People

Lynne M. Dunphy, PhD, APRN, FNP-BC

Professor of Nursing — Routhier Endowed Chair for Practice — PhD: University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL — MSN: Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing, NYC, NY — ldunphy@ds.uri.edu — p. 401.874.5323

Dr. Lynne Dunphy joined the College of Nursing faculty of the University of Rhode Island in Fall 2006 as the first Routhier Chair of Practice. The Routhier Chair focuses on nursing workforce issues and provides a venue to lead and direct the role of professional nursing in meeting the critical health care needs faced by the state of Rhode Island. She is the director of the Rhode Island Center of Nursing Excellence and prominent researcher in nursing workforce issues in the state of Rhode Island. She was the recipient of an American Journal of Nursing Award for her 1997 book, Management Guidelines for Adult Nurse Practitioners. In 2006 she was inducted into the National Academies of Practice.

Jane Williams

Professor of Nursing — Dean School of Nursing, RIC — PhD:University of Rhode Island — M.A: New York University — B.S.N: University of Michigan, School of Nursing — jwilliams@ric.edu — p. 401.456.8013

Dr. Jane Williams is an associate of the Rhode Island Center for Nursing excellence. She is the dean of the college of nursing at Rhode Island College and author of several journal articles. Her areas of interest include nursing education, end of life issues, oncology nursing practice and study of narratives.

Matthew M. Bodah

Professor of Labor Relations — Chair, Economics Department URI — PhD:Michigan State University — M.A: University of Rhode Island — mbodah@uri.edu — p. 401.874.2497

Professor Bodah’s research has covered a number of topics concerning the workforce and workplace.Currently, he devotes most of histime to work concerning the educational capacity of nursing schools in Rhode Island and to various labor force issues in the construction industry, including project labor agreements and the workforce demands of green building. He also is working on research with Martin Schneider of the University of Paderborn (Germany) that compares the political pressures on the National Labor Relations Board with those on the German Federal Labor Court. With Pat McHugh of George Washington University, Dr. Bodah is studying industry-level efforts at labor/management cooperation. He also has been doing some research on work/life issues and hope soon to publish an article on state-level policy developments concerning work/life balance. Finally, for the past decade, he has been conducting biennial research on the rates charged for childcare in Rhode Island. That research helps the state determine appropriate reimbursement rates to childcare providers for those receiving subsidies for childcare.

Jay Spitulnik

Organizational Consultant, Lifespan Learning Institute — Center Associate, RICNE — Adjunct Assistant Professor, URI College of Nursing — PhD candidate: Walden University — EdM: Boston University — BA: Boston University — jspitulnik@lifespan.org

Jay Spitulnik is a seasoned management consultant expert in organizational assessment, strategic planning and implementation and process development. Skilled in the design and delivery of groundbreaking change management programs that have delivered significant revenue growth and cost savings through restructuring of business process in compliance with long and short term organizational goals. Tendency to thrive in dynamic and fluid environments while remaining pragmatic and focused. He is an organizational consultant at Lifespan and was previously the Principal Consultant and COO of Performance Effectiveness Group.

Jeanette Matrone, RN, PhD, CNAA, BC

Professor of Nursing — Center associate, RICNE — PhD: Boston College — MA: Boston College — BS: Salve Regina College — jmatrone@cox.net

Dr. Matrone is an accomplished professional in nursing practice. She was the president of the Rhode Island nursing association (RISNA), on the Governor’s advisory council on health, leader of a delegation of nurses from RI, MA, CT to China in a people to people exchange program. She was a faculty at the University of Rhode Island, Rhode Island college and Excelsior college and she offers a wealth of experience on nursing issues in the state.

Dayle Joseph

Professor of Nursing — Dean, College of Nursing, URI — PhD: Boston University — dayle@uri.edu — p. 401.874.2766

Dr. Joseph’s research interests developed from years as a clinical teacher. In the early 1980′s She looked at medical-surgical nurses’ willingness to make independent decisions. Findings from this work indicated that some nurses took more risks than others. Dean Joseph found the notion intriguing and thought it might be interesting to study patients who took risks. Clients with diabetes often take major risks in health care. Her research in the 1990′s and 2000′s was devoted to helping clients change this behavior.

Dr. Joseph’s most recent research interests have been in the area of work force development. Having been appointed as leader of the Subject Matter Expert panel for Rhode Island’s SHAPE II study, she was very involved in examining data that relates to practicing nurses in Rhode Island. The study findings indicate that the state is facing a severe crisis predicting about a 55% shortage in the nurses needed by 2020. In Rhode Island the leaders in nursing must develop strategies to prevent this crisis from happening. The findings from this study, which was designed and conducted by the nationally acclaimed firms of Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc. and Harris Interactive, were alarming. The work ahead for nursing leaders is daunting, but all are anxious to begin the challenge of making Rhode Island a model state.

Maria Ducharme

RN, MS, NE-BC,Senior Vice President, Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer

Maria P. Ducharme, RN, MS, NE-BC is the senior vice president, patient care services and chief nursing officer at The Miriam Hospital. For the past two years, she served as the administrative director for patient care services. Ducharme joined The Miriam Hospital in 1987. She has held various leadership positions of increasing responsibility since 1990. While serving in leadership roles, including Magnet coordinator, the department of nursing at The Miriam Hospital achieved Magnet status, a designation of nursing excellence by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), for 12 consecutive years.

Ducharme has formed strong relationships between nursing and rehabilitation services to integrate and incorporate geriatric protocols into the nursing care delivery system. She has led the organization to enhanced patient flow through innovative approaches and team participation. Ducharme is a 1987 graduate of Rhode Island College and she holds a master’s degree in nursing from the University of Rhode Island.
Over the years, Ducharme has been instrumental in shaping the professional practice environment at The Miriam Hospital. She is credited for her multiple contributions in sustaining a professional practice environment that aligns with The Miriam Hospital and Lifespan strategic vision. She currently serves as the executive sponsor for the Nursing Unit Council Steering Committee, Clinical Advancement Committee and Peer Feedback Program. Ducharme’s engagement and support of a shared governance environment provides a strong foundation for excellence in the delivery of nursing care.
Ducharme is a member of the Rhode Island State Nurses Association, Sigma Theta Tau, Board member of Massachusetts Organization of Nurse Executives and American Organization of Nurse Executives.