Carolee Polek RN, PhD, APN, AOCNS

Associate Professor
College of Health Sciences
327 McDowell Hall
302-831-1292
cpolek@udel.edu

Education

• Ph.D., Temple University , Research Focus: Cancer Prevention and Early Detection
• M.S.N, University of Pennsylvania , Oncology Advanced Practice program
• B.S.N, Pennsylvania State University

Certification

• Advanced Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist (AOCNS)

Research Interests

• Vulnerable populations and risk for developing cancer
• Late effects of treatment in cancer survivorship.
• Prophylactic educational methods, cancer control (cancer prevention), early detection

Selected Professional Affiliations

• American Cancer Society - Stakeholder, Extramural Grants Program. Leukemia, Immunology and Blood cell development committee
• Delaware Cancer Consortium - Early Prevention and Detection Committee - Director at Large
• Oncology Nursing Society
• Eastern Nursing Research Society
• Council for the Advancement of Nursing Science
• Sigma Theta Tau International – Beta Xi Chapter

Grants

• 2013 Kimmel Cancer Center and Drexel University College of Medicine. Exploring the needs of urban minority women breast cancer survivors.
• 2013 Highmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Pennsylvania and Practice without Pressure. Research project examining health in the Intellectually Disabled Community.
• 2012/2013 Susan G. Komen National. Pilot survey to develop methods to characterize the needs of breast cancer survivors
• 2012 Sigma Theta Tau International-Beta Xi. Exploring cancer screening behaviors and beliefs in the LBT community.
• 2012 River Crest Grant Fund. Examining health in the Intellectually Disabled community.
• 2012/2013 Susan G. Koman Community Health Grant. Evaluation of educational breast health adolescent program: Talk it Up: Training teens about breast health.
• 2011/2012 Susan G. Koman Community Health Grant. Measurement of breast health awareness program targeting African American high school girls in Sussex County, De.
• Rehabilitation Nursing Foundation. Research project examining adherence to Antithrombotic Therapy: A Telephone Intervention.
• Beta Xi Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International. Research evaluating Sun Safe Practices in Delaware State Licensed Day Care Centers.
• General University Research Grant – University of Delaware. A Survey of Parents of Children in Delaware State Licensed Day Care Centers

Research Activites

• Survivorship needs in women with breast cancer. A collaborative effort with Susan G. Komen Philadelphia Affiliate, Drexel University, UD. co-PI: Dr Polek and Dr. Hardie
• The ID population and health risks. Multidisciplinary (PT, nursing, Special Education, Nutrition) and multi institution (Drexel, Kencrest services, UD, Special Olympics) collaboration on capacity building research efforts. Co-Is: Polek Fisher, Hardie, Ventura, Sockolow, Loomis & Shulkusky
• Characterizing Mexican immigrant women and alcohol use and associated risks (cancer). Multidisciplinary study with Dr. Garcia (IUP), Dr. Gonzales (IUP), Dr. Hardie (Drexel U.), Dr. Welsh (West Chester), Dr. Polek (UD).
• Ongoing collaboration with nurses and physicians to promote and support research and evidence based practice. Union Hospital, UD nurse researchers (Dr. Wheeler, Dr. Polek).

Books

• Kee, J., Paulanka, B., & Polek, C. (Eds.). (2010) Fluids and Electrolytes with Clinical Applications (8 th ed). Albany: Delmar Publishers.
• Kee, J. Paulanka, B., & Polek, C. (Eds). (2010) Handbook of Fluids, Electrolytes and Acid Base Imbalances (3 rd ed). Albany: Delmar Publishers

Publications

Refereed, research based:

• Hardie, T., Polek, C., Garcia, V., González, L. & Welsh, M. (2013). Mexican women's alcohol use: does birth place matter? Journal of Addictions Nursing. [in press]
• Horton, C., Polek, C., & Hardie, T. (2012). The relationship between enhanced remediation and NCLEX success. Teaching and Learning in Nursing, 7 (4) 146-151
• Polek C. & Hardie T. (2012) Warfarin use post hospitalization: pilot comparative effectiveness of telephone follow-up. Rehabilitation Nursing, 37(2), 80-87.
• Polek, C., & Hardie, T., (2010) Lesbian women and HPV knowledge. Oncology Nursing Forum, 37(3).
• Polek, C., Hardie, T., & Crowley, E. (2008). Lesbians’ disclosure of sexual orientation and satisfaction with care. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 19(3), 243-249.
• Polek, C., Klemm, P., Hardie. T., Wheeler, E., Birney, M., & Lynch, K. (2004). Asian/Pacific Islander American Women: Age and death rates during hospitalization for breast cancer. Oncology Nursing Forum, 31(4) 2004. E69-74.
• Wheeler, E., Klemm, P., Hardie, T., Birney, M., Polek, C., & Lynch, K. (2004). Racial disparities in hospitalized elderly patients with chronic heart failure. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 15(4), 291-297.

Peer Reviewed Proceedings:

• Polek, C. & Hardie, T. (2012). Public health messages impact on adolescent girls: misperceptions and fears. National State of the Science Congress on Nursing Research, sponsored by the Council for the Advancement of Nursing Science, Washington, D.C
• Fisher, K. Hardie, T., ONeill, M., Ventura, A., Miller, M., Polek, C., Gregorie, M., Shulkusky, E., Loomis, F., & Hoagey, M. (2012) Community Based Participatory Research: To Address Unhealthy Weight in Individuals with Developmental Disability. National State of the Science Congress on Nursing Research, sponsored by the Council for the Advancement of Nursing Science, Washington, D.C
• Polek, C. & Hardie, T. (2012). The Special Olympic athlete: obesity and cardiovascular risk. ENRS 24th Annual Scientific Sessions
• Polek, C. & Hardie, T. (2011). Misperceptions of breast health knowledge amongst adolescent girls. Eastern Nursing Research Society 23rd Annual Scientific Sessions
• Hardie, T. Polek, C., & Wheeler, E. (2010). Exploring latent cancer/cardiac risk clusters in alcohol,smoking, and obesity in post-menopausal women. Eastern Nursing Research Society 22nd Annual Scientific Sessions.
• Polek,C., Hardie, T. & Wheeler, E. (2010). Age and death rates for Asian/Pacific Islander American women hospitalized with breast cancer: Where are we ten years later? ENRS 22nd Annual Scientific Sessions.
• Polek,C., Hardie,T., & Crowley, E. (2008). Condom use on college campuses: where are we ten years later? ENRS 20th Annual Scientific Sessions.
• Polek, C. (2005). A study of sun protections practices in state licensed day care centers. Oncology Nursing Forum, 32(2). 482.

Book Chapters:

• Polek, C. (2004). Body fluid, its function and movement. In Kee, J, Paulanka, B., & Purnell, L. (Eds.). Fluids and Electrolytes with Clinical Applications 7th ed. Albany:Delmar Publishers.
• Polek, C. (2004). Extracellular Fluid Volume Deficit. In Kee, J, Paulanka, B., & Purnell, L. (Eds.). Fluids and Electrolytes with Clinical Applications 7th ed. Albany: Delmar Publishers
• Polek, C. (2004). Extracellular Fluid Volume Deficit. In Kee, J, Paulanka, B., & Purnell, L. (Eds.). Handbook of Fluids, Electrolytes and Acid-Based Imbalances 2nd ed. Albany; Delmar
• Polek, C. (2004). Extracellular Fluid Volume Excess. In Kee, J, Paulanka, B., & Purnell, L. (Eds.). Fluids and Electrolytes with Clinical Applications 7th ed. Albany: Delmar Publishers.
• Polek, C. (2004). Extracellular Fluid Volume Excess. In Kee, J, Paulanka, B., & Purnell, L. (Eds.). Handbook of Fluids, Electrolytes and Acid-Based Imbalances 2nd ed. Albany: Delmar
• Polek, C. (2004). Extracellular Fluid Volume Shift. In Kee, J, Paulanka, B., & Purnell, L. (Eds.). Fluids and Electrolytes with Clinical Applications 7th ed. Albany: Delmar Publishers.
• Polek, C. (2004). Extracellular Fluid Volume Shift. In Kee, J, Paulanka, B., & Purnell, L. (Eds.). Handbook of Fluids, Electrolytes and Acid-Based Imbalances 2nd ed. Albany: Delmar
• Polek, C. (2004). Intracellular Fluid Volume Excess. In Kee, J, Paulanka, B., & Purnell, L. (Eds.). Handbook of Fluids, Electrolytes and Acid-Based Imbalances 2nd ed. Albany: Delmar
• Polek, C. (2004). Intracellular Fluid Volume Excess. In Kee, J, Paulanka, B., & Purnell, L. (Eds.). Fluids and Electrolytes with Clinical Applications 7th ed. Albany: Delmar Publishers.
• Polek, C. (2004). Renal Failure: Hemodialysis, Peritoneal Dialysis, and Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy. In Kee, J, Paulanka, B., & Purnell, L. (Eds.). Fluids and Electrolytes with Clinical Applications 7th ed. Albany, NY: Delmar Publishers.
  

Scholarly Research-based Presentations 2011-2012

• Polek, C. Misperceptions of breast cancer risks among high school girls and the unintended consequences. London, England. December, 2012
• Overweight and obesity in individuals with ID/DD: a community based participatory action research study. Fischer, Hardie, O’Neill, Ventura, Sockolow, Loomis, Polek, Shulkusky, & Gregoire. 13th Annual Interdisciplinary Research Conference, School of Nursing & Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland. November, 2012
• Community Based Participatory Research: Unhealthy weight in individuals with developmental disability. Fischer, Hardie, Polek, O’Neill, Ventura, Miller, Gregoire, Shulkusky, Loomis, & Hoagey. National State of the Science Congress on Nursing Research, sponsored by the Council for the Advancement of Nursing Science, Washington, D.C September, 2012
• Public health messages impact on adolescent girls: misperceptions and fears. Polek & Hardie National State of the Science Congress on Nursing Research, Council for the Advancement of Nursing Science, Washington, D.C. September, 2012
• Polek, C. The Special Olympic Athlete: Obesity and cardiovascular risk. ENRS 24th Annual Scientific Sessions, New Haven, CT. March 2012
• The frequent ED users: the relationship between ED visits and unique diagnoses. Hardie, Polek & Wheeler. ENRS 24th Annual Scientific Sessions, New Haven, CT March 2012
• Differences of co-morbid obesity by gender within hospitalized adults with intellectual disabilities. Hardie, Polek, Fisher, O’Neill, Ventura, Loomis, & Miller. [poster] Sigma Theta Tau International, Alpha Nu chapter and Villanova University Center for Nursing Research. Annual Nursing Research Symposium. March 2012
• Misperceptions of breast health knowledge among adolescent girls. Polek & Hardie, Informing Health Policy through Nursing Science ENRS 23rd Scientific Sessions, Philadelphia, PA. March, 2011
• School type differences in knowledge of breast health awareness among adolescent girls in the state of Delaware. Polek & Hardie. Informing Health Policy through Nursing Science ENRS 23rd scientific sessions, Philadelphia, PA. March, 2011
• Immigrant Mexican women’s individual and family drinking patterns. Hardie & Polek. ENRS 23rd Scientific Sessions, Philadelphia, PA March 2011
  

Media Coverage

• Press conference to unveil legislation-increasing access to cancer treatments in Delaware. Bi-partisan effort (Oral Parity Act). Spoke on behalf of the local chapter of the Oncology Nursing Society. January 2012.
• Podcast: Oncology Nursing Forum. Lesbian women and HPV knowledge. Using author interviews, the podcasts are intended to stimulate discussion about and shed new light on the issues, topics, and questions raised in select ONF articles. May 2010.
• Interviewed for and featured in a WHYY (Delaware PBS Affiliate) story on the HPV vaccine. 5 minute segment, aired May 2006. Spoke on behalf of the American Cancer Society.