- Assistant Professor
- College of Nursing
- Phone: 401.874.5555
- Email: kara.pavone@uri.edu
- Office Location: RI NEC, Room 250, 350 Eddy St., Providence, RI, 02903
Biography
Dr. Kara J. Pavone completed her Ph.D. in Nursing Science at the University of Pennsylvania as a Hillman Scholar in Nursing Innovation, a prestigious program aimed to educate a new cadre of nurse scientists and leaders to pioneer innovative healthcare solutions. Her doctoral research focused on assessing a nurse-led program aimed at mitigating the effects of delirium in older adults, exploring the influence of pain management with opioids on delirium onset.
Before joining the faculty at the University of Rhode Island, Dr. Pavone was a faculty member at Northeastern University in Boston, MA. Her research at Northeastern concentrated on evaluating and managing pain in individuals with opioid use disorder, investigating postoperative cognitive dysfunction, and addressing the needs of older adult patients in critical care settings. She obtained funding for her research from the local chapter of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing and the Hillman Scholars Alumni Fellowship. Additionally, she was a fellow of the Institute for Health Equity and Social Justice at Northeastern University.
Currently, Dr. Pavone’s research spans various critical healthcare areas. She is exploring the role of stigma in the care of individuals with substance use disorder, particularly focusing on nursing students’ attitudes toward addiction. Recognizing that nurses play crucial roles as caregivers, advocates, educators, and coordinators of individual care, Dr. Pavone emphasizes the importance of addressing stigma to improve the quality of care provided to patients with substance use disorder. Through evidence-based training for nursing students, she aims to transform perceptions and attitudes among future nurses entering the workforce, ensuring individuals with substance use disorder receive comprehensive and equitable healthcare.
Research
Stigma, opioid use disorder, substance use disorder, pain assessment and management, withdrawal, discharge disposition, nursing education and training.
Education
PhD, Nursing Science, University of Pennsylvania
MS, Nursing Science, University of Pennsylvania
BSN, Nursing Science, University of Pennsylvania
BS, Behavioral Neuroscience, Northeastern University
Selected Publications
Pavone KJ, Jablonski J, Junker P, Cacchione PZ, Compton P, Polomano RC. Evaluating delirium outcomes among older adults in the surgical intensive care unit. Heart Lung. 2020 Sep-Oct;49(5):578-584. doi: 10.1016/j.hrtlng.2020.04.009. Epub 2020 May 17. PubMed PMID: 32434699.
Ionescu DF, Bentley KH, Eikermann M, Taylor N, Akeju O, Swee MB, Pavone KJ, Petrie SR, Dording C, Mischoulon D, Alpert JE, Brown EN, Baer L, Nock MK, Fava M, Cusin C. Repeat-dose ketamine augmentation for treatment-resistant depression with chronic suicidal ideation: A randomized, double blind, placebo controlled trial. J Affect Disord. 2019 Jan 15;243:516-524. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2018.09.037. Epub 2018 Sep 17. PubMed PMID: 30286416.
Brown EN, Pavone KJ, Naranjo M. Multimodal General Anesthesia: Theory and Practice. Anesth Analg. 2018 Nov;127(5):1246-1258. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000003668. Review. PubMed PMID: 30252709; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6203428.
Pavone KJ, Cacchione PZ, Polomano RC, Winner L, Compton P. Evaluating the use of dexmedetomidine for the reduction of delirium: An integrative review. Heart Lung. 2018 Nov;47(6):591-601. doi: 10.1016/j.hrtlng.2018.08.007. Epub 2018 Sep 25. PubMed PMID: 30266265.
Shelton KT, Qu J, Bilotta F, Brown EN, Cudemus G, D’Alessandro DA, Deng H, DiBiasio A, Gitlin JA, Hahm EY, Hobbs LE, Houle TT, Ibala R, Loggia ML, Pavone KJ, Shaefi S, Tolis G, Westover MB, Akeju O. Minimizing ICU Neurological Dysfunction with Dexmedetomidine-induced Sleep (MINDDS): protocol for a randomised, double-blind, parallel-arm, placebo-controlled trial. BMJ Open. 2018 Apr 20;8(4):e020316. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-020316. PubMed PMID: 29678977; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5914725.
Akeju O, Hobbs LE, Gao L, Burns SM, Pavone KJ, Plummer GS, Walsh EC, Houle TT, Kim SE, Bianchi MT, Ellenbogen JM, Brown EN. Dexmedetomidine promotes biomimetic non-rapid eye movement stage 3 sleep in humans: A pilot study. Clin Neurophysiol. 2018 Jan;129(1):69-78. doi: 10.1016/j.clinph.2017.10.005. Epub 2017 Oct 20. PubMed PMID: 29154132; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5743618.
Lee JM, Akeju O, Terzakis K, Pavone KJ, Deng H, Houle TT, Firth PG, Shank ES, Brown EN, Purdon PL. A Prospective Study of Age-dependent Changes in Propofol-induced Electroencephalogram Oscillations in Children. Anesthesiology. 2017 Aug;127(2):293-306. doi: 10.1097/ALN.0000000000001717. PubMed PMID: 28657957.
Pavone KJ, Su L, Gao L, Eromo E, Vazquez R, Rhee J, Hobbs LE, Ibala R, Demircioglu G, Purdon PL, Brown EN, Akeju O. Lack of Responsiveness during the Onset and Offset of Sevoflurane Anesthesia Is Associated with Decreased Awake-Alpha Oscillation Power. Front Syst Neurosci. 2017;11:38. doi: 10.3389/fnsys.2017.00038. eCollection 2017. PubMed PMID: 28611601; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5447687.
Cusin C, Ionescu DF, Pavone KJ, Akeju O, Cassano P, Taylor N, Eikermann M, Durham K, Swee MB, Chang T, Dording C, Soskin D, Kelley J, Mischoulon D, Brown EN, Fava M. Ketamine augmentation for outpatients with treatment-resistant depression: Preliminary evidence for two-step intravenous dose escalation. Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2017 Jan;51(1):55-64. doi: 10.1177/0004867416631828. PubMed PMID: 26893373.
Akeju O, Kim SE, Vazquez R, Rhee J, Pavone KJ, Hobbs LE, Purdon PL, Brown EN. Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Dexmedetomidine-Induced Electroencephalogram Oscillations. PLoS One. 2016;11(10):e0163431. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0163431. eCollection 2016. PubMed PMID: 27711165; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5053525.
Akeju O, Hamilos AE, Song AH, Pavone KJ, Purdon PL, Brown EN. GABAA circuit mechanisms are associated with ether anesthesia-induced unconsciousness. Clin Neurophysiol. 2016 Jun;127(6):2472-81. doi: 10.1016/j.clinph.2016.02.012. Epub 2016 Feb 27. PubMed PMID: 27178867; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4869993.
Akeju O, Song AH, Hamilos AE, Pavone KJ, Flores FJ, Brown EN, Purdon PL. Electroencephalogram signatures of ketamine anesthesia-induced unconsciousness. Clin Neurophysiol. 2016 Jun;127(6):2414-22. doi: 10.1016/j.clinph.2016.03.005. Epub 2016 Mar 16. PubMed PMID: 27178861; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4871620.
Ionescu DF, Swee MB, Pavone KJ, Taylor N, Akeju O, Baer L, Nyer M, Cassano P, Mischoulon D, Alpert JE, Brown EN, Nock MK, Fava M, Cusin C. Rapid and Sustained Reductions in Current Suicidal Ideation Following Repeated Doses of Intravenous Ketamine: Secondary Analysis of an Open-Label Study. J Clin Psychiatry. 2016 Jun;77(6):e719-25. doi: 10.4088/JCP.15m10056. PubMed PMID: 27232360.
Pavone KJ, Akeju O, Sampson AL, Ling K, Purdon PL, Brown EN. Nitrous oxide-induced slow and delta oscillations. Clin Neurophysiol. 2016 Jan;127(1):556-564. doi: 10.1016/j.clinph.2015.06.001. Epub 2015 Jun 10. PubMed PMID: 26118489; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4675698.
Purdon PL, Sampson A, Pavone KJ, Brown EN. Clinical Electroencephalography for Anesthesiologists: Part I: Background and Basic Signatures. Anesthesiology. 2015 Oct;123(4):937-60. doi: 10.1097/ALN.0000000000000841. Review. PubMed PMID: 26275092; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4573341.
Purdon PL, Pavone KJ, Akeju O, Smith AC, Sampson AL, Lee J, Zhou DW, Solt K, Brown EN. The Ageing Brain: Age-dependent changes in the electroencephalogram during propofol and sevoflurane general anaesthesia. Br J Anaesth. 2015 Jul;115 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):i46-i57. doi: 10.1093/bja/aev213. PubMed PMID: 26174300; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4501918.
Akeju O, Pavone KJ, Thum JA, Firth PG, Westover MB, Puglia M, Shank ES, Brown EN, Purdon PL. Age-dependency of sevoflurane-induced electroencephalogram dynamics in children. Br J Anaesth. 2015 Jul;115 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):i66-i76. doi: 10.1093/bja/aev114. PubMed PMID: 26174303; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4501917.
Akeju O, Loggia ML, Catana C, Pavone KJ, Vazquez R, Rhee J, Contreras Ramirez V, Chonde DB, Izquierdo-Garcia D, Arabasz G, Hsu S, Habeeb K, Hooker JM, Napadow V, Brown EN, Purdon PL. Disruption of thalamic functional connectivity is a neural correlate of dexmedetomidine-induced unconsciousness. Elife. 2014 Nov 28;3:e04499. doi: 10.7554/eLife.04499. PubMed PMID: 25432022; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4280551.
Akeju O, Westover MB, Pavone KJ, Sampson AL, Hartnack KE, Brown EN, Purdon PL. Effects of sevoflurane and propofol on frontal electroencephalogram power and coherence. Anesthesiology. 2014 Nov;121(5):990-8. doi: 10.1097/ALN.0000000000000436. PubMed PMID: 25233374; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4206606.
Akeju O, Pavone KJ, Westover MB, Vazquez R, Prerau MJ, Harrell PG, Hartnack KE, Rhee J, Sampson AL, Habeeb K, Gao L, Pierce ET, Walsh JL, Brown EN, Purdon PL. A comparison of propofol- and dexmedetomidine-induced electroencephalogram dynamics using spectral and coherence analysis. Anesthesiology. 2014 Nov;121(5):978-89. doi: 10.1097/ALN.0000000000000419. PubMed PMID: 25187999; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4304638.