Dose of Discovery

Episode 26: Student Debt and the Nursing Workforce

Nurses carry significant student loan debt, and it may influence financial stress and career decisions. This episode highlights a Health Affairs Scholar research letter examining loan balances among registered and advanced practice nurses and the workforce implications. We also shared this research on our social media channels. Read more here: https://myumi.ch/E8MmE

Episode 25: How Environment Shapes Youth Risk

Why do some young people start using substances earlier than others? This episode highlights research showing how social and environmental factors — like family rules, peer influence, and risk perception — shape early substance use initiation during adolescence. The findings point to the importance of supportive environments for youth wellbeing. https://myumi.ch/152j7 

Episode 24: When Extreme Weather Hits Health

After Hurricane Harvey, the risk did not end when the rain stopped. This study found that older adults exposed to high rainfall had higher one-year mortality, especially those with chronic kidney disease, dementia, diabetes, and among Non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic older adults. Read more: https://myumi.ch/y16X2 
 

Episode 23: Who Becomes Nursing Faculty?

There are more than 2,200 open nursing faculty positions in the U.S., and fewer than 1% of nurses hold a Ph.D. In this episode, Dr. Olivia Halabicky explores what happens during PhD programs that shape whether graduates choose academic careers. Read the full study here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jan.70506 
 

Episode 22: AI and Life After Cancer

How can AI better support people living with colorectal cancer? Researchers led by Dr. Yupawadee Kantabanlang reviewed 40 studies exploring AI tools that help predict outcomes, manage symptoms, and guide care. The review found most tools focus on forecasting medical risks, with fewer designed to support daily quality of life and emotional well-being.Publication: https://myumi.ch/8qbpG 

Episode 21: Looking Beyond Traditional STI Testing

Many chlamydia and gonorrhea infections can occur outside traditional testing sites and may go undetected. This episode explores a scoping review examining approaches to extragenital STI screening and why expanding testing practices can improve detection, treatment, and prevention. Publication: https://myumi.ch/VVNmW

Episode 20: Navigating Donor Conception Conversations

Parents using donor-assisted conception often wonder when and how to talk with their children about their origins. This episode explores research expanding the TELL Tool, a digital resource designed to help families navigate those conversations with confidence and support. Feature story: https://myumi.ch/w9GnW Publication: https://formative.jmir.org/2026/1/e79024

Episode 19: Global Health in Nursing Education and Leadership

Dr. Stacciarini and colleagues outline a research-based vision for strengthening global health through nursing education, leadership, and faculty partnerships. Drawing on international collaborations and training programs, the article describes how nursing schools may better prepare students to address health challenges across diverse communities and settings.Accepted November 2025 and published in Nursing Outlook.

Episode 18: Maternal Stress and Mental Health in Immigrant and Refugee Youth

Marvin Schilt-Solberg and collaborators examined whether maternal psychological distress is linked to mental health and biological aging in Middle Eastern immigrant and refugee children. Using survey data and cheek swabs to measure telomere length, the study suggests maternal stress and early life experiences may be associated with long-term health outcomes in youth.International Journal of Social Psychiatry in 2025.

Episode 17: Natural Environments and Cognitive Health in Older Adults

Dr. Hala Darwish and colleagues studied whether access to natural environments is associated with cognitive function among older Mexican Americans. The researchers found that higher exposure to green space was linked to better cognitive performance, particularly among women, after accounting for factors like age, education, and depression.Journal of Aging and Health.