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Rebekah J. Salt

Contact

210-567-0816

salt@uthscsa.edu

Rebekah J. Salt, PhD, RN

Associate Professor

Currently seeking M.S. & Ph.D. students

Dr. Salt brings 39 years of nursing experience to her current role as an educator and nurse researcher at UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing. Both her master’s degree in Cross Cultural and Community Health Nursing (minor in public health) and PhD work focused on Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) and Community-Engaged Scholarship. Dr. Salt’s program of research is informed by social determinants of health, qualitative methods and community engagement with vulnerable populations. Her work has been disseminated in peer-reviewed journals and at regional, national and international conferences. Since 2007, Dr. Salt has taught in Population-Focused Health which is based in experiential learning and social justice. She supports Interprofessional Education in her work with the Center for Refugee Services and the San Antonio Refugee Health Clinic. In addition, she mentors medical students on their research projects (mental health, secondary trauma and COVID vaccine attitudes) through Community Service Learning, Center for Medical Humanities & Ethics at UT Health San Antonio. Dr. Salt has actively participated in Sigma serving as a chapter member, delegate, counselor, mentor to students, vice president of research, governance committee, and disseminated her work at six Sigma International Nursing Research Congress conferences. In 2016 she received the South Texas Nurse Imagemaker and in 2019 the Presidential Award for Sustained Excellence in Teaching-UT Health San Antonio. 

  • Professional Background

    Education

    • 2007 - Doctor of Philosophy - Nursing - University of Washington
    • 1999 - Master in Nursing - Nursing - University of Washington
    • 1997 - Bachelor of Science in Nursing - Nursing - University of Phoenix
    • 1983 - Associate Degree in Nursing - Nursing - Shoreline Community College

    Highlights

    Licensures and Certifications

    • Registered Nurse
    • BLS for Healthcare

    Honors and Awards

    • 2020, CSL Conference Judge’s Choice Winner-Poster: Jeffery, A. (MS3), Salt, R. J.  
    • 2019, Innovations in Health Science Education Award-SHINE Academy 
    • 2019, Presidential Award for Sustained Excellence in Teaching-UT Health SA

     

    Appointments

    • 2018 - Associate Professor-Tenure Track - UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
    • 2013 - 2018 - Assistant Professor - UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
    • 2008 -2012 - Assistant Professor - UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing

  • Instruction & Training

    • 2017 - 2022, NURS 4217 Population-Focused Health, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
    • 2013 - 2022, NURS 4217 Population-Focused Health, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
    • 2017, NURS 3110 Health Assessment: Clinical Assessments, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
    • 2015, NURS 3014 Mentored Res Practicum: Community, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
    • 2014, NURS 5307 Using Research for the Practice of Nursing, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
    • 2014 - 2015, NURS 6250 Advanced Health Promotion, Health Protection & Disease Prevention, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
    • 2014, NURS 7323 Design and Analysis for EBP Translational Science II, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
    • 2013, NURS 3402 Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
    • 2013, NURS 4313 Clinical Immersion, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing

  • Research & Grants

    Grants

    Currently Funded: 

    • 2022, Funder: Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) Title: Nurse led rural healthcare delivery. ($3,981,316) Role: Co-PI (PI: Schwab, K.)

    Submitted and Not Funded or Unfunded Research/Projects: 

    • 2022 Funder The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) ($100,000) Title: Competency-Based Education for Practice-Ready Nurse Graduates Pilot School Applicaion Role: PI (Co-PI: Cantu, A.)
    • 2021, Funder: Rita and Alex Hillman Foundation-Emergent Innovation Program ($50,000). Title: Refugee Women’s Team Care Approach: Promoting Health as an Act of Social Justice. Role: Co-PI (PI: Worabo, H.) 
    • 2020,  Funder: Sigma Jonas Foundational Grant ($10,000). Title: Utilizing MOAIS to improve mental wellness among resettled refugees through an integrated community-based approach. Role: PI (Co: PIs: Costantino, M., Grubesic, R. & Worabo, H.)  
    • 2019, Funder: Rita and Alex Hillman Foundation-Emergent Innovation Program ($50,000). Title: Utilizing MOAIS to improve mental wellness among resettled refugees through an integrated, community-based approach. Role: PI (Co: PIs: Costantino, M., Grubesic, R. & Worabo, H.)  
    • 2019, Funder: Rita and Alex Hillman Foundation-Innovations in Care Programs ($600,000). Title: MOAIS to improve mental wellness among resettled refugees through an integrated, community-based approach. Role: PI (Co: PIs: Costantino, M., Grubesic, R. & Worabo, H.) 
    • 2018,  Funder: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ($125,000). Title: Using a Tiered Approach to Enhance Interprofessional and Population Health Education. Role: PI 
    • 2017,  Funder: San Antonio Area Foundation ($200,000). Title: Relief Funding. Hurricane Harvey Recovery Program. UT Health San Antonio Nursing Clinical Enterprise. Role: Co-PI (PI: Sickora, C.) 
    • 2016,  Funder: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (Abstract) ($250,000). Title: Engaging in Businesses for Health. Investing in refugee health using microcredit. Role: PI. 
    • 2016,  Funder: The IMMS: Community-engagement Small Project Grants ($5,000). Title: Promoting Mental Health Literacy for San Antonio Refugees: Phase II. Role: PI 
    • 2011,  Funder: NIH K23 Mentored Patient-Oriented Career Development Award ($355,748). Title: Social determinants of health: The health implications for low-income women participating in U. S. microcredit. Role: PI 

    Completed Research/Projects: 

    • 2019,  Funder: UT Health San Antonino, Community Service-Learning Grant ($500.00). Title: Voices of the Community: Interpreting Experience of Resettled Refugee Medical Interpreters at the San Antonio Refugee Health Clinic. Role: Co-PI (PI: Medical student Jeffery, A. MS3). 
    • 2018,  Funder: UT Health San Antonio. Community Service-Learning Grant ($3,085). Title: Project Saha: A Mental Health Initiative for Refugees. Role: Co-PI (PIs: Kittmar, K., Jeffery, A., Pal, K. MS3). 
    • 2015,  Funder: Rosemary Kerr McKevitt Research Award ($500). Title: Pathways to Wellness: Promoting mental health in the refugee community. Role: PI (Co PI: Margaret Costantino). 
    • 2015,  Funder: Institute for Integration of Medicine & Science-UT Health) ($5,000). Title: Promoting Mental Health in the Refugees: A Community Collaboration. Role: PI (Co-PI: M. E. Costantino). 
    • 2013,  Funder: UT Health San Antonio-School of Nursing-Nursing Advisory Council ($8,600). Title: Using mixed methods to generate data with women participating in U. S. microenterprise: A pilot study. Role: PI  
    • 2009,  Funder: University of New Mexico-College of Nursing-Dean’s Award ($10,000). Title: Precarious employment and women’s health within the context of microenterprise. Role: PI. 

  • Service

    School

    Student Mentees/Trainees  

    • 2023-present Allison, Sherri B. DNP Project Committee Member. Increasing electronic patient portal enrollment/activation at a refugee clinic to increase patient engagement: A quality improvement project.
    • 2022-2023 Bawani, Shahana-DNP Project Committee Member. Improving follow up process at refugee clinic.
    • 2022-2023 Momin, Anusha-DNP Project Committee Member. To create a process for incorporating culturally and linguistically appropriate medication administration patient teaching to improve health literacy among resettled refugee
    • 2021-present   Xue, Lude. DNP Project Community Member. Improve access to healthcare by facilitating the enrollment in health care coverage among uninsured   refugee women at the San Antonio Refugee Health Clinic (SARHC). 
    • 2021-present   Liu, E. (Medical/MPH student) Community Service Learning Grant mentor. San Antonio refugee population COVID-19 vaccine attitudes needs assessment. 
    • 2020 - present, Crawford, A., BSN-PhD Committee Member. The experiences of Latina mothers impacted by incarceration. 
    • 2019 - present, Williams, P., PhD Committee Member. Health management in the homeless. 

    Institutional

    • 2022-2023 Chair Committee on Interprofessional Education (UTH)
    • 2022-2023 Member PhD Committee on Graduate Scholarship (SON)
    • 2022 Volunteer Poverty Simulation (October) (SOM)
    • 2022 Reviewer Spring 2023 Faculty Scholarship Review Committee (SON)
    • 2022,Member Selection Committee (Administrative Assistant) (SON) 
    • 2021-present, Chair-elect Committee on Interprofessional Education (UTH) 
    • 2021-present, Chair-elect PhD Committee on Graduate Scholarship (SON) 
    • 2021-present, Mentor Raquel Alvarado (Scholarship) 
    • 2020 - present, Chair, Faculty Assembly (SON) 
    • 2019 - present, Member, Community Service Learning-Advisory Committee (UTH)
    • 2019 - 2020, Member, Faculty Council  (SON)
    • 2019 - 2020, Chair-elect, Faculty Assembly (SON) 
    • 2018 - 2019, Secretary, Faculty Assembly (SON)
    • 2017 - 2019, Member, Committee for Undergraduate Studies (SON) 
    • 2016 - 2018, Member, Presidential Excellence Award Committee (UTH) 
    • 2014 - 2018, Member, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Award  Committee (UTH) 
    • 2017 - 2020, Moderator, Community Action Poverty Simulation  (UTH) 

    Service to the Profession

    • 2022    Reviewer, STTI Delta Alpha-at-Larger (Research Abstracts) 
    • 2021-present      Gov. Committee      STTI Delta Alpha-at-Large 
    • 2017, Member, STTI Delta Alpha-at-Large
    • 2019-present, Reviewer, Western Journal of Nursing Research
    • 2011-present, Reviewer, Advances in Nursing Science
    • 2010-present, Reviewer, Policy, Politics & Nursing Practice

    Professional Affiliations

    • 2022-present  Texas Nurses Association 
    • 2022-present  American Nurses Association 
    • 2019-Present, Southern Nursing Research Society
    • 1999-Present, Sigma Theta Tau International Delta Alpha-at-Large   

    Community

    • 2017 - present, Invited speaker, Career Day-Maverick Elementary School
    • 2015 - present, Volunteer, San Antonio Refugee Health Clinic
    • 2013, Volunteer, Poverty Simulation Workshop

  • Publications

      Peer-reviewed Articles (*indicates data-based) 

      • Salt, R.J. (in progress). Asset mapping: Application in an undergraduate population focused health clinical course. (Nurse Educator). 
      • Salt, R.J., & Perez, R. (in progress). Undergraduate experiential learning through a partnership with the San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind (Journal TBD)
      • Worabo, H.J., Salt, R.J., Grubesic. R., & Farokhi. M.R. (in review). Operationalizing an academic practice partnership model to deliver care to refugees and promote social justice competencies. Nurse Education Today. 
      • *Jeffery, A., & Salt, R.J. (2021). Voices of the community: Exploring the experiences of resettled refugee interpreters. Health & Social Care in the Community DOI: 10.1111/hsc.13574 
      • Sickora, C., Salt, R. J., Page, T. S., Lee, W., Cantu, A. G., Lee, M., Schwab, K. W., Martinez, M. L., & Byrd, D. (2020). Evolution of experiential learning opportunities for nursing students after natural disaster. Journal of Nursing Education, 59(1), 30-33. doi:10.3928/01484834-20191223-07 
      • Salt, R. J., Sickora, C., Page, T. L., Martinez, M. L., Cantu, A. G., Schwab, K. W., & Lee, M. (2019). “We didn’t forget” Utilizing a community-nurse partnership to promote health in Rockport Texas after Hurricane Harvey. Public Health Nursing, 37(1), 113-120. doi:10.1111/phn.12684. 
      • *Salt, R. J., Costantino, M. E., Dotson, E. L., & Paper, B. M. (2017). “You are not alone” Strategies for  addressing mental health and health promotion with a refugee’s women’s sewing group. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 35(6), 489-491. DOI:10.3109/01612840.2013.846445. 
      • *Salt, R. J., & Lee, J. (2014). Exploring precarious employment and women’s health within the context of U. S. microenterprise using focus groups. Public Health Nursing, 31(6), 556-565. DOI:10.3109/01612840.2013.846445 
      • Salt, R. J. & Chrisman, N. J. (2014). The culture of research: “No, I’m not gonna be no guinea pig for all of that.” Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 35(6), 489-491. DOI:10.3109/01612840.2013.846445 
      • Salt, R.J. (2010). Microcredit and the social determinants of health: A conceptual approach. Public Health Nursing, 28(3), 281-290. DOI: 10.1111/j.1525-1446.2010.00927.x 
      • *Salt, R. J. (2010). Exploring women’s participation in a U. S. microcredit program. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 42(3), 270-277. DOI: 10.1111/j.1547-5069.2010.01350.x 

      Non-Peer-reviewed Articles  

      • Golightly-Jenkins, C., & Salt, R. J. (2020, March). Meeting the needs of refugees through community engagement. American Organization of Nursing Leaders

      Abstracts 

      • Salt, R. J., Costantino, M. E., Dotson, E. L. & Paper, B. M. (2017). Promoting mental health in a refugee community using the RHS-15 and Pathways to Wellness. 28th International Nursing Research Congress, Dublin, Ireland. Virginia Henderson Global Nursing e-Repository http://hdl.handle.net/10755/621959 
      • Salt, R. J., Cantu, A. G., Martinez, M., & Escandon, E. (2017). Strategies for educating nursing students to address social justice and the social determinants of health. 28th International Nursing Research Congress, Dublin, Ireland. Virginia Henderson Global Nursing e-Repository   http://hdl.handle.net/10755/622554   
      • Salt, R. J., & Lee, J. (2015). Using mixed methods to generate data with women participating in U.S. microenterprise. 26th International Nursing Research Congress. Question Locally, Engage Regionally, Apply Globally. San Juan, Puerto Rico. Virginia Henderson Global Nursing e-Repository http://hdl.handle.net/10755/622568  
      • Salt, R. J., & Lee, J. (2013). Working for yourself: Microenterprise and women‘s health. 24th International Nursing Research Congress Theme: Bridge the Gap Between Research and Practice Through Collaboration. Prague, Czech Republic. Virginia Henderson Global Nursing e-Repository http://www.nursinglibrary.org/vhl/handle/10755/622567   
      • Salt, R. J. (2008). An ethnography of women participating in a U.S. microcredit program. Communicating Nursing Research, Spring; 41: 294. The circle of nursing knowledge: Education, practice and research. WIN Assembly, 16. 2008.  

      Presentations (+ Interprofessional Education) 
      Peer Reviewed Podium Presentations 

      • 2023 Farokhi, M. & Salt, R.J. Promoting oral health using social media to connect students: Living room to classroom. 2023 Innovation in Health Science Education Annual Conference (Shine Academy UT System). 
      • 2022 Xue, L.R., Worabo, H., Gill, S., & Salt, R. Facilitating health insurance enrollment for uninsured at a refugee health clinic in South Texas. North American Refugee Health Conference. Cleveland, OH. Poster
      • ​+2021 Harbin, Z., Yazji, S., Ginjupalli, M., Gbedey, W., Bemat, Z., Lopez, K., Somoye, A., Alberto, J., Marediya, S., Nguyen, J., Saqr, A., Alshareif, D., Tosti, A., Roka, A., Farokhi, M., Grubesic, R., Worabo, H., Salt, R., Kester, N. San Antonio Refugee Health Clinic COVID-19 Telehealth Response and Cross-Sectional Study of Refugee Population Needs During the Pandemic. Society of Student Run Free Clinics Conference 2021. 
      • +2020 Cantu, A., Salt, R. J., & Gross, G. Trifecta: When social determinants of health, interprofessional education and school based prevention program meet. NEXUS Summit 2020 (Lightening Talks). 
      • 2020 Salt, R. J., Sickora, C., Page, T. L, Martinez, M. L., & Cantu. A. G., Schwab, K. W., Lee, M. Community engagement and the evolution of experiential learning for nursing students after a natural disaster. Sigma’s Virtual 31st International Nursing Research Congress, Abu Dhabi, EAU-Virtual (Symposium). 
      • +2019 Farokhi, M., Cantu. A. G., Lozano-Pineda, J. & Salt, R. J. Trifecta: When social determinants of health, IPE, & school-based prevention meet. University of Texas, Kenneth Shine Academy of Health Science Education Conference, Austin, TX (Podium). 
      • +2019 Costantino, M., Kittmar, K., Jeffery, A., Pal, K., & Salt, R. J. Coming to the U. S. is a “different hard time” Promoting mental health awareness with resettled refugees. North American Refugee Health Conference. Toronto, Canada (Podium).  
      • +2019 Kittmar, K., Jeffery, A., Pal, K., Salt, R. J., Costantino, M. Project Saha: Challenges and lessons learned from starting a mental health initiative at the San Antonio Refugee Health Clinic. 2019 Society of Student-Run Free Clinics, Kansas City, KS (Podium).  
      • 2018 Page, T., Salt, R. J., Cantu, A., Lee, M., Martinez, M., & Sickora, C. Population focused health nursing student interventions after Hurricane Harvey. Creating the Healthiest Nation: Health Equity Now, Disaster Preparation, Response and Recovery Roundtable, American Public Health Association, San Diego, CA (Roundtable). 
      • 2018 Salt, R. J. Experiential learning strategies to improve the health of refugees in San Antonio, Texas. 5th Annual Cultural Inclusion Institute, San Antonio, TX (Podium). 
      • 2017 Salt, R. J., Cantu, A. G., & Martinez, M. L. Strategies for educating nursing students to address social justice and the social determinants of health. Sigma Theta Tau 28th International Nursing Research Congress, Dublin, Ireland (Symposium). 
      • 2016 Costantino, M. E., & Salt, R. J. Promoting mental health in a San Antonio refugee community using Pathways to Wellness. 6th Annual North American Refugee Health Conference. Niagara Falls, NY (Podium).  
      • 2015 Salt, R. J. & Lee. J. Using mixed methods to generate data with women participating in U.S. microenterprise. American Public Health Association 143rd Annual Meeting & Expo. Chicago, IL (Podium). 
      • 2015 Salt, R. J. & Lee, J. Using mixed methods to generate data with women participating in U.S. microenterprise. STTI 26th International Nursing Research Congress, San Juan, Puerto Rico (Podium). 

      Invited Podium Presentations  

      • 2017 Salt, R. J. Microcredit and health: Building a program of research within the context of community-engaged scholarship. ReACH Scholars Meeting, Research for the Advancement of Community Health, San Antonio, TX (Invited Speaker).  
      • 2014 Salt, R. J. Introduction to REDCap & choosing instruments. University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Research Scholars, San Antonio, TX (Invited Speaker). 
      • 2014 Salt, R. J. Using mixed methods to generate data with women participating in U. S. microenterprise. University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, School of Nursing Committee on Scholarship, San Antonio, TX (Invited Speaker). 

      Peer Reviewed Poster Presentations (+Interprofessional Education) 

      • +2022 Liu, M., Baraka, A., Ehtesham, Y., Patel, C. & Salt, R.J. San Antonio refugee population COVID-19 vaccine attitudes needs assessment. 14th Annual Community Service Learning (CSL) Conference, San Antonio. TX.  
      • +2020 Jeffery, A. & Salt, R. J. Voices of the community: Interpreting experiences of resettled refugee medical Interpreters at the San Antonio Refugee Health Clinic. 13th Annual Community Service (CSL) Conference, San Antonio, TX. 
      • +2019 Kittmar, K., Jeffery, A., Pal, K., Salt, R. J., Costantino, M. Project Saha: Integrating mental health services into the San Antonio Refugee Health Clinic. Diving Deep into Community: 12th Annual Community Service Learning Conference. Service Learning-UT Health, Center for Medical Humanities and Ethics. San Antonio, TX. 
      • +2018 Walker, C., Farokhi, M., Cantu, A., Salt, R. J., & Estacio, A. Oral health school-based prevention program evaluation: An interprofessional collaborative effort. American Dental Education Association Meeting  (ADEA), Orlando, FL.  
      • + 2018 Walker, C., Farokhi, M., Cantu, A., Salt, R. J., & Estacio, A. Oral Health School-based Prevention Program Evaluation: An Interprofessional Collaborative Effort. UT Health, San Antonio Annual Dental Science Symposium, San Antonio, TX.  
      • + 2018 Farokhi, M., Walker, C. M., Cantu, A., Salt, R. J., & Martinez, C. An Interprofessional Collaborative Oral Health School Based Prevention Program Evaluation. University of Texas Kenneth Shine Academy of Health Science Education Conference, Austin, TX. 
      • 2017 Salt, R. J., Costantino, M. E., & Dotson, E. L. Promoting mental health in a refugee community using the  RHS-15 and Pathways to Wellness. Community Engagement and Healthcare Improvement (CEHI), Knowledge Market. San Antonio, TX. 
      • 2017 Salt, R. J., Costantino, M. E., & Dotson, E. L. Promoting mental health in a refugee community using the RHS-15 and Pathways to Wellness.  Sigma Theta Tau 28th International Nursing Research Congress, Dublin, Ireland.  
      • 2016 Salt, R. J. Constantino, M. E., & Dotson, E. L. Promoting mental health in a San Antonio refugee community: A pilot study. IIMS Community Engagement Symposium. San Antonio, TX.  
      • 2016 Salt, R. J. Costantino, M. E., & Dotson, E. L. Promoting mental health in a San Antonio refugee community: A pilot study. Western Institute of Nursing Conference: Innovations in Engagement, through Research, Practice and Education. Anaheim, CA. 
      • 2016 Dotson, E. L., Salt, R. J., & Costantino, M. E.  Promoting mental health in a San Antonio refugee community: A pilot study. STTI Delta Alpha-at-Large Induction Ceremony, Sigma Theta Tau International, San Antonio, TX.