Faculty Experts -- School of Health Sciences

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Faculty Experts -- School of Health Sciences

Cynthia Barrere is an associate professor of nursing. She earned her BS in nursing from Western Connecticut State University, a master of science in nursing, a master of arts in sociology and her doctorate in medical sociology from the University of Connecticut.

Barrere teaches holistic concepts/basic and intermediate medical-surgical nursing classes to juniors and advanced medical-surgical nursing and nursing research to seniors. The primary focus of her most recent research, publications and professional presentations are on the nurse and communication—specifically nurse-patient communication and nurse-physician communication; the influence of spirituality-based intervention on spirituality, anxiety and quality of life in cardiac patients; end-of-life care nursing education, and intergrating holistic care into a BSN curriculum.

Prior to coming to Quinnipiac, she held several positions at Waterbury Hospital including oncology clinical nurse specialist, clinical education specialist, quality improvement and research specialist, ambulatory care manager and director of education.

To reach Barrere, please call 203-582-8406 or e-mail cynthia.barrere@quinnipiac.edu.

Salvador Bondoc, OTD, OTR/L, CHT, an assistant professor of occupational therapy, received his BS in occupational therapy from the University of the Philippines and his post-professional doctor of occupational therapy, summa cum laude, from Creighton University in Omaha. He currently teaches foundational neurosciences and their application in neurological rehabilitation. His research interests are in rehabilitation outcomes, recovery of upper extremity function following a cerebrovascular accident or stroke, community reintegration and aging-in-place for the elderly.

Bondoc is also a certified hand therapist and an active clinician. He is equally comfortable and available to discuss rehabilitative and biomechanical issues related to musculoskeletal conditions of the upper extremity as well as neurologic rehabilitation for clients with acquired brain injury. He has authored a number of publications and lectured in both national and international arenas on variety of topics including evidence-based practice and innovative approaches in physical rehabilitation.

Bondoc serves key volunteer positions at the national level in two major OT organizations: the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE).

To reach Bondoc, please call 203-582-3727 or e-mail Salvador.Bondoc@quinnipiac.edu.

Denise Cameron, an associate professor of physical therapy, received her PhD in sports science education from University of Connecticut and her certificate in physical therapy from Columbia University. She teaches courses in musculoskeletal physical therapy and research and provides pro bono physical therapy services to Quinnipiac students.

To reach Cameron, please call 203-582-8316 or e-mail denise.cameron@quinnipiac.edu.

Steven Carleton is a professor of veterinary medicine and director of the veterinary technology program. Carleton received his undergraduate degree in animal science from the University of Connecticut and his doctor of veterinary medicine degree from Purdue University.

Carleton has taught at Quinnipiac since 1988 and practices small animal medicine and surgery at Ridgehill Animal Hospital in North Haven.

To reach Carleton, call 203-582-8958 or e-mail steven.carleton@quinnipiac.edu

Dawn Colomb-Lippa is an assistant professor of physician assistant studies. She earned her BS in occupational therapy from the State University of New York at Buffalo and MS in physician assistant studies from Quinnipiac College. She teaches human anatomy, medical microbiology and infectious disease, principles of medicine, components of physical diagnosis and psychosocial issues in health care. Her clinical practice as a physician assistant is at Tribury Orthopaedics in Waterbury, Conn.

Lisa Cuchara, associate professor of biomedical sciences, is available to discuss immunology, transplantation, histocompatibility, clinical laboratory science and immunotoxicology.

Her specialty is in histocompatibility, immunotoxicology, immunology and transplantation immunology.

Before arriving at Quinnipiac, Cuchara was the associate director of the Histocompatibility and Immune Evaluation Laboratory at Yale University. She is accredited by the American Board of Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (ABHI) as a diplomat in HLA (histocompatibility).

Cuchara earned her bachelor's from SUNY New Paltz, her MS in genetic engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. She earned her MS and a PhD in immunotoxicology and immunopharmacology from the Albany Medical College and followed that with a postdoctoral fellowship, focusing on Interleukin-7, at the National Cancer Institute.

To reach Cuchara, call 203-582-8677 or e-mail lisa.cuchara@quinnipiac.edu.

Christian Eggers, assistant professor of biomedical sciences, is available to discuss microbial pathogenesis, molecular genetics and molecular biology, with particular emphasis on the molecular biology of Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease. Eggers earned his BS in microbiology at Colorado State University and his PhD in biochemistry/ microbiology (molecular biology emphasis) at the University of Montana. Prior to joining the faculty at Quinnipiac, Eggers was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Connecticut Health Center, studying the processes that allow B. burgdorferi to migrate from their tick vectors into their mammalian hosts, including humans.

To reach Eggers, call 203-582-3767 or e-mail christian.eggers@quinnipiac.edu.

Sue Gallagher, an assistant professor of occupational therapy, is available to discuss pediatric occupational therapy practices, particularly in regards to children between the ages of birth to three. Her interests include family-centered service provision, low tech adaptive equipment, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and working with young children who have sensory processing difficulties. She is also available to discuss the use of problem-based learning methodology for teaching occupational therapy.

Gallagher received her undergraduate degree in occupational therapy from the University of Kansas and her master's degree in special education and early childhood education, from St. Joseph's College.

To reach Gallagher, please call 203-582-8963 or e-mail sue.gallagher@quinnipiac.edu.

Shelley L. Giordano '98, is an assistant professor in diagnostic imaging and director of clinical education. She is available to discuss issues related to the radiologic sciences especially orthopaedic imaging and the advantages of baccalaureate education for radiographers.

Giordano graduated from Quinnipiac University with a bachelor's degree in diagnostic imaging in 1998 and Albertus Magnus College with a master's in business management in 2003. Upon graduation from Quinnipiac, she worked in New Haven at the Center For Orthopaedics and The Orthopaedic Group, where she was chief technologist. She continues to work as a per diem radiologic technologist for The Orthopaedic Group.

Her areas of interest include general radiography, magnetic resonance imaging and orthopaedic radiography. She has recently been published in the journal Radiologic Technology regarding how to resolve the shortage of educators in diagnostic imaging.

To reach Giordano, please call 203-582-3650 or e-mail shelley.giordano@quinnipiac.edu.

Tara Glennon is a professor of occupational therapy and owner of the Center for Pediatric Therapy, a pediatric private practice with four offices in Connecticut.

Among the original group of four therapists in Connecticut to receive Board certification as a pediatric specialist from the American Occupational Therapy Association, she has always focused her clinical attention to the pediatric area of practice.

Glennon has authored numerous works on pediatric practice and has lectured extensively on both the local and national levels.

She is one of the authors of the Sensory Processing Measure (SPM), a standardized assessment tool currently under development that assists educational personnel in examining the sensory and environmental issues that may be impacting upon a child's performance at school and at home. She is also the creator of a Web resource for pediatric clinicians called OT for Kids.

Glennon received her doctor of education degree in counseling psychology from the University of Sarasota in 2001, her MS in school psychology from Southern Connecticut State University in 1993 and her BS in occupational therapy from Quinnipiac in 1985.

To reach Glennon, please call 203-582-8293 or e-mail tara.glennon@quinnipiac.edu.

Katherine Biggs Harris is an assistant professor of physical therapy.

She graduated from Russell Sage College in 1981 with a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy. She completed her master’s in research, measurement and quantitative analysis at Southern Connecticut State University in 2001. She is pursuing her PhD in physical therapy at Nova Southeastern University. She has recently published "Integumentary Essentials: Applying the Preferred Physical Therapist Practice Patterns," Slack Incorporated 2006. She has also published in the areas of burn care and critical care.

In the area of professional service, Harris is a past president of the Connecticut Physical Therapy Association. She recently completed an appointment on the Advisory Panel of Practice for the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and is currently involved in the Consultant Group on Development of an Education Leadership Institute for the APTA. Harris was also involved in the creation and publication of the "Guide to Physical Therapist Practice for the APTA."

Her areas of interest include physical therapy education and research. She remains clinically active in the area of acute care by working per diem at Yale-New Haven Hospital.

To reach Harris , please call 203-582-8511 or e-mail katherine.biggs@quinnipiac.edu.

William Hennessy is an assistant professor of diagnostic imaging and director of diagnostic imaging in the School of Health Sciences. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Montclair State College and his master of health sciences at Quinnipiac University.

He specializes in radiographic procedures, radiographic sciences and orthopedic imaging. He is the co-director of the Bioanthropology Research Institute at Quinnipiac. Hennessy is an advisory board member for St. Vincent’s College School of Radiography. He was the recipient of the Gail Pitkin Memorial Lecturer Award by the Connecticut Society of Radiologic Technologist for excellence in teaching and promotion of the profession and has lectured extensively throughout the Northeast.

Prior to coming to Quinnipiac, Hennessy was the clinical coordinator for Hackensack University Medical Center’s School of Radiography and was an adjunct professor for the radiologic technology program at Naugatuck Valley Community Technical College. To reach Hennessy, call 203-582-5214 or e-mail Bill.Hennessy@quinnipiac.edu.

Lenn Johns, professor of physical therapy and the director of the Athletic Training Education Program, is available to discuss medical issues with a special emphasis in evidence based clinical outcomes on the therapeutic effect of both ultrasound and low level laser therapy on inflammation and autoimmunity.

He graduated from Lock Haven University in 1985 with a bachelor's degree in health science. He received his masters in biology from Bucknell University in 1988 and a PhD in cellular and molecular biology from the University of Vermont in 1991. Johns currently holds a national certification in athletic training and is certified within Connecticut.

In the area of professional service, Johns currently serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Athletic Training and recently completed an appointment as member of the NATA-Research Education Foundation Research Committee and vice chair of the Free Communications.

Johns is currently involved in three areas of research: effects of therapeutic levels of ultrasound and low level laser on the immune response; effects of low level laser and TENS on arthritis; and measurements of energy variability within an ultrasound beam with correlations to clinical effects. Johns has published studies in highly regarded journals within the field.

To reach Johns, call 203-582-8557 or e-mail lenn.johns@quinnipiac.edu

Kenneth V. Kaloustian, professor of biology and director of graduate studies in medical laboratory sciences and pathologist's assistant, is available to discuss aging mechanisms and diseases associated with aging.

Kaloustian earned his bachelor's from Boston University and his PhD from the University of New Hampshire. His specialty is in physiology and endocrinology. His current interests are primarily on aging mechanisms. Before arriving to Quinnipiac, Kaloustian was a faculty member for two years at the University of Georgia.

To reach Kaloustian, call 203-582-8676 or e-mail kenneth.kaloustian@quinnipiac.edu.

Lisa A. E. Kaplan, associate professor of biology, specializes in physiology and environmental toxicology. Her concentration is on xenobiotic metabolism (organic and heavy metals) and the use of sentinel species as bio-indicators of environmental perturbation and aquatic ecosystem health.

Kaplan earned an honors scholar baccalaureate in biology, an MS in physiology and neurobiology, and a PhD in physiology and aquatic toxicology from the University of Connecticut. Kaplan completed a postdoctoral fellowship as an assistant research professor at New York University Medical Center Institute of Environmental Medicine, focusing on cadmium and mercury toxicity throughout the Hudson River ecosystem. She has taught as a member of both biology and environmental science departments at several small New England colleges before her arrival at Quinnipiac University.

To reach Kaplan, call 203-582-3588 or e-mail LisaAnn.Kaplan@quinnipiac.edu.

Laima Karosas, an associate professor of nursing, is certified as an adult and family nurse practitioner. She is available to discuss palliative care, long-term care, advanced directives, insurance reimbursement for services, legislation regarding nurse practitioner practice, international health care and general internal medicine topics. She teaches in the graduate nursing program, family and adult nurse practitioner tracks and is the track coordinator for the adult nurse practitioner track.

Karosas earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Connecticut, a master's degree from the Yale University School of Nursing and a PhD from the University of Connecticut.

Her interests are in international health care and the development of the nurse practitioner role globally. She is the past chair of the conferences subgroup of the International Council of Nurses' International Nurse Practitioner/Advanced Practice Nursing Network and the liason from the network to the 2008 conference in Toronto, Canada. Karosas is also the Region 1 Director of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and belongs to the American Association for the History of Nursing, the Connecticut Nurses' Association and the Connecticut APRN Society. She serves as an accreditation visitor for the National League for Nursing Accreditaion Commission.

Currently Karosas is working with her international colleagues in the areas of standardized nursing language and delineating nursing tasks globally.

To reach Karosas, please call 203-582-5366 or e-mail laima.karosas@quinnipiac.edu.

Donald Kowalsky PT, EdD, C.Ped, associate professor and chair of the Department of Physical Therapy, received his BS in physical therapy from Quinnipiac University, his master’s in physical therapy with a specialization in neurodevelopmental disabilities from Long Island University and his EdD in educational leadership from the University of Bridgeport. He currently teaches courses in physical agents, prosthetics/orthotics and spinal-cord injury. A certified pedorthist, his clinical and research interests are in lower-extremity biomechanics, especially related to orthotic intervention at the foot.

To reach Kowalsky, please call 203-582-8681 or e-mail donald.kowalsky@quinnipiac.edu.

Elizabeth F. McGann, DNSc, RN, is a professor of nursing. She has served as interim associate dean of the School of Health Sciences and chair of the nursing department. McGann is a registered nurse and is board certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) as a clinical specialist in gerontological nursing. She has received research grant awards, presented her research at local, state and national conferences, and has published book chapters and journal articles on the topics of asthma and pulmonary issues in elders, and nursing education. In teaching research methods and theoretical foundations in nursing, she focuses on facilitating her students’ ability to become critical research consumers and incorporate evidence-based findings into nursing practice. McGann is currently a co-investigator on a research study examining academic improvement strategies for at-risk nursing students.

McGann received a doctoral degree in nursing from Yale University, a master’s degree in nursing from Hunter College, a master’s degree in health education from Southern Connecticut State University and a baccalaureate degree in nursing from City College of New York.

To reach McGann, please call 203-582-8472 or elizabeth.mcgann@quinnipiac.edu.

Catherine E. Meriano is professor of occupational therapy. Her area of expertise is occupational therapy with the adult and elderly population, either for wellness programs or intervention following a disability. She has worked in acute care hospitals, outpatient settings, subacute/extended care facilities and homecare.

Meriano received her BS in occupational therapy and MHS in education for health science from Quinnipiac and her juris doctorate from the Quinnipiac University School of Law.

She co-authored the book "Evaluation of Range of Motion and Muscle Strength for the Occupational Therapist" and has published nationally on topics such as dysphagia (swallowing disorders), the legal aspects of health care and academic integrity.

She sits on the boards of directors of the Center for Academic Integrity.

To reach Meriano, please call 203-582-8307 or e-mail catherine.meriano@quinnipiac.edu.

Barbara A. Moynihan is a professor of nursing and the coordinator of the master of science in nursing, forensic nursing track.

Moynihan is board certified by the American Nurses Credential Center (AACN) and is a clinical specialist in adult psychiatric and mental health nursing. She has a part-time private practice in psychotherapy and has prescriptive authority.

Moynihan developed many programs which address the comprehensive needs of vulnerable populations. She was instrumental in the development of the forensic track within the graduate nursing program, the only forensic nursing educational opportunity in Connecticut.

Moynihan has published extensively on victimology. She recently co-authored one of the first textbooks on forensic nursing and published an article on human trafficking. She collaborated on the development of a conference on human trafficking at Quinnipiac in 2006.

Moynihan is active in the International Association of Forensic Nurses and has presented at several of the group’s scientific assemblies.

Moynihan has conducted extensive and comprehensive multidisciplinary training in all aspects of victimology in Barbados, accompanied by nursing students in the forensic nursing track. She has also assisted with the development of Quinnipiac’s online sexual assault nurse examiner training which is offered annually to registered nurses, physicians and physician assistants.

Moynihan received both of her master’s degrees at Southern Connecticut State University and her doctorate from the University of Connecticut. She can be reached at 203-582-8510 or barbara.moynihan@quinnipiac.edu.

Deanna Proulx-Sepelak '95 and '02, is the assistant dean, School of Health Sciences.

Proulx-Sepelak received both her bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and her master's degree in health administration from Quinnipiac. She returned to Quinnipiac in 1997 from Gaylord Hospital, Wallingford, CT, where she specialized in the areas of neuromuscular disorders, acquired brain injuries and aquatic therapy. Since 1997, she has held various faculty appointments teaching within the Department of Occupational Therapy and in 2005 was appointed the assistant dean for the School of Health Sciences.

Proulx-Sepelak is a contributing chapter author on traumatic brain injury in "Ryan's Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant" (Slack, 1999), a core textbook for certified occupational therapy assistants. She has most recently completed a chapter on foundational skills for functional activity in an occupational therapy intervention text due for publication in 2007 (Slack, Inc.) She is a recipient of the Irene Allard Award for Excellence in Occupational Therapy Fieldwork Education (2002) presented by the New England Occupational Therapy Education Counsel and has spoken at both local and state conferences on topics including aquatic intervention and community-based treatment models.

To reach Proulx-Sepelak, call 203-582-5364 or e-mail deanna.proulx@quinnipiac.edu.

Russell Woodman, is a professor of physical therapy. Woodman received his undergraduate degree in physical therapy from Ithaca College in 1966 and his doctorate in physical therapy from Creighton University in 2002. He has received postgraduate orthopedic certification from the British Society of Orthopedic Medicine, the American Physical Therapy Association and the Mulligan Concept.

Professor Woodman has taught at Quinnipiac since 1970 and also practices part-time at Montowese Rehabilitation Center in North Haven.

To reach Woodman, please call 203-582-8684 or e-mail russell.woodman@quinnipiac.edu.