Maura Murphy, BS, MSN
Yale University
Ms. Murphy received her BS in Psychology from Fordham University and her MSN from Yale University. Her long term career goal is to develop a clinical research program that will focus on examining the biological and psychosocial impacts on children who are being treated for cancer. In the past, Ms. Murphy has cared for children undergoing various standard cancer therapies and experimental treatment including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, hematopoietic stem cell transplants, antibody, and vaccine therapy. During these experiences she has witnessed the decreased quality of life that pediatric cancer patients experience because of the biological side effects of their cancer therapy. Her previous experience in the field has demonstrated that there are many aspects of the daily care of children with cancer that have not been examined and for which there is no evidence to guide the nurse and/or the family.
As such, Ms. Murphy is in the process of obtaining a PhD in Nursing in order to gain the skill set needed to answer research questions and design studies that will provide the foundation for evidence-based care of biological side effects of pediatric cancer care. Her dissertation project is entitled “Development of an Instrument to Grade Diaper Dermatitis Severity in Children with Cancer”.
