Shahrzad Nowzari is currently a PhD student.  Her area of research focuses on alcohol-related brief interventions for Veterans in primary care.  Ms. Nowzari is currently engaged in four research studies with Dr. Deborah Finnell, UB School of Nursing Associate Professor and her research team at the VA. These projects will be ongoing through the summer months with several planned manuscripts and presentations at professional meetings. Ms. Nowzari accompanied Dr. Finnell to the Netherlands this past June where they presented at the Dutch Addictions Nursing Conference and they both attended the meeting of the Research Society on Alcoholism with other members of the Virginia Center for Integrated Healthcare. 

Frederick H. Osborne is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Certified Addictions Registered Nurse employed at the Canandaigua VA Medical Center. Mr. Osborne is pursuing a post-masters Doctor of Nursing Practice degree at UB School of Nursing.  Dr. Finnell and Mr. Osborne have several joint publications related to medication taking and substance use behaviors. Their qualitative descriptive study resulted in the development of the Recovery Resource System for Veterans on long- term psychiatric medication. His capstone project focuses on assessing medication possession ratios at admission to substance abuse residential treatment and prior to discharge. Mr. Osborne's long-term goal is to develop and evaluate programs that promote medication taking and reduction in substance use among Veterans.

The UB School of Nursing is proud to be participating in Jonas Veterans Healthcare Program.  Only two Schools of Nursing in New York State were chosen to participate in the program, UB and Columbia University. 

Recognizing the tremendous commitment and sacrifices our veterans have made to serve our country, the Jonas Center is committed to do our part to support improved healthcare for this population. Starting this fall, the Jonas Center will support scholarships for 54 nurses to be trained at the doctoral level (PhD and DNP) on veteran-specific healthcare needs, ranging from clinical to policy to administration to education, to help ensure our veterans are receiving the best possible care. Scholar’s research projects will be focused on priority veterans’ healthcare need (as identified by the White House and Veterans Administration).