Nursing doctoral student, Megan Guardiano, selected for two prestigious awards

UCLA School of Nursing doctoral student Megan Guardiano, MS, RN, PHN, has been selected to receive the UCLA Graduate Research Mentorship (GRM) award and the 2024 Empowering GI Professional Diversity Scholarship from the Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates (SGNA).

The GRM Program recognizes academic achievement and promise and is designed to assist doctoral students in acquiring and developing advanced research skills under faculty mentorship. Faculty mentors are expected to be in frequent contact with the student participants and to assist them with research leading to the development of a doctoral dissertation. Program participants will receive a $20,000 stipend plus standard tuition and fees provided by the Division of Graduate Education.

Under the mentorship of Professor Jian Li, MD, PhD, Guardiano’s study, “Work Stress and Cognitive Function: Longitudinal Associations Among Older Adult United States Workers from the Health and Retirement Study,” focuses on longitudinal analysis that explores the relationship of workers’ psychosocial work characteristics with cognitive health over time among a population-based cohort. 

“Since the start of the PhD program, I have been learning so much under Dr. Li’s guidance and experience, especially in data management and analysis, the manuscript publication process, and collaborations with colleagues in occupational health nursing, public health, and occupational epidemiology,” said Guardiano, who is a current PhD student and alumna of the UCLA School of Nursing’s Bachelor of Science program. “I hope to support worker well-being by contributing new nursing knowledge on psychosocial work experiences and health."

Guardiano also received the 2024 Empowering GI Professional Diversity Scholarship from the Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates (SGNA). UCLA Nursing's Lisa Diaz, RN, MSN, CDCES, received this award in 2023.

SGNA is a professional organization of nurses and associates dedicated to the safe and effective practice of gastroenterology and endoscopy nursing. The SGNA Empowering GI Professional Diversity Scholarship is intended to increase diversity and inclusion within the GI profession by financially supporting SGNA members from underrepresented racial and ethnic backgrounds, gender identities, sexual orientations and/or those who have been impacted by disability. The scholarship program, which is supported by Boston Scientific Corporation, is designed to support nurses or associates working in gastroenterology who wish to continue their education.

“UCLA encourages nurses to be active in professional health organizations,” said Diaz. “Thankfully through participation at SGNA, I was able to learn about this opportunity.” 

“It is such an honor to receive this award,” said Guardiano. “As a practicing GI nurse, I am grateful for my learning journey here in the PhD program.”