Faculty Experts

Dr. Lindsay Benes

Dr. Benes' research strives to enhance the biopsychosocial approach to healthcare for two vulnerable populations: those with complex chronic pain and individuals dealing with houselessness.

Dr. Margaret Hammersla

Dr. Hammersla’s research interest focus on the improving quality of life for elderly individuals living in rural areas through innovative health care delivery.

Dr. Marcy Hanson

Dr. Hanson's research is centered on maternal and perinatal mental health, focusing on postpartum depression and perinatal substance use.

Dr. Hellem’s research interests focus on the utilization of complementary health techniques to improve mood. She specifically focuses on the use of modalities that include both a mind and body component to offer holistic and comprehensive treatment options.

Dr. Shelly Hogan

Dr. Hogan's research interests encompass a multifaceted approach, which involves investigating nursing education, interprofessional collaboration, and preventative healthcare factors affecting the well-being of rural and underserved populations in Montana.

Dr. Rebecca Hoover

Dr. Hoover's research focuses on the intersection of adolescents and young adults living beyond a cancer diagnosis and the promotion of health behaviors to enhance overall health outcomes. By investigating effective strategies for increasing health behavior participation, she aims to empower this population to lead healthier, more fulfilling lives.

Dr. Elizabeth Johnson

Dr. Johnson explores the use of wearable technologies for patient safety in clinical trials, expanding the research nurse role in clinical trials, and methods of creating awareness of clinical trial patients when seeking care in their communities through provider partnerships.

Dr. Laura Larsson

Dr. Larsson is interested in community-based risk communication research with vulnerable groups. Dr. Larsson utilizes techniques such as digital signage technology and motivational interviewing in novel settings to expand the reach of traditional public health communication approaches to settings with limited access.

Dr. Susan Luparell

Dr. Luparell writes and speaks about how to cultivate civility in nursing education and nursing practice settings. As an outgrowth of this work, she also is also working with others to develop the concept of professional identity formation in nursing.

Dr. Jamie Mayo

Dr. Mayo is interested in the intersection of mental health outcomes, social, historical, mythological, and environmental factors in communities’ experience of health and wellness. Specifically, her current research interests revolve around understanding the experience of depression and intergenerational trauma in rural Montana communities, with a special focus on Veterans and their families. She uses an implementation science and qualitative approach in the study of how to expand access to high efficacy treatments for severe, difficult to treat, depression, such as ketamine assisted therapy.

Dr. Sally Moyce

Dr. Moyce’s research interest focus on the health of the Latino immigrant population, centered mostly around occupational health. She also works with the local Spanish-speaking community to improve their access to health services in Gallatin County.

Dr. Julie Ruff

Dr. Ruff’s scholarly identity is centered on issues of nursing education, the nursing care of children and their families, transcultural nursing, vulnerable populations, trauma informed care in the pediatric population and children with special health care needs.

Dr. Alice Running

Dr. Running’s research centers on exploring the efficacy of integrative therapies to address stress responses across the lifespan.

Dr. Molly Secor

Dr. Secor's research centers around using mixed methods approaches to understanding how social context impacts adolescent health, especially adolescent sexual health and access to adolescent friendly services.

Dr. Stacy Stellflug

Dr. Stellflug’s program of research focuses on education and training of rural healthcare providers.

Dr. Ruth Tretter

Dr. Ruth Tretter is an Assistant Professor located on the Missoula Campus.

Dr. Yitong Wang

Dr. Yitong's research centers on nurse workforce well-being, with a focus on psychological trauma, occupational stress, substance use risk, and retention. She is especially interested in middle-level nurse managers and licensed practical nurses, examining how workplace conditions, organizational support, and leadership roles influence mental health, coping behaviors, and intent to remain in the profession. Dr. Yitong's work uses mixed-methods designs to inform prevention strategies, education toolkits, and policy-relevant interventions aimed at improving nurse well-being and sustaining the nursing workforce, particularly in high-stress and underserved settings.