UArizona Nursing PhD student and Quidel Scholar Stefanie Boyles focuses on the mother-child relationship

Meet Stefanie Boyles, a UArizona Nursing PhD student. A mother of four, Boyles earned a prestigious QuidelOrtho Global Health Scholarship. Now in her first year in the PhD program, Boyles is researching the fragile dynamics of the bond between mothers and babies, specifically focusing on women with a history of childhood adversity. 

Stefanie Boyles, RN, who grew up in a military family, has always been able to adjust on the fly.

 

As an undergraduate student, Boyles remembers a pivotal decision to forego plans to earn a medical degree to follow her burgeoning passion for nursing. Now a married mother of four, Boyles is pursuing a PhD in Nursing at the University of Arizona College of Nursing.

 

“I decided to go to the Johns Hopkins University with the dream of becoming a physician,” Boyles said. “However, I realized midway through my program that the profession of nursing more closely aligned with my interests. I was drawn to the discipline’s versatility, and I knew I wanted to be in a role that allowed me to establish rapport with my patients and their families.”

 

She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Public Health Studies from Hopkins and then served as an AmeriCorps Volunteer in Service to America member in Anchorage, Alaska. Soon after, she completed the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at Belmont University. As a new nurse graduate, she got her first job at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

 

In her first year as a Wildcat, Boyles became one of five UArizona Health Sciences students who earned a QuidelOrtho Global Health Scholarship. Her research interests include the overlap between nursing and genomics/epigenetics, particularly within the mother-infant relationship.

 

Was nursing something you were always interested in?

 

Honestly, no. Growing up, I did not know any nurses firsthand. My interaction with nurses was limited to annual well-child check-ups! However, after completing my pre-med coursework at Hopkins, I had strong reservations about applying to medical school. I knew I wanted to serve others as a health care professional, so I expanded my vision to see the various roles that make up an effective health care team. As I read more about the role of nurses, I knew nursing was for me.

 

 What inspired you to get a PhD?

 

During the height of the pandemic, our family had just moved across the country, and I was pregnant with my fourth child. My husband was set to deploy overseas, and I was not in a position to work outside of the home. However, I watched the heroic things nurses were doing, and I felt very proud and inspired by those working on the frontlines during that hard time. It made me pause and think about what I could do to best steward the profession forward. After evaluating my strengths, limitations, life circumstances and passions, I knew I should consider a PhD. I contacted a mentor at Belmont University, Martha Buckner, PhD, to discuss the possibility of pursuing a PhD in nursing. It was encouraging that even after a decade, she remembered me, affirmed my academic abilities, and encouraged me to apply.

 

So again, I engaged in self-learning. I went back to the basics and asked myself, “What is nursing research? What do nurse scientists do? What gap could I address that aligns with my passions?” I knew that I was interested in mothers and babies from previous research experience at Hopkins, and I was also very interested in epigenetics. I was (and am) convinced that nurses are aptly positioned to translate epigenetic knowledge to patients to make a difference. So, I went to the NIH RePORTER to get a pulse on current research and found Aleeca Bell, PhD, CNM. Her study put language to my interests, so I reached out to her. I did not know anything about the University of Arizona then, but I am grateful she spoke with me and encouraged me to apply.

 

What is the focus of your PhD research?

 

My research inquiries explore the interrelationship between mother-infant synchrony, focusing on the oxytocin system and epigenetics. Dr. Bell’s Mothers and Babies Project focuses on mother-infant synchrony and the use of a multisensory infant massage in mothers with a history of childhood adversity, which is known to dampen the oxytocin system. This system is crucial for synchrony, healthy infant development, and lifelong health. This multisensory massage is an intervention that can potentially improve nurturing engagement by epigenetic regulation of the oxytocin system.

 

I am also interested in people’s appraisal patterns. I am currently looking into the concept of childhood adversity appraisal. I want to explore the dynamic continuum between exposure to childhood adversity, the evolution of cognitive processes that shape one’s perception and behavioral responses, and the impact on one’s health. I am curious to see if appraisal patterns correlate with particular health outcomes and whether distinct appraisal profiles guide individuals toward paths of resilience or vulnerability.  I believe this will allow us to employ more effective interventions to promote health and well-being in vulnerable populations.

 

What is your plan after you receive your PhD?

 

I plan to do a postdoctoral fellowship and then apply to an R1 institution to teach, serve and engage in research. Early in my nursing career, I knew I wanted to teach nursing students one day. I have always profoundly valued educators. I now fully appreciate the indispensable role of nurse faculty. The nursing shortage is widely discussed, but something missing from that conversation is the cyclical nature of the shortage. Without adequate nursing faculty, enrollment in nursing programs will always be limited. We need nursing professors.

 

I have had so many teachers make a deep impression on my life. I highly respect those who invest in, inspire, and equip students, and I hope to do the same one day. And, of course, I hope to generate new nursing knowledge that can advance nursing science and have a tangible impact on a person or community’s quality of care, well-being and life.

 

What would you tell a student who is considering nursing or considering furthering their education in nursing?

 

I would encourage them to ask questions and seek mentors. Nursing is a widely diverse field, and I firmly believe dedicating one’s life to this discipline is worthwhile. I would tell them that nurses, in their various work settings, make a difference. They are positioned to optimize health in so many ways. They have the potential to be leaders in academia and industry. Nursing research is a robust area of science that has the power to contribute innovative solutions in many substantive areas.

 

Also, I would encourage them to think boldly and creatively. Nursing goes beyond clinical skills at the bedside. Nurses can inform real change to improve patient care at the bedside, within the community, and through policy. Nurses can advocate for vulnerable individuals in ways that exceed the scope of many other healthcare professionals. There is room in this discipline for you, so take a seat at the table.

 

How has being a Quidel Scholar contributed towards your career goal?

 

I am grateful to have been selected as a Quidel Scholar. Without this support, I would not have been able to start the PhD program as a full-time student. Their investment in me fuels my commitment to wisely use the resources and skills entrusted to me to improve the health and well-being of others. They have removed barriers to my career path toward becoming a nurse-scientist.

 

I am also grateful for the PhD program at the University of Arizona College of Nursing. As a military spouse and mother of four young children, the program’s asynchronous design allows me to continue my education now rather than later. I have been impressed and inspired by the nursing faculty. They do an excellent job of making students feel connected to the material and themselves. They are brilliant yet humble and approachable. Our cohort is also very close. We talk every single day. We genuinely feel like we are going through this program together.