Leadership and Affiliates
Debra Ridling, PhD, MS, RN, NEA-BC
Director, Center for Pediatric Nursing Research
Associate Chief Nurse, Practice and Research, Seattle Children’s
Clinical Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, University of Washington, Seattle
Debra Ridling is the director of the Center for Nursing Research. She is also the associate chief nurse and senior director for nursing practice and research at Seattle Children’s. She and her team lead the programs of evidence-based clinical practice; quality and safety; professional development; orientation; nurse residency; education and competency; informatics; shared governance; Magnet; outreach education; schools of nursing; and others.
Elaine Walsh, PhD, RN, PMHCNS-BC, FAAN
Nurse Scientist, Seattle Children’s
Associate Professor, School of Nursing, University of Washington, Seattle
Elaine Walsh is a nursing scientist in Seattle Children’s Center for Pediatric Nursing Research, where her research focuses on the resiliency of nurses and other health professionals. She is also an associate professor at the University of Washington School of Nursing, where she holds various leadership positions in the Child, Family, and Population Health Nursing Department. She has received NIH funding for research on suicide prevention and the translation of research interventions into community settings. Her focus on suicide prevention and mental health is helping individuals, families, and communities to be more resilient despite challenges presented in their daily lives.
Kristen Carlin, MPH
Biostatistician, Seattle Children’s
Kristy Carlin is an experienced biostatistician within Biostatistics Epidemiology and Analytics in Research. As a member of the Center for Pediatric Nursing Research, she also helps researchers and nurses with study design, data analysis and manuscript preparation.
Denise Sackinger, PhD, MN, RN, CPN
Support Leader, Nursing Quality, Safety, & Magnet, Seattle Children’s
Denise Sackinger is the leader for the Nursing Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) Fellowship and mentor for the Innovations and Improvements Council. She guides and supports nurses in identifying and investigating best practices related to clinical questions. Her research interests are centered around quality and safety of hospitalized children.
Emily Moore, PhD, MSN, ARNP, CPNP-PC
RWJF Future of Nursing Alumna
Advanced Practice Provider, Seattle Children's
Manager APP Education, Seattle Children's
Emily Moore is a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Future of Nursing Alumna. Emily’s program of research is centered around infant survival in rural communities, specifically looking at what care coordination factors impact infant well-being in the context of infants with single ventricle heart disease. Emily is the manager of Advanced Practice Provider clinical education where she guides and supports APP’s with onboarding and transition into practice as well as professional development. Emily is also a clinical nurse practitioner in outpatient cardiology.
Catherine Fiona Macpherson, PhD, RN, CPON
Registered Nurse, Cancer & Blood Disorders Inpatient Unit, Seattle Children's
Catherine Fiona Macpherson is a staff nurse on the Cancer & Blood Disorders Inpatient Unit at Seattle Children's Hospital. She has practiced as a staff nurse in pediatric oncology throughout her entire career. Catherine's clinical and research careers have focused on the care of children, adolescents, and young adults with cancer; with a particular focus on symptom assessment and management, psychosocial support, and end of life care, including patient, family, and professional loss and grief. In 2009 she founded The Consortium to Study Symptoms in Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer (CS2AYAC), which facilitates the conduct of clinically meaningful studies in a small heterogeneous population and enhances the productivity of early-career scientists.
Affiliate members
Affiliate members of the Center for Pediatric Nursing Research are nurse researchers from other academic organizations conducting research at Seattle Children’s.
Barbara B. Cochrane, PhD, RN, FAAN, FGSA
Professor, Child, Family, and Population Health Nursing, University of Washington, Seattle
Cara Gallegos, PhD, RN
Associate Professor and Nursing Faculty Research Director, School of Nursing, Boise State University
Amy Howells, ARNP, PhD
Associate Teaching Professor, Child, Family and Population Health Nursing, University of Washington, Seattle
Rebecca O’Connor, PhD, RN
Associate Professor, Child, Family and Population Health Nursing, University of Washington, Seattle
Alic Shook, PhD, RN
Assistant Professor, College of Nursing, Seattle University
Teresa Ward, PhD, RN
Professor, Child, Family and Population Health Nursing, University of Washington, Seattle
Mayumi Willgerodt, PhD, MPH, FAAN, FNASN, RN
Associate Professor, Child, Family and Population Health Nursing, University of Washington, Seattle
Weichao Yuwen, PhD, RN
Professor, University of Washington, Tacoma