School of Nursing

George Mason College of Public Health Professor Rebecca Sutter awarded $3 million Services to Afghan Survivors Impacted by Combat Program grant

Taylor Thomas — Fri, 13 Sep 2024 14:41:04 +0000

George Mason College of Public Health Professor Rebecca Sutter awarded $3 million Services to Afghan Survivors Impacted by Combat Program grant Taylor Thomas Fri, 09/13/2024 - 10:41

Afghan victims of combat arrive in the United States as refugees with unique health care needs. Rebecca Sutter, professor in the School of Nursing at ��AV, has been awarded a $3 million Services to Afghan Survivors Impacted by Combat (SASIC) grant to develop health service delivery infrastructure for Afghan survivors, refugees, and immigrants impacted by combat trauma and violence. The program, titled Healing and Educating Afghans for Resiliency-Virginia (HEAR-VA), will serve Afghan refugees residing in Northern and Central Virginia, where an estimated 95% of Afghans resettled in 2022.

HEAR-VA seeks to screen 500 individuals for eligibility and enroll 305 participants in care services.

Photo provided

“We are implementing a care coordination model where individuals, regardless of which HEAR-VA partner they interact with first, will receive screenings, and be connected with services that address their individualized care needs,” Sutter said. "What’s especially important is this program will be built not just for, but in partnership with actual Afghan survivors of combat and other refugees who are impacted by trauma and violence."

The SASIC grant was awarded from the Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families, Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). The mission of ORR is to provide newly arrived refugees from Afghanistan with resources to begin healing combat-related trauma and facilitate sustainable physical, emotional, social, and economic well-being.

This interdisciplinary HEAR-VA initiative will be managed by the Mason and Partners Clinic in partnership with Virginia Department of Social Services Office of New Americans (DSS-ONA), the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services Office of Behavioral Health Wellness (DBHDS-OBHW), Health Brigade, Northern Virginia Family Services, and additional community partners. The program went into effect July 2024 and will extend through February 2026.

“This collection of partners is dedicated to creating an innovative program that will be community-based, community-driven, and community-led. We are building local capacity to serve vulnerable populations, not just for the duration of the grant, but long after we as the implementers have departed,” Sutter said.

In addition to her role as a professor in the School of Nursing, Sutter is the director of the Mason and Partners (MAP) Clinics. She is a credentialed Family Nurse Practitioner with expertise in community health care access and navigation to improve care and promote collaboration between public health, public safety, and health to ensure that evidence-based treatment is available for at-risk and marginalized individuals, families, communities, and populations.

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Rebecca Sutter, DNP, APRN, BC-FNP

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Nursing students help underserved communities get their kids back-to-school ready

Shayla Brown — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 17:05:19 +0000

Nursing students help underserved communities get their kids back-to-school ready Shayla Brown Wed, 08/14/2024 - 13:05

��AV’s Mason and Partners (MAP) Clinic holds free clinics throughout Northern Virginia every day. This summer, two of those community-based clinics helped local elementary school students get back-to-school ready.

School of Nursing students at the MAP Clinic in the Population Health Center. Photo by Shayla Brown

Managed by practitioners in the College of Public Health, the clinics offer uninsured school-aged children and other underserved communities essential health services. They also allow undergraduate nursing students, including MSN Family Nurse Practitioner and Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) students, as well as graduate psychology, social work, health informatics and administration students among others, to complete Community Health Clinical requirements in a meaningful way.

George Mason’s School of Nursing ran the first clinic on June 21, where 38 ABSN and four nurse practitioner students were working, and the second on July 19, where 28 ABSN and three nurse practitioner students were working. In total, 45 families brought their children to receive vaccines and physical examinations.

“The clinics are a different side of nursing. The families are so sweet and grateful for everyone who’s there,” said ABSN student Kaleigh O’Keefe.

The MAP Clinic collaborates with many community partners throughout the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area including Fairfax County Public Schools, Manassas City Public Schools, Manassas Park City Schools, Prince William County Schools, Refugee Resettlement Agencies, Fairfax United Methodist Church, Inova Alexandria Hospital, and non-profits across the region.

School of Nursing faculty providing medical care to a student in the Population Health Center. Photo by Shayla Brown

School nurses, school-parent liaisons, refugee resettlement case managers, and caregivers from these various locations reach out to MAP Clinic administration to schedule appointments for students.

“Many of these families are long-term patients who we’ve been seeing at our MAP Clinics for years now,” said Kenneth Frese, director of clinical operations in the School of Nursing.

The clinics are able to address a variety of communities and health issues such as general health, pediatrics, and substance abuse, said O’Keefe. Nursing students rotate through all of the specialties.

The clinics collaboration with Inova comes in the form of the Inova Cares Clinic for Families, which allows patients that need to be closely monitored to receive care from Inova for a discounted rate based on income.

“I had a patient whose blood pressure was really high, which in children is typically caused by some type of kidney problem, so we tested his urine and there was a high protein count, which can indicate kidney damage,” explained O’Keefe. “We sent him to Inova where he was officially diagnosed, though he still comes back to the MAP Clinic to follow up with us sometimes.”

Nursing students also collaborated with students and faculty from George Mason’s Department of Social Work throughout the MAP clinics.

Amy Joyner with backpacks that were donated to the children at the MAP clinic. Photo by Shayla Brown

“Social work was a big part of the work we were doing. A lot of our job was ––communicating with those students,” Isabelle Kahng, an ABSN student who will be doing a neuro-ICU practicum for the MedStar Health Future Nurse Program partnership.

“It was our responsibility to relay the patient’s information to the provider, as well as the social workers, so that we could work together in getting the resources the patients need,” said Kahng.

“Bonding with these kids is my favorite part,” said O’Keefe. “They’re just so happy to be there, and being there to help them thrive is everything.”

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Kenneth Frese

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Associate Professor Erin D. Maughan receives VDOE Grant to invigorate the future of school nursing

Taylor Thomas — Fri, 09 Feb 2024 17:53:38 +0000

Associate Professor Erin D. Maughan receives VDOE Grant to invigorate the future of school nursing Taylor Thomas Fri, 02/09/2024 - 12:53

Both regionally and across the country, there is a severe lack of programs dedicated to school nursing administrators (i.e. nurses who lead school nursing and school health programs at the district level). Erin Maughan, an associate professor in College of Public Health’s School of Nursing at ��AV, intends to remedy this with a $364,503 grant from the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE). With the funding, Maughan will establish the School Nursing Leadership Academy.

Erin D. Maughan

"There are over 130,000 school nurses across the nation, who are central to the foundation of the health and well-being of children,” Maughan said. "The goal of the academy is to develop leaders in school nursing who have the knowledge and skills needed to successfully oversee school health programs at the district level, as well as state and regional school nursing associations."

The academy, which is expected to be fully developed by June 2024, will be designed to train future leaders in school nursing using TeamSTEPPS, an evidence-based curriculum that prioritizes incorporating effective communication and teamwork into the health care system. The program will take place over one-and-a-half years and will incorporate experiential learning, equestrian activity, and expert-led discussions.

In addition, Mason's Center for Health Workforce is guiding the development of sustainable asynchronous modules for the professional development program, which along with virtual webinars, will provide additional information and mentoring opportunities.

The program kicks off with three days of in–person instruction, during which participants will use virtual reality (VR) modules to practice interprofessional skills and conflict management. Mason's College of Public Health is a leader in integrating VR into the curriculum and training of future health care leaders.

“Participating in the VR will allow gaining experience in a safe, nonthreatening environment where we can talk about how they reacted so they will have confidence and experience when they encounter situations in the real world,” said Maughan.

Maughan was originally approached by the VDOE’s state school nurse consultant Tracy White, who wanted to foster more leadership training and was aware of Maughan’s passion to do so as well. Together, they set into motion plans to create the academy.

Maughan is a leading expert on school nursing and the health of school-age children. Her research expertise is in looking at the role of infrastructure and policy on school nurse staffing and services. In addition, she has expertise in leadership, strategic planning, innovation, and mentoring. Her career is dedicated to children’s health, especially vulnerable populations. She is excited to contribute her skills and knowledge for the success of the academy.

“Having been a school nurse leader and researcher for many years, it has been a dream of mine to create such a program,” said Maughan. "I hope this program will build excitement and create a network of confident school nurse leaders who can transform school nursing in their districts, so that frontline school nurses have the guidance and support they need to work to their full scope of practice.

Maughan emphasizes how this program is not only for school nurses but also for the students they will be serving.

At its core, the School Nursing Leadership Academy is about building capacity to help school nurse leaders build their confidence and skills needed to do well in the position,” said Maughan. “We are confident this initiative will position school nurses and their program leaders to work effectively with school administrators, local health departments, health care providers and families to positively impact student health, and thus improve child health in the commonwealth and the rest of the nation.”

In This Story

Erin D. Maughan, PhD

More news from the College of Public Health

George Mason College of Public Health Professor Rebecca Sutter awarded $3 million Services to Afghan Survivors Impacted by Combat Program grant
September 13, 2024
Nursing students help underserved communities get their kids back-to-school ready
August 22, 2024
George Mason alumna and her furry coworker fight for Fairfax County kids
August 16, 2024
Online learning expert suggests best practices for promoting academic honesty
August 14, 2024
Songs from adolescence and early adulthood enhance mood and social engagement among people with dementia, according to new study
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Pandemic emergency food benefits end as Nutrition Month starts

John Brandon Cantrell — Tue, 28 Feb 2023 19:10:06 +0000

Pandemic emergency food benefits end as Nutrition Month starts John Brandon C… Tue, 02/28/2023 - 14:10

In This Story

Evelyn Tomaszewski, MSW, ACSW

Kerri LaCharite, PhD

Erin D. Maughan, PhD

Topics

food insecurity

Department of Nutrition and Food Studies

Department of Social Work

School of Nursing

SNAP benefits

Food and Nutrition

Poverty and Inequalities

March 1 end of program will impact millions of Americans–predominantly families and people of color

Millions of families rely on food pantries, even after the height of the pandemic. Photo Credit: Emily Bartenfelder, ��AV BSW '20

On the same day National Nutrition Month kicks off, millions of individuals and families in the U.S. who currently receive benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assessment Program (SNAP) will see a decrease in their federal food benefits. On March 1, pandemic emergency allotments to SNAP are set to end–cutting benefits by $90 per month per person (on average).

Despite SNAP emergency allotments, many Americans still face food insecurity

During the COVID-19 public health emergency, food insecurity rates doubled overall throughout the nation and tripled in households with children. Congress originally enacted emergency allotments (EAs) during the pandemic to provide economic stimulus and address food insecurity. However, data shows that even though EAs kept more than 4 million people “above the poverty line,” according to a study from the Urban Institute, millions of Americans still experienced food insecurity and lived below the poverty line.

Evelyn Tomaszewski, MSW, assistant professor of social work in the College of Public Health at ��AV, underscores the severity of the issue, saying: “Food insecurity was prevalent during the pandemic and will remain a serious concern in a ’post-pandemic’ world, particularly among households with children–who were most likely to face food insecurity during the pandemic–as well as communities of color (per USDA data).”

“When you are struggling to balance rent and daily living expenses, a loss of $168 or $190 can translate to hardship and extreme food insecurity,” said Tomaszewski. “In 2022, 9% of the population of Virginia, or 1 in 11 persons, accessed SNAP benefits. We are talking about our neighbors, our students, and our colleagues.”

A study by American University found that by the end of 2021, Americans were paying an average of 12 percent of their income on food; for lower-income wage earners, it was closer to 36 percent.

In 2023, an estimated 34 million people (including 9 million children) still remain food insecure, and the cost of food is expected to rise by 3.5 percent - 4.5 percent, according to the USDA.

Vulnerable populations already adversely affected by COVID will see the biggest impact

“Our country’s vulnerable populations have been the most affected by COVID and inflation. Those who live significantly below the poverty threshold, including households with children headed by single women and Black and Hispanic households, rely on SNAP benefits to make sure there is food on the table,” said Kerri LaCharite, PhD, associate professor of Nutrition and Food Studies in the College of Public Health.

LaCharite and Tomaszewski are also concerned for populations that will likely dip below the poverty line when EAs end, including college students, seniors living on a fixed income, and individuals with disabilities.

Mason Social Work students volunteer at food pantry during COVID-19 pandemic.

College students who qualified for the emergency allocation will also lose their benefits on March 1, when those defined as “able-bodied adults without dependents” will again be limited to a three-month limit of benefits. According to the College and University Food Bank Alliance, more than 30% of college students were food insecure in 2019, even before the pandemic.

Older adults and persons with disabilities saw a decrease in SNAP benefits when they received “long overdue (and still minimal) increase to social security benefits.” With the end of EAs, benefits will be cut (on average) by $168.00 per month for households with adults aged 60 and older and (on average) $190 per month for persons with disabilities.

The impact of food insecurity is long-lasting for children and adults. “The long-term effects of food insecurity will affect health outcomes. In children, food insecurity is associated with cognitive problems, higher risks of being hospitalized, asthma, behavioral problems, depression, poorer general health, among a longer list. In non-senior adults, food insecurity is associated with diabetes, hypertension, mental health issues, high blood cholesterol levels, and poor sleep,” said LaCharite.

Food banks, schools, and community support - How will individuals, families, and communities meet the need?

Erin Maughan, PhD, associate professor of nursing in the College of Public Health, works with K-12 school districts and school nurses and is particularly concerned about the impact on school-aged children, school systems, and the employees who may already be stretched thin.

“With SNAP emergency funds decreasing, it could increase the number of students or amount of food schools will provide students. Schools already are a safety net for food (breakfast and lunch), and some provide food backpacks for the weekend. Of greater concern is how it will impact mental health and learning. When children are hungry, they can't concentrate; down the road, it could also be an issue of malnutrition,” said Maughan

“Families are going to need to fill the gap somehow,” says LaCharite. “We have seen this in the past. It will likely mean increased reliance on food banks and pantries, skipping meals, and a significant decrease in the consumption of fruits and vegetables. Food insecure families buy less fruits and vegetables and buy more nonperishable staples as their budget for food shrinks.”

People are losing a significant amount of support money available via the SNAP EA, resulting in increased reliance on food banks (which are also consistently reporting both increased need and decreased donations.) While many of our area emergency food providers saw a temporary dip in need in fall 2021, they also experienced a large increase in patrons seeking food in the spring of 2022 as inflation rates started to rise.

What can be done to help?

March 1 is also the start of National Social Work Month, and Tomaszewski sees an important role for social work students and faculty–and beyond. In addition to donating to area food banks, there are ways that members of the community can help those experiencing food insecurity.

“At the macro or systems level, everyone can advocate for the Commonwealth of Virginia to add funds to the program that not only ensures SNAP benefits (at least) similar to the SNAP EA levels but also expands coverage to those that will be losing benefits, such as ‘able-bodied persons’ and college students,” says Tomaszewski.

She also sees an important role for those in the College of Public Health and beyond. “Social work students, and students throughout the College, directly work with those who will be affected by this policy change and/or who are at risk for food insecurity. At the individual level, social work students and allied professionals across the College can learn about food insecurity and available benefits, and ensure that clients know what is available, such as the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and SNAP.”

As the country recognizes National Social Work Month and National Nutrition Month, it is also an opportunity to recognize, support, and advocate for our neighbors, our students, and our colleagues who continue to experience food insecurity across the United States.

School of Nursing and MedStar Health partner to develop health workforce

Mary Cunningham — Tue, 22 Nov 2022 14:39:25 +0000

School of Nursing and MedStar Health partner to develop health workforce Mary Cunningham Tue, 11/22/2022 - 09:39

Future Nurse Program provides financial assistance for Accelerated Second Degree Bachelor of Science Nursing students

Fairfax City, VA - ��AV’s School of Nursing, in the College of Public Health, and MedStar Washington Hospital Center have established the Future Nurse Program to prepare nurses for clinical practice and to address critical nursing workforce shortages in the region.

MedStar Health will cover in-state tuition for Mason Accelerated Second Degree Bachelor of Science Nursing (ABSN) students accepted into the Future Nurse Program for students who agree to work for three years as a full-time licensed registered nurse at MedStar Washington Hospital Center after graduation.

“This partnership with MedStar Washington Hospital Center will help bolster the nursing workforce in our area, which in turn will support the health and well-being of our local communities. The program makes becoming a Mason nurse more accessible to more people and will allow students to learn critical care skills in the environment they will work,” said Cheryl Oetjen, Interim Chair of the School of Nursing.

Students will complete the required academic coursework at Mason and complete most of their clinical coursework at MedStar Washington Hospital Center.

“Mason Nurses are extraordinary. Not only are they prepared with the required technical skills, Mason nurses are kind, caring, and able to adapt to ever-changing situations. We are thrilled to partner with Mason and their ABSN students to develop and train future nurses who can make a difference in our patients' lives and improve our community,” said Catherine Reisenberg, Ph.D., FNP-BC, Director of Academic Practice Partnerships at MedStar Washington Hospital Center.

The three-year agreement between the School of Nursing and MedStar Health began in Fall 2022.

Mason’s Mason Accelerated Second Degree Bachelor of Science Nursing program is a 12-month, full-time, pre-licensure program for applicants who have earned a bachelor’s degree prior to the start of the program. The program provides successful applicants an opportunity to experience nursing in a variety of clinical settings throughout the National Capitol area. Learn more here.

For more information about the Mason School of Nursing and MedStar Washington Hospital Center, contact Jennifer Sawyer at jsawyer6@gmu.edu.

About Mason

��AV, Virginia’s largest public research university, enrolls 39,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. Located near Washington, D.C., Mason has grown rapidly over the last half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity, and commitment to accessibility. In 2022, Mason celebrates 50 years as an independent institution. Learn more at http://www.gmu.edu.

About the College of Public Health

The College of Public Health at ��AV is the first and only College of Public Health in Virginia combining public health transdisciplinary research, education, and practice in the Commonwealth as a national exemplar. The College enrolls more than 1,900 undergraduate and 1,300 graduate students in our nationally recognized programs, including six undergraduate degrees, eight master’s degrees, five doctoral degrees, and six professional certificate programs. The College is comprised of the School of Nursing and the Departments of Global and Community Health, Health Administration and Policy, Nutrition and Food Studies, and Social Work.

About MedStar Health and MedStar Washington Hospital Center

At MedStar Health, we use the best of our minds and the best of our hearts to serve our patients, those who care for them, and our communities. Our 30,000 associates and 4,700 affiliated physicians are committed to living this promise through our core SPIRIT values—Service, Patient first, Integrity, Respect, Innovation, and Teamwork—across our more than 300 locations including 10 hospitals, ambulatory, and urgent care centers. As the medical education and clinical partner of Georgetown University, MedStar Health is training future physician leaders to care for the whole person and is advancing care through the MedStar Health Research Institute. From our telemedicine and urgent care services to the region’s largest home health agency, we’re committed to providing high-quality health care that’s also easy and convenient for our patients. At MedStar Health—It’s how we treat people. Learn more at MedStarHealth.org.

MedStar Washington Hospital Center is a not-for-profit, 912-bed, teaching and research hospital in the nation’s capital, and is a major referral center for treating the region’s most complex cases. Its cardiology program is highly acclaimed, and its cardiac surgery program has consistently earned the highest national rating–three stars–from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. MedStar Washington Hospital Center operates the region’s first Comprehensive Stroke Center and the District’s only Cardiac Ventricular Assist Device program, both certified by The Joint Commission. The hospital is also home to MedSTAR, a nationally verified level I trauma center with a state-of-the-art fleet of helicopters and ambulances and operates the region’s only adult Burn Center. Learn more at MedStarWashington.org.

In This Story

Cheryl Oetjen, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC

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Virginia Elected Officials Praise ��AV’s Mason and Partners Clinic Located in Prince William Shelter

Mary Cunningham — Wed, 31 Aug 2022 14:16:31 +0000

Virginia Elected Officials Praise ��AV’s Mason and Partners Clinic Located in Prince William Shelter Mary Cunningham Wed, 08/31/2022 - 10:16

National, state, and county leaders learned about the Mason and Partner Clinics, which prepare students to serve vulnerable populations and increase access to care for marginalized communities.

Community partnerships and community-based care play an integral role in addressing the growing shortage of health care workers and the increasing demand for low-cost or free care among vulnerable populations across the Commonwealth of Virginia. At a shelter for unhoused individuals in Woodbridge, Mason and Partners (MAP) Clinic staff work alongside the Department of Social Services and the Prince William County Health Department to deliver care and educate students.

On Thursday, August 24 a delegation of state and local leaders visited the Mason and Partners Clinics to discuss how the MAP Clinics’ network of 10 clinics in Fairfax and Prince William counties helps serve underrepresented communities.

The delegation included: U.S. Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger (VA - 7^th District), Senator Jeremy McPike (VA - 29^th District); Delegate Elizabeth Guzman (VA - 31^st District), and Woodbridge District Supervisor, Margaret Franklin.

"The MAP Clinics are important partners in the communities we serve. The unique bridge-care model and co-location in places such as shelters address community gaps in service,” said Cheryl Oetjen, Interim Director of George Mason’s School of Nursing. The MAP Clinics are offered by the ��AV College of Health and Human Services and School of Nursing.

“We provide care for vulnerable populations here in the community – delivering services – such as treating acute and chronic conditions and monthly preventative health screenings –that they might not otherwise receive. In addition, students’ clinical opportunities at the MAP Clinics prepare the next generation of nurses, social workers, informaticists, and nutritionists to work with marginalized populations. This reduces the stigma and increases the likelihood of students caring for vulnerable populations throughout their careers," said Rebecca Sutter, Professor and Director of the MAP Clinics explained.

MAP Clinic staff discussed the importance of Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grants to fund on-going curriculum development and training so Mason students are prepared to serve marginalized communities. MAP Clinics play a critical role in increasing access to care and linking clients to community systems of support for ongoing care, and helping patients navigate the health care system.

The delegation also examined the robust telehealth capabilities that the MAP Clinic expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic. The MAP Clinic shelter site has had 428 telehealth visits over the past year providing acute and chronic disease education and management including access to needed medications. Federal funding for telehealth has grown since 2020 to meet growing demand for access.

“The new and emerging technology implemented at the MAP Clinic was as exciting as it was innovative. In the U.S. House of Representatives, I am committed to caring for underserved Virginians,” said Congresswoman Spanberger. Spanberger, a strong advocate for funding mental and behavioral health services for the most vulnerable, voted for the American Rescue Plan and authored the bipartisan Summer Barrow Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Act, which recently passed in the U.S. House of Representatives.

"We met with undergraduate and graduate students [at the MAP Clinic] who have hands-on experience while pursuing their degrees. I believe this is a win-win for them, but also for our most vulnerable residents while we have a shortage of healthcare professionals in our area. Everyone deserves access to health care and the MAP Clinic is helping all vulnerable residents. Thank you for all that you do," said Delegate Guzman. Guzman expressed her on-going commitment to helping find a permanent location and on-going funding for the MAP Clinic to help more individuals in need.

“The MAP Clinics’ impact reinforces the role of partnerships in serving the region and meeting the changing needs of the health workforce. The College continues to recruit, train, and graduate faculty and students who are committed to health equity and increased access to care,” said Dean Melissa Perry.

Since starting the shelter-based clinic in Woodbridge, the MAP Clinic has seen an increase in the number of clients who advocate for themselves, utilize Clinic services, and request appointments. There has been a 40% increase in MAP Clinic service utilization from 2021 to 2022. Over the last two years, the Clinic has provided care for 543 patients and have documented a 69% reduction in emergency room visits for shelter clients.

College of Health and Human Services faculty and staff present at the meeting included:

Melissa Perry, Dean, College of Health and Human Services
Cheryl Oetjen, Interim Director of the School of Nursing
Rebecca Sutter, Professor and Director of the MAP Clinics
Mary Righi, Operations Coordinator
Samba Pathak, Operations Support
Shanti Chang, Assistant Professor of Nursing
Jennifer McKee, Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) MAP Clinic Graduate Research Assistant, Shelter lead
Grace Stover, Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) MAP Clinic Graduate Research Assistant, Shelter lead
Brian Longo, Bachelor of Science, Nursing and Community Health student

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Mason and Partners Clinic

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This EMT is furthering her passion for medicine at Mason

Colleen Rich — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 15:50:30 +0000

This EMT is furthering her passion for medicine at Mason Colleen Rich Mon, 08/15/2022 - 11:50

Over the next two weeks, we will be profiling students from this fall's incoming class as a part of the series Meet the Class of 2026.

Incoming freshman Jennifer Owen (left) with Purcellville Volunteer Rescue Squad teammates Victoria Frank and Dave Rubal. Photo provided

Following her junior year of high school, Jennifer Owen started working in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT).

“For some people, it sounds a little crazy because I was a 17-year-old riding in an ambulance,” Owen said.

But she absolutely loved it.

The experience in EMS has “helped me completely decide that I like pursuing medicine,” Owen said. “I want to be a nurse. I like medicine, and I love helping people.”

As someone who works well under pressure, Owen’s ultimate goal is to become a critical care nurse, working on a medical helicopter or in the cardiac care unit.

For this incoming freshman, ��AV’s School of Nursing is her next step in making that a reality.

Owen said that when a fellow EMT recommended Mason’s School of Nursing because of its advanced programs, and its role in, as she said, “advocating for you to become the best health care provider you can be,” she was excited to attend as a nursing major.

She is especially enthusiastic about joining Mason’s American Medical Women’s Association, a female-run organization focused on empowering women in the medical field and advocating for female patients and women’s health.

“I am a female, Asian, young EMT, and you never see that on an ambulance,” Owen said. “I think this group that I’ve joined will try to change that or at least bring awareness to it.”

Owen began her EMS work at a young age as a student at the Academies of Loudoun, part of Loudoun County Public Schools.

There, she participated in the EMT program and received her Virginia EMT certification and National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) certification.

At the Academies of Loudoun, she also completed the Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) program, and in March worked as a nurse’s aide in a nursing home.

Because she worked toward her certifications during the COVID-19 pandemic, the work was “crazy” and “hard,” she said. “We had limited clinical hours and really limited ability to do practicals.”

The transition to the field was even more difficult.

“I knew how to treat someone, and I knew a lot of textbook stuff, but I didn't know a whole lot about actually working in the field,” Owen said. “I had to relearn a lot.”

Her hard work paid off when one of her instructors, who was also the sitting executive president at Purcellville Volunteer Rescue Squad in Purcellville, Virginia, urged her to join their team in 2021, she said.

Owen has worked with Purcellville Rescue at least once a week for more than a year. She now serves as a released attendant-in-charge, which means she is primarily responsible for the provision of emergency medical care on her ambulance.

“Jennifer has grown into an exceptional EMT and brings a tremendous amount of patience and compassion to her service to her patients,” said Kevin Kelly, chief of Purcellville Rescue. “As a volunteer, Jennifer has amazing dedication and a willingness to give her time to the community, which is exemplary.”

Owen said she’ll continue working with Purcellville Rescue while completing her nursing degree at Mason.

“I’m not ready to give up Purcellville Rescue or EMS yet,” she said.

Topics

College of Health and Human Services

School of Nursing

Students

Meet the Class of 2026

Mason professor and U.S. Preventive Services Task Force member explains recommendations for anxiety screening for children

Colleen Rich — Wed, 27 Apr 2022 19:06:38 +0000

Mason professor and U.S. Preventive Services Task Force member explains recommendations for anxiety screening for children Colleen Rich Wed, 04/27/2022 - 15:06

In This Story

Martha (Marti) Y. Kubik, PhD, RN, FAAN

Martha Kubik. Photo provided

��AV professor Martha Kubik recently made international headlines for her role on the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and its recommendations regarding screening children for anxiety. Kubik, a professor in the College of Health and Human Services’ School of Nursing, explains what the task force does and why it posted a new recommendation that primary care clinicians screen children between the age of 8 and 18 for anxiety.

What is the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force?

The task force is an independent, volunteer body of national experts in primary care, disease prevention and evidence-based medicine. Members typically have clinical practice experience in primary care and are nationally regarded for their research and scholarship. The expertise represented on the task force includes nursing, behavioral health, family medicine, geriatrics, internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology.

The work of the task force is to improve the health of all people nationwide by making evidence-based recommendations about clinical preventive services. These services include screenings, like mammograms, counseling services and preventive medications. On the task force, we use scientifically rigorous methods to review and assess the best available evidence to make conclusions about the benefits and harms of preventive services, which informs our recommendations.

What is your role on the task force?

I was appointed to the task force in 2018 and will complete my service at the end of 2022. As a public health professional, research scientist and advanced practice nurse, I have valued the opportunity to be part of such an important collaborative team effort. It has been an incredible honor and a highlight of my professional career.

As a task force member, I am responsible for prioritizing preventive service topics, designing research plans, reviewing and commenting on systematic evidence reviews, discussing and making recommendations on preventive services, reviewing stakeholder comments, drafting final recommendation documents and participating in work groups on specific topics and methods.

The task force recently posted a new recommendation that primary care clinicians screen children between the ages of 8 and 18 for anxiety. Was this in response to the pandemic?

The task force regularly accepts nominations for new topics. Anxiety in children and adolescents was nominated and prioritized given its public health importance. We began the work on this topic before the pandemic. It takes about three years to fully develop a topic. However, we appreciate the timeliness of the posting relative to growing concerns about the mental health of our youth, which have accelerated with the pandemic.

Anxiety, along with depression, are two of the most common mental health conditions in youth and often occur together. We were already see rising rates in both conditions before the pandemic.

The evidence review supported the effectiveness of screening to identify children and teens with anxiety starting at the age of 8. However, for younger children, the evidence was insufficient to recommend for or against screening. This is an area where more research is needed.

At the same time, we updated our evidence review for depression screening and continue to recommend screening for depression starting at age 12.

With these recommendations, primary care clinicians are equipped with evidence-based preventive strategies to identify anxiety and depression in older children and teens and connect them to the care they need. These are important interventions that can support our young people and improve mental health.

Martha Kubik can be reached at mkubik@gmu.edu

For more information, contact Anna Stolley Persky at apersky@gmu.edu

About George Mason

��AV, Virginia’s largest public research university, enrolls 39,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. Located near Washington, D.C., Mason has grown rapidly over the last half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity and commitment to accessibility. In 2022, Mason celebrates 50 years as an independent institution. Learn more at www.gmu.edu.

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Honoring Mason Nurses Awardees Announced

Mary Cunningham — Mon, 04 Apr 2022 20:24:45 +0000

Honoring Mason Nurses Awardees Announced Mary Cunningham Mon, 04/04/2022 - 16:24

The CHHS School of Nursing is proud to announce three award winners to be recognized at its Honoring Mason Nurses: Past, Present, and Future event:

Outstanding Nurse Champion Award: Ashley Frese, BSN '04, MSN '12
Outstanding Nurse Innovation Award: Anna Norwood, MSN '18

Outstanding Public Health Nurse Award: Kadija Conteh-Barrat, BSN '09, DNP '15

“On behalf of the School of Nursing, we are so proud to honor these three outstanding nurses for their contribution to the DC-area and the world. Their perseverance and determination to excel in their practice has improved the quality of care and lives of patients,” said Cheryl Oetjen, interim Director of the School of Nursing.

The April 28 event, hosted at Fairfax Country Club, recognizes the achievements and impact of Mason School of Nursing graduates, including Frese, Norwood, and Conteh-Barrat, for all they do to support the health and well-being of Northern Virginia residents and beyond.

The College welcomes all alumni, students, and friends of the School of Nursing to attend this event. We hope you will join us to honor these nurses and all Mason nurses. Tickets are now available here for Honoring Mason Nurses.

The College put out a call for colleagues, fellow alumni, friends, or family to nominate an outstanding Mason nurse. Once nominations were collected the Honoring Mason Nurses executive committee, comprised of School of Nursing alumna and faculty, reviewed each nomination by predetermined criteria to determine a winner. Learn more about the awardees below.

Outstanding Nurse Champion Award: Ashley Frese, BSN '04, MSN '12

The Outstanding Nurse Champion Award recognizes the exceptional courage and passion of a frontline nurse who breaks through barriers to advocate for patients, families, and their team while working on the frontlines of the health care industry.

Ashley Frese serves on the frontline as the director of the Advanced Practice Provider (APP) Critical Care Fellowship at Inova’s Fairfax Medical Campus (IFMC), as well as the APP Director for the Medical-Surgical Intensive Care Unit. She has been a critical care nurse practitioner with the Medical Critical Care Services at IFMC for 10 years. Her areas of interest include hemorrhagic and distributive shock, with a focus on methodologies of massive volume resuscitation. Frese loves to teach and is the chair of the Education Committee for Critical Care at IFMC, and has been an adjunct faculty member at Mason since 2015.

“She is a voice for advanced practice nurses, bedside nurses, and, above all, for our patients. Whether it be staying past her shift to ensure a plan of care is instituted correctly, taking time to educate a peer or staff nurse, or speaking on the behalf of nursing to administration, she is always tirelessly advocating for nursing and patients,” said one of the multiple people to nominated Freese.

Frese graduated from the ��AV/George Washington University Collaborative Nurse Practitioner program and will graduate with her Doctor of Nursing Practice in 2023.

Outstanding Nurse Innovation Award: Anna Norwood, MSN '18

The Outstanding Nurse Innovation Award recognizes a nurse who demonstrates innovation in creating a better workplace, patient care, device, or business opportunity to enhance the health and wellbeing of their community.

Anna C. Norwood, MSN, RN, FNP-BC is a Board-Certified Nurse Practitioner and the founder and owner of Kinetic Medical Group, a physical medicine and rehabilitation group which serves over 15 skilled nursing facilities, long term care facilities and assisted living facilities in Virginia and Maryland. After graduation, Norwood worked in skilled nursing facilities where she developed a love for high-quality geriatric care. Seeing gaps in care, she started Kinetic Medical Group to improve orthopedic and pain management care at the facilities where she serves. She is a recognized expert and a successful nurse entrepreneur who has created an innovative medical group.

“There is no doubt that Anna is the best candidate to receive the Outstanding Nurse Innovation Award as she truly demonstrates medical knowledge and compassion as a nurse and entrepreneurship by starting her own practice, and surpasses co-workers by taking additional time to educate staff and share current research in her field with other health care professionals,” said one of many people who nominated Frese for the innovation award. “I hope that you will consider celebrating this leader in the field of nursing, Anna Norwood, who is a true entrepreneur, healthcare hero, and inspiration to myself and so many others.”

Norwood has advanced certifications in orthopedics, including advanced training in nerve blocks and intra-articular injections. She is a specialist in a range of conditions that impact physical function including musculoskeletal conditions, neurologic conditions, and end-of-life pain management. She is licensed to provide Suboxone treatment and has a passion for treatment of addiction. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Virginia Commonwealth University and her Master of Science in Nursing from Mason with a Nurse Practitioner concentration.

Outstanding Public Health Nurse Award: Kadija Conteh-Barrat, BSN '09, DNP '15

The Outstanding Public Health Nurse Award recognizes a nurse who makes outstanding contributions to the field of public health, including social justice, health equity, and the delivery of public health care and services.

Kadija Conteh-Barrat is the founder and CEO of Manak Community Health Organization (MaCHO), founded in 2020 to advance health equity and drive better health outcomes in the most underserved communities in Sierra Leone. Conteh-Barrat’s work to help those in crisis and to increase access to quality health care in Sierra Leone was inspired by her life-changing experiences during Sierra Leone's civil war and as a refugee in Guinea.

“Kadija's medical missions and community clinic are helping to address health care needs in Sierra Leone, advance health equity, decrease mortality, and improve health outcomes in these hard-to-reach communities,” said one of her nominators.

In March 2022, Conteh-Barrat completed her second medical mission in Sierra Leone and established a health clinic in the Yurika community, serving 84 villages. She has partnered with US non-profits and the local health district to ensure sustainability, increase capacity, expand care in isolated communities, and provide lifesaving medications, ongoing chronic disease management, and maternal childcare.

Conteh-Barrat is working toward a postgraduate certificate in Psychiatric and Mental Health at Mason and is an adjunct faculty member in the College of Health and Human Services. In 2021, she was recognized as an Emerging Leader in Healthcare by United Health Group.

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UK College of Nursing: Mason Nursing Alumna Dr. Janie Heath (PhD '04) named 2021 AACN Advocate of the Year.

eander6 — Thu, 31 Mar 2022 19:17:35 +0000

UK College of Nursing: Mason Nursing Alumna Dr. Janie Heath (PhD '04) named 2021 AACN Advocate of the Year. eander6 Thu, 03/31/2022 - 15:17

UK College of Nursing Dean Janie Heath Named 2021 AACN Advocate of the Year.

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Virginia Elected Officials Praise ����AV’s Mason and Partners Clinic Located in Prince William Shelter

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Honoring Mason Nurses Awardees Announced

Outstanding Nurse Champion Award: Ashley Frese, BSN '04, MSN '12

Outstanding Nurse Innovation Award: Anna Norwood, MSN '18

Outstanding Public Health Nurse Award: Kadija Conteh-Barrat, BSN '09, DNP '15

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UK College of Nursing: Mason Nursing Alumna Dr. Janie Heath (PhD '04) named 2021 AACN Advocate of the Year.

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Virginia Elected Officials Praise ��AV’s Mason and Partners Clinic Located in Prince William Shelter