Contact Information

Biography

Dr. Melanie Turk joined the faculty in August 2009 and is an Associate Professor in the School of Nursing. Her research interests include health promotion and disease prevention through lifestyle change and weight loss, particularly for diabetes prevention among older adults and other vulnerable populations. She has numerous published manuscripts, abstracts, book chapters, and a textbook about statistics and data analysis literacy for nurses. She also serves as a peer reviewer for several scholarly journals and as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Transcultural Nursing.

Dr. Turk designed and has directed the Nursing Honors Program since 2016. She currently teaches in the MSN, DNP, and PhD programs. In her work with doctoral students, Dr. Turk has led global studies programs for DNP and PhD students in Rome, Italy and Dublin, Ireland. She became a Fellow in the Transcultural Nursing Society Scholars in 2021.

Education

PhD, Nursing, University of Pittsburgh
MSN, Nursing Research, University of Pittsburgh
BSN, Nursing, Duquesne University

Expertise

  • Behavioral treatment of obesity
  • Weight loss and maintenance
  • Behavior change for health promotion among vulnerable populations

Research

Dr. Turk's focus is on behavioral weight management for disease prevention in underserved populations. With a grant from the Aetna Foundation, she led a six-site healthy eating and physical activity intervention study among 120 older adults in socio-economically disadvantaged communities. She has also conducted qualitative research to learn about the eating and physical activity behaviors of immigrant populations in the US. Her work as a co-investigator and dissertation chairperson further led to collaborations on studies of virtual recruitment to a National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP), adherence to a mobile-app for dietary self-monitoring, and factors linked to weight status among Salvadoran infants, among others. She is currently leading an 3-year, NIH-funded study to learn about barriers and facilitators to the implementation and use of the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program. She also serves as the Nursing Liaison on a foundation-funded grant awarded to the School of Pharmacy to increase access to preventive community health programs, including the NDPP. Her role is to help oversee the virtual delivery and evaluation of the NDPP at Duquesne.

School

About

Grants Awarded

NIH, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute Grant; Role: Principal Investigator (PI); Project: Multi-Stakeholder Determinants of Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program Implementation: Dates: July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2026; Amount:  $426,032

Henry L. Hillman Foundation Grant; Role: Nursing Liaison (PI: J. Elliot); Project: Bridges to Health - Community-based preventive health services: Dates:  January 1, 2021 – December 31, 2023; Amount: $475,000.

Peer-reviewed publications - last 5 years (*based on empirical data) 

*Turk, M., Ritchie, N., Jakub, K. (in press, June 2023). Stakeholder analysis: Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program awareness and implementation. American Journal of Managed Care. 

Inocian, E.P., Hill, M., Felicilda-Reynaldo, R.F.D, Kelly, S., Paragas, E.D., Turk, M.T. (2022). Factors in the clinical Learning environment that influence caring behaviors of undergraduate nursing students: An integrative review. Nurse Education in Practice, online first, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2022.103391 

*Payne, J., Turk, M.T., Kalarchian, M.A., Pellegrini, C. (2021). Adherence to mobile-app-based dietary self-monitoring—Impact on weight loss in adults. Obesity Science & Practice. http://doi.org/10.1002/osp4.566 

Turk, M.T. & Tremblay, B. (2021). Advocating for diabetes prevention in older adults. Nursing2021. 51(12), 48-50. DOI-10.1097/01.NURSE.0000795284.89595.1f 

Kallmerten, P.S., Chia, R.L., Jakub, K., Turk, M.T., (2021). Patient portal use by adults with heart failure: An integrative review. CIN: Computers, Informatics, Nursing, Epub ahead of print 29 Mar 2021, doi: 10.1097/CIN.0000000000000733 

*Kiraly, C.M., Turk, M.T., Kalarchian, M.A., Shaffer, C. (2021). Exploring factors linked to weight status in Salvadoran infants. Hispanic Healthcare International, 19(2), 95-104. https://doi.org/10.1177/1540415320959593 

Fisher-Grace, K., Turk, M.T., Anthony, M., Chia, R. (2021). Use of personal health records to support diabetes self-management: An integrative review. CIN: Computers, Informatics, Nursing, 39(6), 298-305. doi: 10.1097/CIN.0000000000000682 

Tremblay, B., Turk, M., Cooper, M., Zoucha, R. (2020). Knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of young adults about electronic nicotine delivery systems in the United States: An integrative review. Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, Epub ahead of print 30 July 2020, doi: 10.1097/JCN.0000000000000731 

Confiac, N., Turk, M., Zoucha, R. & McFarland, M. (2019). Mexican American parental knowledge and perceptions of childhood obesity: An integrative review. Hispanic Health Care International, 18(2), 105-116. https://doi.org/10.1177/1540415319873400  

Turk, M.T., Kalarchian, M.A., Nolfi, D.A., Fapohunda, A. (2019). Prevention and treatment of overweight and obesity among African immigrant populations: A systematic review of the literature. Annual Review of Nursing Research, 37, 161-186. doi: 10.1891/0739-6686.37.1.161 

Payne, J., Turk, M.T., Kalarchian, M.A., Pellegrini, C. (2018). Defining adherence to dietary self-monitoring using a mobile app: A narrative review. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 118(11), 2094-2119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2018.05.011 

*Jakub, K.E., Turk, M.T., Fapohunda, A., Zoucha, R. (2018). Cultural beliefs, perceptions, and practices of young adult offspring of African immigrants regarding healthy eating and activity. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 29(6), 548-554. https://doi.org/10.1177/1043659618761532 

*Turk, M.T. & Colbert, A.M. (2018). Using simulation to help beginning nursing students learn about the experience of poverty: A descriptive study. Nurse Education Today, 71, 174-179. doi: 10.1016/j.nedt.2018.09.035 

*Rapchak, M., Nolfi, D.A., Turk, M.T., Marra, L., & O’Neil, C.K. (2018). Implementing an interprofessional information literacy course: Impact on student learning and attitudes. Journal of the Medical Library Association, 106(4), doi: dx.doi.org/10.5195/jmla.2018.455  

Ea, E.E., Colbert, A., Turk, M., Dickson, V. (2018). An overview of hypertension among Filipino immigrants in the United States: Implications for research, practice, and health policy. Journal of Nursing Practice Applications & Reviews of Research, 8(1), 35-43. https://doi.org/10.13178/jnparr.2018.0801.0806 

*Ea, E.E., Colbert, A.C., Turk, M., Dickson, V. (2018). Self-care among Filipinos in the United States who have hypertension. Applied Nursing Research, 39, 71-76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnr.2017.11.002 

 

Books - Last 5 years

Schreiber, J. & Turk, M.T. (2023). Statistics and Data Analysis Literacy for Nurses. New York: Springer.

 

Book Chapters - Last 5 Years

Turk, M.T., Dreher, H.M., Zoucha, R. Evatt, M., Kalarchian, M.A. (2023). Enhancing the Role of a Doctor of Nursing Practice Graduate: Two Models for Global Studies Experience. In H.M. Dreher, M.E.S. Glasgow, M. Dahnke, & V.T. Cotter (Eds.), DNP Role Development for Doctoral Advanced Nursing Practice (3rd ed.). New York: Springer.

 

Scholarly Presentations - Last 5 Years

Spigelmyer, P. & Turk, M. (March, 2023). Ethical Considerations Surrounding Early COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution to Older Adults in the U.S. (Competitive Review). Podium presentation at the 2023 Carol Carfang Nursing & Healthcare Ethics Conference, Clearwater, FL.

Turk, M., Ritchie, N., Jakub, K. (December, 2022). A Stakeholder Analysis of Awareness and Implementation of the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program in the United States. (Competitive Review). Poster presentation at the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) World Diabetes Congress 2022 in Lisbon, Portugal.

Confiac, N. Turk, M.T., Zoucha, R. McFarland, M. (November, 2022). Mexican Heritage Parents’ Cultural Beliefs about Healthy and Unhealthy Weight in Children 2 to 11 Years of Age (Competitive Review). Poster presentation at the 48th Annual Conference of the Transcultural Nursing Society, Louisville, Kentucky.

Cuellar, N.G., Ludwig-Beymer, P., Serafica, R., Turk, M.T., Zoucha, R. (November, 2022). Journal of Transcultural Nursing Editor Panel: Tips to Promote You as a Peer Reviewer. Panel presentation at the 48th Annual Conference of the Transcultural Nursing Society, Louisville, KY.

Hintz, C. & Turk, M.T. (October, 2022). Law Enforcement Officers as Faces of Social Isolation in the U.S. (Competitive Review). Poster presentation at the 12th annual McGinley-Rice Symposium: The Face of the Person who is Socially Isolated, Pittsburgh, PA. (accepted but not presented).

Turk, M. (September, 2022). Engaging Communities in Diabetes Prevention: Implementing and Sustaining the National Diabetes Prevention Program. Invited podium presentation at the Fritzky Family Integrative Health Summit, Pittsburgh, PA.  

Cuellar, N.G., Ludwig-Beymer, P., Zoucha, R., Turk, M.T., Serafica, R., Buser, J., Nielson, D. (October, 2021). Journal of Transcultural Nursing Editor Panel: Topics of Priorities during a Time of Turbulence. Panel presentation at the 47th Annual Conference of the Transcultural Nursing Society, Albuquerque, NM.

Turk, M.T., Zoucha, R. (October, 2021). Global Studies in the Time of Covid-19: Thinking Beyond the Usual to the Virtual Unusual. (Competitive Review). Podium presentation at the 47th Annual Conference of the Transcultural Nursing Society, Albuquerque, NM.

Colbert, A.M., Turk, M.T. (October, 2021). Teaching Students in Healthcare Professions about the Impact of Poverty on Health (Competitive Review). Podium presentation at the 12th annual McGinley-Rice Symposium: The Face of the Person who is Poor, Pittsburgh, PA.

Tremblay, B., Turk, M.T., Zoucha, R., Cooper, M. (October, 2021). Exploring and Understanding the Culture of Young Adults who Vape: A Focused Ethnography (Competitive Review). Poster presented at the 47th Annual Conference of the Transcultural Nursing Society, Albuquerque, NM.

Cuellar, N.G., Ludwig-Beymer, P., Ehrmin, J.T., Eschiti, V.S., Fitzgerald, E.A., Nielson, D., Serafica, R., Turk, M.T., Zoucha, R. (October, 2020). Journal of Transcultural Nursing: Advice from the Editors—Best Practices for Publication. Panel presentation at the 46th Annual Conference of the Transcultural Nursing Society via a virtual platform.

Kallmerten, P., Turk, M., Jakub, K., Nahm, E-S. (October, 2020). Patient Portal Use, Health Information Technology (HIT) Self-Efficacy, and Electronic Health (eHealth) Literacy in the Self-Management of Heart Failure: A Cross Sectional Study. (Competitive Review). Podium presentation at the annual Region 15 symposium of Sigma Theta Tau International.

Turk, M.T. (February, 2020). Ethical Care of the Patient with Obesity Using a Values-Based Framework. (Competitive Review). Poster presentation at the 2020 Carol Carfang Nursing & Healthcare Ethics Conference, Clearwater, FL.

Stein, K., Turk, M.T., Micho, M., Smith, M., Tobin, L., Harpel, C. (February, 2020). Intimate Partner Violence Program for Nurses. (Competitive Review). Podium presentation at the 2020 Carol Carfang Nursing & Healthcare Ethics Conference, Clearwater, FL.

Payne, J., Turk, M., Pellegrini, C., Kalarchian, M. (March, 2020). Dietary Self-monitoring Using An App: Are Frequency, Consistency And Completeness Related To Weight Loss? (Competitive Review). Poster presentation at the American Heart Association Epidemiology, Prevention, Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health Conference, Phoenix, AZ.  

Kallmerten, P., Chia, R., Turk, M., Jakub, K. (March, 2020). Patient Portal Use by Adults with Heart Failure: An Integrative Review. (Competitive Review). Poster presentation at the 32nd Annual Eastern Nursing Research Society Scientific Sessions, Boston, MA.

Zoucha, R. Turk, M.T. (June, 2019). Toward a Culturally Competent Curriculum for Doctor of Nursing Practice Students via Global Studies. (Competitive Review). Podium presentation at the 6th conference of the European Transcultural Nursing Association in České Budějovice, Czech Republic.

Zoucha, R., Turk, M., Fapohunda, A. (June, 2018). Using photovoice to explore Nigerian immigrants’ eating and physical activity in the United States. At the 4th International Knowledge Exchange, School of Nursing, Midwifery & Health Systems, Health Science Building, University College Dublin. Dublin, Ireland.

2021 - Transcultural Nursing Scholar of the Transcultural Nursing Society International, Inc. 

2017 - School of Nursing Faculty Award for Excellence in Scholarship 

2016- 2017 - Duquesne University Gaultier Teaching Fellow 

April 2016 - Duquesne University Creative Teaching Award