Oct. 20, 2008
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Marlene Cohen, Ph.D., an expert in cancer symptom research, has been appointed as the new associate dean for research and the Kenneth E. Morehead Endowed Chair in Nursing.
“She is the perfect fit,” said Virginia Tilden, D.N.Sc., dean of the College of Nursing. “Dr. Cohen’s research develops protocols to guide nursing practice for patients and families undergoing cancer treatment. It dovetails nicely with cancer research being conducted at UNMC.”
She brings extensive experience and a solid track record of success to the college’s research mission and to its partner, the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center, Dr. Tilden said.
Dr. Cohen, who succeeds Bernice Yates, Ph.D., is the first person to be named to the prestigious Morehead Endowed Chair, named in honor of Ken Morehead who was so moved by the nursing care he received at UNMC years ago that he donated $1.75 million to the UNMC College of Nursing.
“I dedicated that money to clinical research so that whoever fills this chair will do research that makes the lives of patients, like Mr. Morehead, better. That’s exactly what Dr. Cohen’s research does,” Dr. Tilden said.
Dr. Cohen, comes to Omaha from the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, where she was the John S. Dunn, Sr., Distinguished Professor in Oncology Nursing and chair of the Department of Integrative Nursing Care. She also was professor in the Department of Symptom Research at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.
A Brooklyn, N.Y., native, Dr. Cohen said that she is excited about her move to Omaha.
“There is wonderful research going on here. It will be my job to help the College of Nursing faculty with the great work they are already doing– from brainstorming ideas to consulting on publications,” she said.
She said she plans to pursue new research projects at UNMC.
“I met people here who are doing similar research. It feels like a good match,” she said.
Dr. Tilden agrees. “She is an excellent match for UNMC and I appreciate the recruitment efforts of many, including Dr. Cowan who supported me and encouraged Dr. Cohen to come here,” Dr. Tilden said. Kenneth Cowan, M.D., Ph.D., is director of Eppley Cancer Center.
Dr. Cohen will continue to be involved in research at the University of Texas, where she is a co-investigator on two National Institutes of Health/ National Cancer Institute grants that total more than $3.2 million.
Dr. Cohen’s research focuses on the effects of nursing care on patients and their families and the refinement of specific therapeutic actions – both interpersonal and physical – that influence people’s ability to respond to symptoms and health problems. One grant is for the study of methylphenidate for fatigue in advanced cancer patients and the other is a randomized trial on the parenteral hydration in advanced cancer patients.
The study of hydration at the end of life examines the patient’s and family member’s perspectives as well as the outcomes of hydration. “Hospice does not hydrate, but hospitals always do. Is one way better than the other? No one has determined that,” Dr. Cohen said.
The second study examines the combination of methylphenidate and a therapeutic nursing telephone call to persons with advanced cancer. The study seeks to understand what issues are most important to patients that nurses can assist with, and also which of these treatments is most effective in managing symptoms, primarily fatigue.
As director of the Niedfelt Nursing Research Center, she also plans to work with College of Nursing faculty members to apply for a center grant, develop more research teams and find innovative ways for faculty researchers to work together.
UNMC is the only public health science center in the state. Its educational programs are responsible for training more health professionals practicing in Nebraska than any other institution. Through their commitment to education, research, patient care and outreach, UNMC and its hospital partner, The Nebraska Medical Center, have established themselves as one of the country’s leading centers in cancer, transplantation biology, bioterrorism preparedness, neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, genetics, biomedical technology and ophthalmology. UNMC’s research funding from external sources now exceeds $82 million annually and has resulted in the creation of more than 2,400 highly skilled jobs in the state. UNMC’s physician practice group, UNMC Physicians, includes 513 physicians in 50 specialties and subspecialties who practice primarily in The Nebraska Medical Center. For more information, go to UNMC’s Web site at www.unmc.edu.
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