Scholar of the Month
Wendy Umberger
Professor
College of Nursing
2002-present
Wendy Umberger is a professor in the College of Nursing. Her program of research centers on the treatment and care of people experiencing chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP), psychological factors related to the pain experience, neuroendocrine and immune mechanisms in pain and inflammation, and the use of complementary therapies in pain management.
Umberger鈥檚 research has been strongly influenced by her clinical practice as a psychiatric mental health advanced practice registered nurse (APRN). Over the past decade, she has spearheaded the development of family education and therapy components of the Cleveland Clinic鈥檚 nationally recognized Chronic Pain Rehabilitation Program. Umberger is currently designing a tailored intervention for children living with parental CNCP based on the findings of her research, along with a pilot clinical trial to test the intervention.
Umberger was recently invited to join the editorial board of Pain Management Nursing, and has multiple publications in Applied Nursing Research, Biological Research for Nursing, Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing, Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, and Journal of Nursing Scholarship.
Umberger received her RN diploma from St. Alexis School of Nursing, Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing degrees from 5X社区, and Ph.D. from Case Western Reserve University.
ABOUT KENT STATE鈥橲 SCHOLAR OF THE MONTH
Kent State鈥檚 Scholar of the Month recognizes faculty researchers and scholars whose recent work has had an important impact on their professional fields and has brought exposure to the university. Each month, a different college will have the opportunity to nominate a researcher/scholar for this recognition. There is also a month when a faculty member from the Regional Campuses will be featured.
The selection process is in the hands of the dean and his or her colleagues and faculty. Hence, this is recognition by the person鈥檚 college colleagues that is then taken up by the university. The deans communicate the person鈥檚 name to the Division of Research and Sponsored Programs for recognition as Scholar of the Month.