People Group Archives: Expertise

Janet Lopez is a nurse scientist who is dedicated to addressing health inequities through a comprehensive approach. She focuses on developing innovative strategies to improve health outcomes for underserved communities. After completing her post-doctoral fellowship at the Veterans Rural Health Resource Center (VRHRC) in Gainesville, Florida, she concentrated on promoting health equity among rural Veterans […]

Dr. Rebecca Koszalinski applies technological solutions to improve the health of older adults. She is the primary investigator for a Florida Department of Health funded study with a large team of investigators, including epidemiology, water, air and environmental scientists, bench and nurse scientists, and nursing students in the investigation of health outcomes of harmful algal […]

Elizabeth Torres has worked as a nurse in Central Florida for 12 years, including as a transition care curse, adult PCU nurse and OB/newborn nurse at Advent Health. Her passion for teaching led her to an adjunct role with UCF in 2021 as a clinical instructor. In 2022, she earned her MSN Family Nurse Practitioner […]

During a clinical career spanning more than 20 years, Patti Thielemann served in a variety of settings including hospitals, out-patient programs, home health care and hospice, most recently as Director of Research at a Tampa-based hospice provider. In 2004, she transitioned to nursing education, teaching full-time for nearly 19 years at St. Petersburg College before […]

Instructor Jenny Garden has served as an operating room nurse since earning her ASN in 2001 and as a preceptor for nursing students and nurse interns since 2002. She has also served as an infection control practitioner. Garden first joined the University of Central Florida College of Nursing in 2021 as a clinical instructor and […]

Instructor Sara Snyder is a seasoned healthcare professional with a rich and diverse background in emergency nursing and a passion for advancing healthcare practices. A Certified Emergency Nurse, she has served in emergency departments and ICUs across the country for nearly two decades. Eager to share her knowledge and expertise, Snyder earned her MSN in […]

A board-certified registered nurse with an extensive background in obstetrical nursing, instructor Kelsey Gaffka is passionate about improving care for the perinatal population as well as facilitating the growth and development of student nurses. Her experience includes level III maternal nursing, labor and delivery, and newborn care, and she is certified in Inpatient Obstetric Nursing […]

Since earning her BSN in 2006, lecturer Latonia Green has held a variety of clinical appointments as a Registered Nurse, Head Nurse and Nurse Manager at hospitals in Tennessee and Florida, most recently as a Nurse Manager at AdventHealth East Orlando, a role in which she directed and managed 24-hour clinical operations of two observation […]

Kimberly Scalise, DNP, RN, CHSE, CNE, serves as both a lecturer and as the college’s Director of Post-licensure Undergraduate BSN Programs. Experienced in a range of teaching modalities including, online, didactic and simulation, Scalise is especially passionate about online education and preparing post-licensure nurses as they seek higher education. She has extensive experience teaching online […]

A dual-certified nurse practitioner for the adult-gerontology population, Frances Armstrong has been in the nursing field since earning her BSN in 2012. She developed a passion for critical care while working at the bedside as a Registered Nurse. Armstrong then sought out education for advanced practice nursing, becoming licensed and certified as an Advanced Practice […]