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Aleeca Bell, PhD, RN, CNM: Pioneering Midwifery and Research for Maternal and Infant Well-being

March 19, 2024

In a remarkable blend of personal experience and professional dedication, Dr. Bell embodies the essence of midwifery's transformative power in healthcare. Her journey from experiencing the profound joy and pain of childbirth under the care of a midwife, to becoming a beacon of research and education in the field, is a testament to her commitment to enhancing maternal and infant health.

A Personal Journey into Midwifery

For Dr. Bell, the decision to enter the field of midwifery was deeply personal. The birth of her son at home, attended by a midwife, was a pivotal moment that inspired her to pursue a career focused on providing nurturing, respectful, and informed care to women during childbirth. This experience ignited her desire to offer the same level of wise and compassionate support to other women, especially those seeking to trust their bodies in childbirth after previous disappointing or traumatic experiences. Dr. Bell’s advocacy for out-of-hospital births, attended by qualified professionals, stems from her belief in its benefits for most low-risk women, a stance supported by data on health outcomes.

Research Passion: The Well-being of Mothers and Infants

Dr. Bell's passion has extended beyond one-on-one care into the realm of research, where she explores the multifaceted aspects of maternal and infant health. Her work focuses on the benefits of physiological childbirth, the epigenetic influences of life experiences on pregnancy and postpartum outcomes, and the promotion of mother-baby synchrony. Her current NIH-funded R01 randomized clinical trial examines the impact of a multisensory infant massage in mother-baby dyads where the mother has a history of childhood adversity/trauma, aiming to enhance mother-baby engagement (synchrony) and investigate the epigenetic regulation of the oxytocin system. This groundbreaking research holds the promise of improving the lives of vulnerable populations by fostering parental-child synchrony through the modulation of oxytocin regulation.

Support from the University of Arizona College of Nursing

The University of Arizona College of Nursing has been instrumental in fostering Dr. Bell's research excellence. By providing an environment that supports her ambitious projects, such as the affectionately named Mothers and Babies Project, the College has enabled her to thrive. The welcoming community, coupled with the collaboration of brilliant faculty, dedicated staff, and skilled students, underscores the College's commitment to advancing nursing research and education.

A Lifelong Commitment to Midwifery

Dr. Bell’s association with the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) spans over 26 years, reflecting her longstanding commitment to the profession. Her upcoming induction as a Fellow at ACNM not only marks a personal achievement but also symbolizes the evolution of midwifery in the U.S. From her early days when home birth midwives were marginalized, to her current role as a respected perinatal researcher, Dr. Bell’s journey through midwifery illustrates the profound impact dedicated professionals can have on healthcare.

Advice for Aspiring Midwives

Dr. Bell emphasizes the urgent need for midwives in the U.S. to address severe maternal morbidity and mortality rates. She encourages those aspiring to become Certified Nurse Midwives to explore the diverse possibilities within the profession. Her career path, which has included roles as a researcher, instructor, home birth care provider, and clinic reproductive care provider, highlights the versatile opportunities available to CNMs, from hospital practice to community health services.

Dr. Bell's journey is a beacon of inspiration, demonstrating how personal experiences can fuel a lifelong mission to improve healthcare. Her dedication to midwifery, coupled with her pioneering research, continues to contribute significantly to the well-being of mothers and infants, setting a gold standard for care and compassion in the field.

Dr. Bell’s illustrious career has reached a new pinnacle with her forthcoming induction as a Fellow at the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM). This honorable distinction, set for May 6th, 2024, recognizes her substantial contributions to the field of midwifery and her unwavering commitment to improving maternal and infant health.

UArizona College of Nursing Ranks 13th among Public Institutions in NIH Funding Recipients

Feb. 19, 2024

In 2023, the University of Arizona College of Nursing achieved significant recognition, securing the 13th position among public universities and the 19th position overall among nursing schools in National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding, as reported by the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research (BRIMR). The College of Nursing obtained approximately $5.02 million in funding during the fiscal year 2023, marking a notable increase from $3.73 million in the fiscal year 2022. This signifies a $1.28 million increase in grants compared to the previous year, reflecting a remarkable growth of 34%.

“I extend my sincere gratitude to the faculty and staff whose dedication and efforts have led to this significant accomplishment for our college. I would like to express special appreciation for the invaluable contributions of Dr. Judith Gordon, serving as the Associate Dean for Research, and Dr. Terry Badger, in her capacity as the Director of Research Initiatives. Alongside the NIH grants, our faculty have also been successful in securing numerous non-NIH research and educational grants during the fiscal year 2023.” said Dean Hyochol Brian Ahn, PhD, APRN, ANP-BC, FAAN.


NIH awarded College of Nursing professors, including Dean Brian Ahn, PhD, APRN, ANP-BC, FAAN, Judith Gordon, PhD, Terry Badger, PhD, RN, PMHCNS-BC, FAPOS, FAAN, Kathleen C. Insel, PhD, RN, Elise Erickson, CNM, FACNM, Thaddeus Pace, PhD, Rina Fox, PhD, MPH, and Aleeca Bell, PhD, RN, CNM.

The recent rankings underscore the remarkable productivity of our faculty and highlight the significance of their research and scholarship in advancing health and well-being nationwide. Faculty members at the College of Nursing are engaged in pioneering interdisciplinary research and scholarship endeavors aimed at elevating healthcare delivery, enhancing health outcomes, tackling health equity issues, and addressing the nursing shortage.

Below are brief synopses of the projects and researchers that received NIH funding in 2023:

PI Grant # Project Title
Hyochol Ahn R01NR019051 Combination Therapy of Home-based Trans-cranial Direct Current Stimulation and Mindfulness-based Meditation for Self-management of Clinical Pain and Symptoms in Older Adults With Knee Osteoarthritis
Judith Gordon R01AT011500 Testing the Efficacy of A Scalable, Telephone-Delivered, Guided Imagery Tobacco Cessation Intervention
Terry Badger R01CA263714 Adaptive Symptom Self-Management to Reduce Psychological Distress and Improve Symptom Management for Survivors on Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
Kathleen Insel R01NR020261 Digital Technology to Support Adherence to Hypertension Medications for Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment
Elise Erickson R00NR019596 The Clock is Ticking: Epigenetic Age Acceleration as a Biomarker of Uterine Function in Pregnancy
Elise Erickson R01HD111125 Oxytocin sensitivity and postpartum hemorrhage: testing genetic and epigenetic biomarkers for improving maternal morbidity
Thaddeus Pace R01CA264047 Leveraging social connection by including informal caregivers in an internet video conference-based compassion meditation intervention to reduce psychological distress in breast cancer survivors
Thaddeus Pace R21OH012386 Reducing Psychological Distress in Fire Fighters with an Asynchronous App-based Meditation Intervention
Rina Fox K08CA247973 Improving sleep in gynecologic cancer survivors
Aleeca Bell R01NR018828 A Randomized Controlled Trial to Improve Mother-Infant Synchrony Among Women with Childhood Adversity

UArizona College of Nursing Ranks 13th among Public Institutions in NIH Funding Recipients

Feb. 16, 2024

NIHGrantRecpts.png

Photo of College of Nursing NIH Grant Recipients
NIH awarded College of Nursing professors, including Dean Brian Ahn, PhD, APRN, ANP-BC, FAAN, Judith Gordon, PhD, Terry Badger, PhD, RN, PMHCNS-BC, FAPOS, FAAN, Kathleen C. Insel, PhD, RN, Elise Erickson, CNM, FACNM, Thaddeus Pace, PhD, Rina Fox, PhD, MPH, and Aleeca Bell, PhD, RN, CNM.

In 2023, the University of Arizona College of Nursing achieved significant recognition, securing the 13th position among public universities and the 19th position overall among nursing schools in National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding, as reported by the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research (BRIMR). The College of Nursing obtained approximately $5.02 million in funding during the fiscal year 2023, marking a notable increase from $3.73 million in the fiscal year 2022. This signifies a $1.28 million increase in grants compared to the previous year, reflecting a remarkable growth of 34%.

I extend my sincere gratitude to the faculty and staff whose dedication and efforts have led to this significant accomplishment for our college. I would like to express special appreciation for the invaluable contributions of Dr. Judith Gordon, serving as the Associate Dean for Research, and Dr. Terry Badger, in her capacity as the Director of Research Initiatives. Alongside the NIH grants, our faculty have also been successful in securing numerous non-NIH research and educational grants during the fiscal year 2023.” said Dean Hyochol Brian Ahn, PhD, APRN, ANP-BC, FAAN.

The recent rankings underscore the remarkable productivity of our faculty and highlight the significance of their research and scholarship in advancing health and well-being nationwide. Faculty members at the College of Nursing are engaged in pioneering interdisciplinary research and scholarship endeavors aimed at elevating healthcare delivery, enhancing health outcomes, tackling health equity issues, and addressing the nursing shortage.

Below are brief synopses of the projects and researchers that received NIH funding in 2023:

PI

Grant #

Project Title

Hyochol Ahn

R01NR019051           

Combination Therapy of Home-based Trans-cranial Direct Current Stimulation and Mindfulness-based Meditation for Self-management of Clinical Pain and Symptoms in Older Adults With Knee Osteoarthritis

Judith Gordon

R01AT011500

 

Testing the Efficacy of A Scalable, Telephone-Delivered, Guided Imagery Tobacco Cessation Intervention

Terry Badger

R01CA263714

Adaptive Symptom Self-Management to Reduce Psychological Distress and Improve Symptom Management for Survivors on Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

Kathleen Insel

R01NR020261

 

Digital Technology to Support Adherence to Hypertension Medications for Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment

Elise Erickson

R00NR019596

 

The Clock is Ticking: Epigenetic Age Acceleration as a Biomarker of Uterine Function in Pregnancy

Elise Erickson

R01HD111125

Oxytocin sensitivity and postpartum hemorrhage: testing genetic and epigenetic biomarkers for improving maternal morbidity

 

Thaddeus Pace

R01CA264047           

Leveraging social connection by including informal caregivers in an internet video conference-based compassion meditation intervention to reduce psychological distress in breast cancer survivors

Thaddeus Pace

R21OH012386

Reducing Psychological Distress in Fire Fighters with an Asynchronous App-based Meditation Intervention

Rina Fox

K08CA247973

Improving sleep in gynecologic cancer survivors

Aleeca Bell

R01NR018828

A Randomized Controlled Trial to Improve Mother-Infant Synchrony Among Women with Childhood Adversity

 

 

 

About the PARTO Study

Jan. 31, 2024

Most people giving birth receive a medication called oxytocin either during labor or after birth. Oxytocin causes the uterus to contract. We are studying why oxytocin may work better for some people than others, leading to easier labor or less bleeding postpartum.

Why is this study being done?

Some individuals giving birth have longer or more difficult labors than others or will have severe bleeding after birth, called postpartum hemorrhage. The goal of this study is to understand why oxytocin, a medication used to cause uterine contractions, works better in some people than others.

What does oxytocin do?

Oxytocin helps to speed up labor and to prevent hemorrhage after birth, but it does not work equally well in all people. With this research, we hope to better predict who will experience more complicated births than others and find new ways of preventing or treating these problems.

Who is conducting this study?

Dr. Elise Erickson, PhD is a researcher, Certified Nurse-Midwife and Assistant Professor at the University of Arizona College of Nursing. She has been a nurse-midwife since 2005 and researching oxytocin use in labor since 2014. She has observed in prior studies that genetic and epigenetic differences were related to how much oxytocin was needed during labor and how much postpartum bleeding people experienced.

How long does the study take?

The study activities should take 20-30 minutes after enrollment.

What are the participants asked to do?

Dr. Erickson is asking pregnant participants to contribute a cheek swab and single sample of saliva between 38-41 weeks of pregnancy that will be used to study genetic and epigenetic information. Participants will also be asked to complete a survey about their current pregnancy, feelings about their health and environment including feelings about stress. Women planning a C-section are asked to provide a small bit of tissue from the incision after delivery. This is to study how oxytocin affects the uterus (womb) directly.

Is there any compensation?

Participants will receive a $25 gift card, with an additional $25 if donating a tissue sample.

What is genetic information?

Genetic information is stored in the body as DNA code. DNA tells the body to make certain features like height, blood type or eye color. This code is hereditary, or passed on from parents to children. The DNA code that tells the body to how to use oxytocin is slightly different from person to person. We are studying if these differences are related to better oxytocin responses during childbirth.

What is "epigenetics"?

Epigenetics are differences in how easily DNA can be used or how it is stored in the cell. Some epigenetic changes make it harder for the body to use a specific gene/DNA code. For example, if less DNA is available for letting oxytocin work, it might affect how well the body responds to the medication.

Additional Information

An informational video can be accessed here. The self-referral contact form can be found here.

An Institutional Review Board responsible for human subjects research at The University of Arizona reviewed this research project and found it to be acceptable, according to applicable state and federal regulations and University policies designed to protect the rights and welfare of participants in research.

Contact

Dr. Elise Erickson, PhD, CNM
College of Nursing & College of Pharmacy
The University of Arizona


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