For the Record provides information about recent professional activities and honors of University of Delaware faculty, staff, students and alumni.

Recent appointments, presentations, publications and honors in the College of Health Sciences include the following:

Honors

Zach Davis, a second-year doctoral student in the bioinformatics data science program, recently won a poster award at the University of Delaware Data Science Institute’s Data Science and DARWIN Computing Symposium, held on STAR Campus in April. Davis, who works in the lab of Medical and Molecular Sciences Department Chair and Professor Esther Biswas-Fiss, presented on “Data-Driven Approaches to Understanding Genetic Variants of ABCA4 in Inherited Retinal Disorders.” Davis said, “I’ve only been conducting this research for three months, so winning this award felt amazing and helped me recognize just how far I’ve already come.”

Freda Patterson, associate dean of research in the College of Health Sciences, has been named an Alumni Distinguished Professor. Her appointment became effective April 1, 2025. Patterson, a professor in the Department of Health Behavior and Nutrition Sciences, has authored more than 120 peer-reviewed articles and currently serves as principal investigator or co-investigator on several federally funded projects. Her research focuses on sleep health, cardiovascular disease, and tobacco dependence. “I’m grateful to my colleagues and mentors who have been a part of this journey,” Patterson said. "This appointment reflects the collaborative spirit of our college and the impactful research and scholarship we strive to advance together." Patterson now joins our two other distinguished professors in CHS: Associate Vice President for Clinical and Translation Research and Physical Therapy Professor Gregory Hicks, who was appointed Distinguished Professor of Health Sciences in 2022, and Kinesiology and Applied Physiology Professor and Chair Dave Edwards, who was named the Unidel Katherine L. Esterly Chair in Health Sciences in 2023.

Lauren Covington, assistant professor of nursing, received the 2025 Suzanne Feetham Nurse Scientist Family Research Award from the Eastern Nursing Research Society. The award recognizes outstanding contributions through a program of family research and scholarship. Covington’s research focuses on sleep and health outcomes in socioeconomically disadvantaged families. She’s also leading efforts to address pediatric sleep and health inequities through the mentorship of budding nurse scientists and Delaware school nurses. "This award aligns with my mission to improve sleep health in families facing significant challenges. My experience as a pediatric ICU nurse in Baltimore exposed me to the struggles families face in securing sleep for themselves and their children. Through my research, I’ve explored how structural inequities—like housing instability and food insecurity—contribute to family sleep, and I’ve worked to develop solutions that address these inequities,” said Covington. “As I accept this award, I feel a deep responsibility to continue this work, advocate for those who are often overlooked, and collaborate toward solutions that address health inequities.

Presentations

Elizabeth Speakman, chief nurse administrator and senior associate dean of the School of Nursing in the College of Health Sciences, traveled to Capitol Hill to meet with the Delaware delegation. Speakman recently met with legislators and staff members Sens. Chris Coons and Lisa Blunt Rochester and Congresswoman Sarah McBride, representing Delaware as a State Grassroots Liaison for the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. “Together, we discussed AACN’s federal priorities, which are crucial to enhancing the nation's health through high-quality nursing care,” said Speakman. “We emphasized the importance of strengthening the nursing workforce, expanding access to education and ensuring nurses are equipped to meet the evolving needs of patients in every setting. I was honored to advocate for UD students and faculty, as well as for the future of nursing nationwide.” School of Nursing sophomores Isabella Leonardo and Keira Allison and first-year student Grace Kilroy joined Speakman and participated in the AACN Student Policy Summit. Blunt Rochester also invited Speakman to take part in the Workforce Roundtable Discussion on April 11, 2025.

Nancy Getchell, professor of kinesiology and applied physiology in the College of Health Sciences, gave the Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport Lecture, part of the Distinguished Lecture Series, at the 2025 SHAPE America National Convention and Expo in Baltimore, Maryland, on April 4, 2025. Established in 2006, the Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport Lecture offers in-depth coverage of a research topic and provides an opportunity to formally recognize individuals who have made outstanding research contributions. Getchell’s presentation focused on her research into motor development, beginning with her early work on the development of coordination and control using a dynamic systems lens and continuing through her current research, which utilizes functional near-infrared spectroscopy to examine brain-body connections in motor development and learning. Getchell’s research offers valuable implications for educators, clinicians and parents focused on promoting healthy motor development in children and adults with and without disabilities.“This recognition is both humbling and inspiring, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to contribute to a tradition of impactful scholarship in motor development that advances research and elevates the future of physical education, health and human performance,” said Getchell.

Accreditation

The University’s Public Health Program has been accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). The five-year accreditation recognizes that UD’s program, which includes a master of public health in epidemiology in the College of Health Sciences and a master of public health in health policy and management in the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration, meets the highest standards for public health education. “To be the first accredited public health program in the state of Delaware is an honor,” said Jennifer Horney, professor and director of UD’s public health program. “This accreditation shows that our program meets rigorous national standards. Our graduates are prepared to tackle real-world public health challenges and make a meaningful difference in their communities.”