GINA PISTULKA, RN, MSN, MPH, PhD(c)

Pre-Doctoral Fellow
Health Disparities of Underserved Populations

Faculty Advisor:
Miyong Kim, RN, PhD, FAAN
Associate Professor

Dissertation Focus:
My research includes a qualitative study using ethnographic techniques with middle-aged Korean Americans who have diabetes and hypertension in order to determine patterns of self-care management as a comorbid state, the influence of cultural beliefs and practices, and perception of disease during the time of acculturation to the United States.

Podium Presentations:
Pistulka, G., Han, H.R., Park, H.J., Lee, H., & Kim, M. Stress, Social Support and Depression among the KAI Elderly in Maryland. Presentation for the 130th Annual Meeting of the American Public Health Association, Philadelphia, PA, November 9-13, 2002.

Han, H.R., Kim, M.T., Pistulka, G., & Kim, K.B. Patterns of Health Care Utilization Among Korean American Elderly with Hypertension: The Use of Traditional and Western Medicine. 130th Annual Meeting of the American Public Health Association, Philadelphia, PA, November 9-13, 2002.

Kim, K.B., Han, H.R., Ryu, J.P., Pistulka, G., & Kim, M.T. Developing Anti-Smoking Initiatives for the Korean American Community: An Innovative Community-Based Approach to Reduce Disparities in Primary Prevention. 130th Annual Meeting of the American Public Health Association, Philadelphia, PA, November 9-13, 2002.

Kim, M.T., Han, H.R., Park, H.J., Lee, H., & Pistulka, G. A Community-Based Health Promotion Program for Korean American Elderly: Reaching the Hard-to-Reach Population. 130th Annual Meeting of the American Public Health Association, Philadelphia, PA, November 9-13, 2002.

Kim, K.B., Han. W., Han, H.R., Pistulka, G., Park, H.J. Developing a community partnered intervention: a smoking cessation intervention in the Korean American community in Maryland. 14th International Nursing Research Congress, Virgin Islands, July 10-12, 2003.

Han, H.R., Kim, M.T., Park, H.J., Pistulka, G., Kim, K.B. High Prevalence of Uncontrolled Hypertension and Cardiovascular Risk Factors. 14th International Nursing Research Congress, Virgin Islands, July 10-12, 2003.

Park, H.J., Han, H.R., Pistulka, G., Han, W., Kim, M.T. Process Evaluation of the Self-Help Intervention Program for Korean American Elderly with Hypertension. 14th International Nursing Research Congress, Virgin Islands, July 10-12, 2003.

Kim, M.T., Han, H.R., Park, H.J., Pistulka, G., Kim, K.B. Predicting Entry into Care among Korean American Elderly with High Blood Pressure. 14th International Nursing Research Congress, Virgin Islands, July 10-12, 2003.

Han, H.R., Kim, M.T., Kim, K.B., Han, W., Park, H.J., Pistulka, G., Lee, H. Anti-Smoking Media Campaigns for a Linguistically Isolated Population. 2003 National Conference on Tobacco or Health, Boston, MA, December 10-12, 2003.

Kim, K.B., Han, W., Kim, M.T., Lee, H., Park, H.J., Pistulka, G., Han, H.R. A Community-Based Smoking Cessation Program for Korean Americans in Maryland. 2003 National Conference on Tobacco or Health, Boston, MA, December 10-12, 2003.

Pistulka, G., Park, H.J., Han, H.R., Kim, M.T. Addressing the Needs of Korean Americans with Diabetes: A Preliminary Look at Barriers to Care of Diabetes in First-Generation Immigrants, National State of the Science Conference, October 6 - 9, 2004.

Pistulka, G., J&J Scholar Presenter. Project Salud, La Comunidad Hispana, Kennett Square, PA. Johnson & Johnson Community HealthCare Programs Annual Meeting. Washington, DC. May 2-4, 2004.

Kim, M., Pistulka, G. Collaborations with the Republic of Korea and China, Nursing National Advisory Council Meeting. Baltimore, MD. November 19, 2004.

Poster Presentations:
Campbell, J., Sharps, P.W. Kub, J., Walton-Moss, B., Kelley, L., Hoey, F., Loeken, K., Izabel, R., Blake, S., Kemp, K., Araya, T., Smith, R., Fredland, N., Yonas, M., Pistulka, G. Arts-Based Initiative to Reduce Violence Against Women and Girls. SafeUSA Conference. Atlanta, GA. December 3, 2001.

Pistulka, G., Park H.J., Han, H.R. (2002). First Generation Korean American Immigrants: Exploring the Relevant Cultural Themes and Perceptions of the Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. 14th International Nursing Research Congress, Virgin Islands, July 10-12, 2003.

Pistulka, G. Project Salud, La Comunidad Hispana, Kennett Square, PA. Johnson & Johnson Community HealthCare Programs Annual Meeting. Washington, DC. May 2-4, 2004.

Pistulka, G. Project Salud, Kennett Square, PA. Johnson & Johnson Community HealthCare Programs Annual Meeting. Washington, DC. May 1-3, 2005.

Honors and Awards:

• International Scholar, MIRT/Globall Health Promotion Research Program, South Korea, June 2004 – August 2004

o Presented literature review and plans for the MIRT program in South Korea, May 2004
o Participated in developing survay indicators and protocols for the South Korean National Nutrition Survey
o Secondary data analysis of the 2001 National Nutrition Survey of the presence of the metabolic syndrome in Korean women
o Presented protocols for the South Korean National Nutrition Survey to the South Korean National Public Health Commission

• J&J Evaluation Scholar, Johnson and Johnson Community Healthcare Program, September 2003 – May 2005

o Provide technical assistance to a rural community health center offering services to pregnant Hispanic women and their families.
o Proposal reviewer for Johnson & Johnson Community Healthcare Program
o Presented progress of the evaluation program in Kennett Square, PA at the Johnson & Johnson Annual Meeting

• Recipient, Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award, “Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Korean American Immigrants,” NR008314-01A1, September 2003 – August 2008
• Recipient, Health Disparities in Underserved Populations Fellowship, September 2002 – August 2004
• Recipient, Sigma Theta Tau Annual Research Award, Nu Beta Chapter, “First Generation Korean Immigrants: Exploring the Relevant Cultural Themes and Perceptions of Management of Type 2 Diabetes.” May 2002
• Recipient, Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing Scholarship, January 2002 – August 2002
• Fellow, Bush Foundation Leadership Fellowship, July 2000 – December 2001
• Volunteer Recognition, Project Ak’ Tenamit, Rio Dulce, Guatemala, Central America, 1997
• Nominee, College of St. Catherine Honor Society and Recognition, 1993
• Deans List, Fall, 1990, Fall 1992, Spring 1993
• Emma Winkleman Nursing Scholarship, 1989-1990, 1991-1992


Funding:
Sept. 2003 - August 2008 Recipient, Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award, “Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Korean American Immigrants,” NR008314-01A1.

May 2002: Recipient, Sigma Theta Tau Annual Research Award, Nu Beta Chapter, “First Generation Korean Immigrants: Exploring the Relevant Cultural Themes and Perceptions of Management of Type 2 Diabetes.”