Health Promotion for Women with
Disabilities Project
Faculty and Staff Members
Suzanne C. Smeltzer, EdD, RN, FAAN
Dr. Suzanne C. Smeltzer is Professor and Director, Nursing Research at
Villanova University College of Nursing. She also serves as Director for the Health
Promotion for Women with Disabilities Project, a 3-year project funded by a grant from
Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation. She completed a two-year postdoctoral research fellowship
as a Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Nurse Scholar at the University of Rochester, where she
began her research on MS. Her research related to MS and health issues of women with
disabilities has been published in nursing and interdisciplinary journals. Dr. Smeltzer is
the recipient of the 2000 Hall of Fame Award from the Greater Delaware Valley Chapter of
the National MS Society, Leadership Awards from two chapters of Sigma Theta Tau, and the
Labe C. Scheinberg Award for the Best Paper in Neurorehabilitation from the Consortium of
MS Centers. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing.
Patricia K. Bradley, Ph.D, RN, CS
Dr. Patricia K. Bradley is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing at
Villanova University College of Nursing. She is nationally certified as a specialist in
adult psychiatric/mental health nursing and has over twenty-three years of experience as a
psychiatric mental health nurse. Her work experience includes a variety of psychiatric
settings such as inpatient and outpatient mental health, psychiatric consultation liaison
and private practice with adolescents and families. Her research interests include
psychosocial issues of African American breast cancer survivors as well as other health
issues of underserved groups. Dr. Bradley is an active participant in several advisory
committees that focus on health issues of the underserved. Dr. Bradley has developed and
implemented numerous educational workshops for students, community members, health care
providers and administrators both nationally and locally utilizing an "acknowledgment
of cultural strengths" framework.
Theresa Capriotti, MSN, RN, CRNP, DO
Dr. Theresa Capriotti, is Clinical Assistant Professor at Villanova University College of
Nursing. Dr. Capriotti has practiced as a nurse in neonatal intensive care, home care, and
occupational health care settings. She received a degree in osteopathic medicine in 1983
and practiced primary care medicine for 10 years. She is a pharmacology columnist for
Med-Surg Nursing and has published numerous articles regarding the pharmacologic aspects
of nursing practice. Currently, she teaches human pathophysiology to graduate and
undergraduate students at Villanova University College of Nursing. Her research interests
include knowledge about cardiovascular risk factors among women with disabilities.
Linda Carman Copel, PhD, RN, CS, CGP, DAPA
Dr. Linda Carman Copel is an Associate Professor at Villanova University College of
Nursing. She is nationally certified as a clinical specialist in adult psychiatric
nursing, a group psychotherapist, a family life educator, and a bereavement counselor. She
is also a Diplomat in Psychotherapy from the American Psychotherapy Association and a
Diplomat in Disability from the American Board of Disability Analysts. Dr. Copel's
research interests encompass women's health issues, mental health issues, family
strengths, and hearing impairment. As a psychotherapist, she provides counseling to
individuals, couples, and families. She has extensive experience providing counseling to
women, especially those affected by family violence. Dr. Copel is studying abuse of women
with physical disabilities.
Lyn DeSilets, EdD, RN, C
Dr. Lyn DeSilets has served for over 20 years as the Director of the Continuing Education
Program in the College of Nursing at Villanova University, which is a nationally
accredited CE provider unit. She has been appointed to the Content Expert Panel for the
Nursing Professional Development Certification Examination of the American Nurses
Credentialing Center (ANCC). She serves as an accreditation site visitor for the
Commission on Accreditation of the ANCC. She also serves on the Continuing Education
Committee for the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association. She is nationally certified in
nursing professional development. Her research interests are in the area of continuing
education and adult learning.
Janice M. Duffin, MSN, RN, CCM, CDMS, LNCC
Ms. Janice Duffin is a research assistant with the Health Promotion for Women with
Disabilities Project. She has worked with people with disabilities for over 25 years. Ms.
Duffin has practiced as a professional nurse for over 16 years, with a focus in the areas
of rehabilitation and case management. She earned her master’s degree from Villanova
University with a focus in clinical case management. Ms. Duffin is certified in case
management, disability management, and legal nurse consulting. Her research interests are
disability and aging. She is currently involved in research on medication use in older
women with disabilities.
Janice L. Hinkle, PhD, RN, CNRN
Dr. Janice L. Hinkle is an Assistant Professor at Villanova University College of Nursing.
Her clinical areas of expertise include adult health nursing and neuroscience nursing, in
which she holds national certification. She has been involved in research on head injury
and stroke for the past two decades. She is also interested in assessment of stroke risk.
She is currently conducting a research project comparing stroke risk factors in men and
women with disabilities; she is also studying 3-year outcomes of stroke. Dr. Hinkle is
widely published in nursing and interdisciplinary journals.
Elizabeth K. Keech, PhD, RN
Dr. Elizabeth K. Keech is an Assistant Professor in the College of Nursing, Villanova
University. Her areas of interest include gerontology, home care and public health. She
has participated in several research projects that focus on issues related to caring for
elderly in the home e.g. caregiver stress and risk factors for rehospitalization. She
recently was program director for a substance use and abuse program for three urban senior
centers which was funded by the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging. Additionally, Dr.
Keech recently taught a clinical course for senior nursing students in health promotion in
Peru. Her research interests are in the area of aging with a disability and family
caregiver issues.
Barbara Ott, PhD, RN, CCRN
Dr. Barbara Ott is Associate Professor in the College of Nursing at Villanova University.
She teaches critical care nursing to undergraduates and clinical ethics in the graduate
program. She has been certified in critical care nursing with 15 years experience at the
bedside in various critical care settings. Dr. Ott is a medical mission volunteer for
Operation Smile International, an organization that performs cleft lip and cleft palate
surgical repair for poor children around the world. She is also a member of the Nursing
Clinical Council for Operation Smile International. She has taught ethics in China,
Jordan, Israel, Japan, and Lebanon. Dr. Ott is a member of the Pastoral Care Research Team
at the University of Pennsylvania Health System and currently sits on two hospital ethics
committees and a corporate ethics committee. Her research interests include ethics related
to accessibility to health care among women with disabilities.
Nancy C. Sharts-Hopko, PhD, RN, FAAN
Dr. Nancy Sharts-Hopko is a Professor with expertise in women's and infants' health;
international health; wellness and health promotion; spirituality and health; research;
and theory development. Her research has focused on perceived well-being during various
transitions throughout women's lives, including menopause, hysterectomy, childbirth in a
foreign cultural context, and HIV/AIDS. Most recently she has studied osteoporosis
prevention among women with disabilities. Dr. Sharts-Hopko is widely published; she is
also the recipient of the Nightingale Award from the Pennsylvania Hospital Association for
Excellence in Research. She was a Contemplative Practices Fellow of the Fetzer Institute
and the Nathan Cummings Foundation in 1998-1999. She is a member of the American Academy
of Nursing.
Maureen Sullivan, PhD, RN, CRNP
Dr. Maureen Sullivan is an Assistant Professor at Villanova University College of Nursing
where she teaches in graduate and undergraduate programs. She is a certified nurse
practitioner with expertise in rehabilitation nursing and adult disability, particularly
spinal cord and brain injury. She has conducted research related to adaptation to spinal
cord injury. Additionally, she and Dr. Sharts-Hopko have recently completed research in
the area of osteoporosis prevention in women with disabilities.
Vanessa Zimmerman, MSN, RN
Ms. Vanessa Zimmerman is the administrative research associate with the Health Promotion
for Women with Disabilities Project. She has over 18 years of nursing experience in the
acute and home care setting. Ms. Zimmerman received her master’s degree from
Villanova University with a focus in clinical case management. Her research interest is in
women's health. She is currently involved in several research studies concerning women
with disabilities, including health promotion interests, menopause and bone density
screening.
Advisory Board Members
Maureen Beilman, M. Ed.
Ms. Maureen Beilman earned a B.A. in social work from Kutztown University and her master's
in education with a focus on community counseling from Lehigh University. Ms. Beilman has
been in private practice in clinical counseling since 1989 and has been working as a
mental health professional since 1977. Ms. Beilman is an advisory Board member and
clinical counselor for MS Center of the Lehigh Valley and also serves as a consultant and
lecturer for the National MS Society, Greater Delaware Valley Chapter. Ms. Beilman was
diagnosed with MS fifteen years ago.
Juanita Benson
Mrs. Juanita Benson is a community leader and representative in Bucks County. In addition
to serving as a member of the Advisory Committee of the Health Promotion for Women with
Disabilities Project, she serves on the advisory boards of the Freedom Valley Living
Center and the Retired Senior Volunteer Persons of Bucks County. Mrs. Benson is also chair
of the SEPTA service committee. She is an active volunteer with Living Beyond Breast
Cancer and is a 7-year survivor of breast cancer. Mrs. Benson is also a volunteer for the
American Cancer Society. She is 78 years old and uses a wheelchair because of a spinal
cord injury she sustained over 20 years ago.
Lorie Brew. M.S.
Ms. Lorie Brew is the Coordinator of Pastoral Care for Persons with Disabilities at the
Archdiocese of Philadelphia where she works to assist individuals, families and parishes
in meeting the spiritual needs of persons with abilities. Ms. Brew became interested in
the field of disabilities 10 years ago when her own child was diagnosed with a
developmental disability. She became active at a local base service unit in Philadelphia
working on committees that addressed disability issue and becoming connected to other
parents and professionals. She has also worked as a Developmental Disability Case Manager
with a focus on young adults transitioning from school to work. She earned a Master’s
Degree in Counseling/Human Services from Chestnut Hill College. In addition to her work
with the Archdiocese, Ms. Brew works on part-time as an outpatient mental health
therapist.
Alicia Conill, MD
Dr. Alicia Conill is a primary care physician, Clinical Associate Professor at the
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and the Medical Director of Conill
Institute for Chronic Illness. Dr. Conill has received several national awards for her
work and dedication to increasing the understanding and sensitivity of health care
professionals to the issues faced by persons with disabilities. Dr. Conill was diagnosed
with MS thirteen years ago. While she has seen her medical practice, career and life
choices deeply affected by her disability. Dr. Conill has also found a way to endow her
career as a physician and teacher with a rare degree of empathy and personal experience.
Carla Heath, MSN, RN
Ms. Carla Heath has recently completed the family nurse practitioner program at the
College of New Jersey in Trenton. She has also completed graduate courses in
Pediatrics/Child Development at Yale University. Ms. Heath has served as a nursing
consultant to the Department of Developmental Disabilities in collaboration with the Spina
Bifida Association of New Jersey. She is the recipient of the Early Intervention Best
Practice Community Award of Passaic, Bergen, and Hudson Counties in NJ. Ms. Heath was born
with spina bifida and has compensatory hydrocephalus. Ms. Health is currently practicing
as a family nurse practitioner at Morristown Memorial Hospital.
Margie Kernicky
Ms. Margie Kernicky is a leader in the Philadelphia Handicapped Encounter Christ (HEC), a
religious retreat program specifically designed for persons with physical disabilities.
She has been actively involved with HEC for the past 25 years, nationally and
internationally. Ms. Kernicky has served the Archdiocese of Philadelphia as a member of
the Committee for Persons with Disabilities. Born with cerebral palsy, Ms. Kernicky has
experienced the challenges of living independently with a physical disability. She is
dedicated to educating the larger public and to raising the consciousness of those around
her about the many issues that confront those with physical disabilities daily. To that
end, she has served as an advisor to local church and school groups as an advocate and
activist for those with physical disabilities.
Toba S. Kerson, D.S.W., PhD
Dr. Toba Schwaber Kerson is a Professor in the Graduate School of Social Work and Social
Research at Bryn Mawr College. She is author of many books including the forthcoming,
Boundary Spanning: An Ecological Reinterpretation of Social Work Practice in Health and
Mental Health Systems, and Social Work in Health Care: Practice in Context. Dr. Kerson
sits on numerous editorial and advisory boards.
Stephen Mc Williams
Mr. Stephen Mc Williams has been the Director of International/Human Services at Villanova
University for 15 years. In that capacity he acts as an advisor to disabled students and
faculty throughout the University. Mr. Mc Williams earned his Bachelor of Arts in
Education from Rutgers University and his Masters in Education from Temple University,
M.A. from Villanova University and M.F.A. from Temple University. Throughout most of his
career, Stephen has worked with special needs students.
Mary Patrick, BSN, RN
Ms. Mary Patrick is a graduate of the BSN program at Villanova University College of
Nursing. She works as a research coordinator at Thomas Jefferson University Regional
Spinal Cord Center. When she was a Freshman nursing student at Villanova, Ms. Patrick fell
and sustained a spinal cord injury. Since her injury, Ms. Patrick has used a wheelchair.
Recently, Ms. Patrick gave birth to her second child, a son.
Rebecca Polss, MSW
Ms. Rebecca Polss is a licensed social worker who, until recently, was the Clinical
Programs Manager for the Greater Delaware Valley Chapter of the National Multiple
Sclerosis Society in Philadelphia. She served as special projects consultant for the
National Multiple Sclerosis Society in Denver, CO and New York City. Ms. Polss is credited
with the design and implementation of a Resource Room consisting of computerized
information, referral service and lending library that serves 8,200 clients and 18
counties and now serves a national model. In August of 2001, Ms. Polss became the
Coordinator of the Health Management Programs Department at Independence Blue Cross where
she is primarily responsible for the development of plan-approved clinical practice
guidelines. Ms. Polss is also active with the Pennsylvania Society for Clinical Social
Workers.
[Top]
02/23/2004 08:23 PM |