Research Interests: Health Systems Research, Child Wellbeing, Social Determinants of Health, Health Equity and Disparities, Adolescent Mental Health, Learning Health Systems, Patient Reported Outcomes, Mixed Methods, Big Data, Health Policy

Biography:Suzanne is a Senior Faculty Fellow and PhD candidate at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus College of Nursing in the Health Systems Research track. Her program of research aims to influence mental health policy and healthcare delivery models for adolescents and young adults, knowing that emotional wellbeing improves morbidity, mortality, cost, length of stay and disease specific outcomes in adult populations. Her research is focused on reducing health disparities and promoting health equity in adolescent populations through innovative mental healthcare delivery models.

Suzanne is currently conducting mixed methods research analyzing factors influencing adolescent engagement with children’s mental health systems during the Covid-19 pandemic. She utilizes the Systems Research Organizing Model (Ferketich & Verran, 1990) as a framework to analyze data convergently through path analysis, multiple linear regressions and interpretive phenomenology methods. Her research highlighted the antecedents necessary to promote social determinants of emotional wellbeing in adolescents. This work led to a better understanding of social determinants and individual-level factors of mental health and wellbeing for adolescents with chronic conditions.

Her research questions draw from twenty years of clinical service as a pediatric nurse practitioner and nurse leader in urban children’s academic medical centers in New York City and Philadelphia. Her leadership posts included Director of Patient Care Services, Program Director for Professional Practice, and most recently as Administrative Director at the Research Institute of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. She serves as Vice President of the Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society Alpha Zeta Chapter at Columbia University School of Nursing, and serves the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association (PSNA) as a board member on the Cabinet for Nursing Practice, and as a Legislative Ambassador for the PSNA. She served as a mentor for doctoral students at Loyola University and Monmouth University, and mentored graduate students as a Clinical Instructor at Columbia University School of Nursing. Her current teaching role at the University of Colorado College of Nursing includes facilitating the Interprofessional Healthcare Ethics course (IPHE 6000) and select undergraduate courses. Suzanne earned her BSN at Syracuse University College of Nursing and her MSN as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner at Columbia University School of Nursing. Her research is funded by the following research awards: the Doris Kemp Research Award, the Dean's Early Scholar Award, the Joan Hess Award and the Nancy Hester Award.