CRISP (formerly CENTRIC)
The Center for Chronic Illness Self-Management & Prevention's mission is to be a leader and innovator in the science of self-management and prevention of chronic illness.
Vision
Collaborate
across all campuses of University of Nebraska to engage senior and early career scientists, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and academic-practice partners in the science of self-management and prevention of chronic illness.
Innovate
in the use of technology to promote chronic disease prevention and self-management.
Promote
health, reduce the burden of chronic illness, and actively work with community partners toward health equity in Nebraska and beyond.
What is CRISP?
Discover CRISP: Explore our Cores and Editorial Services below
CRISP News
With her team, Dr. Lally conducts studies for breast cancer survivors
Robin Lally, PhD, professor at the UNMC College of Nursing and director of the Center for Chronic Illness Self-management and Prevention (CRISP), is conducting two studies to support breast cancer survivors. Dr. Lally, along with co-PI Rachael Schmidt, DNP, advanced oncology certified nurse practitioner with the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, led the Nebraska site for the Comprehensive Outcomes of After Cancer Health (COACH) study. COACH, led by Pack Health, includes six National Cancer Institute-designated cancer centers to study the feasibility of engaging cancer survivors in digital health coaching. It also analyzes physical activity data and fecal microbiome samples.
CRISP 2025 Symposium a Success
On a beautiful Saturday in North Omaha, CRISP (Center for Chronic Illness Self-Management and Prevention) held its first community symposium, titled “Connections: Strategies for Bringing Community and Science Together,” at The Venue at Highlander, 2120 N St. The symposium, which took place on Saturday, May 17th, featured keynote speaker, Victor Sutton, PhD, chief of community health and health services at Mississippi State Department of Health and principal investigator at the Jackson Heart Study Community Engagement Center, who presented, “The Art of Science of Community Engagement.” Additional speakers included Stewart Giddings, MBA, Assistant Director of YouTurn in Omaha, Juan Santamaria, MD, associate professor in the UNMC Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, and Mariah Jackson, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medical Nutrition at the UNMC College of Allied Health Professions, as well as Douglas A. Stoller, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor, UNMC Division of Cardiovascular Medicine Medical Director, Cardiovascular Genetics Program, Medical Director, Heart Failure Research, and Dr. Mariya Kovaleva, PhD, RN, Assistant Professor in the UNMC College of Nursing. Community/Patient Advocate Julia Weathers and Patient Advocate/Former Caregiver Jean Jackson were among the panel—Ms. Weathers shared her experience with cancer prevention & self-management, and Ms. Jackson gave a personal account of her time as a caregiver to her own mother, who had dementia, and was able to offer insight on clinical trials. The symposium featured an abstract poster session and focused on topics of: Advanced Colorectal Cancer, One Stop Cancer Shop, Burden and Loneliness Among Dementia Family Caregivers, Spiritual Needs of Black People Living with Dementia, and Exercise Among People with Heart Failure. In attendance were 17 academic professionals and 21 community members of Omaha. Feedback from the community attendees was very positive: My favorite part was “the collaborative nature of discussion and Q&A's. I liked how everything related back to community interventions,” and “Learning about all kinds of research projects being conducted and how community members can collaborate with researchers.” Other community members mentioned they “liked knowing about what is happening in the medical field,” and they appreciated the “community engagement,” which was really the objective of the symposium.
Professor Robin Lally, Associate Professor Windy Alonso, and Assistant Professor Linda Smith receive funding for their proposal, “Reducing Cancer Health Disparities in Nebraska."
Drs. Lally, Alonso, and Smith have received $25,000 in funding from the Nebraska Center for Women's Health Research for their proposed pilot project, Let’s Talk About Cancer: Educating Community Health Workers in Cancer Risk, Screening, Prevention & Treatment Guidelines for Minoritized Women! The overall goal of their project is to fill gaps in knowledge and support related to cancer risk, screening, prevention, and treatment guidelines for minoritized women in Nebraska--which is consistent with Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Cancer Plan 2025–2030 priorities. Through the project, the team will further assess the community cancer education resources accessible to women in and around North Omaha, including community health workers, and satisfaction with these resources using a community based participatory approach. This assessment will guide the creation of an educational curriculum for CHWs that will be assessed for feasibility, appropriateness, and acceptability.
National Health Outreach and Engagement Conference
A panel presented about the origin, process and outcomes of the Nebraska Breast Health Navigation program, a collaboration between the CON and Buffett Cancer Center led by Dr. Robin Lally and Dr. Juan Santamaria. The panel discussed the strategies and challenges of developing and executing a peer-navigation program for people with cancer, identified roles of community members and organizations during program growth, and helped others understand implementation outcomes and evaluation methods throughout an ongoing patient peer-navigation program. Pictured left to right back Phyllis Mitchell Butler, Dr Juan Santamaria, Julia Weathers and front left to right Kia Scott Sellers (PhD student CON), Dr Robin Lally, and Dr Linda Smith. Phyllis and Julia are Administrative Navigator Coordinators. Dr Smith is Clinical Director at NOAH and voluntary faculty at UNMC CON. Dr. Lally, Dr. Smith, and Kia are CRISP members.
Greater Good Giving Day - Goal Attained!
We are extremely grateful that Professor Emeritus, College of Nursing, Dr. Nancy Bergstrom sponsored a Challenge for CRISP, twenty (20) donors were needed during For the Greater Good to unlock her gift of $1,000. CRISP received 17 Gifts, totaling $1,755. CRISP will use these funds to continue to host symposia like that happening on May 17, 2025, (https://www.unmc.edu/nursing/research/crisp/crisp_symposium_2025.html) [registration is open] and continue to award pilot funds to researchers engaged in self-management and prevention of chronic illness.
Save the Dates! July 16-19, 2025
The Qualitative Methods Lab will once again feature their annual Institute for Hermeneutic Phenomenology this summer! Forms of Experience: Phenomenological Reflections on Mental Health and Illness. Center for Nursing Science, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 4101 Dewey Ave.
CRISP Member Networking Meeting
Become a member (it's free) and join us for our second member meeting!
CRISP Symposium
Please join CRISP for our spring symposium, Saturday, May 17th, 2025, with keynote speaker Dr. Victor Sutton. Dr. Sutton is Principal Investigator of the Jackson Heart Study Community Engagement Center & Chief of Community Health and Health Services--Mississippi State Department of Health. This event will take place from 9:30 am to 3:00 pm, at The Venue at the Highlander in Omaha.
