
Barbara J. Riegel, DNSc, RN, CS, FAAN
Julie A. Sochalski, PhD, RN, FAAN
Connie M. Ulrich, PhD, RN
Pre-doctoral fellows (since Center’s inception): Two
Post-doctoral fellows (since Center’s inception): Three
Current active awards: 30
Current fellowships: Five
Fiscal Year 2007 funding: $4,601,137
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