Nurse Scientist, Dr. Valerie Boebel Toly, Includes Health Disparities Lens in Research and Uses REDI Consultation to Help Inform Study Development Based on National Institute of Nursing Research’s New Strategic Plan
Valerie Boebel Toly, PhD, RN, CPNP, FAAN, Associate Professor, Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing and The Arline H. and Curtis F. Garvin Professor of Nursing, Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing discovered the Clinical and Translational Science Collaborative’s (CTSC) new Research Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (REDI) Consultation offering in the . “I was reading the CTSC June newsletter and happened to see that there was an opportunity for the DEI consultation and I thought that this was what I really needed as I prepared for this new grant. DEI is talked about a lot, but I wanted to have a clear focus for my research proposal,” said Dr. Toly.
Offered as a complimentary one-hour session to help investigators build diverse, inclusive, and equitable research programs and studies, the consultation typically includes:
- An opportunity to explore intrapersonal and interpersonal DEI development;
- Exploration of diverse communities, inclusive partnerships, and equitable engagement;
- Discussion about health disparities and how investigators can advance health equity through their research;
- Navigation of new DEI resources on the CTSC website; and
- Co-creation of a DEI plan for an investigator’s research.
However, if an investigator has a different idea in mind for how they could use the DEI perspective in their work, the CTSC is ready, willing, and able to serve, support, and provide resources to meet that need. Dr. Toly is a perfect example of an investigator who had an idea of what she wanted out of the consultation. She submitted a and provided context for her request that identified the that details five research lenses or perspectives (i.e., health equity, social determinants of health, population and community health, prevention and health promotion, and systems and models of care) for consideration. “I wanted to have a one-on-one conversation with someone who could help me through some of the challenging aspects of shaping and formulating this new perspective for research–especially given the new strategic plan for the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR),” Dr. Toly explained. Dr. Toly’s future research project is a randomized controlled trial of a cognitive-behavioral resourcefulness intervention that will include a focus on the economic impact of caregiving for children with complex chronic conditions who are dependent on medical technology at home. Her research aims align with social determinants of health, population and community health, and prevention and health promotion research lenses described in NINR the strategic plan.
Dr. Toly met with Gelise Thomas, Assistant Director, Strategic DEI & Health Disparities, Clinical and Translational Science Collaborative, via Zoom and shared background on the population she serves–parents of children with complex chronic conditions who are dependent on medical technology (e.g., tracheostomy, mechanical ventilation, supplemental oxygen, or feeding tubes) at home. Dr. Toly promoted the importance of not just superimposing DEI on the proposal, but including it from the foundation by looking at research problems through a different lens–diversity, equity, and inclusion–to see it as a 3D puzzle. “It seems as though we’ve previously looked at these issues in 2D. We need to center and integrate DEI and social determinants of health in our work,” Dr. Toly shared.
Thomas walked Dr. Toly through prep notes based on the NINR strategic plan and shared resources detailing social determinants of health and models. Dr. Toly said, “ I will use the notes that Gelise prepared, based on the strategic plan, and the schematic flow chart from . I really liked how it looked at some of the variables and how those variables impact parent-child interaction. Seeing the example of family economic pressure helped solidify my consideration of using that as a focal point for my future study.”
Dr. Toly described the conversation as one of the most helpful aspects of the consultation. “Having someone to talk over aspects I considered, but helping reframe it with diversity, equity, and inclusion and social determinants in mind, was beneficial because this is a continuous journey,” Dr. Toly said.
If Dr. Toly had an opportunity to provide one recommendation to aspiring health disparities researchers as they configure their research to address health disparities, she’d offer, “Be open and curious to explore a new area where you can make an incredible impact in the lives of people, families, and children.”
Dr. Toly plans to maintain communication with Thomas as she builds her new study. “I think more people need to know about this service and use it,” Dr. Toly emphasized.