First Lady Michelle Obama Joins Forces with Penn Nursing

Newswise — On Wednesday at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden will announce a major initiative on nursing and veterans’ health. Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden are turning to nurses to identify, treat, and conduct research on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as part of their national initiative Joining Forces, which champions wellness, education, and employment among military service members and their families.

The Department of Defense and the Veterans Administration address and treat PTSD, but half of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans see healthcare providers outside the VA system. Nurses are often the first-line providers of care for veterans with PTSD, and nurse scientists at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing conduct the ground-breaking research on this life-altering disorder that leads to clinical care.

“Penn Nursing scientists are leading investigators in PTSD and trauma, producing evidence-based research that is translated into innovative and effective clinical care,” said Dean Afaf I. Meleis.

Experts in PTSD, pain, and trauma at Penn Nursing are:• Rosemary C. Polomano, PhD, RN, is an expert in pain management, conducting innovative research on the perceptions of pain among military personnel and on battlefield analgesia. Her findings showed that regional nerve blocks and epidurals shortly after injury led to a statistically significant decrease in pain intensity and have the potential to reduce chronic pain, a crucial finding given the high correlation between chronic pain and PTSD. • Therese Richmond, PhD, CRNP, is leader in injury science, conducting pioneering research on the psychological effects of injury and how to address those effects. In a National Institutes of Health-funded study, she found that even among patients who had relatively minor injuries, a substantial number had PTSD and depression, which is a precursor to PTSD, a year or more after the injury. • Marilyn Stringer, PhD, CRNP, is an expert in women’s health, expanding the understanding of the care of female service people and families in a nation at war. As associate editor of the Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing, Dr. Stringer published a special section on the leadership of military nurses in advancing science and practice in women's health, including gender differences in the area of PTSD. • Mary Ersek, PhD, RN, specializes in pain and palliative care in older adults. Her work with the NIH’s PROMIS program and her leadership in the ELNEC curriculum are improving end-of-life care for U.S. veterans.• Salimah Meghani, PhD, CRNP, is working to address pain management in low-income and minority patients. Her focus on racial and ethnic disparities in pain treatment can benefit active military personnel, veterans, and civilians.

Media wishing to cover the event must register at [email protected] by 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 10. To learn more about Penn Nursing and the Joining Forces initiative, visit www.nursing.upenn.edu.