Walters State Community College professor's research published in national journal

When Dr. Sheila Williams worked as a nurse in a gastroenterology office, she began to develop a keen interest in the treatment of hepatitis C. Now, as an associate professor of nursing at Walters State Community College, her research on the topic has been published by a national, peer-reviewed journal. In the September/October 2020 issue, Dr. William's article explores common characteristics of hepatitis C sufferers, with the purpose of helping nurses develop individual care plans for patients.

An alumna of Walters State Community College, Dr. Williams worked as a nurse at Morristown Gastroenterology where she developed an interest and passion for helping people with hepatitis C, a viral infection that causes inflammation of the liver, sometimes leading to serious damage to the liver. Dr. Williams wanted to teach, so she pursued her doctorate degree at the University of Tennessee. In a press release from WSCC, Dr. Williams states, "I have always wanted to teach. That's why I eventually went back to school to earn my master's degree in nursing. After I graduated, I decided to work as a nurse practitioner. I did that for seven years and loved it. But my desire to teach was always there." When the time came to shift to teaching, Dr. Williams said that returning to Walters State Community College was an easy choice because she had enjoyed her time as a student there and already knew many of the faculty and staff.

Gastroenterology Nursing is the only national, peer-reviewed journal focused specifically on nursing in the field of gastroenterology, and has been in publication since 1977. The article, "Characteristics of Adults With Hepatitis C Virus, Evidence From the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011–2012," builds on research Dr. Williams' conducted during her graduate studies. In it, Dr. Williams explores common characteristics of patients with hepatitis C. Her findings show, for example, that patients with hepatitis C have a high percentage of substance abuse and mental health issues, but also frequently lack access to healthcare. The purpose of Dr. Williams' work is to provide nurses with information to best develop care plans for patients with hepatitis C and identify individuals that are more likely to exhibit treatment noncompliance. Dr. Williams explained in the recent press release, "Many adults do not have symptoms until the liver has already been damaged. Once a patient has been diagnosed, nurses can play a vital role in ensuring that the patient adheres to treatment regimen."