NEWS 2009: MS Researcher Alexa Stuifbergen Visits RTC

Alexa Stuifbergen, PhD, RN, FAAN, visited the RTC/IL in December 2009 through a Big 12 Faculty Fellowship. She met with RTC staff to discuss her systematic line of research in multiple sclerosis and possible collaborative projects.

Dr. Stuifbergen has been involved in research related to health promotion for persons with disabilities for more than 15 years. She has taught content related to health promotion, chronic disabling conditions, and rehabilitation in undergraduate and graduate courses, authored numerous articles on the subject, and served on national committees for the Rehabilitation Nursing Foundation and the National MS Society.

Dr. Stuifbergen chaired the Adult Work Group for the DHHS Advisory Subcommittee to generate health promotion objectives for persons with disabilities for inclusion in Healthy People 2010.

Her center grants and research projects studying health promotion in adults with chronic disabling conditions (multiple sclerosis, post-polio syndrome, and fibromyalgia) have been funded for over $6.7 million by the National Institute of Nursing Research, the Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, and the Office of Research on Women’s Health at the National Institutes of Health.

Dr. Stuifbergen is Dean ad Interim at the University of Texas-Austin School of Nursing. She is also Professor Dolores Sands Chair in Nursing Research Director, Cain Center for Nursing Research Director, Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research in Underserved Population Associate Director, Southwest Partnership Center for Nursing Research on Health Disparities.