2025 Annual Research Symposium
The Fitzpatrick College of Nursing's Annual Research Symposium provides an opportunity for participants to share information from research studies, evidence-based projects, integrative reviews or concept analyses that focus on clinical excellence, nursing education or health care leadership, highlighting inclusivity and excellence in nursing research.
This year, the program is titled Community-Engaged Research and the Future of Health Care and will take place on March 20, 2025, from 3 to 7 p.m. in the Driscoll Hall Atrium and Larson Kelly Auditorium.
Keynote Speakers
Tara Storch, BBA
Co-Founder
Taylor's Gift Foundation
Co-Author, Award-winning book
Taylor's Gift, A Courageous Story of Giving Life and Renewing Hope
As the co-founder of Taylor鈥檚 Gift Foundation, Tara inspires others as a marketing professional, award-winning author, and influential community leader.
Tara and her husband Todd authored the acclaimed book, 鈥楾aylor鈥檚 Gift鈥�, awarded as the 鈥楳ost Inspirational Book鈥� at the Books for A Better Life Awards in New York City. Notably, she received the prestigious Legacy Award from the Texas A&M Aggie Women Network and was nominated for the Remarkable Woman Award in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. She and Todd were also named 鈥淗eroes Among Us鈥� by People Magazine.
Through her leadership at Taylor鈥檚 Gift Foundation, the foundation鈥檚 grief support program is being utilized as a resource for organ, eye and tissue donor families throughout the nation. Her work continues to ensure that no donor family walks their grief journey alone, offering hope and healing to those experiencing profound loss.
Tara鈥檚 expertise in marketing and nonprofit endeavors has given her wide recognition within diverse sectors, including business, medical, and community. By sharing her journey of resilience and purpose following the loss of their daughter Taylor, Tara passionately shares her 鈥淥utlive Yourself鈥� message, resonating with audiences nationwide. From prominent media appearances on Good Morning America, The Today Show, Ellen Degeneres Show and features in People Magazine, her inspirational narrative inspires and uplifts audiences globally.
She is the proud mother to three children - Taylor, Ryan, and Peyton. She and her husband live in the Dallas, Texas area.
Macey Levan, JD, PhD
Associate Professor of Surgery and Population Health
NYU Grossman School of Medicine
Director of the Center for Surgical and Transplant Applied Research Qualitative Core
Director of Policy and External Affairs
NYU Langone Transplant Institute
Dr. Macey Levan is an Associate Professor of Surgery and Population Health at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine and serves as the Director of the Center for Surgical and Transplant Applied Research Qualitative Core and Director of Policy and External Affairs at the NYU Langone Transplant Institute. Her research and leadership focus on advancing transplant policy, patient care, and system performance.
She has authored 120+ publications in top medical and scientific journals, and her team鈥攃omprising world-renowned experts鈥攈as secured millions in NIH research funding. Previously, as tenure-track faculty at Johns Hopkins, she was the Director of Policy and External Affairs for a $100M grant-funded transplant research enterprise, which became the largest and most prolific of its kind.
At the federal level, Dr. Levan served a three-year term (2017-2020) as an elected Director of the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. She was also elected to the Executive Committee and Nominating Committee and contributed to multiple organ-specific and policy workgroups, including Data Advisory, Kidney, Living Donor, and Patient Affairs. She now serves as Vice President of Patient and Donor Affairs and Chair of the National Innovation Leadership Council with the Alliance for Donation and Transplantation.
Her research has shaped national organ allocation policies, expanded transplant access for HIV-positive patients, enabled hand and face transplants for wounded warriors, and improved post-donation care. She also works closely with hospital leadership, community groups, and donor families to support grief journeys and public education on emerging transplant innovations like xenotransplantation.
Dr. Levan is dedicated to mentoring young professionals in STEM, teaching in Purdue University鈥檚 MHA program, and serving as adjunct faculty at Johns Hopkins. Additionally, she is a former Maryland New Leaders Council fellow and serves on the Mass Media Committee for the National Physical Activity Plan.
Diamond Sponsor:
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CSL Behring LLC听
Co-sponsored by:
The Office of Nursing Research and Innovation, the Health Care Professional Development Program and the Alpha Nu Chapter of Sigma.