Nancy DiDona
Professor, Division of Nursing and Director, Division of Nursing
Phone: (845) 848-6051
Email: nancy.didona@duny.edu
Dr. DiDona has over 40 years of experience as a Registered Professional Nurse and 27 years as a nurse educator. She has taught undergraduate and graduate level courses, and has been the Division Director since 2010. Dr. DiDona is certified by NCC as a Maternal/Newborn Nurse, and presently teaches Family Health Nursing and Nursing Mathematics. She is the author of three textbooks and has completed writing the second edition of her Strategies and Skills for Test Taking as an online book. Dr. DiDona has given presentations on topics such as “How to Navigate an IRB” and “The Future of Nursing Education.”
Professional Interests:
Dr. DiDona’s professional interests include NCLEX preparation and success, curriculum advancement, and policy and procedure development.
Alice Arden
Instructor, Division of Nursing
Phone: (845) 848-6060
Email: alice.arden@duny.edu
M.A., New York University
B.S., University of Scranton
ANP-BC, Certified Adult Nurse Practitioner
ACNP-BC, Certified Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Professor Arden started teaching at Dominican University as an adjunct nursing instructor in the fall of 2013. She joined the nursing faculty as a full time instructor in August of 2016. Professor Arden has many years of nursing experience; working both in medical surgical nursing, critical care, and most recently as an adult nurse practitioner in cardiology. She currently practices as an NP at a local acute care facility on the cardiology service. Professor Arden is certified as an adult nurse practitioner as well as an acute care nurse practitioner, recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. She is also a certified basic cardiac life support (BCLS) instructor and an advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) provider by the American Heart Association.
Professional Interests:
Professor Arden has been active with the New York City Chapter of the American College of Cardiology, (ACC) working on their annual Cardiovascular Team Symposium. She is a current member of the ACC as a Cardiac Care Associate (CCA). Professor Arden is interested in the diagnosis, management and prevention of coronary artery disease.
Christine M. Davies
Tenured Assistant Professor of Nursing, Division of Nursing
Phone: (845) 848-6030
Email: christine.davies@duny.edu
A.A.S., Rockland Community College
B.S.N., Dominican University
FNP, Family Nurse Practitioner, Pace University
M.A., Pace University
M.S., Pace University
D.N.P., Doctor of Nursing Practice Dominican University
Dr. Davies has been teaching at Dominican University since the fall of 2009 and is a tenured full-time nursing faculty in both the Traditional Bachelor of Science Nursing Program and the Weekday Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program. Dr. Davies earned a Masters of Art in Nursing Education from Pace University in 2009, and in December 2013, she completed the Advanced Graduate Studies Masters of Science Family Nurse Practitioner Program at Pace University. Dr. Davies then in 2019 earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree from Dominican University. She has many years of Critical Care nursing experience, and other specialty areas including pediatrics, operating room and community / public health nursing. Dr. Davies has received several Honors and Awards throughout the years, which include the Dr. John Hopkins Award for Excellence in Nursing, The United States Army Perseverance Award at Dominican University, The Outstanding Student of the Year award at Pace University, and was chosen as one of the “Top 100 Alumni of Distinction” at Dominican University in 2013. Dr. Davies is a Board Member for United Women of Rockland, Inc., serving as their Medical Liaison.
Professional Interests:
As a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), and Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Dr. Davies provides healthcare that revolves around the family unit, from health promotion and disease prevention, to direct care and counseling across the lifespan. She is also a member of the International Honor Society for Nursing Sigma Theta Tau, National Alliance of Certified Legal Nurse Consultants, and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. Dr. Davies is involved at the community level and continues her interests in NCLEX-RN success.
Publications:
Davies C.M., Franzese, P.F. (2021). It’s not Okay! The Importance of Educating our Population Taking Prescribed Controlled Substances, Regarding the Risks for Dependency and Addiction. Journal of Epidemiology and Public Health Reviews 6(2): dx.doi.org/10.16966/2471-8211.215 https://sciforschenonline.org/journals/epidemiology-public-health/article-data/JEPHR215/JEPHR215.pdf
Shanahan-Davies C. (2020). Bioethics Human Papillomavirus and HPV Vaccine. Journal of Regenerative Biology and Medicine. Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.37191/Mapsci-2582-385X-1(1)-002 https://www.maplespub.com/article/BIOETHICS-HUMAN-PAPILLOMAVIRUS-AND-HPV-VACCINE
Shanahan-Davies C. (2019). Bioethics Human Papillomavirus and HPV Vaccine. Jacobs Journal of Vaccines and Vaccination. JJ Vaccine Vaccination 2019; 5(1): 018. https://jacobspublishers.com/journals/jacobs-journal-of-vaccines-and-vaccination/fulltext/bioethics-human-papillomavirus-and-hpv-vaccine
Barbara B. DeSimone
Professor, Division of Nursing and Coordinator, Weekday ABSN Option
Phone: (845) 848-6028
Email: bonnie.desimone@duny.edu
Dr. DeSimone coordinates the weekday accelerated (ABSN) Option, assists in the design of the undergraduate nursing curriculum, and documents undergraduate nursing students’ learning outcomes. She is certified in medical surgical nursing by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). She teaches medical-surgical nursing in the ABSN and Traditional Nursing options, and fundamentals of nursing and the capstone nursing seminar in the ABSN Option. As a professor of nursing, her mission is to generate passion and self-confidence throughout the teaching-learning process.
Professional Interests:
Dr. DeSimone is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing Upsilon Chapter (New York University), the Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education (Columbia University), the American Nurses Association, and the New Jersey State Nurses Association. Dr. DeSimone received the Excellence in Practice Award 2014 at the Rockland County, NY Nurse Recognition Day on May 8, 2014.
Margaret DeLorenzo
Assistant Professor Division of Nursing, Coordinator, Traditional Nursing Program
Phone: (845) 848-6043
Email: margaret.delorenzo@duny.edu
Dr. DeLorenzo coordinates the weekday Traditional Nursing program. She has over 40 years experience as a Registered Professional Nurse, and 10 + years as a nurse educator. Dr. DeLorenzo has taught in both the graduate and undergraduate programs at Dominican University.
Professional Interests:
Dr. DeLorenzo most recently completed her doctoral dissertation on faculty classroom experiences related to NCLEX-RN success. She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. Dr. DeLorenzo is involved at the community level and continues her interests in NCLEX-RN success.
Lori Henderson
Assistant Professor, Division of Nursing
Phone: (845) 848-6023
Email: lori.henderson@duny.edu
B.S.N., University of Texas-El Paso
NNP, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Post Graduate Certificate, Columbia University
M.S.N., Columbia University
Professor Henderson has experience as a staff nurse, nurse manager, nursing supervisor, and nurse practitioner in maternal-child nursing with a specialization in neonatal nursing. She is certified as a NAACOG Low-Risk Neonatal Nurse and is an American Heart Association BLS Provider. Professor Henderson holds an Advanced-Practitioner Certification in Holistic Nursing and was awarded by Nyack Hospital’s Department of Pediatrics for dedicated service on behalf of premature and sick infants (1987 – 1996).
Professional Interests:
Professor Henderson is a member of the Nurse Practitioner Association, New York Chapter and a volunteer for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Hudson Valley.
AnneMarie McDermott
Assistant Professor and Director Master of Science FNP and DNP Programs
Phone: (845) 848-6059
Email: annemarie.mcdermott@duny.edu
A.S.N., Nassau Community College
B.S.N., Pace University
FNP-BC, Certified Family Nurse Practitioner
M.S.N., Pace University
D.N.P., Pace University
Dr. McDermott is a full-time faculty member and has been with Dominican University since 2007. She has over 25 years of experience and expertise in the fields of critical care, emergency medicine, and family medicine in a variety of clinical settings. She is a certified critical care nurse (CCRN) as well as a certified family nurse practitioner. Dr. McDermott currently practices as family nurse practitioner in both acute care and outpatient patient settings.
Professional Interests:
Dr. McDermott utilizes a family-centered approach to her patient care in the acute and primary care settings. She is also knowledgeable in the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services meaningful use requirements and medical home initiatives.
Catherine O’Sullivan
Instructor, Division of Nursing
Phone: (845) 848-6022
Email: catherine.osullivan@duny.edu
Professor O’Sullivan has been with Dominican University since 2015. She started as an adjunct clinical instructor and is now a full time faculty member. She has over 25 years of clinical nursing experience in the areas of medical- surgical nursing and critical care. She is certified in Medical- Surgical Nursing by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
Professional Interests:
Professor O’Sullivan is interested in acute care of adult clients with a focus on cardiology. Her goal is to prepare nursing students to be successful in today’s dynamic health care environment.
Barbara Polowczyk
Instructor, Division of Nursing, RN-BSN Coordinator
Email: barbara.polowczyk@duny.edu
AAS: Pace University
BSN: Pace University
MSN Clinical Nurse Specialist: Pace University
Certificate Advanced Graduation Study: Family Nurse Practitioner: Pace University
DNP © Dominican University
Professor Polowczyk‘s forty year nursing career includes working in various roles in acute care hospitals, staff nurse, head nurse, clinical nurse specialist and Dominican University. Barbara has been the Dominican University’s RN-BSN coordinator since 2015.
Professional Interests:
Barbara is interested in promoting service excellence, by providing her patients with the highest quality of care.
Nelly Vega-Woo
Assistant Professor, Division of Nursing and Coordinator, Nursing Skills and Simulation Lab
Phone: (845) 848-6021
Email: nelly.vega-woo@duny.edu
B.S.N., College of Mount Saint Vincent
FNP, Certified Family Nurse Practitioner
M.S., State University of New York Downstate
D.N.P., University of Massachusetts Amherst
Dr. Vega-Woo is a full-time faculty member in the Division of Nursing. Her areas of expertise include critical care and family practice. She received her Doctor of Nursing Practice in 2014 after presenting her thesis “Radiation Overexposure from Computed Tomography of the Brain.” She has over 13 years critical care nursing experience, 7 of which have been in the acute care inpatient setting as a board certified Family Nurse Practitioner. She began teaching at Dominican University in 2013, at which time she became Coordinator of the Nursing Skills and Simulation lab. Soon after her start, she was awarded a significant grant that allowed her to purchase many enhancements for the lab, bringing the teaching and learning process to the 21st century. Under the direction of Dr. Vega-Woo, the Skills and Simulation lab affords an innovative learning environment for students to transition into professional practice.
Professional Interests:
Dr. Vega-Woo chairs the Nursing Faculty Affairs Committee which organizes the annual Rockland County Nurse Recognition Day. She is also Vice President of the Dominican University Sigma Theta Tau Zeta Omega Chapter that honors nursing student scholars. She maintains up to date on all current healthcare issues and continues to meet required certification standards of practice as a nurse practitioner.
Lorraine Vitale
Instructor, Division of Nursing
Phone: (845) 848-6019
Email: lorraine.vitale@duny.edu
M.S., Mercy College
A.A.S., Cochran School of Nursing
B.S., (Health Management) Mercy College
B.S., (Gerontology) Mercy College
A.S., Westchester Community College
Professor Vitale has numerous years experience and expertise in medical-surgical and maternal child nursing. She also possesses experience in the field of geriatric recreation. Professor Vitale’s teaching experience includes educating licensed practical nurse students at BOCES as well as registered nurse students at local colleges.
Professional Interests:
Professor Vitale is interested in the health and psychosocial wellness of the older adult and the management of acute and chronic problems seen in the elderly. She plans to pursue an advanced practice role concentrating on the geriatric population.
Professor Vitale strives to increase the success of nursing students by providing them with the skills and foundation needed to succeed professionally.
Lynne Weissman
Assistant Professor
Phone: (845) 848-6026
Email: lynne.weissman@duny.edu
Diploma, Englewood Hospital School of Nursing
B.S.N., Dominican University
P.N.P.- C., Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, National Certification Board of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners and Nurses
M.S., Columbia University
F.N.P.-BC, Dominican University, Certified Family Nurse Practitioner, American Association of Colleges of Nursing
D.N.P., Columbia University
Dr. Weissman is a full-time faculty member at Dominican University in the Division of Nursing. She has been teaching at Dominican since 1997. She has been in nursing for over 40 years working in pediatric primary care. She also works as a pediatric nurse practitioner in a primary care office in Rockland County. She has been involved with United Hospice of Rockland and sits on the Health Advisory Board for Head Start of Rockland. Her focus is on ensuring the health of children and their families both physically and psychologically. She is certified by American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
Professional Interests:
Dr. Weissman’s professional interests include primary care of mental health and obesity in children from birth to 21 years as well as cultural competency across the lifespan.
Vita Wolinsky
Assistant Professor of Nursing
Phone: (845) 848-6056
Email: vita.wolinsky@duny.edu