Nancy DiDona
Professor, Division of Nursing and Director, Division of Nursing
Phone: (845) 848-6051
Email: nancy.didona@dc.edu
Dr. DiDona has over 40 years of experience as a Registered Professional Nurse and 27 years as a nurse educator. She has taught undergraduate and graduate level courses, and has been the Division Director since 2010. Dr. DiDona is certified by NCC as a Maternal/Newborn Nurse, and presently teaches Family Health Nursing and Nursing Mathematics. She is the author of three textbooks and has completed writing the second edition of her Strategies and Skills for Test Taking as an online book. Dr. DiDona has given presentations on topics such as “How to Navigate an IRB” and “The Future of Nursing Education.”
Professional Interests:
Dr. DiDona’s professional interests include NCLEX preparation and success, curriculum advancement, and policy and procedure development.
Alice Arden
Instructor, Division of Nursing
Phone: (845) 848-6060
Email: alice.arden@dc.edu
M.A., New York University
B.S., University of Scranton
ANP-BC, Certified Adult Nurse Practitioner
ACNP-BC, Certified Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Professor Arden started teaching at Dominican College as an adjunct nursing instructor in the fall of 2013. She joined the nursing faculty as a full time instructor in August of 2016. Professor Arden has many years of nursing experience; working both in medical surgical nursing, critical care, and most recently as an adult nurse practitioner in cardiology. She currently practices as an NP at a local acute care facility on the cardiology service. Professor Arden is certified as an adult nurse practitioner as well as an acute care nurse practitioner, recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. She is also a certified basic cardiac life support (BCLS) instructor and an advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) provider by the American Heart Association.
Professional Interests:
Professor Arden has been active with the New York City Chapter of the American College of Cardiology, (ACC) working on their annual Cardiovascular Team Symposium. She is a current member of the ACC as a Cardiac Care Associate (CCA). Professor Arden is interested in the diagnosis, management and prevention of coronary artery disease.
Christine M. Davies
Instructor, Division of Nursing
Phone: (845) 848-6030
Email: christine.davies@dc.edu
A.A.S., Rockland Community College
B.S.N., Dominican College
FNP, Family Nurse Practitioner
M.A., Pace University
M.S., Pace University
Professor Davies earned a Masters of Art in Nursing Education from Pace University, and in December 2013, she completed the Advanced Graduate Studies Masters of Science Family Nurse Practitioner Program at Pace University. She has many years of specialty nursing experience including critical and emergency care, pediatrics, cardiac catheterization, post anesthesia, and the operating room. Professor Davies has received several Honors and Awards throughout the years, which include the Dr. John Hopt Award for Excellence in Nursing, The United States Army Perseverance Award at Dominican College, The Outstanding Student of the Year award at Pace University, and was chosen as one of the “Top 100 Alumni of Distinction” at Dominican College in 2013. Professor Davies is a Board Member for United Women of Rockland, Inc., serving as their Medical Liaison.
Professional Interests:
As an FNP, Professor Davies provides healthcare that revolves around the family unit, from health promotion and disease prevention, to direct care and counseling across the lifespan. She is also a member of the International Honor Society for Nursing Sigma Theta Tau, National Alliance of Certified Legal Nurse Consultants, and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.
Presentations:
“Language of Caring” Patient Satisfaction training sessions to all employees at St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital – 2010.
Designed an “Educational Needs Assessment” for Nurses Currently Working throughout three Bon Secours Hospitals – 2010
Barbara B. DeSimone
Professor, Division of Nursing and Coordinator, Weekday ABSN Option
Phone: (845) 848-6028
Email: bonnie.desimone@dc.edu
Dr. DeSimone coordinates the weekday accelerated (ABSN) Option, assists in the design of the undergraduate nursing curriculum, and documents undergraduate nursing students’ learning outcomes. She is certified in medical surgical nursing by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). She teaches medical-surgical nursing in the ABSN and Traditional Nursing options, and fundamentals of nursing and the capstone nursing seminar in the ABSN Option. As a professor of nursing, her mission is to generate passion and self-confidence throughout the teaching-learning process.
Professional Interests:
Dr. DeSimone is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing Upsilon Chapter (New York University), the Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education (Columbia University), the American Nurses Association, and the New Jersey State Nurses Association. Dr. DeSimone received the Excellence in Practice Award 2014 at the Rockland County, NY Nurse Recognition Day on May 8, 2014.
Margaret DeLorenzo
Assistant Professor Division of Nursing, Coordinator, Traditional Nursing Program
Phone: (845) 848-6043
Email: margaret.delorenzo@dc.edu
Dr. DeLorenzo coordinates the weekday Traditional Nursing program. She has over 40 years experience as a Registered Professional Nurse, and 10 + years as a nurse educator. Dr. DeLorenzo has taught in both the graduate and undergraduate programs at Dominican College.
Professional Interests:
Dr. DeLorenzo most recently completed her doctoral dissertation on faculty classroom experiences related to NCLEX-RN success. She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. Dr. DeLorenzo is involved at the community level and continues her interests in NCLEX-RN success.
Fay Hart
Assistant Professor, Weekend Accelerated BSN (WABSN) Interim Coordinator
Email: fay.hart@dc.edu
B.S.N, State University of New York, College at Brockport
M.S., College at Saint Elizabeth
M.S.N., Walden University
Professor Hart’s twenty-eight year career includes working as a staff nurse in acute care settings (Pediatric Oncology, PICU, Pediatrics) and in Pediatric Rehabilitation. She has held several leadership positions in New York and New Jersey, including her current position as the Director of Nursing-Pediatrics at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center. She is certified as a Nurse Executive. Professor Hart’s teaching experience includes adjunct at Columbia University, Hunter College, and Rutgers University. She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau. She has enjoyed teaching at Dominican College in the Weekend Accelerated Nursing Program for ten years.
Professional Interests:
Professor Hart is interested in promoting Family-Centered Care and mentoring competent and empathetic future clinicians.
Lori Henderson
Assistant Professor, Division of Nursing
Phone: (845) 848-6023
Email: lori.henderson@dc.edu
B.S.N., University of Texas-El Paso
NNP, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Post Graduate Certificate, Columbia University
M.S.N., Columbia University
Professor Henderson has experience as a staff nurse, nurse manager, nursing supervisor, and nurse practitioner in maternal-child nursing with a specialization in neonatal nursing. She is certified as a NAACOG Low-Risk Neonatal Nurse and is an American Heart Association BLS Provider. Professor Henderson holds an Advanced-Practitioner Certification in Holistic Nursing and was awarded by Nyack Hospital’s Department of Pediatrics for dedicated service on behalf of premature and sick infants (1987 – 1996).
Professional Interests:
Professor Henderson is a member of the Nurse Practitioner Association, New York Chapter and a volunteer for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Hudson Valley.
AnneMarie McDermott
Assistant Professor, Division of Nursing and Coordinator, Graduate Family Nurse Practitioner Program
Phone: (845) 848-6059
Email: annemarie.mcdermott@dc.edu
A.S.N., Nassau Community College
B.S.N., Pace University
FNP-BC, Certified Family Nurse Practitioner
M.S.N., Pace University
D.N.P., Pace University
Dr. McDermott is a full-time faculty member and has been with Dominican College since 2007. She has over 25 years of experience and expertise in the fields of critical care, emergency medicine, and family medicine in a variety of clinical settings. She is a certified critical care nurse (CCRN) as well as a certified family nurse practitioner. Dr. McDermott currently practices as family nurse practitioner in both acute care and outpatient patient settings.
Professional Interests:
Dr. McDermott utilizes a family-centered approach to her patient care in the acute and primary care settings. She is also knowledgeable in the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services meaningful use requirements and medical home initiatives.
Catherine O’Sullivan
Instructor, Division of Nursing
Phone: (845) 848-6022
Email: catherine.osullivan@dc.edu
Professor O’Sullivan has been with Dominican College since 2015. She started as an adjunct clinical instructor and is now a full time faculty member. She has over 25 years of clinical nursing experience in the areas of medical- surgical nursing and critical care. She is certified in Medical- Surgical Nursing by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
Professional Interests:
Professor O’Sullivan is interested in acute care of adult clients with a focus on cardiology. Her goal is to prepare nursing students to be successful in today’s dynamic health care environment.
Barbara Polowczyk
Instructor, Division of Nursing, RN-BSN Coordinator
Email: barbara.polowczyk@dc.edu
AAS: Pace University
BSN: Pace University
MSN Clinical Nurse Specialist: Pace University
Certificate Advanced Graduation Study: Family Nurse Practitioner: Pace University
DNP © Dominican College
Professor Polowczyk‘s forty year nursing career includes working in various roles in acute care hospitals, staff nurse, head nurse, clinical nurse specialist and as a certified family nurse practitioner (FNP) in the emergency department. Working as an FNP in a community hospital emergency department for almost 20 years preceptoring many new nurse practitioners. In addition to working as a FNP, she has various teaching responsibilities at Pace university and Dominican College. Barbara has been the Dominican College’s RN-BSN coordinator since 2015.
Professional Interests:
Barbara is interested in promoting service excellence, by providing her patients with the highest quality of care.
Nelly Vega-Woo
Assistant Professor, Division of Nursing and Coordinator, Nursing Skills and Simulation Lab
Phone: (845) 848-6021
Email: nelly.vega-woo@dc.edu
B.S.N., College of Mount Saint Vincent
FNP, Certified Family Nurse Practitioner
M.S., State University of New York Downstate
D.N.P., University of Massachusetts Amherst
Dr. Vega-Woo is a full-time faculty member in the Division of Nursing. Her areas of expertise include critical care and family practice. She received her Doctor of Nursing Practice in 2014 after presenting her thesis “Radiation Overexposure from Computed Tomography of the Brain.” She has over 13 years critical care nursing experience, 7 of which have been in the acute care inpatient setting as a board certified Family Nurse Practitioner. She began teaching at Dominican College in 2013, at which time she became Coordinator of the Nursing Skills and Simulation lab. Soon after her start, she was awarded a significant grant that allowed her to purchase many enhancements for the lab, bringing the teaching and learning process to the 21st century. Under the direction of Dr. Vega-Woo, the Skills and Simulation lab affords an innovative learning environment for students to transition into professional practice.
Professional Interests:
Dr. Vega-Woo chairs the Nursing Faculty Affairs Committee which organizes the annual Rockland County Nurse Recognition Day. She is also Vice President of the Dominican College Sigma Theta Tau Zeta Omega Chapter that honors nursing student scholars. She maintains up to date on all current healthcare issues and continues to meet required certification standards of practice as a nurse practitioner.
Lorraine Vitale
Instructor, Division of Nursing
Phone: (845) 848-6019
Email: lorraine.vitale@dc.edu
M.S., Mercy College
A.A.S., Cochran School of Nursing
B.S., (Health Management) Mercy College
B.S., (Gerontology) Mercy College
A.S., Westchester Community College
Professor Vitale has numerous years experience and expertise in medical-surgical and maternal child nursing. She also possesses experience in the field of geriatric recreation. Professor Vitale’s teaching experience includes educating licensed practical nurse students at BOCES as well as registered nurse students at local colleges.
Professional Interests:
Professor Vitale is interested in the health and psychosocial wellness of the older adult and the management of acute and chronic problems seen in the elderly. She plans to pursue an advanced practice role concentrating on the geriatric population.
Professor Vitale strives to increase the success of nursing students by providing them with the skills and foundation needed to succeed professionally.
Lynne Weissman
Assistant Professor and Director Master of Science FNP and DNP Programs
Phone: (845) 848-6026
Email: lynne.weissman@dc.edu
Diploma, Englewood Hospital School of Nursing
B.S.N., Dominican College
P.N.P.- C., Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, National Certification Board of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners and Nurses
M.S., Columbia University
F.N.P.-BC, Dominican College, Certified Family Nurse Practitioner, American Association of Colleges of Nursing
D.N.P., Columbia University
Dr. Weissman is a full-time faculty member at Dominican College in the Division of Nursing. She has been teaching at Dominican since 1997. She has been in nursing for over 40 years working in pediatric primary care. She also works as a pediatric nurse practitioner in a primary care office in Rockland County. She has been involved with United Hospice of Rockland and sits on the Health Advisory Board for Head Start of Rockland. Her focus is on ensuring the health of children and their families both physically and psychologically. She is certified by American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
Professional Interests:
Dr. Weissman’s professional interests include primary care of mental health and obesity in children from birth to 21 years as well as cultural competency across the lifespan.
Vita Wolinsky
Assistant Professor of Nursing
Phone: (845) 848-6056
Email: vita.wolinsky@dc.edu