Faculty Office Hour: Supporting Children with Complex Health Care Needs

Supporting Children with Complex Health Care Needs

This spring, URI Magazine will examine our often-complicated health care system with perspectives and advice from alumni working in the field. In coordination, Faculty Office Hour will offer additional perspectives from faculty whose work focuses on supporting patients with complex health care needs.

This webinar will be presented by Ann Marie Moraitis, PhD, MS, RN and David Geyer, PhD, RN, CPNP-PC, assistant professors in the College of Nursing whose research focuses on patients with complex needs. Professor Moraitis’s research interests examine the use of digitally delivered physical activity support for youth cancer patients to optimize their quality of life and long-term health outcomes, while Professor Geyer’s research seeks to address the challenges of caring for children with complex medical conditions at home. These patients do better when they and their families receive the care and services they need.

Register by: Wednesday, March 5, 2025

About the Faculty Presenters

Ann Marie Moraitis, PhD, MS, RN
Assistant Professor, College of Nursing
Professor Moraitis is a Ph.D. prepared nurse scientist and master’s prepared clinical exercise physiologist whose overarching research focus is the provision of digital support for health promotion and symptom mitigation in underserved cancer communities. Her research approach is transdisciplinary and builds on formative experiences in clinical nursing care in pediatric intensive care, outpatient and community settings. Her health promotion training as a clinical exercise physiologist provided her with extensive clinical training to understand the role of physical activity across various acute care and rehabilitation settings. Currently, she is the co-chair of the Oncology Nursing Scientist Research Collaborative and an invited committee member of the International Late Effects of Childhood Cancer Guideline Harmonization Group. She earned a Ph.D. in nursing science from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and an M.S. in clinical exercise physiology from Springfield College, Springfield, Mass.

David Geyer, PhD, RN, CPNP-PC
Assistant Professor, College of Nursing
Professor Geyer is a pediatric home care nurse, certified primary care nurse practitioner, and nurse scientist. He came to URI shortly after earning his Ph.D. from the Boston College Connell School of Nursing. In his current role, he has continued to grow his program of research centered around identifying, examining, and addressing systemic challenges of caring for children with medical complexity at home through community engaged and policy driven initiatives. He has had the distinct pleasure of sharing his research, as well as general educational presentations related to children with medical complexity, at local, national, and international venues. He serves as chair of the Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs Special Interest Group for the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners and is passionate about improving the life experiences of this unique pediatric population through research, education, and advocacy.

URI Foundation & Alumni Engagement strives to provide inclusive access to events. If you need a reasonable accommodation or have a question about accessing this event, please call 401.874.2242 at least five business days in advance. For TTY assistance, please call the R.I. Relay Service at 711.