Strengthening Communities Where We Live, Work, and Play | Page 24

PREVENTING
A LIFETIME
OF MISERY
Chronic Illness—A
Heavy Burden for
Individuals and the
Healthcare System

The CDC lists Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) as “one of the five most prevalent
gastrointestinal diseases” in the U.S. This chronic condition includes inflammation
within the digestive track, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s disease.
• IBD affects 1.4 million Americans.
• With typical onset from ages 15 to 30, this
chronic disease affects people for the rest of
their lives.
• Healthcare costs for IBD exceed $6.3 billion
annually, with indirect costs adding an
estimated $5.5 billion.

PhD Student Kendra J. Pennings Kamp,
BSN, RN, wants to improve quality of life for
individuals with IBD. Her research was inspired
by her husband’s quest to reduce symptoms of
ulcerative colitis and their impact on overall life
and health.

PhD Student Kendra J. Pennings Kamp, BSN, RN

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She plans to explore factors that affect
quality of life, such as stress, nutrition, social
support, medication, and anxiety. Findings
from her dissertation work will become the
springboard for creating an intervention to
target improved quality of life for persons
suffering from IBD. There is also potential to
blend her knowledge of women’s reproductive
changes with IBD.

Outstanding Student Performance
Award (2013–2014), Sigma Theta Tau
International, Kappa Epsilon AtLarge Chapter
Women’s Health and Transitions
in Childbearing Undergraduate
Research Award (2013–2014),
Midwest Nursing Research Society
Earhart Emerging Scholars Award,
(2012–2013), Calvin College

Why MSU?
A Stand-Out Choice for her PhD
Kamp carefully researched many potential
PhD programs. After her visit to MSU, she knew
this was the program for her.

Fast Track PhD Student Explores
Interventions for People Suffering from
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

• Its cause remains unknown, although
researchers acknowledge a combination
of environmental, immunologic, and
genetic factors.

Career Successes

• She found a good fit with a mentor, major
professor Dr. Kelly Brittain, who listens to
her concerns, provides encouragement and
guides her program of research.

President, Calvin Student
Nurses Association

Organizational Activity
Deeply Influenced by Family Caregiving

• The MSU nursing program is communitybased. Since most individuals spend the
majority of their time in the community and
not in the hospital, Kamp wanted to approach
nursing from a community viewpoint.
• The College promotes intervention research,
the research that involves interacting with
individuals and creating programs to enhance
health.
• The College is engaged in lots of exciting
research work in infant-feeding practice,
exercise programs, adherence to oral
chemotherapy, and complementary therapies.

Graduated with Honors in Nursing,
Calvin College

Kamp’s career choice grew out of
participating in the significant medical
challenges of loved ones. Between providing
care for her father with ALS and observing
nursing care for him in the intensive care unit,
she came to understand care through the eyes
of both the patient and the caregiver. And a
career was launched.

Midwest Nursing Research Society
Sigma Theta Tau International,
Alpha Psi Chapter
MSU College of Nursing
representative to the Council
of Graduate Students
MSU College of Nursing Doctoral
Nurses Association, Secretary

MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF NURSING • NURSING.MSU.EDU

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