BIOSKETCH
Dell is a nurse practitioner that works for the UNC Comprehensive Sickle Cell Program. She is responsible for facilitating all aspects of patient care for the adult sickle cell patients who receive their care at UNC in our Comprehensive Sickle Cell Program. She serves as the central contact point for patients, families, local physicians and other health care providers. She also provides sickle cell related education to patients and families, medical students, house staff, nurses and other health care providers both those based at UNC Hospitals and those based elsewhere in the State. She is also directly involved with multiple research studies currently underway at UNC.
Dell began working for the UNC Comprehensive Sickle Cell Program in 1992. She worked in the position of Clinical Instructor as a nurse with a Masters in Public Health until late in 1996. She left this position, briefly, to run Medicaid’s Child Health Program (Health Check) and to obtain a nurse practitioner degree. After receiving her Family Nurse Practitioner degree, she returned to the UNC Comprehensive Sickle Cell Program in 1999. Since that time, she has devoted herself to the care of those with sickle cell disease.
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Science in Nursing, UNC-Chapel Hill, 1985
Master of Public Health in Nursing Administration, UNC-Chapel Hill, 1991
Family Nurse Practitioner Certification, UNC-Chapel Hill, 1999
BOARD CERTIFICATIONS
American Nurses Credentialing Center, Family Nurse Practitioner, 2003-2008
American Nurses Credentialing Center, Family Nurse Practitioner, 2008-2013
American Nurses Credentialing Center, Family Nurse Practitioner, 2013-2018
CLINICAL INTERESTS
Sickle Cell disease, preventive health, obesity, smoking cessation, nutrition
RESEARH SUMMARY
Dell’s research participation is in the area of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD). Dell has participated in patient recruitment since the early 1990’s on sickle cell studies carried out through the UNC Comprehensive Sickle Cell Program. She is involved directly with the execution of study protocols, and through providing physical exams. Currently, Dell is involved in clinical studies evaluating factors that contribute to the development of pulmonary hypertension in patients with sickle cell disease and in studies designed to evaluate the contribution of the coagulation and platelet activation systems in sickle cell disease. It is Dell’s hope that through research, we can increase our understanding of sickle cell disease and aid in the development of new treatments for SCD and related complications and therefore improve morbidity and mortality of this genetic illness.
Dell’s clinical expertise is providing medical and nursing care to the adult sickle cell patient. She has developed this expertise through working directly with patients with sickle cell disease that come to UNC Hospitals for their medical care. Dell is passionate about providing the best care possible to our patient population. Given the complicated nature of this genetic disease, education plays a big role in her day to day activities. Teaching plays a big role daily in her interactions with patients and their families. Dell also makes daily rounds on the in-patients and believes it is her responsibility to ensure that the medical students and house staff are up to date with current treatment standards for patients with sickle cell disease and related complications. Dell works closely with the State Sickle Cell Educator Counselors to improve understanding of sickle cell disease in the communities of North Carolina.
PUBLICATIONS
Ataga KI, Brittain JE, Desai P, May R, Jones S, Delaney J, Strayhorn D, Hinderliter A, Key NS. Association of Coagulation Activation with Clinical Complications in Sickle Cell Disease. PLoS One, 2012;7(1):e29786.Epub 2012 Jan 11
Ataga KI, Brittain JE, Jones SJ, May R, Delaney J, Strayhorn D, Desai P, Redding-Lallinger, R, Key N, Orringer E. Association of Soluble FMS-Like Tyrosine Kinase-1 with Pulmonary Hypertension and Haemolysis in Sickle Cell Disease. British Journal of Haematology, 2011 Feb;152(4):485-91, 2011
Ataga KI, Brittain JE, Moore D, Jones SK, Hulkower B, Strayhorn D, Adam S, Redding-Lallinger R, Nachman P, Orringer EP. Urinary Albumin Excretion is Associated with Pulmonary Hypertension in Sickle Cell Disease: Potential Role of Soluble FMS-Like Tyrosine Kinase-1. Eur J Haematol. 2010 Sept;85(3):257-63.
Brittain JE, Hulkower B, Jones SK, Strayhorn D, De Castro L, Telen MJ, Orringer EP, Hinderliter A, Ataga KI. Placenta Growth Factor in Sickle Cell Disease: Association with Hemolysis and Inflammation. Blood 2010 Mar 11;115(10):2014-20.
Ataga KI, Moore CG, Hillery CA, Jones S, Whinna HC, Strayhorn D, Sohier C, Hinderliter A, Parise L, Orringer EP. Coagulation Activation and Inflammation in Sickle Cell Disease-Associated Pulmonary Hypertension. Haematologica, 93:20-26, 2008
Ataga KI, Moore CG, Jones S, Olajide O, Strayhorn D, Hinderliter A, Orringer EP. Pulmonary Hypertension in Patients with Sickle Cell Disease: A Longitudinal Study. Br J Haematol 134:109-115, 2006
Ataga KI, Sood N, De Gent G, Kelly E, Henderson A, Jones S, Strayhorn D, Lail A, Lieff S, and Orringer E. Pulmonary Hypertension in Sickle Cell Disease. Am J Med 117:665-669, 2004.
Wilson-Schafer J, Gil KM, Burchinal M, Kramer KD, Nash KB, Strayhorn D. Depression, Disease Severity, & Sickle Cell Disease. General Behavior Medicine 22:115-126, 1999.
Gonzales P, Hackney AC, Jones S, Strayhorn D, Hoffman E, Hughes G, Jacobs EE, and Orringer EP. A Phase I/II Study of Polymerized Bovine Hemoglobin in Adult Patients with Sickle Cell Disease not in Crisis at Time of Study. J Inv Med. 45: 258-264, 1997.
Hackney AC, Heizer W, Gulledge TP, Jones S, Strayhorn D, Busby M, Hoffman E, and Orringer EP. Effect of Hydroxyurea Administration on the Body Weight, Body Composition, and Exercise Performance of Sickle Cell Anemia Patients. Clinical Science: 92: 481-486, 1997.
Abstracts
Ataga KI, Moore C, Jones S, Olajide O, Strayhorn D, Hinderliter A, Orringer EP. Progression of pulmonary hypertension in patients with sickle cell disease. Blood 106: 3187A, 2005
Ataga KI, Jones S, Olajide O, Strayhorn D, Lail A, Orringer EP. The relationship of pulmonary hypertension and survival in sickle cell disease. . Blood 104:1665A, 2004.
Ataga KI, Sood N, Kelly E, Jones S, Strayhorn D, Lail A, Lieff S, Orringer EP. Pulmonary Function in Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) Patients with Pulmonary Hypertension. Blood 102:405A, 2003.
Ataga KI, Kelly EA, Santucci S, Strayhorn D, Sood N, Amamoo MA, Orringer EP. Prevalence of Pulmonary Hypertension in Sickle Cell Disease (SCD). 2002. Blood 100A: 1749A, 2002.
Orringer EP, Jones S, Strayhorn D, Hoffman E, Parker J, and Greenberg CS. The Effect of Hydroxyurea (HU) Administration on Circulating D-Dimer Levels in Patients with Sickle Cell Anemia. (Abstract) Proceedings of the 21st Annual Meeting of the National Sickle Cell Diseas Program; P131;1996.
HONORS AND AWARDS
Nurse Recognition Award, UNC School of Medicine, 2007
Staff Merit Citation Award, Council on Sickle Cell Syndrome and Related Genetic Disorders, 2004
Delta Omega Honorary Public Health Society, 1991
Sigma Theta Tau Honorary Nursing Society, 1985
