Symptom Science and Management

Older woman consulting with male health care provider.

Nursing research focused on symptom science ranges from deciphering the etiology of symptoms and symptom clusters to developing novel means of assessing and intervening to reduce their occurrence. Our goal to improve the quality of life of all persons and their families under our care and across the globe.  We do this by preventing or treating as early as possible the symptoms of a disease and/or its treatment, its side effects, and its psychological, social, and spiritual impact. Symptom management is a priority area identified by the National Institute of Nursing Research of the National Institutes of Health, a critical funding source for Columbia University School of Nursing’s research. Symptom management research in our School particularly focuses on understanding the biological and behavioral aspects of adverse symptoms such as pain, fatigue, depression, and insomnia with the goal of developing new knowledge and strategies for improving patient health and quality of life. Nurses have historically played - and continue to play - a vital role in symptom science research and management.

Researchers

  • Suzanne B. Bakken, PhD, MS, BSN, FAAN, FACMI, FIAHSI

    • Professor of Biomedical Informatics
    • Alumni Professor of the School of Nursing

    Research Approaches: Informatics, Interdisciplinary, Precision Health
    Research Interests: Latino, Self-Management, Informatics, Information Visualization, Precision Health

    Headshot of Suzanne B. Bakken

  • Melissa P. Beauchemin, PhD, MSN, BSN, BA, CPNP-PC, CPON, FAAN

    • Assistant Professor of Nursing

    Research Approaches: Clinical, Dissemination and Implementation, Health Services and Policy, Informatics

    Research Interests: Health-related Social Risk Screening, Systematic Screening Implementation, Clinical Practice Guideline Implementation, Cancer Care Delivery Research, Children Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer, Underrepresented Populations in Cancer Research, Limited English Proficiency Patients with Cancer

    Profile Headshot

  • Jean-Marie Bruzzese, PhD

    • Professor of Applied Developmental Psychology (in Nursing)

    Research Approaches: Clinical, Dissemination and Implementation, Interdisciplinary
    Research Interests: Asthma, School-Based, Adolescents, Behavioral Medicine, Intervention, Self-Care

  • Elizabeth J. Corwin, PhD, MSN, BS, BSN, FNP, FAAN

    • Anna C. Maxwell Professor of Nursing Research (in Nursing)

    Research Approaches: Interdisciplinary, Precision Health, Translational
    Research Interests: The Microbiome-Gut-Brain Axis, Postpartum Depression, Fatigue, Depression, Anxiety, Metabolomics, Multiple Chronic Conditions

  • Maureen George, PhD, AE-C, RN, FAAN

    • Professor of Nursing at CUMC

    Research Approaches: Mixed Methods, Dissemination and Implementation, Interdisciplinary, Behavioral Science

    Research Interests: Chronic Respiratory Diseases, Patient-Centered, Self-Management, Shared Decision-Making, Adherence, Motivational Interviewing, Health Literacy

  • Kasey B Jackman, PhD, MPhil, MS, BS, BA, PMHNP-BC

    • Associate Professor of Nursing at CUMC

    Research Approaches: Informatics, Interdisciplinary, Precision Health
    Research Interests: Sexual and Gender Minority Populations, Mental Health, Health Disparities

  • Haomiao Jia, PhD, MS

    • Professor of Biostatistics (in Nursing) at CUMC

    Research Approaches: Comparative Effectiveness, Economic Analysis, Interdisciplinary
    Research Interests: Health-Related Quality of Life, Health Utility, PROMIS, Quality-Adjusted Life Years, Depression, Anxiety, Pain Scale, Activities of Daily Living

  • Ruth Masterson Creber, PhD, MSc, RN, FAAN, FAHA, FHFSA

    • Mary Crawford Professor of Nursing

    Research Approaches: Clinical, Comparative Effectiveness, Informatics
    Research Interests: Rural Populations, Multi-Lingual, Ethnic Minority, Refugees, Cardiovascular Disease

    Profile Headshot

  • Se Hee Min, PHD, PMHNP-BC, RN

    • Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the School of Nursing

    Research Approaches: Informatics, Precision Health
    Research Interests: Aging, Alzheimer's disease, cognition, dementia, health disparities, older adults, symptoms

    Profile Headshot

  • Meghan Reading Turchioe, PhD, MPH, RN, FAHA

    • Assistant Professor of Nursing

    Research Approaches: Dissemination and Implementation, Informatics, Interdisciplinary

    Research Interests: Cardiovascular Diseases, Self-management, Digital Health Applications

    Profile Headshot

  • Rebecca Schnall, PhD, MPH, BSN, FAAN, FACMI

    • Mary Dickey Lindsay Professor of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (in Nursing) and Professor of Population and Family Health

    Research Approaches: Clinical, Informatics, Translational
    Research Interests: HIV, Women's Health, Menopause, Co-morbid Conditions, Biomarkers, Stress, Alzheimer's Disease

  • Arlene Smaldone, PhD, MA, BS, PNP-PC, CDCES

    • Professor of Nursing (in Dental Behavioral Sciences) (in Dental Medicine) at CUMC

    Research Approaches: Clinical, Interdisciplinary, Precision Health
    Research Interests: Chronic Illness, Medication Adherence, Adolescents, Health-Related Quality of Life, Transition of Responsibility for Self-Management, Community Health Workers, Tailored Text Messages