Jennifer Dillon

Jennifer Dillon MPA, RN-BC is the recipient of the 2018 Mathy Mezey Scholarship. Following a six-year enlistment in the U.S. Air Force, Jennifer made the decision to pursue nursing as she has a passion for both science and healthcare. She graduated cum laude from Mount Saint Mary College in 2009 with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She then earned her Master of Public Administration from John Jay College in 2014. Following graduate school, Jennifer realized that she has a passion for research to promote quality health outcomes and create health policy. Jennifer is a currently a PhD candidate at Rutgers University and a Jonas Scholar.

Jennifer’s research area of interest is in improving healthcare delivery systems for chronic diseases. The NEF, Inc. funding will support her in her final year of doctoral education, where she will focus her dissertation research on interdisciplinary team relationships in chronic disease management. She plans to study the extent that relational coordination among healthcare professionals within the Veteran Health Administration’s Patient Aligned Care Teams is associated with better outcomes, including veterans’ experience of care and the management of noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Jennifer is a clinical instructor at Mount Saint Mary College for Community Health. She tutors underrepresented and economically disadvantaged students in biology, statistics, and nursing for the Collegiate Science & Technology Entry Program. Prior to beginning her doctoral journey, Jennifer worked for the Veterans Health Administration as a RN Care Manager for the Catskill Community Based Outpatient Clinic located in Catskill, NY. Jennifer is a member of the NY Nurses Association, the American Nurses Association, the American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing, and the Eastern Nursing Research Society. She is board certified in Ambulatory Care Nursing.

Jennifer is an active member of her local community and is a member of the Dutchess County Hazmat Team and the Dutchess County Medical Reserve Corps. She is a member of the National Advisory Board for Operation PCOR, a PCORI funded program to research veteran-driven Post Traumatic Stress Disorder treatment options. She is currently training her Labrador, Jack, as a therapy dog.