Andrea M. Landis, PhD, RN

I completed my PhD at Emory University in Atlanta, GA where I explored the association between sleep and obesity in adolescents. The prevalence of adolescent obesity in the United States has more than tripled over the past decades. One modifiable risk factor that has received considerably less, if any, attention is total sleep time (TST).  Recent studies in children and adults; however, have shown that total amount of sleep is inversely associated with body mass index (BMI), an observation not well characterized in adolescents. In addition, TST has the potential to influence selected endocrine systems and metabolic pathways that can cause changes in hunger and satiety, promoting excess eating and leading to obesity. Adolescence may be an optimal time to intervene by addressing some or all of the modifiable risk factors for obesity. Previously studied interventions aimed at diet and activity have had limited success, possibly because of the failure to appreciate the important potential biobehavioral association between appetite regulation and TST.  For my post doctoral work I will continue to focus on adolescent sleep in association to appetite regulation and obesity. 

I am a proud new mother to my daughter Elaine.  I also enjoy traveling (especially to art museums), hiking, knitting, and learning Dutch.

Mary Shelkey , BSN, MSN, PhD

In 1992, I completed my MSN as a Gerontological Nurse Practitioner. Since then I have worked primarily with older adults 80 years old and older. I also work extensively with their families. In 2004, I completed my PhD at New York University. For my dissertation I explored the experience of suffering of family caregivers of older adults with Alzheimer’s disease. A great deal of my clinical work over the last 15 years has focused on palliative and end-of-life care for frail older adults. In 2006, I had the privilege of being mentored by Ann Marie O’Neill, ARNP, who assisted me in expanding my palliative care expertise. For my post-doctoral work, I am interested in researching palliative care of older adults in assisted living.

To date, my proudest career achievement has been the innovative initiative of the first service dog to live and work on an Alzheimer’s Special Care Unit, at the Jewish Home and Hospital in the Bronx, New York. My hobbies include dining and conversing with close friends and family, listening to Pema Chodron CDs, and spending quality time with my cat, Agatha.

Teresa Ward, BSN, MSN, PhD

I completed my PhD at the University of California, San Francisco where I focused on nighttime sleep and daytime nap patterns, cortisol levels, and behaviors in young children attending child care.  The interplay of child and family characteristics as well as various social contexts are all interconnected and influence the development of a child and their bio-behavioral responses in health and illness.  Individual variability exists in a young child’s sleep patterns as a function of development.  In addition, differences in a child’s social contexts and family characteristics including parental stress, parent-child interactions, and cultural practices also vary for children.  Determining the direction and the continuity of these domains throughout child development is challenging.  For my post doctoral work I will continue to focus on pediatric sleep, specifically sleep patterns in young children with chronic illness. 

I am an avid runner who also enjoys cycling, swimming, hiking, and volunteering in underserved areas.  My new adventure and challenge is climbing!