NPCS Executive Team Biographies
Chief Nurse Officer
Chief, Nursing and Patient Care Services, NIH Clinical Center
Academic Degrees
BA, Reed College, Portland, OR
BSN, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD
MS, Georgetown University
PhD, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD
Email: chastings@cc.nih.gov
Phone: 301-435-3489
Biosketch
Clare Hastings is Chief for Nursing and Patient Care Services at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. As the Clinical Center Chief Nursing Officer, she directs patient care services that support intramural research activities conducted by the National Institutes of Health at its 240-bed research hospital and ambulatory care facility in Bethesda, Maryland. Dr. Hastings represents the Clinical Center in defining the roles of clinical nurses within the national clinical research infrastructure and in setting standards for integrating patient care and management of the clinical research process. She provides executive leadership for the nursing research program at the Clinical Center with portfolio strengths in quality of life, symptom management, health disparities reduction and research career development.
Dr. Hastings started her career as a staff nurse at the Clinical Center. She has held senior management roles at the Washington Hospital Center, in Washington, DC and the University of Maryland Medical System in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Hastings is past president of the American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing where she became nationally known as a spokesperson for defining the role and contributions of nurses in ambulatory care. She served as a Senior Evaluator for the Malcolm Baldrige Award Health Care Pilot. She has extensive publications and presentations on ambulatory care nursing, professional practice development, clinical research nursing and nursing administration. She also has a long-standing affiliation with the University Of Maryland School Of Nursing where she has taught graduate level courses in measurement and research methodology. She was selected as a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing in 2003.
Selected Honors and Awards
Champion in Clinical Research Nursing Award, International Association of
Clinical Research Nurses, 2010; NIH Director’s Award for Mentoring, 2005
Selected Presentations
Hastings, C. (November 2010) Clinical Research Nursing: Defining a Specialty International Association of Clinical Research Nurses2nd Annual Meeting, Bethesda, MD
Hastings, C. (October 2010) Innovation and Translation “A perspective from the National Institutes of Health” Association of Clinical Pharmacology Units 20th Annual Meeting, Cincinnati, OH
Hastings, C. (October 2010) The Role of Nurses in Early Phase Clinical Research Association of Clinical Pharmacology Units 20th Annual Meeting, Cincinnati, OH
Hastings, C., Loud, J., Mitchell, S. (2010, April). Advancing Nursing Roles in Clinical and Translational Science. Society for Clinical And Translational Science Annual Meeting, Washington, DC
Hastings, C. (October 2009) The Advent of Clinical Research Nursing International Association of Clinical Research Nurses1st Annual Meeting, Boston, MA
Hastings, C. (July 2009) Clinical Research Nursing: A Specialty Practice Domain United Kingdom Clinical Research Facilities (UKCRFs) 5th Annual Conference, Cambridge, UK
Hastings, C. (2009, March). Health Behavior Strategies That Work: What Does the Research Tell Us? East Bay Women’s Conference, San Ramon, CA.
Hastings, C. “Putting Clinical Research Nursing on the NIH Roadmap.” Poster session, American Academy of Nursing Annual meeting, Washington, DC, November, 2007
Hastings, C., Crow, K., Belgrade, G. and Teetzel, J. Building Capacity for Research at the Bedside in Indian Health Service Hospitals.” Panel presentation, NANAINA Annual Summit, Cleveland, OH, October, 2007.
Hastings, C. “Evidence-based Practice: Applications in Public Health.” Keynote Address. 16th Annual USPHS Nursing recognition Day, Bethesda, MD, May, 2007.
Hastings, C. “Putting Clinical Research Nursing on the NIH Roadmap: the Challenges We Face.” Plenary Session, GCRC Nurse Managers Association Annual Meeting, Washington DC, March, 2007
Selected Publications
Castro, K., M. Bevans, C. Miller-Davis, G. Cusack, F. Loscalzo, A.M. Matlock, H. Mayberry, L. Tondreau, D. Walsh, and C. Hastings. Validating the Clinical Research Nursing Domain of Practice (in press). Oncology Nursing Forum.
Mitchell, S.A., Fisher, C., Hastings, C., Silverman, L., Wallen, G.R. (2010). A Thematic Analysis of Theoretical Models for Translational Science in Nursing: Mapping the Field. Nursing Outlook, 58(6), 287-300.
Wallen, G.R., Mitchell, S., Melnyk, B., Fineout-Overholt, E., Miller-Davis, C.,Yates, J., Hastings, C. (2010). Implementing evidence-based practice: Effectiveness of a structured multifaceted mentorship programme. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 66(12), 2761-71.
Offenhartz M, McClary K, Hastings C. (2008). Nursing and realities of clinical research. Nursing Management, 39(11):34-9.
Hastings, C. (2006) Reduce errors with computerized prescriber order entry. Nursing Management, 37(12). 68.
Wallen, G.R., Hastings, C. (2006). Researching the gap: Minority health disparities studies at the National Institutes of Health. Advance for Nurses, 14-17.
Moore, M. & Hastings, C. (2006). The evolution of an ambulatory nursing intensity system: Measuring nursing workload in a day hospital setting. Journal of Nursing Administration. 36 (5). 241-248.
Deputy Chief Nurse Officer, Inpatient Services,
Nursing and Patient Care Services, NIH Clinical Center
Academic Degrees
AAS, Marymount University, VA
BS, University of Maryland, MD
MS, University of Maryland, MD
Email: TCartledge@cc.nih.gov
Phone: 301-451-1421
Biosketch
As Deputy Chief Nurse Officer, Inpatient Services at the Clinical Center of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Ms. Cartledge has operational responsibility all inpatient units, day hospitals and the management of the Central Staffing Office. Her team is comprised of 451 FTE in all three personnel systems (Public Health Commissioned Corp Officers, Title 42 Clinical Staff and Title 5 Administrative personnel. Ms. Cartledge earned a MS in Healthcare Administration from the University of Maryland University College in 2001, a BS in Healthcare Management from the University of Maryland University College in 1996 and an AAS in Applied Science from Marymount University in 1979.
Ms. Cartledge began her career at NIH in 1975 as a receptionist in Medical Arts and Photography. While working part time at NIH she pursued her interest in nursing as a part time student at Montgomery College. She was selected for the competitive NIH Stride Nursing Internship in August of 1977. She received her associate degree in 1979 from Marymount University and transitioned from a nursing assistant position to RN with the endocrine program of care at the Clinical Center. Following a 2 year hiatus working in labor and delivery at the National Navy Medical Hospital in Bethesda she returned to the Clinical Center as a staff nurse and later research nurse coordinator with a focus in reproductive endocrinology. Ms Cartledge transitioned to nursing administration in 1992 as the Nurse Manager of the Endocrine Outpatient Clinic/Pain Research-Dental Clinic. Over the next 19 years Ms. Cartledge continued to expand the scope of her administrative responsibilities within the Clinical Center to her current position of Deputy Chief Nurse Officer for Inpatient Services. She is fond of saying that she has worked in almost every position in the Nursing Department, with every admitting institute at the NIH.
Selected Honors and Awards
2002 CC Director’s Award for Mentoring; 2002 CC Director’s Award for Patient Care; 2004 CC Director’s Award for extraordinary effort in activating the CRIS system; 2004 NIH Director’s Award for Mentoring; 2005 NIH Director’s Award for Hurricane Katrina Response; 2005 CC Director’s Award in recognition of activation for the new Clinical Center Hospital; 2010 NIH Director’s Award for recognition of support in maintaining hospital operations during the Blizzard of 2010; 2010 Chief Nurse Officer Award for Outstanding Contributions to Nursing, US Public Health Service
Selected Publications
Wallen, G.R., Cusack, G., Parada, S., Miller-Davis, C., Cartledge, T., Yates, J. (2010). Evaluating a Hybrid Web-Based Basic Genetics Course for Health Professionals. Nurse Education Nov 22. [Epub ahead of print].
Dianis N.L.; Allen MA, Baker K, Cartledge T, Gwyer D, Harris S, McNemar A, Swayze R, Wilson M, Walker-Hinton P. Merger Motorway: Giving Staff The Tools to Reengineer, Journal of Nursing Management,1997:Mar,28 (3):42-7,quiz 48.
Batista M.C.;Cartledge T.P.; Zellmer A.W. Merino M.J.; Nieman L.K. Loriaux D.L. Merriam G.R.; A prospective controlled study of luteal and endometrial abnormalities in an infertile population,Fertility and Sterility.1996 Mar,65 (3):492-502.
Olson B.R.,Cartledge TP.,SebringN,Defensor R, Nieman L.K.,Short-term fasting affects lueinizing hormone secretory dynamics but not reproductive function normal-weight sedentary women, Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 1995; April 80 (4) :1187-1193.
Zinaman M.J.;Cartledge T.P.;Tomai T;Tippett P.; Merriam G. ; Pulsatile GnRH stimulates normal cyclic ovarian function in amenorrheic lactating postpartum women, Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 1995, July;80(7)2086-93.
Batista M.C.; Cartledge T.P.Zellmer,A.W.Merino M.J.;Axiotis C. Bremner W.J.; Nieman L.K.; Effects of aging on menstrual cycle hormones and endometrial maturation, Fertility and Sterility, 1995,64 (3) :492-9.
Karen Kaczorowski, MHSA, RN
Deputy Chief Nurse Officer, Ambulatory Care Services
Nursing and Patient Care Services, NIH Clinical Center
Academic Degrees
ADN, Macomb County Community College
BA, Michigan State University
MHSA, The George Washington University
Email: kkaczoro@cc.nih.gov
Phone: 301-496-2341
Biosketch
Ms. Karen Kaczorowski, a native of Detroit, Michigan, earned an associate’s degree in nursing from Macomb County Community College in Michigan. She received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Michigan State University and a master’s degree in health services administration from The George Washington University in Washington, DC.
Ms. Kaczorowski has held several positions as a nurse and in nursing administration throughout her nursing career. Her initial practice was as a pediatric nurse at the Children’s Hospital of Michigan. While continuing her education, she worked as a nurse in an urgent care center and also as an on off-shift nursing supervisor at Jackson Osteopathic Hospital in Michigan. After completing her bachelor’s degree she became the nursing supervisor for pediatric and adult medicine at SelectCare, a managed care organization, in Michigan, in addition to assuming the role of nursing supervisor for the after-hours telephone triage service for this company.
Upon moving to the Washington DC area to pursue her master’s degree, Ms. Kaczorowski worked as a utilization review/case manager nurse for The George Washington University Health Plan. Upon completing her degree she was offered the position of the Director of Clinical Operations and then promoted to Administrator of Operations and was responsible for the overall operations, including administration, clinical and radiology services, of seven suburban medical centers in the Washington DC metropolitan area. She has also worked as a claims review nurse for Aetna health plan on a per diem basis.
Ms. Kaczorowski started her career at the National Institutes of Health in 1997 as deputy for the Outpatient Department. She became the Deputy Chief Nurse for Ambulatory Care Services, Nursing and Patient Care Services, in 2000. Her current position includes responsibility for the nursing operations for all outpatient clinics and oversight of the off-shift nurse administrative coordinators. In addition, she is responsible for several of the business operations in the hospital, including: admissions, patient travel voucher, patient appointment scheduling, patient travel office and patient taxi services.
Selected Honors and Awards
2004 CC Director’s Award in recognition for efforts with implementation of hospital’s Clinical Research Informatics System; 2005 CC Director’s Award in recognition of activation efforts for the new Clinical Center Hospital; 2005 CC Director’s Award for individual recognition for strategic initiatives; 2006 CC Director’s Award for individual recognition for strategic initiatives; 2009 NIH Director’s Award for individual recognition for strategic initiatives; 2009 NIH Director’s Award for support in implementing new NIH Patient Travel Policy; 2010 NIH Director’s Award for recognition of support in maintaining hospital operations during the Blizzard of 2010
Selected Presentations
Kaczorowski K, Loscalzo F, Hastings C. Clinical Research Nursing 2010: Moving from Concept to Reality. Poster presented at the Nursing Management Congress 2008, Las Vegas, NV; September 2008.
Chief, Nursing Research and Translational Science
Nursing and Patient Care Services, NIH Clinical Center
Academic Degrees
BSN, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD
MA, Central Michigan University
PhD, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Email: gwallen@cc.nih.gov
Phone: 301-496-0596
Biosketch
Gwenyth Wallen, RN, PhD is currently the Chief of Nursing Research and Translational Science at the National Institutes of Health, Clinical Center. Her clinical research specializations include health behavior and health disparities research with special emphasis on methodology and measurement in end-of-life care, integrative health and vulnerable populations. Prior to beginning her career as a clinical nurse scientist she held advance practice roles as the Clinical Specialist for Neonatology and Clinical Manager of the Level III NICU at the Washington Hospital Center, in Washington, DC. Dr. Wallen also served as a post-doctoral research associate in the Department of Family Studies at the University of Maryland coordinating evaluation research for three state and local Responsible Fatherhood programs.
Dr. Wallen is a member of the NICHD Institutional Review Board. She has served as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Georgetown University School of Nursing and Health Studies where she taught a graduate course in measurement and research methodology. Dr. Wallen has a BS in Nursing from the University of Maryland, a MA in Management and Supervision from Central Michigan University, and a PhD in Health Education from the University of Maryland. In 2008 she completed the 2-year University of Arizona Fellowship in Integrative Medicine as part of her developing portfolio of integrative health research.
Selected Honors and Awards
National Institutes of Health/Clinical Center Director’s Award for Education (2002); National Institutes of Health/Clinical Center Director’s Scientific Award (2005); U.S. Public Health Service Chief Nurse Officer Award for Outstanding Contributions to Nursing (2007)
Selected Publications
Bevans, M., Wehrlen, L., Prachenko, O., Soeken, K., Zabora, J., Wallen, G.R. (in press). Distress Screening in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell (HSCT) Caregivers and Patients, Psycho-Oncology.
Wallen, G.R., Middleton, K.R., Rivera-Goba, M., Mittleman, B. (in press). Validation English and Spanish-language Patient Reported Outcome Measures in Underserved Rheumatic Disease Patients. Arthritis, Research and Therapy.
Wallen, G.R., Cusack, G., Parada, S., Miller-Davis, C., Cartledge, T., Yates, J. (2010). Evaluating a Hybrid Web-Based Basic Genetics Course for Health Professionals. Nurse Education Today, Nov 22. [Epub ahead of print].
Mitchell, S.A., Fisher, C., Hastings, C., Silverman, L., Wallen, G.R. (2010). A Thematic Analysis of Theoretical Models for Translational Science in Nursing: Mapping the Field. Nursing Outlook, 58(6), 287-300.
Wallen, G.R., Mitchell, S., Melnyk, B., Fineout-Overholt, E., Miller-Davis, C.,Yates, J., Hastings, C. (2010). Implementing evidence-based practice: Effectiveness of a structured multifaceted mentorship programme. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 66(12), 2761-71.
Ulrich, C., Wallen, G. (2010). Scientific Integrity: A Matter of Leadership, Ethics, and Research Translation. Clinical Scholars Review 3(2), 53-55.
Phelps, S., Wallen, G., Castro, K., Cusack, G., Muehlbauer, P., Shelburne, N., Woolery, M. (2009). Concept Mapping: A Strategy for Navigating the Oncology Maze. Journal for Nurses in Staff Development, 25(1), 42-47.
Wallen, G.R., Berger, A., Wittink, H., Carr, D. (2008). Palliative Care Outcome Measures: Translating Research into Practice. In Pain Management: Evidence, Outcomes, and Quality of Life, A Sourcebook in the series PAIN RESEARCH AND CLINICAL MANAGEMENT published by Elsevier.
Grady, C., Hampson, L., Wallen, G.R., Rivera-Goba, M.V., Carrington, K., Mittleman, B. (2006). Exploring Perceptions about the Ethics of Clinical Research in an Urban Community. American Journal of Public Health, 1996-2001.
Woolery, M., Carroll, E., Fenn, E., Wieland, H., Jarosinski, P., Corey, B., Wallen, G.R. (2006). The Constipation Assessment Scale: A Look at Pediatric Oncology. Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing, 23(2), 65-74.
Program Director Professional Development
Nursing and Patient Care Services, NIH Clinical Center
Academic Degrees
BSN, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
MSN, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
EdD, Instructional Technology, Towson University, Towson, MD
Certifications
Post Graduate Certificate Nursing Education
Post Graduate Certificate in Nursing Informatics
Board Certified Nursing Informatics (ANCC)
Email: cfisher@cc.nih.gov
Phone: 301-402-7505
Biosketch
Cheryl Fisher, EdD, RN-BC, is the Program Director for Professional Development for Nursing and Patient Care Services at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Primary areas of research interest are in course and program evaluation from both the staff development and the patient education perspective. Prior to her current position, Dr. Fisher worked as the nurse consultant for informatics at the Clinical Center and spent 20 years in the clinical area of cardiology and cardiac surgery with the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.
She received her doctorate in Instructional Technology from Towson University and has a postgraduate certificate in nursing informatics from the University of Maryland and a post graduate certificate in nursing education from George Mason University. She is responsible for all the central nursing education at the Clinical Center and is actively working to reconceptualize courses utilizing technology to increase accessibility of all educational offerings. Other responsibilities include management of the competency program within the Clinical Center and the Evidence Based Practice initiative. She is an adjunct professor for the University of Maryland and teaches graduate courses in nursing informatics. She is also board certified in nursing informatics and has co-authored two books on teaching with technology for nurse educators.
Selected Honors and Awards
National Institutes of Health/Clinical Center Director’s Award for Teaching (2009); National Institutes of Health/Clinical Center Director’s Award for Patient Care (2006); National Institutes of Health/Clinical Center Director’s Award for Implementation of the Clinical Research Information System (2004)
Selected Publications and Presentations
Mitchell, S.A., Fisher, C., Hastings, C., Silverman, L., Wallen, G.R. (2010). A Thematic Analysis of Theoretical Models for Translational Science in Nursing: Mapping the Field. Nursing Outlook, 58(6), 287-300.
Fisher, C., Parchen, D., Mitchell, S., Feigenbaum, K., Cusack, G., Cox., K., Keen-Woods, E., Miller-Davis, C., (2010). Competencies for Evidence Based Practice: A tool for change. Nursing practice based on evidence: Quality care at risk. University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD. Poster presentation.
Fisher, C. (2009). Making the Case: Why Evidence Based Practice. Inaugural Nursing Research Conference. Distinguished Speaker. Shepherdstown, WV.
Nahm, E.S., Fisher, C., Kennedy, R., (2009). Consumer Informatics. Summer Institute for Nursing Informatics – Informatics at the Point of Care, Invited panelist. Baltimore, MD
Fisher, C., Seckman, C., Demner-Fushman, D. (2010) EBP InfoBot: Evaluation of an Evidence-Based Practice System. Technological Innovations for Evidence-Based Practice: 17th National Evidence-Based Practice Conference, Iowa City, IA
Demner-Fushman, D., Fisher, C., Seckman, C., Thoma, G. Infobot: A Prototype System to Support Evidence Based Practice (2009). American Medical Informatics Association – Biomedical and health Informatics: From Foundations to Applications to Policy. San Francisco, CA
O’Neil, C., Fisher, C., (2008) Should I take this Course Online? Journal of Nursing Education 47(2)
Oneil, Fisher, C., Newbold, S., (2008) Developing Online Learning Environments in Nursing Education, Second Edition. Springer Publishing Company, New York, NY
Oneil, C., Fisher, C., Newbold, S., (2004) Developing an online course. Best Practices for Nurse Educators. Springer Publishing Company. New York, NY.
Program Director, Advanced Practice & Outcomes Management
Nursing and Patient Care Services, NIH Clinical Center
Academic Degrees
BSN, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
MSN, Marymount University, Arlington, VA
DNP Candidate, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD
Expected graduation Summer 2013
Email: DKolakowski@cc.nih.gov
Phone: 301-443-1251
Biosketch
Deborah Kolakowski MSN, RN is currently the Program Director of Advanced Practice and Outcomes Management for Nursing and Patient Care Services at the National Institute of Health Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Ms. Kolakowski provides leadership for the development, coordination, management and evaluation of activities that improve outcomes for patients participating in research studies. She also provides oversight of the Advanced Practice Nurses in support of inpatient, mental health and ambulatory programs of care. Ms. Kolakowski is responsible for data management systems that support NPCS including, Acuity Plus and the ANSOS One Staff systems.
Ms. Kolakowski started her career as a staff nurse in critical care at the George Washington University Medical Center. After completing her MSN in 1990, she served in various capacities as a nurse administrator and executive prior to beginning her career at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center in 2000 as a nurse manager for critical care. In 2008, Ms. Kolakowski was detailed to coordinate Nursing and Patient Care Services participation in the Data Transformation Initiative and implement a patient classification system, Acuity Plus, for inpatient, behavioral health, day hospitals and ambulatory care settings.
Ms. Kolakowski is currently enrolled as a doctoral student at the University of Maryland pursuing her Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP). Her interest of study is to define research intensity indicators associated with the activities within the dimensions of Clinical Research Nursing to predict nurse staffing workload and requirements in a Clinical Research setting.
Selected Honors and Awards
National Institutes of Health/Clinical Center Director’s Award for Strategic Initiatives (2004); National Institute of Health/Clinical Center Patient Safety Champion Award --Critical Care (2007); National Institute of Health/Clinical Center, Nursing and Patient Care Services Team Award – ICU, (2007)
Selected Presentations and Publications
Kolakowski D. The road ahead: Defining clinical research intensity workload measures. QuadraMed; Acuity Plus User Group Meeting, Washington DC; August 2010.
Kolakowski D. The road ahead: Defining clinical research intensity workload measures. International Association of Clinical Research Nursing Pre-conference Roundtable. Bethesda, MD; November 2010.
Zimmerman, J., D. Wagner, W. Knaus, J. Williams, D. Kolakowski, E. Draper, “The Use of Risk Predictions to Identify Candidates for Intermediate Care Units: Applications for Intensive Care Utilization and Cost”, Chest, 108:2, 1995.








