Dr. Sandra Maldonado's article, "The Folkloric Practices of Dominican Women in Managing Bacterial Vaginosis", was published in the April Journal Nurses for Women's Health Journal.

Abstract

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is characterized by changes in the vaginal flora caused by an elevated pH, resulting in symptoms of vaginal discharge, odor, and irritation. BV affects all women, including Dominican women who have specific cultural beliefs regarding vaginal health hygiene. Due to the prevalence of this condition and cultural norms that may influence how women respond to the diagnosis of BV, it is important to understand the factors that may promote the development of BV and that may influence women's choices of treatment options. Amsel's criteria are the most commonly used clinical approach for the diagnosis of BV. Recurrent BV is common and affects women's lives to varying degrees. Discussion about cultural norms and hygienic practices may provide information that may decrease the recurrence of BV. Nurses can provide support and evidence-based information in a culturally sensitive manner to help Dominican women manage BV.

About the School of Nursing and Health Sciences

Our mission is to prepare our current and future students to become transformative healthcare professionals.

Whether it’s your first time attending college or you’re a certified health professional looking to expand your professional opportunities, the School of Nursing and Health Sciences offers patient-centered degree programs grounded in clinical practice.

Future healthcare leaders, holistically trained patient advocates, and ethically responsible health professionals will be given the tools to grow in 91Ö±²¥’s high-tech, high-care nursing and health professions programs.

About 91Ö±²¥

We Are Valiant

Since 1841, 91Ö±²¥ has provided a transformative educational experience.  As a private liberal arts institution, 91Ö±²¥ roots its education in a rich history of academic excellence and innovative programs. With more than 55 undergraduate programs, 70 graduate programs, and a doctoral program, we empower every student to cultivate their intellectual curiosity, sharpen their critical thinking skills, and strive for a more just world.

By the Numbers

125+ Undergraduate and graduate programs

24 Division III sports teams

11:1 Student-faculty ratio

Our History and Legacy

Since its origins as a Catholic boarding school to its present day as a non-denominational, co-ed private university, 91Ö±²¥ has evolved to meet the needs of students who seek a more just world. A haven for independent thinking and socially conscious values, our interdisciplinary education is rooted in the liberal arts and experiential learning. 

Founded in 1841 in New York City as a boarding school and parochial school for women, 91Ö±²¥ has consistently strived to expand higher education to all sectors of society. Under the visionary leadership of President Grace Dammann, R.S.C.J., 91Ö±²¥ voted to admit African-American students in 1938 and we have continuously worked to create a more inclusive student body. Today, over a third of our students identify as first-generation, and even more consider themselves BIPOC. We are also a designated Hispanic Serving Institution, a reflection of our increasingly diverse community. 

We have also grown in other ways. When 91Ö±²¥ officially took over the former estate of diplomat Whitelaw Reid in Westchester in 1952, we cemented our role in the educational development of the region. The U.S. News and World Report named us as the #1 private college for social mobility in New York. Students volunteer over 30,000 hours of community service through the Clark Center for Social Justice. The School of Education offers the highest number of programs and additional support through the Changing Suburbs Institute’s network of Professional Development Schools. Nursing candidates complete clinic hours in local organizations, providing patient-centered care to the area. 

We are proof of how academic excellence, a commitment to social justice, and a global outlook can transform students and, by extension, society. 

Explore Mville History 

Location

91Ö±²¥ benefits from both the peaceful beauty of Westchester County and the vibrant, non-stop energy of New York City. The 100-acre campus provides a safe and comfortable environment where every student’s intellectual life can blossom with the unparalleled professional opportunities of a world-class city, only 30 miles away. 

Reid Castle, a 19th-century architectural gem, anchors the campus and houses the Welcome Center, Admissions, Financial Aid, and several event spaces. Designed by famed Central Park architect, Frederick Law Olmsted, the picturesque green quad hosts our academic buildings and centers, the university library, four performance facilities, and fifteen new or renovated science and nursing labs.

The campus also boasts two historic chapels. The architect Maya Lin restored one, Lady Chapel, to include a glass roof, located near the new Ohnell Environmental Center, a non-invasive structure that reflects 91Ö±²¥’s commitment to sustainability. Our newest building, the Richard A. Berman Student Center, received a LEED gold rating from the U.S. Green Building Council.

In addition to our four residence halls and dining hall, students enjoy amenities like a campus market and store and comprehensive athletic facilities, including a fitness center, tennis courts, an ice rink, a baseball and softball field, and an indoor turf facility. 

We are a short car, train, or bus ride from New York and the city’s main airports. We are also easily accessible by car from anywhere in the TriState area and can also be reached via the Metro North Railroad from NYC Grand Central Terminal or Westchester’s Bee-Line bus. 

Visit Campus            

1.  Professor Christa Hartch presented the results of her Randomized Controlled Trial Study entitled “Effects of a Medication Adherence App Among Medically Underserved Adults with Chronic Illness: A Randomized Controlled Trial” at a Medisafe business meeting. She utilized the Medisafe app in her independent research, a global digital platform with over 12 million subscribers. 

BOSTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / February 13, 2024 / A novel randomized control trial conducted by Vanderbilt University researchers and published in the Journal of Behavioral Medicine explored the effect of smartphone applications on medication adherence in a medically underserved population. The trial concluded that Medisafe's free and accessible app provides a transformative impact on medication adherence and medication self-efficacy, a measure that indicates an increase in user's confidence to manage their medications within the first month of use.

Lower-income, medically underserved communities have been found to have inadequate rates of adherence to oral medications. Inadequate adherence is thought to be influenced by social determinants of health (SDOH) and contribute to health disparities. "We found that for participants who used Medisafe, 43.3% demonstrated a reliable increase in adherence scores compared to only 9.7% in the control group. Given that our population focused on patients with chronic illnesses at Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC), this is an important finding," said Christa Hartch, PhD, RN, FNP-C Tenure-Track Assistant Professor School of Nursing and Health Sciences, 91Ö±²¥ College. "The personalized audible and visual reminders were thought to have an impact on increased medication adherence and support the widespread use of this technology within the studied patient population."

The randomized control trial also emphasized the positive impact Medisafe had in increasing participants' self-efficacy, referring to the individual's belief in their ability to successfully perform specific health-related behaviors, which in turn may improve health outcomes, based on the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) framework. The integration of audible and visual reminders into participants' daily lives was postulated to be a key facilitator.

The findings of this research suggest a large-scale benefit of implementing the commercially available, free Medisafe app in FQHC clinical settings, which serve over 30 million patients annually in community health centers across the country. This technology could positively enhance medication adherence and impact chronic disease management for medically underserved populations in the United States.

"Empowering patients through increased medication adherence and self-efficacy, isn't just our goal-it's our proven impact", said Omri Shor, Chief Executive Officer at Medisafe. "Our commitment to enhancing health outcomes for those with chronic illnesses is evident, solidifying Medisafe's support to patients, caregivers, providers, payers and life sciences companies."

Medisafe's industry-leading digital solutions can support your organization. For further information or media inquiries, please contact us at info@medisafe.com.

The company put out a press release highlighting her work here:  as well as here:  

About the School of Nursing and Health Sciences

Our mission is to prepare our current and future students to become transformative healthcare professionals.

Whether it’s your first time attending college or you’re a certified health professional looking to expand your professional opportunities, the School of Nursing and Health Sciences offers patient-centered degree programs grounded in clinical practice.

Future healthcare leaders, holistically trained patient advocates, and ethically responsible health professionals will be given the tools to grow in 91Ö±²¥’s high-tech, high-care nursing and health professions programs.

Professor Ezequiel Ayala Santos recently attended the Association of Educators in Radiologic Technology of the State of New York, Inc. conference. During this event, he was honored with the prestigious Drago Scholarship.

This scholarship is specifically tailored for X-ray technologists aspiring toward or in educational careers who are actively pursuing an advanced degree. His receipt of this scholarship is a testament to his commitment to excellence in teaching and his ongoing contributions to the field of radiography. 

Learn more about 91Ö±²¥'s Radiologic Technology program.

91Ö±²¥’s four-year radiologic technology degree program consists of a selective, focused curriculum that imparts the skills needed to consistently and effectively use ionizing radiation technology to produce images that assist in the diagnosis and treatment of patients.

Through classroom instruction and hands-on learning in both simulated and actual clinical environments, radiologic technology majors learn how to accurately position and use imaging equipment, how to protect patients and operators against radiation, and how to be stellar caregivers who are responsive to all patients.

Kudos to Professor Hartch

Dr. Christa Hartch and Associate Dean Orhan Hakli pictured with Jorge Lujan and Jingqiu Lopez who presented their Holistic Nursing Creative Projects at the 91Ö±²¥ Expo.

The School of Nursing & Health Sciences nursing students, faculty & staff provided a Candy Cart for the nurses to enjoy at Blythedale Children's Hospital for nurses week. We love to celebrate nurses with our clinical partners!

Kudos to Amanda Delerme, clinical coordinator, and Teresa Mandarino, clinical education coordinator along with students Sally Cangialosi who handed out candy and Sofia Lomedico who decorated the cart.

School of Nursing and Health Sciences

Our mission is to prepare our current and future students to become transformative healthcare professionals.

Whether it’s your first time attending college or you’re a certified health professional looking to expand your professional opportunities, the School of Nursing and Health Sciences offers patient-centered degree programs grounded in clinical practice.

Future healthcare leaders, holistically trained patient advocates, and ethically responsible health professionals will be given the tools to grow in 91Ö±²¥’s high-tech, high-care nursing and health professions programs.

EXPERT FACULTY. STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITIES.

Message from Dean Debra Simons, PhD, RN

I am delighted to welcome you to the School of Nursing and Health Sciences (SNHS) at 91Ö±²¥. You have embarked upon a wonderful transformative journey by taking the first steps in pursuit of your goal to become future healthcare professionals. Our mission is to educate health professionals from a holistic framework in preparation to meet the needs of humanity in a complex health system locally, nationally, and globally. Nursing and Health Sciences are complementary to 91Ö±²¥’s rich history in the liberal arts. Students who graduate from 91Ö±²¥ will be design thinkers, patient-centered, high tech high care, holistically educated professionals who will influence health care institutions seeking to improve safety and health outcomes while enhancing the patient experience and achieve magnet status.

Our faculty are experts in their respective clinical fields of practice, holistic health, and contributions to healthcare. The healthcare professional, as an agent of change, is a stellar inter-professional collaborator, who incorporates design thinking as a practical method for innovation and problem-solving. It is through our mission that, together, we collaboratively learn and grow.

About 91Ö±²¥

We Are Valiant

Since 1841, 91Ö±²¥ has provided a transformative educational experience.  As a private liberal arts institution, 91Ö±²¥ roots its education in a rich history of academic excellence and innovative programs. With more than 55 undergraduate programs, 70 graduate programs, and a doctoral program, we empower every student to cultivate their intellectual curiosity, sharpen their critical thinking skills, and strive for a more just world.

By the Numbers

125+ Undergraduate and graduate programs

24 Division III sports teams

11:1 Student-faculty ratio

More Facts and Figures

Our History and Legacy

Since its origins as a Catholic boarding school to its present day as a non-denominational, co-ed private university, 91Ö±²¥ has evolved to meet the needs of students who seek a more just world. A haven for independent thinking and socially conscious values, our interdisciplinary education is rooted in the liberal arts and experiential learning. 

Founded in 1841 in New York City as a boarding school and parochial school for women, 91Ö±²¥ has consistently strived to expand higher education to all sectors of society. Under the visionary leadership of President Grace Dammann, R.S.C.J., 91Ö±²¥ voted to admit African-American students in 1938 and we have continuously worked to create a more inclusive student body. Today, over a third of our students identify as first-generation, and even more consider themselves BIPOC. We are also a designated Hispanic Serving Institution, a reflection of our increasingly diverse community. 

We have also grown in other ways. When 91Ö±²¥ officially took over the former estate of diplomat Whitelaw Reid in Westchester in 1952, we cemented our role in the educational development of the region. The U.S. News and World Report named us as the #1 private college for social mobility in New York. Students volunteer over 30,000 hours of community service through the Clark Center for Social Justice. The School of Education offers the highest number of programs and additional support through the Changing Suburbs Institute’s network of Professional Development Schools. Nursing candidates complete clinic hours in local organizations, providing patient-centered care to the area. 

We are proof of how academic excellence, a commitment to social justice, and a global outlook can transform students and, by extension, society.

Location

91Ö±²¥ benefits from both the peaceful beauty of Westchester County and the vibrant, non-stop energy of New York City. The 100-acre campus provides a safe and comfortable environment where every student’s intellectual life can blossom with the unparalleled professional opportunities of a world-class city, only 30 miles away. 

Reid Castle, a 19th-century architectural gem, anchors the campus and houses the Welcome Center, Admissions, Financial Aid, and several event spaces. Designed by famed Central Park architect, Frederick Law Olmsted, the picturesque green quad hosts our academic buildings and centers, the university library, four performance facilities, and fifteen new or renovated science and nursing labs.

The campus also boasts two historic chapels. The architect Maya Lin restored one, Lady Chapel, to include a glass roof, located near the new Ohnell Environmental Center, a non-invasive structure that reflects 91Ö±²¥’s commitment to sustainability. Our newest building, the Richard A. Berman Student Center, received a LEED gold rating from the U.S. Green Building Council.

In addition to our four residence halls and dining hall, students enjoy amenities like a campus market and store and comprehensive athletic facilities, including a fitness center, tennis courts, an ice rink, a baseball and softball field, and an indoor turf facility. 

We are a short car, train, or bus ride from New York and the city’s main airports. We are also easily accessible by car from anywhere in the TriState area and can also be reached via the Metro North Railroad from NYC Grand Central Terminal or Westchester’s Bee-Line bus. 

Visit Campus

We are delighted to share an article from the University of Maine highlighting the remarkable achievements of Dr. Susan Iverson, a distinguished professor of higher education leadership and Director of the Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership at 91Ö±²¥.

Susan Iverson, a professor of higher education leadership at 91Ö±²¥ in Purchase, New York, is the recipient of the 2024 Dr. Sue Estler Distinguished Alumnx Award from the University of Maine’s graduate programs in higher education. 

The award is presented annually to a higher education alumnus whose accomplishments embody the spirit and legacy of Estler, who served as a faculty member in higher education at UMaine from 1997 to 2009, as well as the university’s director of equal opportunity from 1986 through 1997. She passed away in 2019 of pancreatic cancer.

“Sue Estler’s professional experience, as director of equal opportunity and with Title IX, provided inspiration for the ways I approached professional and scholarly work related to women’s advancement, sexual violence prevention and policy, and other gender-equity matters,” says Iverson, who earned her Ph.D. in higher education from UMaine in 2005. “Her modeling of advocacy and activism, coupled with her good humor, warmth and integrity, has been fuel for my own raised consciousness about and commitment to social justice.”

Iverson was a student in courses taught by Estler, who also served on Iverson’s dissertation committee. Iverson says Estler pushed her to understand the historical underpinnings and context surrounding complex theoretical concepts and ideas. She says her entire doctoral program was transformative for her career.

“I’d been a long-time higher education administrator and assumed I would stay on that trajectory when I entered the program. However, the opportunity to teach graduate courses, the mentoring I received in research and the advising that pushed me to deepen my thinking from various theoretical lenses led me to take a professional fork in the road and pursue faculty rather than administrative positions,” Iverson says. 

Today, Iverson serves as a mentor and inspiration to her students through her teaching, research and commitment to equity for all. In her research, she uses a historical lens to document or analyze contributions of women and other minoritized groups to higher education. 

She has co-edited two defining books, “Feminist Community Engagement: Achieving Praxis” and “Reconstructing Policy Analysis in Higher Education: Feminist Poststructural Perspectives.” UMaine professor of higher education  was a co-editor of the latter volume as well.

During her career, Iverson has received numerous awards that speak to her accomplishments, including a 2011 Research and Scholarship Award for commitment to women’s issues from the American College Personnel Association, Standing Committee for Women; a 2010 Cultural Diversity Award, presented by the Ohio College Personnel Association; a 2009 Professional of the Year award from the American College Personnel Association, MultiRacial Network; and a 2006 Outstanding Dissertation Award from the American Educational Research Association, Division J (postsecondary education).

“Through her career Dr. Iverson has championed the work of applying policy discourse analysis to inform theory and practice to support women and historically marginalized populations in the diaspora of higher education,” says , who nominated Iverson for the award.

Tolbert, who earned his Ph.D. from UMaine in 2017 and currently serves as assistant vice president for academic affairs at Hartwick College, also notes that Iverson’s career includes 10 years of student affairs administrative work in Massachusetts and Virginia, as well as tenured faculty roles at Kent State University and 91Ö±²¥. He says that her success aligns directly with the award criteria of enhancing positive campus climates for minoritized populations. 

“I served with Dr. Iverson on a dissertation committee and can attest that her dedication, focus and leadership continue today with the same rigor and value that have marked her celebrated career,” says Tolbert. “Indeed, Susan embodies the qualities that all students of Dr. Estler, including myself, have come to respect: her trenchant vision, her defined standards and her sincere care for her students’ growth.”

As a teacher and role model, Estler changed the course of many students’ lives for the better. She was a tireless advocate for equity and inclusion of minoritized individuals and served as a leader for LGBTQ+ rights initiatives throughout Maine and beyond. In the higher education program, Estler was fond of teaching Higher Education and the Law, History of Higher Education, Higher Education Policy and Politics, and Organizational Theory for Higher Education. A college athlete and sports fan, Estler’s book with Laurie Nelson, “Who Calls the Shots: Sports and University Leadership and Decision-Making” explored structural, legal, cultural and market forces that impact university decision-making relative to athletics.

Contact: Eunice Opare, Graduate Assistant in Higher Education, eunice.opare@maine.edu

University of Maine

Take Your Career to the Next Level

Elevate your leadership skills, deepen your understanding of critical and contemporary education issues, and learn to help solve the current challenges in P-20 education.  

Learn to Inspire Change

The Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership from 91Ö±²¥, offered in partnership with Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES, utilizes a forward-thinking approach to educational leadership that is ideal for practicing and aspiring leaders in any educational context. It is designed to support the goals of educational professionals who seek to develop their leadership skills for career advancement or current job enhancement.   

Learn More About the Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership

About 91Ö±²¥

We Are Valiant

Since 1841, 91Ö±²¥ has provided a transformative educational experience.  As a private liberal arts institution, 91Ö±²¥ roots its education in a rich history of academic excellence and innovative programs. With more than 55 undergraduate programs, 70 graduate programs, and a doctoral program, we empower every student to cultivate their intellectual curiosity, sharpen their critical thinking skills, and strive for a more just world.

Visit Campus

Our History and Legacy

Since its origins as a Catholic boarding school to its present day as a non-denominational, co-ed private university, 91Ö±²¥ has evolved to meet the needs of students who seek a more just world. A haven for independent thinking and socially conscious values, our interdisciplinary education is rooted in the liberal arts and experiential learning. 

Founded in 1841 in New York City as a boarding school and parochial school for women, 91Ö±²¥ has consistently strived to expand higher education to all sectors of society. Under the visionary leadership of President Grace Dammann, R.S.C.J., 91Ö±²¥ voted to admit African-American students in 1938 and we have continuously worked to create a more inclusive student body. Today, over a third of our students identify as first-generation, and even more consider themselves BIPOC. We are also a designated Hispanic Serving Institution, a reflection of our increasingly diverse community. 

We have also grown in other ways. When 91Ö±²¥ officially took over the former estate of diplomat Whitelaw Reid in Westchester in 1952, we cemented our role in the educational development of the region. The U.S. News and World Report named us as the #1 private college for social mobility in New York. Students volunteer over 30,000 hours of community service through the Clark Center for Social Justice. The School of Education offers the highest number of programs and additional support through the Changing Suburbs Institute’s network of Professional Development Schools. Nursing candidates complete clinic hours in local organizations, providing patient-centered care to the area. 

We are proof of how academic excellence, a commitment to social justice, and a global outlook can transform students and, by extension, society.

Explore Mville History

Location

91Ö±²¥ benefits from both the peaceful beauty of Westchester County and the vibrant, non-stop energy of New York City. The 100-acre campus provides a safe and comfortable environment where every student’s intellectual life can blossom with the unparalleled professional opportunities of a world-class city, only 30 miles away. 

Reid Castle, a 19th-century architectural gem, anchors the campus and houses the Welcome Center, Admissions, Financial Aid, and several event spaces. Designed by famed Central Park architect Frederick Law Olmsted, the picturesque green quad hosts our academic buildings and centers, the university library, four performance facilities, and fifteen new or renovated science and nursing labs.

The campus also boasts two historic chapels. The architect Maya Lin restored one, Lady Chapel, to include a glass roof, located near the new Ohnell Environmental Center, a non-invasive structure that reflects 91Ö±²¥’s commitment to sustainability. Our newest building, the Richard A. Berman Student Center, received a LEED gold rating from the U.S. Green Building Council.

In addition to our four residence halls and dining hall, students enjoy amenities like a campus market and store and comprehensive athletic facilities, including a fitness center, tennis courts, an ice rink, a baseball and softball field, and an indoor turf facility. 

We are a short car, train, or bus ride from New York and the city’s main airports. We are also easily accessible by car from anywhere in the TriState area and can also be reached via the Metro-North Railroad from NYC Grand Central Terminal or Westchester’s Bee-Line bus. 

Plan Your Visit