Beth Skelton, RN, MSN, CPNP-PC, is a PhD candidate at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (USA) and a member of the IFNA Student Engagement Group. Beth is a member of Family and Down syndrome research group led by Dr. Marcia Van Riper, which includes study participants from 50 countries and focuses on studying adaptation and family management in the context of a family member with Down syndrome. Beth has worked with Dr. Van Riper on other studies funded through the University’s Dhillon Jordan Shah Innovation Fund and the School of Medicine’s Innovative Sleep Research initiative comparing family adaptation to having a child with Down syndrome, a congenital heart condition, or both. In addition to her work with Dr. Van Riper, Beth has worked as project manager for Dr. Louise Fleming on a study funded by the Pediatric Endocrine Nursing Society to create a mobile health app application to support persons with adrenal insufficiency. The combination of these experiences contributed to the development of her dissertation study addressing care coordination needs of families of children with Down syndrome and the development of a mobile health application to support parents’ care coordination efforts. Beth is fortunate to have IFNA members Dr. Marcia Van Riper, Dr. Kathleen Knafl, Dr. George Knafl, Dr. Louise Fleming and Dr. Veronica Swallow on her dissertation committee. For more information, contact IFNA member Beth Skelton.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/bethskelton11