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.
NorthKey Community Care (NorthKey) is a community mental health center that serves a “network of communities” throughout Northern Kentucky. They provide mental health, substance use, and developmental disability services. Tobacco treatment is also a top priority.
Lovoria Williams, Ph.D., FNP-BC, FAANP, FAAN is an associate professor in the College of Nursing. Dr. Williams holds 11 current academic appointments including director of the Community Health Advocacy iNterventions Generating Equity (CHANGE) team.
Lee Anne Walmsley, Ph.D., EdS, MSN, RN received all of her degrees from the University of Kentucky - PhD in 2015, MSN in 2006, EdS in 2003, and BSN in 1978. She worked in a variety of medical settings including a neonatal intensive care unit in Birmingham, England. She began teaching in 1998 and has been an instructor at UK since 2004. In her current position, she directs Work-Life and Student Wellness. Dr. Walmsley also serves as the Military and Veteran Student Liaison. She is an Academic-Clinical Partner Scholar with UK HealthCare at Good Samaritan Hospital.
Eastern State Hospital/Central Kentucky Recovery Center (ESH/CKRC) holds Magnet designation. This is the first time ESH/CKRC has received this honor. ESH is also the first state psychiatric facility in the country to receive this honor. ESH is managed by UK HealthCare who received Magnet re-designation at the same time. Magnet status is a prestigious designation awarded to hospitals by American Nurses Credentialing Center, an affiliate of the American Nurses Association.
Congratulations to Amani Kappi, PhD, MSN, RN, BSN BH WELL Project Assistant, for graduating from the UK College of Nursing with a Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing.
The University of Kentucky Public Relations and Strategic Communications Office provides a weekly health column available for use and reprint by news media. This week's column is by Lee Anne Walmsley, Ph.D., an assistant professor in UK’s College of Nursing and research team member of Behavioral Health Wellness Environments for Living and Learning (BH WELL). She serves as the chair of the Work-Life and Student Wellness Council.
Behavioral Health Wellness Environments for Living and Learning (BH WELL) research team member Madelyn “Mady” Strong, BSN, RN, was recently awarded UK HealthCare’s Pam Branson Award for her research on new nurses and COVID-19.
Strong, a 2019 graduate from the University of Kentucky College of Nursing, presented her study, “Being a New Graduate Nurse in the Middle of A Pandemic: An Exploratory Analysis Of the Effects of COVID-19” during UK HealthCare’s Annual Nursing Research Papers Day.
Before receiving both her BS and Ph.D. in Nursing, Dr. Stephanie Kehler earned a bachelor's in mechanical engineering. From 2014-2015, Dr. Kehler worked as an RN in the Intensive Care Unit at Good Samaritan Hospital, Lexington, where she provided care to critically ill adult patients. She completed her Ph.D. at UK in 2017.
Lella Still is a Doctorate of Social Work student in the Work Learning Program doctoral cohort and is Director of Social Work at Eastern State Hospital. As part of her studies, she is working on a research initiative titled Caring Contacts which aims to enhance patient transitions to outpatient community mental health centers.
What is the relationship between the experience of trauma and substance use among healthcare workers? describes types of healthcare workers who encountered trauma and discusses the connection between trauma and substance use risk.
Congratulations to Zim Okoli Ph.D., MPH, MSN, PMHNP-BC, APRN, NCTTP, FAAN for being selected as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing. This milestone accomplishment follows years of evidence-based practice and research to improve access and care for individuals living with mental and behavioral health challenges. Dr. Okoli is also an expert in tailored tobacco dependence treatment for the behavioral health population.
Amani Kappi is a PhD candidate at the University of Kentucky College of Nursing (UK CON) with an expected graduation date of December 2021. Her research focus is to promote parental awareness about childhood behavioral and mental health illnesses such as ADHD, anxiety, and depression. While pursuing her master’s degree, Amani worked in the pediatric neurodevelopmental unit where she saw numerous parents who required assistance with their children who were receiving late-diagnoses with ADHD, anxiety, and other mental illnesses.
