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CRISP
News from the Center for Chronic Illness Self-Management & Prevention
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CRISP is excited to announce several new updates in our center, including:
- 2026 CRISP Symposium-Monday April 27, 2026 from 8am-4pm
- Hermeneutic Phenomonology Institute-July 15-18, 2026
- March 4, 2026 member meeting
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Save the Date
2026 Center for Chronic Illness Self-management & Prevention (CRISP) Annual Symposium
Implications of Food & Financial Insecurity in Chronic Illness
Key Note Speaker: Shawna Forsberg, President & CEO, United Way of the Midlands, is a strategic community leader dedicated to advancing measurable impact across the Omaha region. Under her leadership, United Way has strengthened cross-sector partnerships, expanded access to critical services, and implemented innovative funding strategies to address housing, mental health, and basic needs.
Additional speakers, posters, networking, vendors, and more…including CE’s offered
Date: Monday, April 27, 2026
Time: 8 am - 4:30 pm
Location: Truhlsen Campus Event Center, 619 S. 42nd St. Ground Floor, Omaha, NE
To sign up please click the button below or use the QR code.
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CRISP Member Meeting March 10, 2026
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On Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at 12pm, over the noon hour, all current CRISP members are invited to gather for a CRISP Member Meeting. Members can chat on Zoom while networking, sharing information, and collaborating on funding opportunities, research, and publications.
(Click on Zoom for the link)
During the RedCap outage, email Tara Timberlake to become a member today or click on the button below!
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Members' Publications!
Our members have been on a publishing roll!
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Moradi Rekabdarkolaee, H., Longacre, L., Isaacson, M. J., & Varilek, B. M. (2025). Hospice referral rate disparities of American Indian/Alaska Native kidney transplant recipients with end-stage kidney disease. American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine®. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/10499091251315419
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Isaacson, M. J., & Varilek, B. M. (2025). Creating a safe space: Engaging graduate nursing students in meaningful discourse about racism. Journal of Transcultural Nursing. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/10436596251377879
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Seydel, A., & Varilek, B. M. (2025). Factors influencing health behaviors for young adults with sickle cell disease: A scoping review. Western Journal of Nursing Research. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/01939459251389697
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Isaacson, M. J., Herigon, K. D., Longacre, L. E., Pravecek, B., & Varilek, B. M. (2025). A diary of familiarity: A qualitative exploration of clinicians' experiences of familiarity and serious illness decision-making in a rural state. Advances in Nursing Science. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1097/ANS.0000000000000610
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Meyer, N., Donelan, M., Moradi Rekabdarkolaee, H., Varilek, B. M., Ngorsuraches, S., Brooks, P., Schrier, J., & Michael, S.(2026). Estimating short-term and long-term survival for patients with kidney failure using a mixture survival model. Kidney Medicine. Advance online publication. https://10.1016/j.xkme.2025.101232
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Brown, K.A., Cordts, K, Acquazzino, M., Meaker-Medcalf, S., Lally, RM. Quality of life and unmet needs of late-stage and metastatic colorectal cancer survivors: A mixed methods study. (submitted to Cancer Nursing (online ahead of print) March 6, 2025 Doi: 10.1097/NCC.0000000000001480 +
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Lally, R.M. Tlusty, G., Lake, K., Tanis, K., Jobanputra, J. Cozad, M. Exploring the Experiences of Care Partners Co-Surviving in the Context of Living with Metastatic Breast Cancer. J of Psychosocial Oncology (online ahead of print). February 8, 2025. Doi.10.1080/07347332.2025.2465576 +
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Hughes, K., Lim, A., Lally, R.M. Chosen Family Caregivers of Sexually and Gender Diverse Breast Cancer Survivors: An Integrative Review" Cancer Care Research Online. October 2025. 5(4), e078, Doi: 10.1097/CR9.0000000000000078 ++
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Solmos, S, Eisenhaure C, Lally R, Cuddigan J. Without Filters” Nurse and Healthcare Worker Personal Protective Equipment Injuries and the COVID-19 Experience: An International Social Media Ethnographic Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health, October 2025, 22(11), 1603; Doi: 10.3390/ijerph22111603 +
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Progress on Let's Talk Cancer
CRISP leaders Drs. Lally, Varilek, and Smith are making steady progress on Let’s Talk About Cancer: Educating Community Health Workers in Cancer Risk, Screening, Prevention, and Treatment for Minoritized Women with the assistance of new CRISP GA/RAs Tara Timberlakd and Kendra Quandt and doctoral students Kia Scott-Sellers (College of Nursing) and Brooke Lawson (College of Public Health). This project received funding last spring from the Nebraska Women's Health Research Center. The CRISP team held four community conversations with community health workers and cancer survivors to gather their input and to foster ongoing collaboration in developing a women's cancer education curriculum. These community stakeholders also reviewed a draft curriculum and provided input on what resources community health workers need to community cancer risk, screening, and prevention messages to the public. Work is ongoing to develop content which will be offered on NU Advance non-credit system in a pilot study this spring. This project addresses CRISPs' vision to promote health, reduce the burden of chronic illness, and actively work with community partners toward health equity in Nebraska and beyond.
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Institute for Hermeneutic Phenomenology will be held July 15-18, 2026!
The Qualitative Research Lab is bringing back the Institute for Hermeneutic Phenomenology this July 2026!
Dr. Susan Bredlau, a philosopher, is returning for another exciting Institute!
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Qualitative Research Lab
Providing consultation and assistance in research design, data collection, data analysis, and dissemination styles for researchers planning, proposing, or implementing qualitative research projects.
During the RedCap outage, if you would like more information, or to request services, click the button below!
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We say Farewell and Good Luck!
In the fall, we said farewell to Tonya Cejka, who went to pursue other adventures at UNMC. CRISP leaders decided to change our structure to involve graduate students in the center, providing research, networking, and learning opportunities. The new GA is Kendra Quandt, and the RA is Tara Timberlake.
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Kendra Quandt, BSN, RN, is a PhD nursing student at UNMC and a Graduate Research Assistant since 2025. She brings 2 decades of oncology experience to her current endeavors, working with CRISP and the One Stop Cancer Shop. She maintains a casual position at Nebraska Hematology Oncology, which continues to inspire potential research questions. When she is not working or studying, she loves music, walking, and attending her kids' activities.
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Tara Timberlake, MSN, RN, is a PhD student at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing and serves as a Pulmonary Procedures and Lung Transplant Coordinator at the Omaha VA Medical Center. Her research aims to reduce unplanned hospitalizations and emergency department visits among people with advanced lung cancer by analyzing nursing assessment data and patient-reported symptoms. She has received the Nebraska Nurses Association’s Positive Image of Nursing Award, which recognizes her dedication to advancing oncology nursing practice and enhancing patient outcomes.
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Who We Are, Our Mission,
Our Vision
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The Center for Chronic Illness Self-Management & Prevention (CRISP) is an interdisciplinary community of faculty, students, and experts (clinical, academic and community members) whose work and interests focus on the prevention and self-management of chronic illnesses including, but not limited to, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer.
Our Mission is to be a leader and innovator in the science of self-management and prevention of chronic illness.
Read More
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CRISP
Center for Chronic Illness Self-Management & Prevention
985330 Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha NE 68198-5330
Email
Website
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