Report to the Community - Samuel Merritt University

16
Dr. Patricia Brennan
Genomic discoveries
have shown that two
individuals share
approximately 99.9
percent of their DnA.
advances in genetic
and genomic research
present incredible
opportunities in
healthcare, including
understanding the
genomic basis of health
and disease, influences
on disease risk, and
development of new
therapies.
in addition to research and
publication, scholarly activity by smu
faculty takes many forms. notably,
school of nursing assistant professor
patricia brennan, phd, rn, ms, has
recently completed a yearlong
appointment as a national institutes
of health (nih) faculty champion in
genetics and genomics in addition
to her scholarship noted above. her
work with the nih has positioned
samuel merritt university as one
of only 20 institutions nationally to
address the translation of genetic and
genomic science into the curricula for
an inter-disciplinary team of health
professional students. this work
has led dr. brennan to national and
international presentations at the nih,
the global alliance for leadership
in nursing and science and the
international society for nurses in
genetics. she continues to work on
an nih advisory board to assist in the
development of model curricula for
integration of genetics and genomics
across the country. in addition, dr.
brennan has recently collaborated
as a co-principal investigator on a
translational grant with colleagues
at mit’s center for environmental
health sciences involving the genetic