School of Nursing

6 posts

Valerie Sabol

valerie.sabol@duke.edu

School of Nursing                   

My scholarship, teaching, and clinical focus includes translating and implementing evidence-based practices for older adults, often a vulnerable population, across care settings. In one of my courses, for example, I address sustainability concepts and how the environment/climate impacts obesity (i.e., nutrition, mobility, and overall health). Also, improving appropriate disposal of medical waste is an emerging interest (co-authored publication currently in review).       

https://scholars.duke.edu/person/valerie.sabol

As a nurse/nurse practitioner, I am passionate about the impact of climate on individual/population health and sustainability efforts that support individual/population/planetary health. I have served on the Campus Sustainability Committee and the University Climate & Sustainability Strategic Task Force. Few healthcare faculty and licensed providers are proficient with this emerging science and the content is notably limited/absent from healthcare curricula and annual training, respectively. I seek to partner with experts to discover new knowledge and create databases that lend itself to teaching Duke students and healthcare providers.

AnnMarie Walton

annmarie.walton@duke.edu

School of Nursing

My research centers on understanding and minimizing occupational exposures to known carcinogens. Specifically, I am interested in pesticide protective behaviors for Latino migrant and seasonal farmworkers and in minimizing occupational exposure to antineoplastic drugs for healthcare workers. I have experience with some methods of assessing contamination and exposure including surface wipe sampling, hand wipe sampling, and recently the use of silicone wrist bands.       

https://scholars.duke.edu/person/annmarie.walton

I am the Duke University School of Nursing’s liaison to the Nurses Climate Challenge and am trying to increase education for our students in population health (which I facilitate) about climate change: https://nursesclimatechallenge.org/. I also served on the University Climate Initiative in the Climate Resilience Workgroup. I put together a webinar with a student and the Duke Gardens staff about gardening as a climate change solution. I gave a lecture to the health system about climate change for Earth Day in 2021 and participate in the Moral Movements in Medicine to do some introductory climate change education. I do not consider myself an expert in this area, but someone interested in learning more and in ensuring that nurses understand the impact that healthcare facilities have on the environment. I also know that pesticides (which are part of my research) are in greater use because of the impact of climate change. I am a member of ANHE (Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments) and a member of a newly formed group of nurses interested in environmental health within the Oncology Nursing Society.

Amie Koch

amie.koch@duke.edu

School of Nursing

My research revolves around vulnerable populations. There are three main branches of my research (a) communication, palliative care, end of life decision making of pediatric and adults, (b)Diversity, Equity, Inclusion including cultural/racism impact on health and health education and LGBTQ health and wellness, and (c) focusing on health promotion, community health and community wellness.                       

https://scholars.duke.edu/person/amie.gray

I was a co-author on an environmental health nursing textbook, my chapter was about neighborhoods and community health.  I am passionate about being active in slowing down climate change and global impact of how we are harming our globe.

Karin Reuter-Rice

karin.reuter-rice@duke.edu

School of Nursing

I am a tenured associate professor in the School of Nursing, School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics and affiliate faculty in the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences. I am both a clinical expert in child health and scientist. My research focus is in the area of trauma and brain injury. With a collaborative research team approach and federal, foundation and industry funding, I examine the relationship between biological processes, physiologic responses and health outcomes in children who are at risk for or who have experienced a brain injury. In my work I uses technology approaches, such genetic and genomics to further advance the science in pediatric brain injury. My work also straddles the community with a lens on prevention and a focus on reducing disparities in children who experience a concussion. My published research findings have been presented internationally and have led to new practice recommendations for children at risk for neurologic injury while hospitalized in the intensive care unit. I also serve as the chair of the North Carolina Governor’s Brain Injury Advisory Council’s Children and Youth Committee, where we develop health policies that support brain injury prevention and recovery.                        

https://scholars.duke.edu/person/karin.reuter-rice

My expertise is in child heath, which is greatly impacted by climate events and ongoing climate challenges. There are many examples of adverse climate effects on child health from a macro and micro level. One example is epigenetic changes that have both life-long and generational consequences on health. Additionally, there are indirect effects of less obvious climate concerns that leave unintended downstream side effects in the health of children, families, and communities that would benefit by investigation and/or broader educational initiatives.

Allison Stafford

allison.stafford@duke.edu

School of Nursing

My research is focused on promoting mental health equity among adolescents and young adults from underserved and immigrant backgrounds.

https://scholars.duke.edu/person/allison.stafford

I have research expertise in qualitative methods, implementation science, and adolescent health. While I have limited experience in climate change research, I am interested in the impact of climate change on adolescent mental health (e.g., “ecoanxiety”) and how clinicians can promote hope among youth.