Our team

Patricia Kinser, PhD, WHNP-BC, RN, FAAN

Assistant Dean for Research and Endowed Professor, Department of Family and Community Health Nursing- School of Nursing
Affiliate Associate Professor, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation- School of Medicine

TEACHING:

The major areas of my teaching focus on intervention research, qualitative research women’s health, and mindfulness. In the PhD program, I teach Qualitative Research (NURS 772) and NURS 712 (Conducting Rigorous Health-Related Intervention Research (NURS 712). I am the co-director of the course Mindfulness for Healthcare Professional Students and a contributor to the Artfulness program at VCU. I am a frequent guest speaker in departments throughout and beyond VCU regarding both women’s health issues and the application of mindfulness-based interventions for various clinical and non-clinical populations. I serve as a doctoral student advisor and a member of numerous dissertation committees within and outside of the School of Nursing.

RESEARCH:

My program of research is largely focused on enhancing wellness in women across the lifespan, with specific foci on biobehavioral mechanisms (including epigenetics) of depression and stress and on the biobehavioral effects of psychobehavioral interventions and complementary health approaches for stress and depression. Thanks to funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). I am currently conducting studies on a mobile/ internet-based approach to prevent perinatal depression (the Mamma Mia Study: www.mammamiastudy.org ) in a large population of women across the United States; and, a yoga-based approach to intervene with perinatal depression in underserved populations in the Richmond, VA area (the Mindful Moms Study: www.mindful4moms.org ). I am co-leading work in the NIH-funded LEGACI project, which explores the long-term effects of COVID-19 in children and their families (legacistudy.org), with SON colleague Dr. Amy Salisbury. I am involved in several other studies funded by foundation and university grants covering topics such as the experiences of perinatal women during the COVID-19 pandemic, epigenetic mechanisms of postpartum depression, maternal-child attachment in women using cannabis, and others. My research is positioned at the intersection of research and clinical care regarding the promotion of positive health behaviors & interventions for mental and physical wellness. For more information, see my research lab’s website: www.mindfulwellnesslab.org

SERVICE:

I am the Assistant Dean of Research, Scholarship, and Innovation at the VCU School of Nursing, providing support to faculty and students in their research endeavors. I am co-chair of the Perinatal Mental Health Research Group at VCU’s Institute for Women’s Health. I maintain an active clinical practice as a board-certified women’s health nurse practitioner (WHNP-BC), volunteering at a free clinic in Richmond (Health Brigade). I am a Governor-Appointed member of the Board of Health for the Commonwealth of Virginia (serving a second term). I serve as a grant reviewer at the national level for various federal study sections (e.g., NIH, Veterans Administration), at the foundation level for the American Nurses Foundation and Sigma Theta Tau International, and at the university-level in the CCTR Scientific Review Committee. I am an active member of the Society of Behavioral Medicine, the Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners, the Southern Nursing Research Society, the Marce Society, the Academy of Women’s Health, and the American Academy of Nursing.

 

EDUCATION

• PhD - Nursing - University of Virginia
• MS - Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner - Virginia Commonwealth University
• BSN - Nursing - Virginia Commonwealth University
• BS - Biology, Neural & Behavioral Science; Feminist & Gender Studies - Haverford College

AWARDS/HONORS

• Invested with Endowed Professorship: Nursing Alumni Endowment, 2021

• Excellence in Research Writing Award, Journal of Holistic Nursing (with co-authors Dr. Jo Robins and Dr. Nancy Jallo)
• Excellence in Nursing Research Award, Sigma Theta Tau, Gamma Omega 2019
• Inducted as Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing 2018
• Fellow, Society of Behavioral Medicine Leadership Institute 2017-2018
• DAISY Faculty Award, VCU School of Nursing/ AACN/ Daisy Foundation, 2016
• Distinguished Practitioner & Fellow, National Academies of Practice, 2015

RESEARCH FUNDING

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Last Three Years:

• Bourgault, A., Voss, J., Stanfill, A., McCarthy, A., Matthews, E., Talsma, A., Loerzel, V., Henderson, W., Kinser, P., Hershberger, P. (2021). Strategies to enhance the success of mid-career nurse scientists. Nursing Outlook. Oct 5:S0029-6554(21)00160-3. doi: 10.1016/j.outlook.2021.06.015
• Krukowski, R., Jacobson, L., John, J., Kinser, P., Campbell, K., Ledoux, T., Gavin, K., Chui, C., Wang, J., Kruper, A. (2021). Correlates of early prenatal care access among U.S women: Data from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS). Maternal and Child Health Journal. Oct 4:1-14 doi: 10.1007/s10995-021-03232-1
• McDonald, S., Tomlinson, C., Applebaum, J., Moyer, S., Brown, S., Carter, S., Kinser, P. (in press). Human-animal interaction and perinatal mental health: A narrative review of selected literature and call for research. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.
• Hendrix, C., Werchan, D., Lenniger, C., Ablow, J., Amstadter, A., Austin, A., Babineau, V., Bogat, G., Cioffredi, L., Conradt, E., Crowell, S., Dumitriu, D., Elliott, A., Fifer, W., Firestein, M., Gao, W., Gotlib, I., Graham, A., Gregory, K., Gustafsson, H., Havens, K., Hockett, C., Howell, B., Humphreys, K., Jallo, N., King, L., Kinser, P., Levendosky, A., Lonstei, J., Lucchini, M., Marcus, R., Monk, C., Moyer, S., Muzik, M., Nuttall, A., Potter, A., Rogers, C., Salisbury, A., Shuffrey, L., Smith, B., Smyser, C., Smith, L., Sullivan, E., Zhou, J., Brito, N., Thomason, M. (2021, in press). COVID-19 impacts on perinatal care and maternal mental health: A geotemporal analysis of healthcare disruptions and emotional well-being across the United States. The Lancet preprints. Available at SSRN:  https://ssrn.com/abstract=3857679  or  http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3857679
• Bourgault, A., Voss, J., Stanfill, A., McCarthy, A., Matthews, E., Talsma, A., Loerzel, V., Henderson, W., Kinser, P., Hershberger, P. (2021, in press). Strategies to enhance the success of mid-career nurse scientists. Nursing Outlook.
• Stamenkovic, A., Clark, B., Pidcoe, P., Can Der Veen, S., France, C., Russ, D., Kinser, P., Thomas, J. (2021). Distinguishing chronic low back pain in young adults with mild to moderate pain and disability using trunk compliance. Scientific Reports, 11:7592. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-87138-6. PMID: 34344967.
• Loerzel, V., Rice, M., Warshawsky, N., Kinser, P., Matthews, E. (2021). Areas of satisfaction and challenges to success in mid-career nurse scientists in academia. Nursing Outlook. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2021.03.011.
• Kinser, P., Jallo, N., Amstadter, A., Thacker, L., Jones, E., Moyer, S., Rider, AM., Karjane, N., Salisbury, A. (2021). Depression, anxiety, resilience, and coping: The experience of pregnant and new mothers during the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Women’s Health. April 12, online ahead of print. doi:10.1089/jwh.2020.8866. PMID:33844945
• Kinser, P., Jallo, N., Huberty, J., Jones, E., Thacker, L., Moyer, S., Rider, A., Laird, B., Lanni, S., Drozd, F., Haga, S. (2021). Study protocol for a multisite randomized controlled trial of an internet and mobile-based intervention for preventing and reducing perinatal depressive symptoms. Research in Nursing and Health. Feb, 44(1):13-23. doi:10.1002/nur.22092
• Moyer, S., Kinser, P. (2021). A comprehensive conceptual framework to guide clinical practice and research about mental health during the perinatal period. Journal of Perinatal and Neonatal Nursing,35(1): 46-56,doi: 10.1097/JPN.0000000000000535. PMID: 33528187
• Aubry, C., Moyer, S., Rider, A., Russell, N., Kinser, P. (2021). “I’m not the only one with depression”: Women’s perceptions of in-person group formats of depressive symptom interventions. Journal of Perinatal and Neonatal Nursing, 35(1): 37-45. doi: 10.1097/JPN.0000000000000530. PMCID: PMC7863574
• Kinser, P., Thacker, L., Rider, A., Moyer, S., Amstadter, A., Mazzeo, S., Bodnar-Deren, S., Starkweather, A. (2021). Feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of “Mindful Moms”- and mindful physical activity intervention for pregnant women with depression. Nursing Research. Mar-Apr 01;72(2):95-105. doi:10.1097/NNR.0000000000000485 PMID: 33630532 PMC:8366589
• Jallo, N., Brown, L., Elswick, R., Kinser, P., Salisbury, A. (2021). Happiness in pregnant African American women: What are the biobehavioral correlates? Journal of Perinatal and Neonatal Nursing. Jan-Mar 01;35(1):19-28. doi.10.1097/JPN.0000000000000529. PMID: 33528183
• Garthus-Niegel, S., Staudt, A., Kinser, P., Haga, S., Drozd, F. Baumann, S. (2020). Predictors and changes in paternal perinatal depression profiles – Insights from the DREAM study. Frontiers in Psychiatry. 11:563761. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.563761
• Matthews, E., Kinser, P., Warshawsky, N., Loerzel, V., Rice, M. (2021). The perceived reality and environment of the mid-career nurse scientist. Nursing Outlook. May-Jun; 69(3):276-285. doi: 10.1016/j.outlook.2020.11.010. Epub 2021 Jan 19. PMID: 33349434.
• Lack, S., Thacker, L., Swift-Scanlan, T., Schecter, M., Everhart, R., Kinser, P. (2020). A mindful yoga intervention for children with severe asthma: A pilot study. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice. 40:101212. doi:10.1016/j.ctcp.2020.101212. Epub 2020 June 13. PMID: 32891288
• Kinser, P. (2020). Thrive, not just survive: The experience of a fellow in the SBM Leadership Institute to enhance opportunities for success of mid-career nurse scientists. Translational Behavioral Medicine, 10(4), 912-914. doi: 10.1093/tbm/ibaa045. PMID: 33030529.
• Lack, S., Brown, R., Kinser, P. (2020). An integrative review of yoga and mindfulness-based approaches for children and adolescents with asthma. Journal of Pediatric Nursing. 52, 76-81. doi:10.1016/j.pedn.2020.03.006 PMID: 32213455
• Braun, S., Dow, A., Loughan, A., Mladen, S., Crawford, M., Rybarczyk, B., Kinser, P.A. (2020). Mindfulness training for healthcare professional students: A waitlist controlled pilot study on psychological and work-relevant outcomes. Complementary Therapies in Medicine. 51:102405. doi:10.106/j.ctim.2020.102405. PMID: 32507424
• Russell, N., Aubry, C., Rider, A., Mazzeo, S., Kinser, P. (2020). Mindful Moms: Motivation to self-manage depression symptoms. MCN, American Journal of Maternal-Child Nursing. 45(4):233-239. doi: 10.1097/ NMC.0000000000000625. PMID: 32604182. PMCID:PMC7338034
• Lapato, D., Roberson-Nay, R., Kinser, P., York, T. (2020). Predictive validity of a DNA methylation-based screening panel for postpartum depression. MedRxiv. doi:10.1101/2020.03.05.20027847. Preprint available at:  https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.03.05.20027847v1
• Haga, S., Kinser, P., Wentzel-Larsen, T., Lisoy, C., Garthus-Niegel, S., Slinning, K., Drozd, F. (2020). Mamma Mia- A randomized controlled trial of an internet intervention to enhance subjective well-being in perinatal women. Journal of Positive Psychology. 10.1080/17439760.2020.1738535. PMCID: PMC4704906
• Kinser, P., Moyer, S., Mazzeo, S., York, T., Amstadter, A., Thacker, L., Starkweather, A. (2020). Protocol for pilot study on self-management of depressive symptoms in pregnancy. Nursing Research. 69(1):82-88. doi: 10.1097/NNR.0000000000000382. PMID: 31373995. PMCID: PMC6910977
• Lack, S., Kinser, P. (2019). The modification of three vulnerability theories to assist nursing practice for school-age children with severe asthma. Journal for Specialists in Pediatric Nursing. Nov 21:e12280. doi: 10.1111/jspn.12280. PMID: 31749322.
• Mladen, S., Loughan, A., Kinser, P., Crawford, M., Jones, A., Edwards, S., Rybarczyk, C., Braun, S. (2019). An analysis of psychological distress profiles and their correlates in interdisciplinary healthcare professional students. Global Advances in Health and Medicine. 8. doi: 10.1177/2164956119879872 PMID: 31632841
• Rider, A., Aubry, C., Moyer, S., Kinser, P. (2019). Perspectives on successes and challenges in the recruitment and retention of pregnant women in a research study. Clinical Researcher, 33(8): 6-14. https://acrpnet.org/2019/09/19/perspectives-on-successes-and-challenges-in-the-recruitment-and-retention-of-pregnant-women-in-a-research-study/ PMCID:PMC7440001
• Lapato DM, Roberson-Nay R, Kirkpatrick RM, Webb BT, York TP, Kinser PA. (2019). DNA methylation associated with postpartum depressive symptoms overlaps findings from a genome-wide association meta-analysis of depression. Clin Epigenetics. 11(1):169. doi: 10.1186/s13148-019-0769-z. PMID: 31779682; PMCID: PMC6883636. PMCID: PMC6883636.
• Braun, S., Deeb, G., Carrico, C., Kinser, P. (2019). Brief yoga intervention for dental and dental hygiene students: A feasibility and acceptability study. Journal of Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine. 2019; 24:1-7. doi:10.1177/2515690X19855303. PMID:31204485. PMCID: PMC6580712
• Robins, J., Jallo, N., Kinser, P. (2019). Treatment fidelity in mind-body interventions. Journal of Holistic Nursing, 37(2): 189-199. doi:10.1177/0898010118800573. PMID:3022765.
• Chandler, S., Robins, J., Kinser, P. (2019). Non-pharmacologic interventions for the self-management of anxiety in Parkinson’s Disease: A comprehensive review. Behavioral Neurology, 2019 (8459579):1-9. doi: 10.1155/2019/8459579. https://www.hindawi.com/journals/bn/2019/8459579/   PMID:31191740 PMCID: PMC6525888
• Braun, S., Lapato, D., Brown, R., Lancaster, E., York, T., Amstadter, A., Kinser, P.(2019). DNA methylation studies of depression with onset in the peripartum: A critical systematic review. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews. 2019 April 11:106-122. Pii: S0149-7634(18)30771-1. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.04.005 PMID: 30981737 PMCID: PMC6556411
• Kinser, P., Jallo, N., Thacker, L., Aubry, C., Masho, S. (2019). Enhancing accessibility of physical activity during pregnancy: A pilot study on women’s experiences with integrating yoga into group prenatal care. Health Services Research and Managerial Epidemiology. 2019 April 4 (6):2333392819834886. doi: 10.1177/2333392819834886. PMID: 30993148. PMCID: PMC6449809
• Bremer, E., Jallo, N., Rodgers, B., Kinser, P., Dautovich, N. (2019). Anxiety in menopause: A distinctly different syndrome? The Journal for Nurse Practitioners. 15(5):374-378. doi: 10.1016/j.nurpra.2019.01.018
• Kinser, P., Loerzel, V., Matthews, E., Rice, M. (2019). Call to action to support the success of mid-career nurse scientists. Nursing Outlook. 67(3):252-258. doi: 10.1016/j.outlook.2018.12.013 . PMID: 30975493
• Braun, S., Kinser, P., Carrico, C., Dow, A. (2019). Being mindful: A long-term investigation of an interdisciplinary course in mindfulness. Global Advances in Health and Medicine. 8: 1-12. doi: 10.1177/2164956118820064. PMID: 30671283. PMCID: PMC6328954
• Braun, S.E., Kinser, P.A., Rybarczyk, B. (2019). Can mindfulness in health care professionals improve patient care? An integrative review and proposed model, Translational Behavioral Medicine, 9 (2): 187–201 doi:10.1093/tbm/iby059.  PMID: 29945218

SELECTED PRESENTATIONS

International (Last Three Years):

 

• Kinser, P. (November, 2021). A tale of two studies: Prenatal yoga for depression and mindfulness for healthcare providers. Invited presentation at the International Association of Yoga Therapists- Symposium on Yoga Research conference, virtual.
• Mudd, L., Still, P., Dusek, J., Milbury, K., Kinser, P. (November, 2021). Panel presentation: Navigating NIH research. Invited panelist at the International Association of Yoga Therapists- Symposium on Yoga Research conference, virtual.
• Weinstock, M., Moyer, S., Kinser, P. (November, 2021). Pregnancy during a pandemic: A qualitative analysis of how mothers made meaning out of peripartum experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Infographic presentation at the COVGEN Alliance Summit as part of the International Society for Developmental Psychobiology, Chicago, IL.
• Moyer, S., Weinstock, M., Kinser, P. (November, 2021). Perinatal mental health screenings: Experiences and perspectives on mental health screening, recognition, and access and initiation of care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Infographic presentation at the COVGEN Alliance Summit as part of the International Society for Developmental Psychobiology, Chicago, IL 
• Kinser, P., Thacker, L., Moyer, S., Amstadter, A., Mazzeo, S. (April, 2020). “Mindful Moms”- a mindful physical activity intervention for perinatal depression. Podium presentation at the Society of Behavioral Medicine annual international conference, San Francisco, CA. [deferred due to COVID-19 pandemic]
• Jallo, N., Brown, L., Kinser, P., Lapato, D., Sargent, L. (April, 2020). Accelerating behavioral health research with biomarkers: Challenges and opportunities. Symposium at the Society of Behavioral Medicine annual international conference, San Francisco, CA. [deferred due to COVID-19 pandemic]
• Lapato, D., Kinser, P., Roberson-Nay, R., York, T., Jackson-Cook, C. (April, 2020). DNA methylation as a biomarker in research studies: Challenges and opportunities. Symposium presentation at the Society of Behavioral Medicine annual international conference, San Francisco, CA. [deferred due to COVID-19 pandemic]
• Kinser, P., Huberty, J., Haga, S., Garthus-Niegel, S., Thacker, L., Jallo, N., Serlin, D., Sullivan, M., Matthews, J., Drozd, F. (May, 2019). Mamma Mia – A U.S.-based pilot study of an internet intervention for perinatal depressive symptoms. Podium presentation at the Norwegian Society for Research on Internet Interventions in Bergen, Norway.
• # Braun, S., Kinser, P., Carrico, C., Mladen, S., Jones, A., Edwards, S., Crawford, M., Dow, A., Rybarczyk, C. (March, 2019). Mindfulness training to enhance healthcare professional student well-being: A waitlist controlled pilot study. Symposium presentation at the 40 th Annual Meeting and Scientific Sessions of the Society of Behavioral Medicine annual international conference, Washington, DC.

National and Regional Presentations (Last Three Years):

 

• Seckington, E., Kinser, P., Ganesh, V., Quillin, J. (Nov, 2020). An analysis of the lived experience of patients incidentally found to carry a pathogenic TP53 mutation. Poster presentation at the National Society of Genetic Counselors, virtual annual conference.
• Kinser, P., Jallo, N., Jones, E., Amstadter, A., Thacker, L., Karjane, N., Moyer, S., Rider, A., Salisbury, A. (October, 2020). Perinatal health during COVID-19. Poster discussion session at the American Academy of Nursing Policy Conference, virtual conference.
• Herschberger, P., Henderson, W., Kinser, P., Talsma, A., Voss, J. (invited for Sept, 2020). Succeeding in dynamic academic ecosystems as a midcareer nurse scientist. Invited panelist. Council for the Advancement of Nursing Science, virtual conference.
• Kinser, P., Thacker, L., Moyer, S., Amstadter, A., Mazzeo, S. (accepted for April, 2020). “Mindful Moms”- a mindful physical activity intervention for perinatal depression. Podium presentation at the Society of Behavioral Medicine annual conference, San Francisco, CA.
• Jallo, N., Brown, L., Kinser, P., Lapato, D., Sargent, L. (accepted for April, 2020). Accelerating behavioral health research with biomarkers: Challenges and opportunities. Symposium at the Society of Behavioral Medicine annual conference, San Francisco, CA.
• Lapato, D., Kinser, P., Roberson-Nay, R., York, T., Jackson-Cook, C. (accepted for April, 2020). DNA methylation as a biomarker in research studies: Challenges and opportunities. Symposium presentation at the Society of Behavioral Medicine annual conference, San Francisco, CA.
• Downey, N., Lack, S., Kinser, P. (accepted for March, 2020). Physical activity in children with severe asthma. Poster presentation at the Southern Nursing Research Society Annual
  Conference, New Orleans, LA. [deferred due to COVID-19 pandemic]
• Kinser, P. (accepted for March, 2020). Accelerating success of mid-career nurse scientists. Symposium at the Southern Nursing Research Society Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA.
• Lack, S., Kinser, P., Thacker, L., Everhart, R., Swift-Scanlan, T. (accepted for March, 2020). Evaluating a mindful yoga intervention for children with severe asthma. Poster discussion session at the Southern Nursing Research Society Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA.
• Zachowicz, P., Lack, S., Kinser, P. (accepted for March, 2020). Socioeconomic and geographical effects on the reliability of research participant attendance in an urban setting. Presentation at the Southern Nursing Research Society Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA.
• Battle, C., Kinser, P., Reza, N., Porter, A., Hoffman, C. (Oct, 2019). Complementary health practices to treat and prevent perinatal mental health conditions. Symposium presentation at the Marcé of North America Biennial Perinatal Mental Health Conference, Chapel Hill, NC.
• Braun, S., Kinser, P., Carrico, C., Mladen, S., Jones, A., Edwards, S., Crawford, M., Dow, A., Rybarczyk, C. (March, 2019). Mindfulness training to enhance healthcare professional student well-being: A waitlist controlled pilot study. Symposium presentation at the 40th Annual Meeting and Scientific Sessions of the Society of Behavioral Medicine.
• Kinser, P., Loerzel, V., Matthews, E., Rice, M. (Feb, 2019). Midcareer nurse scientists: Challenges and opportunities. Symposium presentation at the Southern Nursing Research Society, Orlando, FL.
  

BOOK CHAPTERS:

• Salisbury, A., Moyer, S., Erisman, S., Kinser, P., Hawes, K., High, P. (2021). The maternal-fetal dyad: Challenges and adaptations. In Feldman, Blum, Elias, Jimenez, Stancin (Eds). Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics (5 th edition), Elsevier Inc.
• Kinser, P., Robins, J., Jallo, N. (2020). Complementary and integrative health approaches for women’s mental health. In Vermeesch, A. (Ed). Integrative Health Nursing Interventions for Vulnerable Populations, Springer Publishing Company.
• Kinser, P. (2018). Complementary and Integrative Health. In Taylor, C., Lynn, P., Bartlett, J. (Eds.) Fundamentals of Nursing (9 th ed.), Philadelphia, PA: Walters Kleuwer.
• Kinser, P. & DeWilde, C. (2010). First world lessons from third world experiences: Central america. In Fitzpatrick, J., Shultz, C., Aiken, T. (Eds). Giving Through Teaching: How Nurse Educators are Changing the World, NLN Foundation and Springer Publishing Company.