School of Nursing Faculty Member becomes a 2023 Betty Irene Moore Fellow
Duke School of Nursing (DUSON) Associate Professor Mitchell Knisely, PhD, RN, ACNS-BC, PMGT-BC, was recently admitted into the Betty Irene Moore Fellowship for Nurse Leaders and Innovators as a part of the largest cohort in Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis’ history.
The fellowship was established in 2020 to recognize early to mid-career nursing scholars and innovators. Knisely will participate in an innovative research project or study. He will receive $450,000 in funding over three years for their project in addition to $50,000 for DUSON. Dr. Knisely is in the third cohort of fellows that tackles projects focused on health issues and mental health promotion, care for underserved populations, and quality improvement using technology.
Dr. Knisely’s research is on the treatment of acute and chronic pain using precision health and nonpharmacological approaches. Knisely said he is honored to be selected for the fellowship and join this esteemed group of nurse scientists. “I look forward to growing my capacity as a leader in nursing and to increase access to acupuncture for people with chronic pain in rural NC,” Knisely said.
DUSON has a mission dedicated to embracing health equity and advancing social justice through transformative excellence in education, clinical practice, and nursing science. However, much work is needed to achieve health equity and social justice in healthcare and public health. Knisely recognizes diverse, culturally competent healthcare is needed to address the harmful Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) that disproportionately impact underserved communities such as rural areas and communities of color who have limited access to pain care.
Knisely said his program of research advances in pain management through better understanding the biopsychosocial contributors to individuals’ experiences with pain and ensuring access to evidence-based, equitable pain care for underserved populations. “The project I will work on as part of the Betty Moore Fellowship will address barriers to accessing complimentary and integrative health therapies for treating chronic pain in rural settings by implementing and assessing the community acupuncture intervention for treating individuals with chronic pain,” Knisley said. “This study will provide foundational knowledge on the implementation of a community acupuncture clinic in an underserved rural community.”