The University of Kentucky’s Behavioral Health Wellness Environments for Living and Learning (BH WELL) has announced the inaugural winners of two behavioral health tobacco treatment awards. The awards were presented on November 9, 2022, at BH WELL’s workshop, Recovery in Mental and Behavioral Health: Tackling the Hidden Epidemic of Tobacco Use.
Franklin County Health Department’s (FCHD) mission to “Prevent, Promote, and Protect” supports better health outcomes for their community. Specifically, their success in strengthening tobacco policy in the state of Kentucky places them in the spotlight. FCHD is partnering with the Behavioral Health Wellness Environments for Living and Learning (BH WELL) research team to support behavioral health organizations in advancing tobacco-free policy and tobacco dependence treatment services for individuals living with mental illness on their journey to stop tobacco use.
BH WELL’s Executive Director, Chizimuzo Okoli Ph.D., MPH, MSN, PMHNP-BC, APRN, NCTTP, FAAN was inducted into the Sigma Theta Tau International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame. He received this honor at Sigma’s 33rd International Nursing Research Congress in July 2022 along with 32 nurse researchers from across the globe.
The University of Kentucky College of Nursing’s Behavioral Health Wellness Environments for Living and Learning (BH WELL) partnered with Eastern State Hospital (ESH) for Socktober.
Sigma's 33rd International Nursing Research Congress was held July 21-25, 2022 in Edenburg, Scotland. This conference brings together nurse leaders, researchers, clinicians, and students from around the world who are focused on evidence-based research and practice. Sarret Seng, a University of Kentucky College of Nursing (UK CON) PhD student presented her research: Factors associated with Psychological Distress experienced by Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic. This research was co-authored by Dr.
Bassema Abu-Farsakh is a University of Kentucky College of Nursing (UK CON) PhD student and a graduate research assistant with the Behavioral Health Wellness Environments for Living and Learning (BH WELL) research team.
Being pregnant and having a new baby comes with lots of emotions! It is normal to feel overwhelmed, exhausted, anxious, or sad during this time. However, if these feelings continue for more than a couple of weeks, it might be perinatal depression or anxiety. When this happens, a new mom might experience challenges in carrying out daily tasks such as caring for their new baby or themselves. Perinatal depression or anxiety is common AND treatable. There is hope! And help is a quick phone call away!
Sarret Seng, a nursing PhD student in the University of Kentucky College of Nursing (UK CON) and graduate research assistant for the UK CON Behavioral Health Wellness Environments for Living and Learning (BH WELL) research team, has been named a Predoctoral Fellow with the University of Kentucky’s UNited In True racial Equity (UNITE) Research Priority Area.
Congratulations to Allie Roberts, Behavioral Health Wellness practicum research student, for graduating with a Bachelor’s in Community and Leadership Development in May of 2022.
Heather Robertson, MPA, is Director of Executive Operations for the Behavioral Health Wellness Environments for Living and Learning (BH WELL) research team. She also holds a joint appointment with UK HealthCare management at Eastern State Hospital where she is Director of Work Learning. She oversees program growth and development, budgets, contracts, and staffing.
Sarret Seng, a psychiatric-mental health nurse and University of Kentucky College of Nursing PhD student, is being honored with the APNA Award for Excellence in Practice – RN for her work to positively impact patient care in the work setting. Seng is a practicing psychiatric-mental health nurse, a University of Kentucky College of Nursing PhD student, and a Graduate Research Assistant for the Behavioral Health Wellness Environments for Living and Learning (BH WELL) program.
Heather Robertson, Director of Executive Operations for the Behavioral Health Wellness Environments for Living and Learning (BH WELL), has been awarded the 2021-2022 Excellence in Engagement for a Research-Based Team Member award from the University of Kentucky (UK) College of Nursing (CON). This is awarded for demonstrated exceptional contributions as an outstanding team member to promote the mission of the research-based team and advancing engagement within the College of Nursing.
Dr. Amanda Lykins currently serves as the Staff Development Specialist (SDS) for Behavioral Health at UK HealthCare (UKHC) with responsibilities at UK Chandler Hospital, Good Samaritan Hospital, and Eastern State Hospital (ESH).
Chizimuzo T.C. Okoli, Ph.D., MPH, MSN, PMHNP-BC, APRN, NCTTP, FAAN is a Professor in the UK College of Nursing (CON) and Executive Director of the Behavioral Health Wellness Environments for Living and Learning (BH WELL) research team. Through a joint appointment with UK HealthCare management team at Eastern State Hospital, he serves as Director of Behavioral Health Research and Evidence-Based Practice and Director of Tobacco Treatment Services.
Congratulations to Kylie Pemberton, Behavioral Health Wellness Environments for Living and Learning Graduate Research Assistant, for graduating with a Master’s in Educational Psychology.
Dr. Marc Woods is the Chief Nursing Officer for Eastern State Hospital and Nurse Leader of Eastern State Hospital as part of UK HealthCare’s management team. He completed his Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree in April 2022 and graduated May 6, 2022 where he was hooded by Dr. Zim Okoli. Dr. Woods focus was executive leadership where he completed research titled, “The Effect of a Web-based Training on Suicide Knowledge, Attitudes, and Health Access Behaviors of Behavioral Health Nurses Regarding Suicide Prevention.”
Can someone really be struggling to manage their behavior just because they are hungry? This is what researchers Kevin Bryant, Mayong Whitman, Mikkita Hayes, and Sirah Southwell thought. So they tested their idea and presented their research titled, “Reduction in Afternoon Seclusion and Physical Restraint Minutes Following the Introduction of Additional Daily Snack” at the University of Kentucky (UK) Paper’s Day 2019, where they won an award. The team went on to win the University of Kentucky Quality Showcase in May 2019.
Dr. Tanna McKinney is the Director of Infection Control at Eastern State Hospital. She completed her Doctorate of Nursing Practice from the University of Kentucky in Spring 2022. Her area of interest is mental health nursing. She completed research titled The Effect of an Educational Intervention on Clinical RN Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Shared Governance Program at Eastern State Hospital. This project was important for her to do because a quality shared governance program is essential to a happy nursing workforce and the promise of magnet excellence.
Kevin Bryant is a psychiatric nurse and is working toward a Doctor of Nursing Practice as part of the Work Learning Program, a collaboration between UK HealthCare, Eastern State Hospital (ESH), and the University of Kentucky College of Nursing (UKCON). Kevin manages three units at ESH, two of which are COVID-19 units.
The University of Kentucky College of Nursing’s Chizimuzo “Zim” Okoli, PhD, APRN, FAAN, will be a 2022 inductee into the Sigma Theta Tau International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame. Dr. Okoli is a professor at the UK College of Nursing, director of the Behavioral Health and Wellness Environments for Living and Learning (BHWELL), and director of Behavioral Health Research and Evidence-Based Practice at Eastern State Hospital.
