IPS Names Second Cohort of Fellows for N-SISS Program
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Second group of N-SISS Fellows comprises nurse scientists from across the U.S. for one-of-a-kind training program building national capacity to eliminate health inequities and fix broken U.S. health system
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Continuing its mission to eliminate health inequities as a necessary fix for the broken U.S. health care system, the Institute for Policy Solutions (IPS) at Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing is proud to announce the selection of the second cohort of Fellows for the Nursing Science Incubator for Social Determinants of Health Solutions (N-SISS) program.
The flagship program of the IPS Training Institute, N-SISS advances the design and implementation of innovative, evidence-based research with a singular focus: eliminating health inequities in the U.S. The program is co-directed by Dr. Vincent Guilamo-Ramos, IPS Executive Director and Leona B. Carpenter Chair in Health Equity and Social Determinants of Health; and Dr. Jason Farley, Leadership and Innovation Endowed Chair, Associate Dean, Community Programs & Initiatives, Director of the Center for Infectious Disease and Nursing Innovation, and Co-Director Clinical Core, Johns Hopkins Center for AIDS Research.
“I’m thrilled to welcome our next cohort of N-SISS Fellows, whose experiences and specialized skills in nursing, health and aligned professions embody the leadership required to design and implement sustainable solutions for our nation’s ailing health system,” said Ramos. “Throughout the program, Fellows will engage deeply with the Nurse-Driven Model of Care, explore the integration of social and clinical care, and translate those insights into action—all with the goal of eliminating health inequities.”
“Our N-SISS Fellows represent some of the most creative and forward-thinking nurse scientists and health professionals in the country,” added Farley. “Together, the 20 innovators are working with us to lead the way in tackling the social factors that perpetuate health inequities and drive poor outcomes in communities nationwide.”
N-SISS Cohort 2 Fellows are:
- Julian L. Gallegos, PhD, MBA, FNP-BC, NREMT, CNL, CMHE, FAUNA, FADLN, Assistant Professor, Assistant Head of Graduate Programs, Purdue School of Nursing
Focus: Understanding and addressing men’s health inequities within first responder populations - Bridget Hamilton, PhD, MPH, RN, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Neil Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing
Focus: Promoting child well-being in school climate, neighborhood environments, and across the lifespan - Higinio Fernandez-Sanchez, PhD, RN, FAAN,Assistant Professor, UTHealth Houston Cizik School of Nursing
Focus: Health inequities affecting Latin American migrants and other marginalized populations - Sabreen Darwish, PhD, MSN, RN, Assistant Professor, UMass Boston
Focus: Developing social network-informed interventions to reduce tobacco use among Arab Americans and other marginalized groups - Theresa Schultz, PhD, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, Immediate Past Director of Nursing, Emergency Medicine and Trauma Center, George Washington University Hospital
Focus: Health inequities and suicide prevention among LGBTQ+ youth - Sabrina Jamal-Eddine, PhD, RN, Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Illinois Chicago
Focus: Addressing ableism in nursing education and practice - Vera Borkowski, PhD, APRN, FNP-C, Postdoctoral Scholar, University of Pittsburgh
Focus: Informatics utilization for healthcare providers serving vulnerable populations, specifically SDOH in school-based health centers - Charisse Ahmed, PhD, RN, Assistant Professor, UCSF School of Nursing
Focus: Health inequities among women and girls impacted by violence - Latesha Harris, PhD, RN, Clinical Associate, Duke University School of Nursing
Focus: Eliminating cardiometabolic inequities by addressing psychosocial stress and social context - Alanna Bergman, PhD, MSN, AGNP-BC, Assistant Professor, University of Virginia School of Nursing
Focus: Eliminating inequities in HIV prevention and treatment and tuberculosis
View The N-SISS Fellows Program Flipbook
About the N-SISS Program
N-SISS is a first-of-its kind initiative designed to empower nurse scientists to develop research and interventions that address the root causes of health inequities. Its five defining features are:
- Location: Based at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Center in Washington, DC, Fellows are strategically positioned to help shape health policy and advocate for evidence-based reform.
- Innovative: The evidence is clear: harmful SDOH are a major driver of health inequities. However, there are not enough effective evidence-based approaches to reduce and end the impact of harmful SDOH. The incubator’s mission is to improve this picture.
- Intensive: Each 12-month fellowship combines virtual and on-campus didactic courses and guided self-study; on-campus applied research experience; individualized and team mentoring, and the development of a SDOH-focused grant proposal to NINR or to another NIH institute/federal agency.
- Inclusive: The program welcomes early-career investigators initiating innovative SDOH research at the intersection of biomedical, social/behavioral, and clinical science; and mid- or senior-career scientists without prior experience in the field of SDOH research but pursuing new research that aims to eliminate health and health care inequities.
- Expansive: N-SISS educational materials are shared nationally with SDOH nurse researchers and nursing-aligned professionals for self-directed learning.