Three outstanding candidates were chosen to receive 2014 Research Excellence Fellowships through their respective work in nursing, physical therapy and social work.  NHF is proud to partner with these individuals and support their research in their fields.

The NHF Nursing Excellence Fellowship provides support for a registered nurse currently employed or interested in bleeding disorders care. Michelle Witkop, DNP, FNP-BC, of the Northern Regional Bleeding Disorders Center in Traverse City, Michigan, received the Nursing Excellence Fellowship for her project, “Bleeding Disorders Pediatric Pain Initiative.”

The objectives of the NHF Physical Therapy Excellence Fellowship are to improve the delivery of physical therapy care and expand the knowledge base specific to bleeding disorders. Grace Hernandez, PT, of The Center for Comprehensive Care and Diagnosis of Inherited Bleeding Disorders in Orange, California, received the Physical Therapy Excellence Fellowship for her clinical project titled, “Prevalence of Gross Motor Delays in Children with Hemophilia.”

The NHF Social Work Excellence Fellowship is given to eligible candidates whose research has relevance to current practice in bleeding disorders care and incorporates casework, group work, organizational and public health, education and research perspectives. Shannon Brown, LMSW, of the Children’s Blood and Cancer Center at Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas in Austin, received the Social Work Excellence Fellowship for her research project, “A Standardized Approach to Empowering Families with Hemophilia.”

The 2014 Research Excellence Fellowships were made possible by Baxter Healthcare’s support as the National Presenting Sponsor of the Hemophilia Walk program through its Road to Research Fund.  Established in 2014, this fund supports research in the three aforementioned areas.

NHF thanks Baxter for its generous support and congratulates the three fellowship recipients.