Nursing Full-time Faculty

Professor Gelso's primary practice is in the Medical/Surgical areas. Her teaching includes junior nursing courses. She teaches in the traditional day program and the PTAEP.

Professor Gelso is a member of the Ethics Committee at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, the American Nurses Association, Pennsylvania State Nurses Association, the National League of Nurses, and Sigma Theta Tau International. She is currently the Faculty Counselor for Theta Phi Chapter, Sigma Theta Tau.

One inspirational thought that speaks to Professor Gelso is this: "Our healing as individuals is made full and complete through attending to the healing of others."

Dr. Hage is a tenured professor of nursing in the Nursing Department where she also serves as Director of Graduate Nursing Programs. Her primary teaching areas include advanced physical examination and diagnostic reasoning, introduction to family practice, evidence based practice, adult/geriatric health, and entry into advanced practice in the graduate program. Dr. Hage is a family nurse practitioner with clinical expertise in gerontology, rehabilitation, and family health. She is associated in clinical practice at a pro-bono family practice clinic, The Hope Center, Trucksville, PA and with the Keystone Migrant Health Clinic Program, Chambersburg, PA. Hage is board certified as a Family NP by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (NP-C), and as an Primary Care Adult Gerontological NP (AGPCNP-BC) and Informatics Nurse (R.N., B.C.) by the American Nurses Credentialing Corporation.

She is the 2003 recipient of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners' State Award for Excellence and the recipient of the 2005 Distinguished Nurse Practitioner Achievement Alumni Award at Misericordia University and a 2011 recipient of an Advanced Practice Nursing Scholarship Award from the Nightingale Foundation of Pennsylvania. Dr. Hage was appointed to the Pennsylvania Council of Aging by Governor Tom Corbett in December 2011. The Pennsylvania Council on Aging acts as an advisor to the governor and the Department of Aging on the planning, coordination and delivery of services to older adults. The council also serves as an advocate for the elderly in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Hage’s research areas include health literacy, technology to support aging in place and improving cognition in older adults.

Professionally he is a member of the American Nurses Association, the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association, Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society, and the American Psychiatric Nurses Association. On campus he serves as a member of the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) and in the community he is on the executive Board of the Victim's Resource Center.

Mrs. Hawkins experience has included Medical Surgical Nursing, Orthopedics, and School Nursing. She has been employed by Misericordia University since 2000 teaching in a variety of clinical and classroom settings. Her experience includes teaching in the traditional nursing program and the Part-time evening accelerated programs. Mrs. Hawkins is a member of the American Nurses Association and the National League for Nursing.

Dr. Mailloux has received the 2004 Pennsylvania Nurse Research Award presented by the Pennsylvania State Nurse Association and in 2001 the Teaching Excellence Award from Penn State Worthington Scranton.

Dr. Mailloux is a member of the Pennsylvania State Nurse Association and the National League for Nursing. She serves on many university committees and contributes to her communities' educational goals as a Crestwood School Director.

Vanessa is a family nurse practitioner. Her areas of clinical experience include family health and women'shealth. She is board certified in Family Practice as Family Nurse Pactitioner ( APRN-BC) by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

Her primary teaching responsiblities include the nursing lab clinical skills courses for undergraduate juniors and senior nursing students.

She is a member of the American Nurses Association, National League of Nursing and Sigma Theta Tau.

Dr. Pavill teaches across the undergraduate and graduate curriculum. She is certified as an Educator and Family Nurse Practitioner and maintains practice volunteering at a free health clinic. She has held an array of nursing positions from staff nurse to administrator in Maternal Child Nursing.

Her research interests focus on issues related to innovative teaching-learning strategies, nursing through the lens of literature, variables contributing to student success and the aesthetic side of nursing.

She is passionate nurses share their moments by telling their nursing stories and looks for avenues in supporting nurses to do so. Dr. Pavill is a member of several professional organizations such as Sigma Theta Tau, American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and The Society of Pediatric Nurses. She has been the recipient of several teaching awards.

Ms. Sheikh is board certified by the ANCC as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-BC). She is teaching in both the undergraduate and graduate program. Additionally, she is currently practicing in the area of Women's Health in an independent nurse practitioner practice. Special areas of interest are palliative care and the health care of vulnerable populations. She is a certified nurse educator (CNE).

Ms. Sheikh is a member of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, the American College of Nurse Practitioners, and the Nurse Practitioners of Northeastern Pennsylvania. She is an officer and a member of Sigma Theta Tau International, Theta Phi Chapter at Misericordia University.

Professor Snelson’s primary area of practice is wellness and acute care adult health. Her areas of teaching include sophomore and Junior nursing courses, nursing laboratory courses and graduate nursing education courses. She is interested in research in the areas of wellness and the history of nursing.

Professor Snelson is active in community organizations, most notable the American Heart Association where she served on their Board of Directors and the PA State Nurses where she serves as the District #3 President.

She is founder and director of the Center for Nursing History. The Center was founded with a grant from the PA Historic and Museum Commission and is devoted to giving voice to area nurses by preserving the history of nursing and local historical memorabilia from northeastern PA. Center for Nursing History Web site

Anyone with donations for the Center, monetary, verbal and/or memorabilia is welcome to contact Professor Snelson at dsnelson@misericordia.edu.

Mrs. Speace's experience has been in critical care, school nursing, and nursing education. Her teaching responsibilities include clinical instruction in medical-surgical nursing for the traditional day program and clinical instruction in community health nursing for the online RN to BSN program. Professionally, she is a member of the Pennsylvania State Nurse's Association and Sigman Theta Tau International.

Mrs. Tomkins is the Junior Level Coordinator for the Nursing Program. She has a diverse backround in nursing with areas of expertise in Critical Care Nursing, Emergency Nursing, Trauma Nursing, and PreHospital Nursing. Primary areas of instruction include Pediatrics, Obstetrics, and Medical/Surgical Nursing. Mrs. Tomkins holds a variety of certifications including Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN), Certified Critical-Care Nurse (CCRN), and Pediatric and Adult Trauma certifications. She is licensed in the state of Pennsylvania as a PreHospital RN. She is also board certified as and Adult Nurse Practitioner (ANP-BC) and a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-BC).

Mrs. Tomkins is a member of Sigma Thets Tau, Emergency Nurses Association, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, and American College of Nurse Practitioners. She is also an active part of the Student Nurses Association of PA (SNAP) at Misericordia University.

Ms. Villano has been employed as a medical/surgical instructor since 2003 bringing 30 years of hospital clinical nursing experience with her.She teaches N450-455, N461, N451-455, and N462. She has taught in the traditional day program since 2005 and in the PTAENP for four years.

Her clinical sites have included:
Geisinger South Wikes-Barre
Wyoming Valley Health System

She is a member of the ANA, and PA Stat Nurses Association, National League of Nursing, and Sigma Theta Tau. Ms. Villano is also president-elect of Sigma Thete Phi.

Her community involvement includes being a neighborhood volunteer for American Cancer Research, American Heart Association, and the March of Dimes. She is also a candidate for The Mercy Associates Program on campus, and is a CPR instructor.

Dr. Weiss serves as the Director of the RN Expressway Program. Her primary teaching responsibilities include nursing research and professional concepts. Her clinical background is in neonatal intensive care and medical-surgical nursing. Her research interests include incarcerated mothers and perceived learning of online students. She is a certified nurse educator (CNE).

Dr. Weiss received the 2008 Laura Martin Endowed Scholarship from Duquesne University, and the 2009 Sigma Theta Tau Research Award from the Theta Phi Chapter. She is a member of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi and Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. She is a member of the American Nurses Association, Pennsylvania State Nurses Association, National League for Nursing and the International Association of Forensic Nurses.

Her community involvement includes being the grant coordinator for her local volunteer fire department and VISION volunteer through her church. Dr. Weiss serves on campus as a member of the Sexual Assault Response Team. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Penn State Alumni Nursing Program group and is a Penn State Alumni Mentor. She works as a CPR instructor for the American Heart Association and a Divemaster for PADI. .