Voices of the Provost Solutions Fellows
Rose Ann DiMaria-Ghalili, PhD, RN, FASPEN, FAAN, FGSA
Professor of Nursing
College of Nursing and Health Professions
Rose Ann’s research focuses on integrating nutrition and novel technologies to improve health outcomes and quality of life for older adults. A geriatric nurse scientist, Rose Ann led a team of engineers on the development of a patented, wireless device to track and monitor fluid intake. She serves as the principal investigator of the Cell2Society Aging Research Network, leading a team of over 40 faculty to create a novel ecosystem for the pursuit of use-inspired aging research, and is part of the administrative core of the AgeWell Collaboratory. Her research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense’s Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program and Pennsylvania Non-Formula CURE program, among others.
How would you describe your experience as a Solutions Fellow?
Unique.
What did you enjoy the most about being a Solutions Fellow and why?
I enjoyed collaborating with and getting to know faculty across the University.
What was an “aha” moment you experienced as a Solutions Fellow?
In my early days as a Solutions Fellow, I was trying to wrap my head around how the Solutions Institute model, which originated in LeBow’s College of Business, translates to my world of health. The aha moment came when I was able to make a connection between dissemination and implementation research and the work we are doing as Solutions Fellows. Dissemination and implementation research focuses on “how evidence-based practices, interventions, and policies are effectively translated to and used in real-world settings like hospitals, schools and communities,” as described by the National Institutes of Health. In essence, this is the work of the Solutions Fellows. We tailor, adapt, and translate best evidence and interventions in collaboration with our partners to solve their real-world problems.
How would you describe working with DSI and what would you tell colleagues about the value of working with DSI?
As a researcher, the onerous part of working with partners outside of Drexel is executing contracts, subawards, payments etc. Working with DSI is easy. DSI handles all the negotiations and coordinates calendars so that the Solutions Fellows can instead focus their energies on the implementation.
Were you able to work with other Solutions Fellows?
I co-led a project with Dr. Rajashi Ghosh from the School of Education. We developed a great partnership and mutual respect for our collective expertise.
What do you believe are the top benefits to working with industry partners?
There are many benefits to working with industry partners. You are building relationships that could open the door to other opportunities in the future. You are also learning about real-world challenges and opportunities that can lead to innovative educational offerings for students and future research.
How likely are you to recommend becoming a Solutions Fellow to a colleague?
I am very likely to recommend it for mid-career or senior faculty colleagues. Serving as a Solutions Fellow can provide faculty with an opportunity to apply their vast knowledge and expertise to co-create solutions with community partners.