Midwest Nursing History Research Center appoints associate director
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UIC College of Nursing clinical associate professor Shannon D. Simonovich, PhD, RN, was appointed associate director of the Midwest Nursing History Research Center.
The center, which is housed at UIC College of Nursing, is the central repository for nursing historical documents and artifacts from the Midwest and serves as a center for scholars engaged in historical research. Professor Karen Flynn, PhD, is the director of the center.
Simonovich, who trained at the University of Washington, comes to UIC Nursing from DePaul University, where she was an associate professor and senior associate director for academics and engagement. She is the founder of the Maternal Child Health Initiative, an interdisciplinary research collaborative that highlights health disparities in maternal, child and family health.
As principal investigator of the “Nursing During COVID-19” study, she led a team of more than 30 nurses, physicians, social workers, and psychologists in documenting the lived experiences of 100 U.S. nurses during the first wave of the pandemic. She continues to examine the historical implications of COVID-19 on nursing practice and nursing workforce sustainability.
As associate director, Simonovich will leverage her experience in research, collaboration and leadership to increase the center’s visibility at local, national and global levels.
Simonovich says she envisions, “a collaborative future for the Midwest Nursing History Research Center that respects the discipline’s rich and diverse history, addresses contemporary challenges, and supports the development of future nursing leaders.”