Barbara E. Hekel
PhD, MS, MPH, RN
Assistant Professor
Department of Undergraduate Studies
Barbara Hekel, PhD, MPH, RN, is an assistant professor in the Undergraduate Department. Dr. Hekel earned a baccalaureate from the University of Iowa, her home state. She earned a Masters of Public Health and a Master's of Science from the University of Illinois at Chicago. As she began teaching, Dr. Hekel earned a Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Nursing and Health Science from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Her doctoral education was from the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee where she was a research assistant on the dementia team for the Track & Trigger Treatment (T3) Protocol to Stop Ineffective Drug and Non-Drug Treatment of People. She is an author on several peer-reviewed publications. Dr. Hekel’s dissertation was "Influence of Expectations of Aging on Older Women's Use of Dietary Supplements using the Health Promotion Theory."
Education
University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee
Doctor of Philosophy
2017
University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee, Center for Aging and Translational Research
Graduate Certificate in Applied Gerontology
2015
University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
Campus Certificate in Teaching/Learning in Nursing and Health Science
2011
University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
Master of Public Health
Master of Science in Nursing
2006
University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
Bachelor of Science Nursing
1981
Clinical/Research Focus
Dr. Hekel’s research interests are maintaining the health of older adults and vitamin D use, health promotion, and community health education. Dr. Hekel has over 40 years as a nurse with experience in a variety of community settings.
Publications
- Vaccine Hesitancy: Developing Competency in Nursing Students Through Simulation
- Toward user-centered assistive technologies for aging in place with cognitive impairment: a survey
- Teaching Social Determinants of Health Through an Unfolding Case Study
- Disability Attitudes of Nursing Students: A Curriculum Intervention
- Appraisal of disability attitudes and curriculum of nursing students: a literature review