WRITE Symptoms Research Team

Julius Kitutu, PhD
University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing
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Web/database Designers:
Richard Engberg
University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing
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Nathan Homitsky
University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing
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(Longer bios)

Heidi Donovan, PhD, RN, principal investigator of the WRITE symptoms study is an Assistant Professor at the University of Pittsburgh. She began her nursing career 15 years ago as an oncology nurse in Eugene, OR. In 1996, she returned to the University of Wisconsin where she obtained a Master’s and PhD in nursing. Her research focus has always been on improving symptom management and quality of life for women after a diagnosis of ovarian cancer. She has been honored to work in collaboration with the members of the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC) on many of these projects. She also serves on NOCC’s National Medical Advisory Board and on the board of the Pittsburgh Division. Working with survivors and family members on local education and advocacy projects is a source of constant inspiration.

At home, she has a wonderful husband, and a creative 11 year-old daughter, Caley, and a sweet little mutt, Lucky, who all ensure that work doesn’t overwhelm life. She loves the outdoors, travel, tennis, reading, and cooking.

Judy Knapp, PhD, LCSW, project director for the WRITE symptoms study, has been an oncology social worker for over 25 years. Most of that time, she worked in gynecologic oncology at Magee Women’s Hospital of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, both on an inpatient unit and in the practice of gynecologic oncologists at the hospital. One of the most meaningful experiences of her work has been the Ovarian Cancer Support Group, which she helped to lead for several years. In addition to her time on this research study, she maintains a private psychotherapy practice and is involved with a local community-based cancer support agency that offers support groups throughout western Pennsylvania. Judy’s role on this project is to oversee day-to-day operations. She is grateful for all of these opportunities to keep her hand and heart in cancer care.

At home, she has two cats and one husband, and gets to enjoy the dogs in the neighborhood. Most weekends, she can be found at her little country getaway near a state park and not much else! She likes to hike, read, refinish furniture, cook and, most of all, eat.

Peg Fields, MSN, ACNP-BC, ACONP, nurse interventionist for the WRITE symptoms study, has been in nursing for 22 years. She has worked her entire career in various aspects of oncology care. She has worked on inpatient units at the University of Iowa, and at St. Elizabeth Health Center in Youngstown, Ohio. She has also worked in outpatient oncology centers, Hospice care and community education. She graduated with her BSN from Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 1984 and her Master of Nursing from the University Of Pittsburgh School Of Nursing in 2004. She currently works in gynecologic oncology as a Nurse Practitioner for the MD Anderson Cancer Center at their outreach location at LBJ Hospital in Houston, Texas.

She loves to read, cook and redecorate. She lives in Houston, Texas with her husband and two teenage sons.

Renee Ingel, RN, MSN, nurse interventionist for the WRITE symptoms study, has been a registered nurse for 15 years. She has worked in various aspects of nursing and wellness education throughout her career. Renee earned her BSN at the University of Pittsburgh in 1991 and her MSN at Carlow University in 2005. She currently teaches at a local community college and does home infusion therapy.

In addition, she teaches fitness and spinning classes and is a full time mom of 2 girls, ages 11 and 8. Renee is most fulfilled when she is busy with her husband and daughters. Renee's ongoing goal is to help others appreciate that strength comes from within.

Sandra Ward , PhD, RN, FAAN is a Helen Denne Schulte Professor at the University of Wisconsin School of Nursing. She has been conducting research for over 20 years on how adults cope with cancer. She has had a special emphasis on pain and symptom management, developing educational programs to change patients' negative ideas about using pain medicine, with the ultimate goal of improving pain control for individuals with cancer. She is also the Director of the UW Center for Patient-Centered Interventions, a center that provides support for pre and postdoctoral training for talented young investigators, and support for developing and testing innovative patient-centered interventions.

At home, she is married to Patrick McDonnell with whom she shares love for an elderly but still frisky cat, a daughter who lives in Seattle, and the process of restoring an old home (while living in it). Other hobbies include reading (especially mysteries), cooking, and hiking.

Catherine Bender, PhD, RN is an assistant professor in the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing. She received her bachelor's degree in nursing from the University of Akron and her Masters and PhD from the University of Pittsburgh. Her entire nursing career has been in the area of oncology care. Dr. Bender has an extensive background in oncology research with a focus on cognitive function during and after treatment for cancer. She is now developing an intervention to help people compensate for the changes in cognitive function they experience with cancer treatment. She is a co-investigator and symptom management consultant for the study.

She has a wonderful daughter and lives in a 120 year old house. She grows roses, loves to read and enjoys movies.

Margaret Rosenzweig, PhD, CRNP-CS, AOCNP is an assistant professor and director of the Oncology Nurse Practitioner Program at the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing. Her research focus is on cancer symptom management with an emphasis on health care disparities among women with metastatic breast cancer. She is a co-investigator and symptom management expert for the study.

Peg's research interests have led her to work within the African American community and she is enjoying meeting the wonderful people and new challenges of community work. Peg is the mother of four teenage girls and enjoys (really!) spending time with them. She is a political "junkie" and enjoys reading and running. She lives with her daughters, Bichon dog and husband who fortunately loves to cook.

Susan Sereika, PhD is an associate professor of Nursing, Biostatistics and Epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing. She is a co-Investigator and statistician on this project and is responsible for directing and overseeing the data-analytic phase of the study.

Julius Kitutu, PhD, MEd, MSc, Statistician of the WRITE symptoms study is a Director of Student Services and Assistant Professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing. A Kenyan born, he studied in India, Nagpur University, for five years, where he obtained a Bachelor's degree in science and a Masters degree in Statistics in the years 1984 and 1986, respectively. On return to Kenya, he worked with the Government as a Statistician for about four years before joining Maseno University as a lecturer, where he taught Quantitative Skills and statistics to undergraduates. In 1996, Dr. Kitutu came to the University of Pittsburgh School of Education on a masters program. In his struggle with educational funding, he managed to complete two Masters Degrees, Policy Planning and Evaluation (1997) and Research Methodology (1999). Through the funding from the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, Dr. Kitutu enrolled for a doctoral program in School of education and completed the program in 2002. Dr. Kitutu's role in the project is to co-ordinate the data analysis consulting with the research study staff on research design, data analysis and development of study databases.

He likes dealing with numbers, reading, listening to Christian music, and helping others where he can.

Nate Homitsky is an undergraduate student in Computer Science and Philosophy at the University of Pittsburgh. He has worked as a student employee at the School of Nursing for the past three years, initially with the Learning Resources Center and now with both the Center for Research and Evaluation and Center for Research in Chronic Disorders. During that time, he has provided computer systems and programming support to the School's Diabetes Management Study, Beliefs and Preferences About Participation in Clinical Care Study, Efficacy of Acupuncture in Treating Urinary Incontinence Study, and many others. Nate has worked closely with Rick to design and develop the study website.

His personal interests include writing, cooking, and watching Steeler football.

Rick Engberg is a data manager and software designer in the Center for Research & Evaluation in the School of Nursing. Rick has worked closely with Nate to develop the study website, design an innovative tracking system and set up data management procedures. He is in charge of data management during the data collection and analysis phase of the study. In his spare time, Rick is the lead singer in a Rock-a-Billy band.