By Emily Kent
Kristin D. Ashley is a third-year student at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in the Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing program. At the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses (AAOHN) National Conference in April, Ashley’s research poster was one of 12 featured posters and received an award.
The poster, titled “Predictors of Employment in Middle-Aged and Older Adults with HIV: Implications for Occupational Health Nursing,” was selected from a pool of national submissions and presented work from Ashley’s 2018 summer research immersion with Assistant Professor of Nursing Pariya Wheeler, PhD, and Professor and Interim Associate Dean for Research and Scholarship David Vance, PhD, MGS, MS. Ashley’s mentors, Associate Professor and PhD Program Director Karen Heaton, PhD, CRNP, FNP-BC, FAAOHN, FAAN, and Associate Professor Loretta Lee, PhD, CRNP, FNP-BC, also supported her research.
Ashley’s poster was presented to occupational health professionals from across the United States and Canada. The opportunity, she said, provided experience in disseminating her research, a skill she believes to be important for a PhD student.
“Having the opportunity to present my research and network with occupational health professionals from across the world was truly a pleasure. I could not have done so without the support of faculty at the UAB School of Nursing. This serves as a building block on my journey to becoming a novice researcher focusing on employment outcomes for stroke survivors. I am truly grateful,” Ashley said.
Ashley’s primary clinical nursing background is Critical Care/ER. As a fellow of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Ashley is provided with funding to support her doctoral education and membership to the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses (AAOHN).
Ashley earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Tuskegee University and her Master of Science in Nursing from UAB.
