Lorraine S. Evangelista, a Southern California native, was a part of the University of California system for 20 years. A world-renowned nurse researcher highly respected for her expertise in cardiovascular nursing (specifically patients with heart failure), she decided to “extend her wings” academically by accepting a position at the University of Texas Medical Branch before COVID-19 hit.
The separation from her family in California — six children and eight grandchildren — during the height of quarantine motivated her to return to the West Coast, at which point Nursing Dean Angela Amar tapped her to be associate dean of research. Now, not only is she a very manageable four-hour drive away from loved ones, Evangelista says she's also able to do what she enjoys the most: mentoring others to develop their own successful research careers.
What are some of the responsibilities you have as associate dean of research?
My primary responsibilities at the School of Nursing are to provide leadership as a senior faculty member to faculty, staff, and students to foster scholarly inquiry and integrity; promote a culture of scholarly inquiry, research rigor, and collaboration; and build a network across the faculty of the school, the campus, and the nursing community to support our research infrastructure.
Since the school is in its infancy in developing a strong research infrastructure, my primary focus during my first year at UNLV was understanding the current culture and identifying the facilitators and obstacles to our goal of becoming a research-intensive institution.
You specialize in cardiovascular nursing and treating patients with heart failure — what in particular drew you to this aspect of nursing?
Ten years as a critical care nurse prompted my pursuit of a Ph.D. As a clinical nurse, I observed that patients with chronic cardiovascular disease faced numerous challenges in self-care management. I wanted to support better self-care in a population sometimes blamed for their illness because cardiovascular health can be maintained through "good behaviors" or healthy lifestyle actions.
In addition, as a person with a family history of cardiovascular disease, I was aware that despite my efforts to maintain a healthy lifestyle, my genetic makeup placed me at risk for developing cardiovascular disorders. Therefore, I wanted to assist those battling illness or lacking support from health care providers, friends and family, and communities with health-related biases.
What is the most rewarding part of the work that you do?
Seeing my mentees become successful in building an independent research program.
What would a layperson be surprised to learn about cardiovascular disease?
My consistent message to the public is that cardiovascular disease is preventable despite being extremely challenging to treat. Moreover, once a person becomes ill, there are still things within their control that can help them manage effectively and continue living to the fullest extent of their abilities.
What's your favorite spot on campus to catch your breath and relax?
Hmm, I have to admit I have not been around campus that much. Furthermore, this is probably a good self-reminder that I need to practice what I teach – work-life balance.
What is some of the best advice you've ever received?
Perseverance is the key to success – it is common for all to experience peaks and valleys to lead a healthy life. A person must effectively manage his or her valleys. Our wise deeds form our good times in tough times; in simple times, our failures shape our bad times. Two ways to turn a valley into a peak are to change the situation or our perception and reaction. To find our way out of a valley, we must see things differently, learn from the situation, and use what we have learned to change the situation.
What would be your ideal vacation?
I love nature because it gives me the time to de-stress and appreciate life and all its blessings.
Do you have any particular objects in your office that have a lot of meaning to you? What is it, and why is it meaningful?
My office is filled with mementos from my mentees over the past 25 years. Seeing them reminds me of my impact on these individuals, a legacy I intend to continue until I retire from academia.
Recognition, Awards, and Achievements
Recently, Evangelista traveled to the Philippines to accept the Gawad Parangal Award for exemplary performance in research. Here are just a few examples of achievements for which she was nominated:
- Designed and tested effective interventions, using cutting-edge technology and adapting the concept of tailoring to provide the information most relevant to patients who struggle with this debilitating condition.
- First researcher to test the effect of a home-based walking program on death and hospitalization. In connection with her work on a home-based program, Evangelista assessed the reliability and validity of pedometers in measuring exercise activity, allowing other investigators to use them to test internal validity in exercise studies.
- The first to record the time elapsed from the onset of heart failure symptoms and presentation to the emergency room in a large cohort of patients. This information has altered how patients are instructed to manage their symptoms, reducing hospital re-admissions. Her research also put emphasis on empowering patients from culturally disadvantaged groups to take charge of their health by engaging in health-promoting behaviors despite unfavorable living conditions.
- Funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute for an RO1 (2009-16) to examine the effects of a high-protein diet on clinical outcomes in patients with heart failure. Her data are among the first to debunk the obesity paradox, where being overweight or obese in patients with heart failure was always reported to be beneficial. Evangelista’s findings resulted in her selection as one of two nationwide nurses to be invited to join the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute Working Group. Her publications have led the way in health promotion and nutrition guidelines for all health providers caring for this population.
- One of the first to explore the benefits of digital health technologies to support the self-management of patients with chronic heart failure.
- The only nurse investigator in a multi-site study to evaluate the effectiveness of a care transition intervention using remote patient monitoring to reduce all-cause readmissions among older adults hospitalized with heart failure.
