E. Carol Polifroni, EdD

Director, Office of Public Engagement (Affiliate)

Research Overview

My area of scholarly interests are two-fold: diversity in the nursing & health care workforce and health care policy promoting social justice. As designer and chair of the Advisory Board for the Academy of Nursing & Health Sciences in Hartford, I know first-hand the challenges of changing behavior when the systems are not appropriately aligned to support such change. As a nurse, I also know that the social determinants of health are the key variables which, when not addressed, influence health as much as biological determinants. Therefore, policies need to be developed, implemented and evaluated which address the intersection of diversity, elimination of health disparities, and the social determinants of health. I have three funded projects which address these intersections and will submit an additional grant in November furthering my work.

Education

1971: BS: Nursing: Saint Anselm College

1975: MA: Biophysical pathology and Nursing: New York University

1981: EdD: Curriculum theory & development; administration: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Featured Publications

Judge, M.,Polifroni, EC., et al (2015) Influence of student attributes on readiness for interprofessional learning across multiple healthcare disciplines: Identifying factors to inform educational development. International Journal of Nursing Sciences. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnss.2015.07.007

Judge, M., Polifroni, EC, et al (2015) Evaluation of students’ receptiveness and response to an interprofessional learning activity across health care disciplines: An approach toward team development in healthcare. International Journal of Nursing Sciences http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnss.2015.01.003

Polifroni, E.C. (2010). Power, Right, and Truth: Foucault’s Triangle as a Model for Clinical Power, Nursing Science Quarterly 23(1)8-12.