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Topic: Health Care

Richard Kessel

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Richard Kessel is an emeritus senior lecturer of Communication Studies. He taught at Metropolitan State University of Denver for more than 20 years.

Kessel received his doctorate in human communication studies from the University of Denver, where his dissertation was on physician-patient decision-making. He developed the physician communication skills assessment and feedback program for the Center for Personalized Education for Physicians — where he became the senior communication consultant — which was subsequently licensed to the National Board of Medical Examiners and is now part of the United States Medical Licensing Examination that all medical students must pass before becoming licensed to practice.

Prior to becoming a full-time faculty member at MSU Denver, Kessel was an associate clinical professor in the Internal Medicine Department at the University of Colorado’s School of Medicine, where he taught clinical interviewing skills. He was instrumental in implementing the School of Medicine’s teaching and assessment programs utilizing simulated patients and was recognized for excellence by the Foundations of Doctoring program. Kessel also previously worked as an enrolled agent at the University of Denver’s Law School, where he helped establish its new student orientation program on financial planning (as it related to budgeting and student loans).

Kessel has spoken at academic and professional development conferences on topics ranging from the effective use of PowerPoint, the science of teaching and learning, clinical communication skills and financial planning.

He has been a nationally-recognized expert in physician assessment, education and behavior modification.

Carol Jensen

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Patrick Griswold

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Patrick Griswold, MSN, M.Ed., RN, is an associate professor in the Department of Human Services and Counseling and a clinical instructor in the Department of Nursing at Metropolitan State University of Denver. His areas of expertise include addiction medicine, mental health, counseling, affective learning and interprofessional education. He currently teaches Introduction Human Services; Pharmacology of Drugs and Alcohol; Addiction, Immunity and Infectious Diseases and oversees internships.

Prior to joining MSU Denver, Griswold worked as a course coordinator and adjunct faculty at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. He was also an instructor at the University of Massachusetts Medical School and New York University. Griswold has worked as a staff nurse in addiction treatment services.

Griswold received his master’s degree in nursing education from the University of Massachusetts Medical School in 2011. He received an additional master’s degree in education from the University of Massachusetts Boston in 1994. He received his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Hamilton College in 1986. Griswold is also a Registered Nurse, Licensed Addictions Counselor, Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor I and Licensed Mental Health Counselor.

Ricardo Gonzalez-Fisher

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Amy Dore

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Amy Dore, DHA, is a professor of health care management at Metropolitan State University of Denver teaching both undergraduate and graduate students in the Department of Health Professions. For more than 18 years Dore has taught courses in health disparities, human resources, practice management, research and leadership. Her expertise includes long term care/aging services, health disparities and workforce development.

Dore’s research interests are varied and include aging services, senior and caregiver health, rural health and diversity issues as well as student competency assessment and outcomes. During her academic career Dore authored and co-authored several case study responses, book chapters and original case studies. She is co-author of the textbook Cultural Learning in Healthcare: Recognizing and Navigating Difference.

Dore received her Doctor of Health Administration from Central Michigan University in 2009 and received her master’s degree in health care administration/management from the University of Denver in 2001. She received her bachelor’s in health care administration/management from the Metropolitan State University in 1996.

Theresa Buxton

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Theresa Buxton, Ph.D., is a professor and chair of the Department of Nursing at Metropolitan State University of Denver. She currently teaches multicultural care, leadership and management in professional nursing practice, and ethics and professional nursing practice.

Before joining MSU Denver, Buxton was an associate professor of nursing at Loretto Heights Nursing School at Regis University. She was also an instructor at the Intercollegiate College of Nursing at Washington State University and Spokane Community College. Buxton has clinical experience as a medical caseworker and a registered nurse trainer. She has been presented with the President’s Award and the Leadership Award from the Colorado Nurses Association.

She recently published an article titled “Translation and Validation of English Version of Evidence Based Practice Competence Questionnaire.” Buxton has published works in many areas, including teaching methods in nursing programs, workplace incivility in nursing and caring for the elderly. She has given numerous presentations, including at the Nurse Educator’s Conference in the Rockies and the Colorado Nurses Conference.

Buxton received her doctorate in leadership studies in 2004 and a master’s in nursing in 2001, both from Gonzaga University, and a bachelor’s in nursing in 1978 from Texas Woman’s University. She has her Colorado State Board of Nursing licensure. Buxton has also been certified as a nurse educator by the National League of Nursing and a CPR training provider by the Colorado CPR Association.

Kelsey Asplin

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Kelsey Asplin, is a naturopathic doctor and affiliate professor in the Integrative Health Care Program at Metropolitan State University of Denver.

She operates a naturopathic private practice called Determinant Health Naturopathic Medicine. Before obtaining her doctorate, Asplin worked as a licensed massage practitioner. She also serves as a board member for the Colorado Association of Naturopathic Doctors, a member of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians and a certified member of the Kinesio Taping Association International. Asplin received the Best of the Best 2017 award in Highlands Ranch for Holistic/Naturopathic Medicine and the Most Instrumental Woman in Naturopathic Medicine 2017 – West USA award at the Women in Health Awards 2017.

Asplin has published several articles in the Natural Medicine Journal titled “Gut Bacteria, Sleep and Brain Health” and “High-Protein Breakfasts Especially Important for Adolescents.” She also periodically reviews research for the journal.

Asplin received her Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine from Bastyr University in Seattle, Washington and a bachelor’s in integrative therapeutic practices from MSU Denver. She is a certified Kinesio taping practitioner.

Jenny Allert

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Jenny Allert, MSN Ed., RNC-OB,DNP, is an assistant professor in the Department of Nursing at Metropolitan State University of Denver. Her areas of expertise are pregnancy and newborns. She teaches Nursing Care for the Childbearing Family and Health Assessment.

Prior to joining MSU Denver, Allert was a staff nurse in the Labor and Delivery Department at multiple SCL Health sites. She was also a nursing obstetric clinical-practice instructor, health-career online instructor and upper-division lecturer at Arizona State University. Allert worked at Banner University Health Center as a staff nurse in a Level 4 high-risk labor-and-delivery unit. She is the lead faculty of Nursing Care for the Childbearing Family; and Health Assessment. She also serves on the Admissions and Scholarship Committee, the College Advising Committee and the University Awards Committee at MSU Denver.

Her research areas include cleft birth defects and developing skills for obstetric and pediatric nursing students. Her work has been published by the International Journal of Childbirth Education and the National League for Nursing.

Allert earned her Doctorate in Nursing Practice from Grand Canyon University. She received her master’s in Nursing from Grand Canyon University in 2015 and a bachelor’s in Nursing from Pacific Lutheran University in 2001.

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