Hillman Scholars present research at 33rd International Nursing Research Congress in Scotland

This July, Latesha K. Harris (UNC’25), Harry Adynski (UNC ‘23), Ratchanok Phonyiam (UNC ‘23) and UNC alum Dr. Gillian Adysnski (UNC’20) traveled to Edinburgh, Scotland for the 33rd International Nursing Research Congress where they engaged in an international dialogue on topics such as recruiting and retaining underrepresented racial and ethnic minorities into doctoral nursing programs, nurses and nursing assistants’ stress and coping during the pandemic, the Infant Feeding Intentions Scale for Thai pregnant women, and job attitudes of Namibian nurses.

Latesha Harris presented qualitative research findings on a project titled “Barriers and Facilitators to the Recruitment and Retention of Underrepresented Racial and Ethnic Minority Ph.D. Nursing Students.” Multiple UNC Hillman scholars and recent alumni conducted this work, including Crisma Emmanuel, Alasia Ledford, Sandra Zaragoza, Ebahi Ikharo, Dr. Lilian Bravo, and Dr. Gillian Adynski, with faculty support from Dr. Shielda Rodgers and Dr. Cheryl Giscombe.

Harry Adynski presented a poster entitled “Stress and Coping During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Nurses and Nursing Assistants: A Descriptive Survey”. This work was conducted by multiple PhD students and recent alumni, including Mary Killela, Cass Dictus, Victoria Petermann, Dr. Elizabeth Myer, Dr. Leah Morgan, and Dr. G. Adynski, with faculty support from Dr. Jessica Williams.

Harry Adynski & Ratchanok Phonyiam

Ratchanok Phonyiam presented a poster entitled “Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Validation of the Infant Feeding Intentions Scale for Thai Pregnant Women,” which was supported by the Alpha Alpha Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Research Grant. This work was conducted by the UNC Ph.D. student, including Donruedee Kamkhoad, with faculty support from Dr. Aunchalee Palmquist, the Department of Maternal and Child Health at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public.

Dr. Gillian Adynski presented their dissertation paper “Nurses Attitudes Towards Their Job in Namibia,” which was supported by the Alex and Rita Hillman Foundation Advancing Early Research Awards, the UNC PhD student travel fund and the James and Patricia Leak Fund for Nursing Research. After graduating, they completed a post-doctoral fellowship and accepted a job as a policy analyst with the International Council of Nurses.

Harris and Adysnski’s research was supported by an Advancing Early Research Opportunities (AERO) grant funded by the Rita and Alex Foundation and are the work of multiple UNC Hillman Scholars at the UNC School of Nursing. These scholars participated in networking opportunities and career development symposia to enhance career development in nursing, policy, and practice.