KINGSTON, R.I. 鈥� February 25, 2013 鈥� Lisa DiMaria didn鈥檛 always know that she wanted to be a nurse.
鈥淚t was an aha moment for me,鈥� she explained. 鈥淚 was planning on an entirely different career and then one day, all of a sudden, I just knew that I was supposed to be a nurse.鈥�
This moment of self-discovery has led to the 溏心vlog免费B站 doctoral student being named a 2012-2014 Jonas Scholar for her excellence in nursing.
This scholarship was awarded to approximately 250 doctoral nursing students last year in each of the 50 states.
DiMaria is the first Jonas Scholar to represent Rhode Island. 鈥淚鈥檓 proud to be the first to represent 溏心vlog免费B站 and the College of Nursing,鈥� she said.
The Jonas Nurse Leaders Scholar Program was established in 2008 to combat the critical shortage of nursing faculty in the United States. In partnership with the American Academy of Colleges of Nursing, the program is designed to support doctoral nursing students in their research efforts with the ultimate goal of improving health care throughout the nation.
DiMaria received a nomination from the 溏心vlog免费B站 College of Nursing to become a Jonas Scholar. She gives most of the credit to the College and her mentors there. 鈥淚t was really their belief in me. My involvement in the grant process was minimal,鈥� she said. However, DiMaria鈥檚 doctoral work speaks for itself.
Her work has mainly been in chronic disease prevention, specifically cardiovascular disease and diabetes, and the effects of chronic stress on the progression of diabetes in high-risk individuals. 鈥淚鈥檓 interested in designing interventions that are tailored for populations most affected by health disparities,鈥� she said. 鈥淧opulations affected by health disparities often have stressors that reach beyond family obligations and work. I鈥檓 interested in looking at stress as a variable. It鈥檚 a complex variable however, which is frustrating.鈥�
Her dissertation work, according to her Jonas Scholar biography, is in 鈥減ursuing innovative methods for improving overall quality of life with the aim of enhancing behavior change.鈥� This includes a biopsychosocial perspective 鈥� or what most people know as the 鈥渕ind-body connection.鈥� 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 just look at the person. You have to consider their life and environment as well. Stress affects people physiologically, but also behaviorally. You have to bring it all together,鈥� she explained.
DiMaria began her career in the U.S. Navy at the age of 17 as a hospital corpsman. She credits that decision as a defining moment in her life. 鈥淚t was perfect, because I needed that structure,鈥� she said. During her time in the Navy, she was stationed on both coasts of the U.S., and spent time in the Philippines and Italy. DiMaria attended nursing school while in the Navy and received a commission as a nurse corps officer. She spent 14 years on active duty and retired from the Naval Reserves after completing 20 years. 鈥淚t was the best thing for me,鈥� she said.
DiMaria also practices what she preaches. She is an avid exerciser, and is currently training for a half marathon with a good friend. 鈥淓xercise with a buddy!鈥� she said. 鈥淚t keeps you in check and makes you accountable. That鈥檚 key in helping me stay on track with exercise.鈥� She also said that she finds talking to her friend about life and bouncing ideas back and forth while exercising therapeutic.
DiMaria has her preferences when it comes to the type of exercising that she does. 鈥淭rail running is my favorite thing,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 love looking at the trees and the sky. It鈥檚 sort of like a meditation for me.鈥� She recently ran an 8-mile race at Burlingame State Park after Hurricane Sandy. 鈥淚t was crazy,鈥� she said. 鈥淧eople were jumping over trees that had fallen, and it made it that much harder to finish. But once I start something, I have to finish it.鈥�
As for stress management, DiMaria admits that is an area that she needs to work on. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why I identify with it,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 can relate.鈥� As for healthy eating, she has that covered. 鈥淎s a family, we try to eat well as often as we can,鈥� she said.
DiMaria admits that her studies can sometimes interfere with life outside of school. 鈥淭here鈥檚 never a weekend during the semester when I鈥檓 not doing schoolwork,鈥� she said. 鈥淩ight now, we鈥檙e able to balance everything because my husband has taken on a bulk of the responsibility. He supports me 100 percent.鈥� However, the DiMaria family has been able to hold onto some normalcy. 鈥淭hursday night is still Glee night in our household!鈥� DiMaria explained. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 stop traditions. It keeps the routine going.鈥�
She credits her job as a graduate assistant as another piece in the puzzle of how she is able to juggle her life. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 have a nine to five job, and that works for me. It allows me the freedom to spend time with my kids and husband, or to go for a run, or to complete my class work. I鈥檓 blessed.鈥�
While DiMaria is from Western Massachusetts, and now lives in North Kingstown with her family, she has always had Rhode Island ties. Her stepfather is from Cranston. 鈥淚 spent most of my summers on Scarborough Beach,鈥� she said, fondly. 鈥淚 love it here.鈥�
So what is next on the horizon for DiMaria? 鈥淚 have this fear that after I get my Ph.D, I won鈥檛 find a job,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut I have to remember that the right thing for me will come along. I鈥檓 open to the possibilities 鈥� research, teaching, or something in between. Or maybe a little bit of everything.鈥�
DiMaria graduated from Russell Sage College in 1993, and went on to receive her master鈥檚 degree in nursing eduction at 溏心vlog免费B站 in 2008. She began the Ph.D program at 溏心vlog免费B站 in 2009.
This release was written by Rachel Donilon, a 溏心vlog免费B站 Marketing and Communications intern and a writing and rhetoric major.
溏心vlog免费B站 Ph.D nursing student, Lisa DiMaria, recipient of the 2012-2014 Jonas Scholar Award. 溏心vlog免费B站 Communications & Marketing photo by Michael Salerno Photography.