Inquiring minds want to know-
That could be the theme of our profiled member, Cynthia Padula. Dr. Padula, PhD, RN, is the recent recipient of the Delta Upsilon Chapter Lifetime achievement award for her unending thirst for new nursing knowledge. As she noted during her acceptance speech, her early research programs were supported by a $500 grant from the Chapter.
Dr. Padula began her nursing career at Rhode Island Junior College, receiving her A.D, then moving on to Salve Regina College for her B.S.N. Dr. Padula received her Master’s Degree from Boston University in Adult Medical Surgical Nursing with a specialty in Cardiovascular disease. In 1994 she completed a PhD in Family Studies and Gerontology from the University of Connecticut.
She began her career as an educator in 1980 at Rhode Island College; along the way she also taught at Salve Regina College, the University of Rhode Island and she is now at Rhode Island College in the role of the Director of the Graduate Program in Nursing.
Numerous awards have cited Dr. Padula’s commitment to Nursing, Nursing education and service, including the Academic Educator Award from RISNA, a leadership fellowship from AACN and a chapter service award from Delta Upsilon.
Dr. Padula has an extensive background in nursing research, focusing on the older adult, couples and the use of the Transtheoretical model for behavior change for health. She is the author of numerous book chapters and peer reviewed articles. As a researcher she has been funded for studies in a wide range of interests including Prevention of functional decline in hospitalized older adults, Prevention and early detection of pressure ulcers in high risk hospitalized patients and Determinants of Health-Promotion Behavior in Long-Term Married Couples.
Her students and peers have truly been exposed to a role model of nurse scientist, educator and leader.
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