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Benavente, Viola

Contact

210-567-5844

benaventev@uthscsa.edu

Viola Benavente, PhD, RN

Associate Professor/Clinical

“A distinguished nurse scholar recognized for her tremendous achievements as an educator, administrator, and researcher throughout a 36-year history of valuable nursing experience, prominent academic teaching and programming, and the responsible conduct of culturally-tailored studies examining cardiovascular health promotion, in terms of disease prevention and risk reduction, among Latinas for successful aging. A compelling research goal is to eliminate cardiovascular health disparities endured by Latinas and promote equitable cardiovascular healthcare for them while a longstanding career goal is to promote the noble profession of nursing and build the next generation of diverse, culturally competent, and compassionate nurse leaders.”  

  • Professional Background

    Education

    • 2010 - Doctor of Philosophy - Nursing Science - University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Claire M. Fagin Hall, Philadelphia, PA
    • 1994 - Master of Science in Nursing - Clinical Nurse Specialist - University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio School of Nursing, San Antonio, TX
    • 1984 - Bachelor of Science in Nursing - Nursing - Incarnate Word College,San Antonio, TX

    Highlights

    Licensures and Certifications

    • Online Teaching Certification
    • Foundations of Online Course Design and Development Certification
    • Registered Nurse License

    Honors and Awards

    • 2020, Service-Learning Fellow, “Acanthosis Nigricans (AN) – State Required Screening of Elementary School Children in the Georgetown Independent School District,” 
    • 2020, Marquis Who’s Who in America Nomination | Exclusive Biographies and Notable Achievements of Accomplished Professionals

     

     

     

    Appointments

    • 2020 - Associate Professor/Clinical - UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
    • 2016 - Assistant Professor - Texas State University, College of Health Professions, St. David’s School of Nursing, Round Rock, TX
    • 2013 - External Faculty Nurse Scientist, - Yvonne L. Munn Center for Nursing Research, Center for Innovations in Care Delivery, Division of Clinical Nursing, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Boston, MA
    • 2013 - Faculty Affiliate - Boston College, The Institute on Aging, Chestnut Hill, MA

  • Instruction & Training

    • 2020 - Present, NURS 4217 Population Health: Clinical Application, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
    • 2020 - Present , NURS 4320 Leadership & Management: Clinical Application, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
    • 2020 - Present, NURS 4420 Transition to Professional Nursing: Clinical Immersion, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
    • 2020 - Present, NURS 7111 Advanced Nursing Seminar, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
    • 2020 -Present, NURS 7511 Advanced Nursing: Clinical Application, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
    • 2020 - Present , NURS 7312 Online DNP Practice Inquiry Seminar, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
    • 2020 - Present, NURS 7313 Online DNP Practice Inquiry: Clinical Application, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
    • 2020, NURS 3240 Nursing Care Across the Life Span Practicum, Texas State University
    • 2020, NURS 3260 Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Practicum, Texas State University

  • Research & Grants

    Grants

    Currently Funded  

    • 2018 – Present  Funder: Multi-disciplinary Internal Research Grant (MIRG), Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX ($23,824.50/1 year; one-year extension). Title: Preventing Hospital Readmission for Older Adults: A Community-focused Intervention. Role: Co-Principal Investigator (Co: PIs: D. Gardner, V. G. Benavente, E. Kim, and J. Raley) 
    • 2018 – Present  Funder: International Research Accelerator Grant, Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX ($25,000/1 year; no cost extension). Title: Preventing Hospital Readmission for Septic Patients: A Community Focused Intervention. Role: Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PIs: D. Gardner, V. G. Benavente, E. Kim, and J. Raley) 

    Submitted and Not Funded or Unfunded Research/Projects

    • 2019 Funder: Texas State University Big Ideas Project Finalist, $100,000. Title: Dementia Education and Research Center. Role: Co-Investigator (PI: C. Johnson)  
    • 2018 Funder: Clinical Scholars Program, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, $315,000/3 years. Title: Project Silver Bobcats: Seniors Increasing Lifelong Vitality, Engagement, and Resilience: A Community Approach. Role: Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PIs: V. Fleming, D. Gobert, and V. G. Benavente) 
    • 2017 Funder: R01, National Institute of Aging/National Institutes of Health, $700,000/5 years. Title: The Team HEART Approach: Cardiac Rehabilitation in Older Adults and their Caregivers. Role: Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PIs: J. Raley, J. Bezner, and V. G. Benavente) 

    Completed Research/Projects

    • 2017 – 2019 Funder: University of California-Davis Latino Aging Research and Resource Center Pilot Program, National Institute of Aging/National Institutes of Health Grant P30AG043097, $37,152/2 years. Title: Heart Technologies and Cognitive Health of Postmenopausal Latinas. Role: Principal Investigator. 
    • 2016 – 2018 Funder: Research Enhancement Program (REP) Grant, Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, $7,947.00/1 year; one-year extension. Title: Promoting the Cardiovascular Health of Mexican American Women in South Texas. Role: Principal Investigator. 
    • 2015 – 2016 Funder: Intersections Kolvenbach Grants Program, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, $1000/year. Title: Examining Acculturation of Hispanics for Inclusivity in Cardiovascular Health.Role: Principal Investigator 

  • Service

    School

    Student Mentees/Trainees 

    • 2020 – 2021  Jennifer Martinez, MSN, RN, CPN; DNP candidate, supervised 1 hour/week for 9 months as Doctoral Nursing Project Committee Chair: “A Quality Improvement Project to Improve Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Completion Rates.” 

     

     

    Institutional

    • 2020 – Present, UT Health San Antonio School of Nursing Faculty Assembly, Member 
    • 2020 – Present, UT Health San Antonio School of Nursing Committee on Undergraduate Studies, Guest Member 
    • 2020 – Present, UT Health San Antonio School of Nursing Committee on Graduate Studies, Guest Member 
    • 2020 – Present, UT Health San Antonio School of Nursing PhD Working Group, Guest Member 
    • 2020 – Present, UT Health San Antonio School of Nursing BSN-DNP Subcommittee, Guest Member 
    • 2020 – Present, UT Health San Antonio School of Nursing Committee on Scholarship, Guest Member 
    • 2020 – Present, Fred Hutch Cancer Center, Seattle, WA Women’s Health Initiative: Cardiovascular University of Washington, School of Nursing  Scientific Interest Group, Member  
    • 2019 – Present, Fred Hutch Cancer Center, Seattle, WA Women’s Health Initiative: Psychosocial and  University of Washington, School of Nursing  Minority/Health Disparities Scientific Interest Group, Member 

    Service to the Profession

    • 2021 – Present Faculty Member and Volunteer Virtual Global Health Hub, Office of International Programs, UT Health San Antonio School of Nursing 
    • 2020 – Present Reviewer Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing 
    • 2020 – Present  Member, Nursing Representative Successfully Aging and Living in San Antonio (SALSA) Caregiver/Socialization Joint Workgroup, San Antonio Area Foundation Collective Impact Initiative 
    • 2019 – Present Member Alliance of Researchers in Aging, Texas State University 
    • 2017 – Present Member Minority Health Research Interest Group, Southern Nursing Research Society 
    • 2016 – Present Reviewer Hispanic Health Care International Journal and Western Journal of Nursing Research 
    • 2015 – Present Secretary and Founding Member International Association of Latino Nurse Faculty 
    • 2014 – Present Member  American Heart Association/American Stroke Association 
    • 2011 – Present Member Gerontological Society of America 
    • 2011 – Present Reviewer Journal of Transcultural Nursing 
    • 1994 – Present Member Delta Alpha Chapter-At-Large, Sigma Theta Tau International, Inc.,
    • 2018 – 2019 Member Transcultural Nursing Society 

    National

    Consultations

    • 2005 – 2010  Con Corazón Care Consultant, Philadelphia Corporation of Aging, PA; Health educator and Spanish translator and interpreter 
    • 2002 – 2004 Assessment Technologies, Inc., Stilwell, KS; NCLEX Exams and Review Modules; test item writer and module reviewer 
    • 2003 University Health Systems Ambulatory and Community Oriented Services, Strategic Planning Team, San Antonio, TX; Nurse consultant 

    Community

    • 2021, Observation Room RN Volunteer School of Nursing, UT Health San Antonio COVACC Clinic 
    • 2020, Nursing Representative Successfully Aging and Living in San Antonio Caregiver/Socialization Joint Workgroup  (SALSA), San Antonio Area Foundation Collective Impact Initiative  
    • 2016 – 2020, Faculty Volunteer  Chi Psi Chapter, Sigma Theta Tau International Nurses’ Week Celebration & Student  and St. David’s School of Nursing, Texas State  Research Poster Presentation  University, Round Rock, TX 
    • 2019, Nurse Faculty Volunteer  Chi Psi Chapter, Sigma Theta Tau, STOP THE BLEED Train-the-Trainer  International, Williamson County EMS, Certification Course Headquarters, Georgetown, TX

    Global

    Consultations

    • 2009 – 2011 Nurses Now International Professional Training Program for Mexican Registered Nurses, Monterrey, Nuevo León, México; Curriculum design and implementation 

     

     

     

  • Publications

      Peer-Reviewed Articles  

      • Flores, M., Ruiz, J. M., Butler, E. A., Sbarra, D. A., Garcia, D. O., Kohler, L., Crane, T. E., Corbie-Smith, G., Benavente, V., Kroenke, C. H., Saquib, N., & Thomson, C. A. (2021). Does the Hispanic mortality advantage vary by marital status among post-menopausal women in the Women’s Health Initiative? Annals of Behavior Medicine, Jan 15;kaaa113. doi: 10.1093/abm/kaaa113 Online ahead of print 
      • Martinez-Rogers, N., Zamora, H., Benavente, V., Dittmar, V. & Morant, L. Introducing baccalaureate nursing students in a veterans’ health primary care setting. (2021, under review). International Journal of Health Care and Science 
      • Benavides, H., Meireles, C. Benavente, V., & Wang, J. (2020, revision/resubmission) Educating minority, older adults in plant-based diet during the pandemic: Opportunities using digital health and telehealth technologies Journal of Medical Internet Research in Aging 
      • Kim, S. C., Covington, B., Benavente, V., & Willson, P. (2019). Capstone projects as experiential evidence-based practice education. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 15(3), e51-e56. doi: 10.1016/j.nurpra.2018.12.011 
      • Jeon, S. M., & Benavente, V. G. (2016). Health coaching in nurse practitioner-led group visits for chronic care.  The Journal for Nurse Practitioners,12(4), 258–264. doi: 10.1016/j.nurpra.2015.11.01 
      • Cené, C. W., Dilworth-Anderson, P., Leng, I., Garcia, L., Benavente, V., Rosal, M., Vaughn, A. L., Coker, L., Corbie-Smith, G., Kim, M., Bell, C. L., Robinson, J. G., Manson, J. E., & Cochrane, B. (2016). Correlates of successful aging in racial and ethnic minority women age 80 years and older: Findings from the Women’s Health Initiative. Journals of Gerontology A Biol Sci Med Sci, 71(Suppl 1), S87-99. doi: 10.1093/gerona/glv099 

      Non-Peer-Reviewed Articles 

      • Benavente, V. G. (2006). Shared care, not self-care in Hispanics. The Connection, Fall(9), 7. The official publication of the American Association of Heart Failure Nurses. [Invited] 
      • Benavente, V. G. (2004). Cultural and linguistic competency assessment. Nurse Leader, 2(6), 24-30. The official publication of the American Association of Nurse Executives. [Invited] 

      Abstracts 

      • Cochrane, B., Benavente, V. G., & Coker, L. (2011). A review of physical and social predictors of cardiovascular disease among minority women in the Women’s Health Initiative. Gerontologist 51(Suppl 1), A330. 
      • Benavente, V.G. (2006). Social ecological model of health behavior in cardiovascular disease management among Hispanics. Annual National Convention Program Supplement, Society for the Advancement of Chicano Americans and Native Americans in Science, Tampa, FL. 

      Other Works in Print: Dissertation 

      • Benavente, V. G. (2010). Predictors of cardiovascular health promotion in Mexican-American women. Philadelphia, PA: University of Pennsylvania. Dissertation Supervisor: Dr. Kathleen McCauley. Publicly accessible Penn Dissertations, Paper 200 at http://repository.upenn.edu/edissertations/200.

      Invited Podium Presentations (*indicates peer-reviewed) 

      • 2020, Advancing Community Oriented Registered Nursing (ACORN) Program. Nursing Education and Practice Quarterly Report-Virtual Platform, Division of Nursing and Public Health, Bureau of Health Workforce, Health Resources and Services Administration; Nov 9 
      • 2018, Day 1: Nursing Care of Older Hispanics with Vascular Dementia and Their Caregivers; Day 2: The Cognitive Health of Older Hispanics with Vascular Dementia. Annual Geriatric Symposium, Sheraton Austin Georgetown Hotel and Conference Center, Georgetown, TX; Aug 13-14* 
      • 2017, The GAPFON Model: Integrating Global Strategies into Your Program of Research and Scholarship. Chi Psi Chapter Fall Program, Sigma Theta Tau International, St. David’s School of Nursing, Texas State University, Round Rock, TX; Dec 12 
      • 2017, Preventing Cardiovascular Disease: Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes. Tercer Congreso Internacional de Salud (3rd International Congress of Health), University of Guanajuato, Division of Health Sciences and Engineering, Campus Celaya, Salvatierra, Leon, Guanajuato, México; Apr 7* 
      • 2016, Perceived Health Status and the Cardiovascular Health of Mexican Women in the United States. 2016 State of the Science Congress on Nursing Research, Council for the Advancement of Nursing Science, Washington, DC; Sep 15* 

      Peer-Reviewed Poster Presentations 

      • 2019, Communication Skills for Effective Discharge Interactions. 6th Annual Cultural Inclusion Institute: Inclusive Healthcare in Communities, Hospitals and Clinics, San Antonio, TX; Apr 23* 
      • 2019, Preventative Effects of Cranberry Products Against Urinary Tract Infections in Healthy, Immunocompetent Women. 6th Annual Cultural Inclusion Institute: Inclusive Healthcare in Communities, Hospitals and Clinics, San Antonio, TX; Apr 23* 
      • 2019,  Preventative Effects of Cranberry Products Against Urinary Tract Infections in Healthy, Immunocompetent Women. 23rd Annual Faculty/Student Research Virtual Forum, 2nd Place Research Poster Award, Graduate Student Research Category, College of Health Professions, Texas State University, Round Rock, TX; Apr 10-12* 
      • 2019, Correlation of Polypharmacy on Medication Adherence and Frailty in the Older Adult Population. 23rd Annual Faculty/Student Research Virtual Forum, College of Health Professions, Texas State University, Round Rock, TX; Apr 10-12* 
      • 2019, Evaluating the Effectiveness of the Personal Diabetes Questionnaire in the Primary Care Setting. 23rd Annual Faculty/Student Research Virtual Forum, College of Health Professions, Texas State University, Round Rock, TX; Apr 10-12* 
      • 2019, Communication Skills for Effective Discharge Interactions. Health Scholar Showcase – Translational Health Research: Smart and Connected Health Innovation, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX; Feb 27* 
      • 2018, Barriers to Breast Cancer for African American and Hispanic Women. 44th Annual Conference, Transcultural Nursing Society, San Antonio, TX; Oct 17-20* 
      • 2018, Barriers to Breast Cancer for African American and Hispanic Women. 22nd Annual Faculty/Student Research Forum, College of Health Professions, Texas State University, Encino Hall, San Marcos, TX; Apr 11-13* 
      • 2018, The Impact of Self-Care Activities on Type II Diabetes Management. 22nd Annual Faculty/Student Research Forum, College of Health Professions, Texas State University, Encino Hall, San Marcos, TX; Apr 11-13* 
      • 2018, Reduction of Medication Non-Adherence in Hypertensive Patients. 22nd Annual Faculty/Student Research Forum, College of Health Professions, Texas State University, Encino Hall, San Marcos, TX*; Apr 11-13 
      • 2016, Examining Acculturation of Hispanics for Inclusivity in Cardiovascular Health. 3rd Annual Cultural Institute: Relating Cultural Inclusiveness to Social Determinants of Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX; Apr 21* 
      • 2016, Examining Acculturation of Hispanics for Inclusivity in Cardiovascular Health. Alpha Chi Chapter Annual Spring Research Program, Sigma Theta Tau International, William F. Connell School of Nursing, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA; Apr 27*