Recent Dissertations & Graduate Outcomes

Dissertation Title: Negative Pressure Wound Therapy on Closed Surgical Incisions in Patients Undergoing Open Laparotomy: What is the Impact?

Graduate Research Assistant: MU SSON Research Office, 2018-2019

Initial Placement After Graduation: ABSN & RN-BSN Program Chair, The Christ College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Cincinnati, OH

Dissertation Title: From Reactive to Proactive Diabetes Management: Examining Pre-visit Planning, Guideline Implementation, and Primary Care Experiences

Graduate Research Assistant: Dr. Anne Sales, 2025-2026

Initial Placement After Graduation: Clinical Assistant Professor, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN

Dissertation Title: Development and Evaluation of a Gen AI Conversational Agent to Improve Access to Opioid Use Disorder Treatment during Pregnancy

Research Training Grant/Fellowship: Sinclair PhD Fellowship

Research Grants: 2024 Toni and Jim Sullivan Endowed Research Fund for PhD Students

Research Awards: Sinclair School of Nursing PhD Student Scholarly Achievement Award

Initial Placement After Graduation: Family Nurse Practitioner, Chronic Pain and Wellness Center, Veterans Administration Eastern Colorado Health Care System, Auroro, CO; Adjunct Faculty, University of San Francisco School of Nursing

Dissertation Title: Sustaining Healthcare Workforce Peer Support Programs: Front-Line Peer Supporter Perspectives

Research Grant: The Research Foundation; 2025 Sigma Theta Tau Alpha Iota Chapter

Research Awards: Sinclair School of Nursing Dean’s Award for Research Excellence, 2025 MU Health Sciences Research Day

Initial Placement After Graduation: Assistant Professor, Research College of Nursing, Kansas City, MO

Dissertation Title: Rurality Matters: Exploring Nurse Suicide in Rural and Urban Populations Using National Violent Death Reporting System Data

Teaching Awards: Sinclair School of Nursing Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Award

Initial Placement After Graduation: Assistant Professor, South Dakota State University

Dissertation Title: Exploring Differences in Novice Nurses’ Perceptions when Communicating with Physicians based on Communication Apprehension and Race

Research Grant: 2023 Toni and Jim Sullivan Endowed Research Fund for PhD Students

Initial Placement After Graduation: Health Sciences Integration Specialist Educator, National Healthcareer Association, Leawood, KS

Dissertation Title: Exploring Pain Assessment and Management Experiences in Recently Hospitalized Minoritized Older Adults: A Qualitative Study

Research Training Grant/Fellowship: 2021-2024 Sinclair Fellowship & 2024-2025 NIH/National Institute of Aging Diversity Supplement

Research Grants: 2025 Toni and Jim Sullivan Endowed Research Fund for PhD Students; 2025 Alpha Iota Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau Research Grant; 2025 MU Graduate Professional Council Research Development Grant

Research Awards: 2024 MU Graduate School Scholar of Distinction

Initial Placement After Graduation: Inpatient Geriatric Nurse Practitioner and Assistant Professor of Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR

Dissertation Title: Animal-Assisted Interventions for Dementia in the Outpatient Clinic Setting: A Feasibility Study

Teaching Award: 2023 MU SSON Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Award

Research Award: 2026 Outstanding Dissertation Award, Gerontological Nursing Science RIIG, Midwest Nursing Research Society

Initial Placement After Graduation: Clinical Research Specialist, Washington University School of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Stroke Patient Access Core

Dissertation Title: A Qualitative Exploration of the Experience of Adolescents and Young Adults and Parents in the Decision-making Process when Seeking Emergency Department Care for a Pain Episode in Sickle Cell Disease

Initial Placement After Graduation: Research Nurse Coordinator III, School of Medicine, Pulmonary Division, Emory University, Atlanta, GA

Dissertation Title: Sperm Banking in Adolescent and Young Adults Males Diagnosed with Cancer

Research Grant: 2023 Toni & Jim Sullivan Endowed PhD Student Research Grant

Research Award: 2024 MU SSON PhD Student Scholarly Achievement Award

Initial Placement After Graduation: Family Nurse Practitioner, Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Siteman Kids at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, St. Louis, Mo.

Dissertation Title: An Exploration of Somatic Symptoms in Health Profession Students

Research Grant: 2024 MU Graduate Professional Council Research Development Award

Research Award: 2025 MU SSON PhD Student Scholarly Achievement Award

Initial Placement After Graduation: Associate Professor & Vice-Chair, College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific Northwest, Lebanon, OR

Dissertation Title: Experiences of Emergency Triage Nurses and Evidence of Bias in the Assessment of People Who are Homeless

Research Award: 2025 Dissertation Award, Midwest Nursing Research Society, Health of Diverse Populations RIIG

Initial Placement After Graduation: School of Nursing & Health Sciences, Providence College, Providence RI

Dissertation Title: Coping with Social Stigma: Correlates and Predictors of Loneliness in Family Caregivers of Autistic Adults

Research Training Grant/Fellowship: 2018 – 2021 Sinclair PhD Fellowship

Research Grant: 2024 Alpha Iota Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International, University of Missouri

Research Awards: 2025 Dissertation Award, Midwest Nursing Research Society, Gerontological Nursing Science RIIG; 2023 Mizzou Nursing Alumni Organization PhD Student Award for Overall Excellence

Initial Placement After Graduation: Assistant Professor of Nursing, American River College, Sacramento, CA

Dissertation Title: Family Impacts of Diabetic Extremity Wounds: A Qualitative Case Study

Research Grant: 2023 Toni & Jim Sullivan Endowed PhD Student Research Grant, University of MO

Initial Placement After Graduation: Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Hospital Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham Health System, Birmingham, Al.

Dissertation Title: The Relationship Between Internet Adoption and Diabetes Prevalence in U.S. Counties

Research Training Grant/Fellowship: 2021 – 2024 Sinclair PhD Fellowship

Research Awards: 2024 1st Place Poster Award, Social & Behavioral Sciences, MU Graduate Professional Council Research & Creative Arts Forum; 2023 1st Place Poster Award, Behavioral & Social Sciences, Graduate/Postdoctoral Category, SHOW ME Research Week

Initial Placement After Graduation: Director of Clinical Operations at CoxHealth in Springfield, Missouri & Senior Research Scientist, MU Sinclair School of Nursing, Columbia Mo.

Dissertation Title: The Experiences of Using Telehealth in Older Adults in Thailand: A Mixed-Methods Study

Research Award: 2021-2023 P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship

Initial Placement After Graduation: Instructor, Ramathibodi School of Nursing, Instructor, Ramathibodi School of Nursing, Phutthamonthon District, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand

Dissertation Title: Factors That Influence BSN Student Nurse Performance In The Medication-Administration Process

Research Grant: 2024 Toni & Jim Sullivan Endowed PhD Student Research Grant

Initial Placement After Graduation: Assistant Professor, Research College of Nursing, Kansas City, MO

Dissertation Title: The Lived Experience Of Bilateral Risk-Reducing Mastectomy And Impact On Body Image In Young Women With Increased- Lifetime Hereditary Breast Cancer Risk

Research Training Grant/Fellowship: 2020-2021 NIH/NINR T32 Health Behavior Science Pre-doctoral Trainee; 2021 – 2024 Sinclair PhD Fellowship

Research Grant: 2023 Alpha Iota Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International, University of Mo.

Research Awards: 2025 Dissertation Award, Midwest Nursing Research Society, Qualitative Methods RIIG; 2024 1st Place Poster Award, Social & Behavioral Sciences – Grad/Postdoc Category, MU ShowMe Research Week; 2023 PhD Student Scholarly Achievement Award

Initial Placement After Graduation: Postdoctoral Fellow, NIH T32 Cancer Control and Prevention, School of Nursing, University of Indiana

Dissertation Title: Impact of Rural Habitus on First-Time Mothers’ Feeding Choices

Research Training Grant: 2022-2024 NIH/National Institute of Nursing Research F31 Predoctoral NRSA; 2024 Sinclair PhD Fellowship

Research Grant: 2022 MU Graduate Professional Council Research Development Award

Research Awards: 2025 Dissertation Award, Midwest Nursing Research Society, Perinatal, Sexual, & Reproductive Health RIIG; 2024 Mizzou Nursing Alumni Organization PhD Student Award for Overall Excellence; 2022 MU SSON PhD Student Scholarly Achievement Award

Initial Placement After Graduation: Preparing Future Faculty for Inclusive Excellence (PFFIE) Postdoctoral Fellow, Sinclair School of Nursing, University of Missouri

Dissertation Title: Health-Related Quality of Life Older Women with Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders

Initial Placement After Graduation: Adjunct Assistant Research Professor & Consultant, Sinclair School of Nursing, University of Missouri

Dissertation Title: Hospital Nurse Managers’ Perceived Use of Dashboards for Quality and Performance Improvement: A Qualitative Study

Initial Placement After Graduation: Nurse Scientist, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL

Dissertation Title: Signal Detection For Pediatric Patient Deterioration In Simulation With Nursing Students: A Mixed Methods Study

Initial Placement After Graduation: Assistant Professor, Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences, Texas Christian University in Ft. Worth, Texas

Dissertation Title: Using Therapeutic Suggestions in a Preoperative Analgesia Education Intervention to Improve Postoperative Pain Outcomes in Endometriosis Surgery: A Feasible Study
Research Grant: 2022 Alpha Iota Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International, University of MO

Initial Placement After Graduation: Assistant Professor & Faculty Chair of Nursing, Creighton University, Phoenix, AZ

Dissertation Title: The Return-to-work Experiences of Thai Women With Breast Cancer-related Lymphedema

Research Grant: 2022 Toni & Jim Sullivan Endowed PhD Student Research Grant

Research Awards: 2024 Midwest Nursing Research Society Annual Research Conference – First place poster ribbon – PhD Student Poster Competition; 2020-2022 P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship

Initial Placement After Graduation: Lecturer, Faculty of Nursing, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Thailand

Dissertation Title: Exploring Perinatal Prescription Opioid Use and Misuse in Rural Settings.
Research Training Grant/Fellowship: 2021 – 2023 Sinclair PhD Fellowship; 2019-2021 NIH/NINR T32 Health Behavior Science Pre-doctoral Trainee
Research Grant: 2021 Midwest Nursing Research Society, Joseph & Jean Buckwalter Research Grant
Dissertation Award: 2023 Midwest Nursing Research Society, Perinatal, Sexual and Reproductive Health Research Interest & Implementation Group
Initial Placement After Graduation: Postdoctoral Scholar, T32 Interdisciplinary Training Program in Pain Research, University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine

Dissertation Title: Strain, Satisfaction and Hospitalization in Caregiver/Veteran with Heart Failure Dyads: A Secondary Analysis
Initial Placement After Graduation: Adjunct Instructor, University of Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ

Dissertation Title: Assessing the Feasibility and Acceptability of a Health Action Process Approach Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior Self-Guided Workbook in Rural Adults with Type 2 Diabetes.

Research Training Grant/Fellowship: 2021 – 2022 Sinclair PhD Fellowship; 2019-2021 NIH/NINR T32 Health Behavior Science Pre-doctoral Trainee

Research Grant: 2021 Toni & Jim Sullivan Endowed PhD Student Research Grant

Dissertation Award: 2023 Midwest Nursing Research Society, Self-Care Research Interest & Implementation Group

Initial Placement After Graduation: Postdoctoral Scholar at the University of Iowa College of Nursing, Iowa City, IA

Dissertation Title: Hospital Acquired Pressure Injury In Adult Orthopedic Spine Surgery Patients: Risk Factors & Risk Assessment Tools.

Research Awards: 2021 Sinclair School of Nursing Dean’s Award, MU Health Sciences Day; 2015 Midwest Nursing Research Society Annual Research Conference – First place poster ribbon – PhD Student Poster Competition

Initial Placement After Graduation: Director of Perioperative Education for the Association of perioperative Registered Nurses (AORN) headquartered in Denver, Colorado.

Dissertation Title: A Duty to Care: Male Perspective on Their Role as Caregivers for Persons with Alzheimer’s Disease or Related Dementia

Research Grants: 2021 Alpha Iota Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International, University of MO; 2021 Research Development Award, MU Graduate Professional Council, University of MO

Dissertation Award: 2023 Midwest Nursing Research Society, Family Health Research Interest & Implementation Group

Initial Placement After Graduation: Health Sciences Assistant Clinical Professor & Academic Practice Partner for UCI Health for the Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing at the University of California, Irvine

Dissertation Title: Animal Assisted Interventions For Military Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Initial Placement After Graduation: Manager, Center for Practice Excellence, Barnes Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, MO

Dissertation Title: Enhancing Diabetes Health Outcomes Among Haitian Migrants Living in Dominican Bateyes

Dissertation Award: 2023 Midwest Nursing Research Society, Health of Diverse Populations Research Interest & Implementation Group

Initial Placement After Graduation: Assistant Professor at Research College of Nursing in Kansas City, Missouri

Dissertation Title: Evaluating Organizational Research Climate to Assess Research Integrity

Research Grant: 2019-2021 Office of Research Integrity, Department of Health & Human Services

Initial Placement After Graduation: Associate Vice Chancellor for Research at University of Missouri-Columbia

Dissertation Title: A Meta-Analysis Exploring the Effect of Age on Weight Loss Following a Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy

Initial Placement After Graduation: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Division of Pediatric Thoracic and Fetal Surgery, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, PA (CHOP)

Research Training Grant/Fellowships: 2018-2021 NIH/NINR T32 Health Behavior Science Pre-doctoral Trainee; 2019-21 Doctoral Degree Fellowship in Cancer Nursing, American Cancer Society

Research Grant: 2018 Alpha Iota Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International, University of MO

Dissertation Award: 2022 Midwest Nursing Research Society, Self-Care Research Interest & Implementation Group

Initial Placement After Graduation: Postdoctoral Fellow, MU Sinclair School of Nursing, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO

Dissertation Title: Walk a Hound and Lose of Pound and Stay Fit for Older Adults: A Secondary Analysis

Research Training Grant/Fellowship: 2018-2021 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Future of Nursing Scholars Predoctoral Trainee

Initial Placement After Graduation: Assistant Professor of Nursing, Tennessee Tech University Cookeville, TN

Dissertation Title: It’s All Country Boys: Rural Young Male Perceptions of Risk and Protective Factors for Dating Violence and Digital Interventions as an Acceptable Response

Research Training Grant/Fellowship: 2020-2021 Raymond White Dissertation Year Fellowship, MU Graduate School; 2018-2021 Sinclair PhD Fellowship

Research Grant: Alpha Iota Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International, University of MO, Columbia MO

Dissertation Award: 2022 Midwest Nursing Research Society, Qualitative Methods Research Interest & Implementation Group

Initial Placement After Graduation: Assistant Professor of Nursing, Rush University College of Nursing, Chicago, IL

Dissertation Title: Factors that Impact Assigned Female at Birth Sexual Minority Individuals’ Healthcare Experiences:  A Qualitative Descriptive Study

Research Training Grant/Fellowship: 2018-2021 NIH/NINR T32 Health Behavior Science Pre-doctoral Trainee

Research Grant: 2020 Alpha Omicron Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International, Saint Xavier University, Chicago, IL

Research Award: 2020 Journal of School Nursing (JOSN)/SAGE Scholarly Writing Award

Initial Placement After Graduation: Assistant Professor at the Mennonite College of Nursing, Illinois State University, Normal, IL

Dissertation Title: Salud Paso por Paso:  A Culturally-Tailored Physical Activity Intervention with Hispanic Adults with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Research Training Grant/Fellowship: 2016-2019 NIH/NINR T32 Health Behavior Science Pre-doctoral Trainee

Initial Placement After Graduation: Assistant Professor of Nursing at University of Arizona College of Nursing, Tucson, AZ

Dissertation Title: Communication at the End of Life Among Advanced Cancer Patients in Ghana:  What Patients Have to Say

Research Training Grant/Fellowship: 2017 – 2019 Fulbright Foreign Student Scholar; 2019 – 2021 Sinclair PhD Fellow

Initial Placement After Graduation: Post-Degree Academic Trainee, Sinclair School of Nursing, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO