My program of research is influenced by over 25 years of clinical practice as an oncology Advanced Practice Nurse in an acute care setting. My seminal research examined the impact of hyperglycemia (a common occurrence in cancer patients) on the outcomes of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The results from this initial work, found older patients with AML (without diabetes) who experienced hyperglycemia had longer periods of neutropenia, more infections and longer hospital length of stay when compared to AML patients without hyperglycemia.
Building on this work, my program of research focuses on cancer patients with comorbid diabetes and its impact on treatment-related outcomes, health outcomes and patient-reported symptoms. Currently, in my funded study I am working with colleagues at Regenstrief using large datasets to examine the treatment-related complications, health outcomes and symptoms of breast and colorectal cancer survivors with and without diabetes. Future studies will include examining the mediating relationship of blood glucose on the outcomes and symptoms of cancer patients with diabetes and assessment of underlying biomarkers. My long-term goals are to develop tailored interventions to improve treatment-related outcomes, health outcomes, and symptoms, thereby improving overall quality of life for cancer survivors with diabetes.
Ph.D. - Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN 2015
M.S.N. - Indiana Wesleyan University, Indianapolis, IN 1993
