Dennis J. Cheek

Abell-Hanger Professor of Gerontological Nursing
Nursing
Annie Richardson Bass Building 2232

d.cheek@tcu.edu | 817-257-6741

Education

Post-Doctorate Fellowship, Molecular Genetics in Research, Health and Society 2000
Inaugural Summer Genetic Institute
National Institute of Health-National Institute of Nursing Research & Georgetown University

Post-Doctorate Fellowship, American Heart Association-Nevada Affiliate, 1997.

Doctor of Philosophy, December 1996
Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology
University of Nevada, Reno.

Master of Science in Nursing, August 1988
Critical Care and Nursing Education
School of Nursing-University of California, San Francisco.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing, May 1982
Nursing
School of Nursing-California State University, Fresno.

Courses Taught

Fall-Undergraduate: pathophysiology and pharmacology; Graduate: advanced pharmacology

Spring-Undergraduate: pathophysiology and pharmacology; Graduate: cardiovascular physiology/pathophysiology

Summer-Doctoral: emerging sciences for the advanced healthcare provider

Areas of Focus

There are two specific areas of research. The first encompasses cellular and biological sciences, including the genetic/genomic cellular/tissue expressions and subsequent clinical presentation of cardiovascular disease with the role of functioning endothelial cells and subsequent causative factors involved in the development of dysfunctional endothelium and heart disease especially in women. The second area of research is pharmacology, specifically the role of the various genomic makeup of the patient such as pharmacogenomics in order to reduce adverse drug reaction and improve drug efficacy.

Galvin V., Cheek D.J., Zhang Y., Collins G., & Gaskin D. (2023). Short communication: Stellate ganglion blockade for persistent olfactory and gustatory symptoms Post-COVID-19. Local Reg Anesth. 2023, May:16:25-30. https://doi.org/10.2147/LRA.S402197

Shah, M., Gloeckner, A., Bailey, S., Adams-Huet, B., Kreutzer, A., Cheek, D., Willis, J. L., & Mitchell, J. (2022). Effect of a late afternoon/early evening bout of aerobic exercise on postprandial lipid and lipoprotein particle responses to a high-sugar meal breakfast the following day in postmenopausal women: a randomized cross-over study. Journal of sports sciences, 2022 Jan;40(2):175-184. doi: 10.1080/02640414.2021.1982497

Gassen J., White J.D., Peterman J.L., Mengelkoch S., Proffitt Leyva R.P., Prokosch M.L., Eimerbrink M.J., Brice K., Cheek D.J., Boehm G.W. and Hill S.E. (2021). Sex differences in the impact of childhood socioeconomic status on immune function. Sci Rep 11, 9827. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-89413-y

Gassen J., Proffitt Leyva R.P., Mengelkoch S., White J.D., Peterman J.L., Prokosch M.L., Bradshaw H.K., Eimerbrink M.J., Corrigan E.K., Cheek D.J., Boehm G.W. and Hill S.E.   Day length predicts investment in human immune function: Shorter days yield greater investment.  Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2019 May-doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2019.05.011

Gassen J., Prokosch M.L., Eimerbrink M.J., Proffitt Leyva R.P., White J.D., Peterman J.L., Burgess A., Cheek D.J., Kreutzer A., Nicolas S.C., Boehm G.W. and Hill S’E. (2019).  Inflammation  predicts decision-making characterized by impulsivity, present focus, and an inability to delay gratification. Sci Rep. 2019 Mar 20;9(1):4928-4938. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-41437-1                    https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-41437-1

Shah, M., Bailey, S., Glockener, A., Kreutzer, A., Adams-Huet, B., Cheek, D. J., & Mitchell, J., (2019) The effect of acute exercise on postprandial endothelial function in postmenopausal women: Randomized cross-over study. Journal of Investigative Medicine Published Online First: 05 March 2019. Doi: 10.1136/jim-2019-000992.

White, M.M., Walker, D.K., Howington, L.L., & Cheek, D.J. (2018).  Pharmacogenomics and Psychiatric Nursing. Issues in Mental Health Nursing.  https://doi.org/10.1080/01612840.2018.1513615

Bashore, L.M., Daniels, G., Borchers, L., & Howington, L.L., and Cheek, D.J. (2018).  Facilitating faculty competency to integrate genomics into nursing curriculum within a private U.S. university.  Nursing: Research and Review, 8:9-14; doi: https://doi.org/10.2147/NRR.S165852

Cheek D, and Howington L. (2018). Pharmacogenomics in Critical Care. AACN Advanced Critical Care. 29(1):36-42.

Cheek, D.J. and Howington, L.H. (2017).  Patient care in the dawn of the genomic age. New scientific developments come with new nursing considerations.  American Nurse Today, 12(3), 16-22. (CE)

Cheek, D.J. (2017).  Pharmacogenomics: Strategies for individualized care.  Nursing Critical Care2017, 12(1), 22-31.

Flanagan, A., & Cheek, D. J.  (2016). Anesthetic management of a patient with mitochondrial encephalopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like symptoms (MELAS): a case study.  Anesthesia eJournal, 4(1):20-25.

Sherrod, M. M., Cheek, D. J., & Seale, A. (2016). Improved patient outcomes with oral heart failure medications in the home healthcare setting.  Home Healthcare Now, 34(5), 242-253. May, CE

Cheek, D.J. & Bashore, L., Brazeau, D. (2015).  Pharmacogenomics and implications for nursing practice.  Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 47(6):496-504.   Article first published online: 15 OCT 2015 DOI: 10.1111/jnu.12168

Cheek, D. & Brazeau, D. (2015).  Genetically modified.  Nursing Management-UK, 22(3):13.

Tenney, H., Molinar, M., Villarreal, B., Eaton, S., Howington, L. & Cheek, D.J. (2017-Feb). The effects of oral contraceptives on vascular endothelial function as measured by salivary biomarkers and flow-mediated dilation. Poster presentation at Southern Nursing Research Society, Dallas, Texas.

Borcher, L., Bashore, L., Cheek, D.J., Howington, L. & Daniels, G. (August 4-6, 2016). The integration of genomics/genetics into a nursing curriculum: Enhancing faculty competency. Podium presentation, ISONG 29th World Congress, Dublin, Ireland.

Cheek, D.J. (2016, October 20). Integrating Pharmacogenomics into healthcare. Invited to present Keynote at Barnes Jewish Hospital Research Conference, St. Louis, Missouri.

Cheek, D.J. (2014, June 26). Pharmacogenomics and the older adult. Invited, Keynote Speaker at Cedar-Sinai Medical Center, Geri and Richard Brawerman Nursing Institute-Nursing Research Conference, Los Angeles, California.

Cheek, D.J. (2016, June 18). Pharmacogenomics and your clinical practice. Invited to present at Texas Clinical Nurse Specialist Symposium, Round Rock, Texas.

Bashore, L., Borcher, L., Cheek, D.J., Howington, L & Daniels, G. (June 6-8, 2016). Support to Integrate of Genomics &Genetics into Nursing Curriculums. Poster presentation, STTI 3rd European Regional Conference, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Cheek, D.J. (2013, May). Pharmacogenomics and clinical practice. Invited to present at AACN-NTI, Boston, Massachusetts.

Cheek, D.J. (2013, March). Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics (invited speaker). National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialist (100 attendees), San Antonio, Texas.

Nominated for Chancellor Award for Distinguished Achievement as a Creative Teacher and Scholar,  HCNHS representative, 2020

Nominated for Chancellor Award for Distinguished Achievement as a Creative Teacher and Scholar, HCNHS representative, 2017

Recipient of the International Society of Nurses in Genetics (ISONG) Founder Award in Excellence for Genetics Education, 2015

Recipient of the Ruth Eloise Sperry Teaching Award, 2010

Nominated for the Dean’s Research Award, Harris College of Nursing and Health Sciences Representative, 2009

Nominated by a member of the TCU House of Student Representative for the 2009 SGA Academic Excellence Award, 2009

Recipient of 3rd Prize in Clinical Writing Award by Nursing2007, 2007

Recipient of the Faculty of the Year Award by Student Nurses Association, 2007

Nominated for the Chancellor’s Award for Distinguished Research and Creative Activity, College of Health and Human Sciences representative, 2004

Named Abell-Hanger Professor of Gerontological Nursing, 2004

Fellow of the American Heart Association and Council on Cardiovascular Nursing (FAHA), 2002

Invited Fellow Inaugural NIH/NINR Summer Genetic Institute, summer 2000

Recipient of Young Investigator Award from American Motility Society, 1992

Named Abell-Hanger Professor of Gerontological Nursing, 2004. Fellow of the American Heart Association and Council on Cardiovascular Nursing (FAHA), 2002

American Association of Critical Care Nurses, 1982-present. American Heart Association-Council on Cardiovascular Nursing, 1998-present. American Nurse Association/Texas Nurse Association, 2004-present. American Physiological Society, 1999-present. American Society for Pharmacological and Experimental Therapeutics, 1994-present. International Society of Nurses in Genetics (ISONG), 2009-present. National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialist (NACNS), 2005-present. National Gerontological Nursing Association, 2004-present. Southern Nursing Research Society, 2002-present.

International Society of Nursing in Genetics (ISONG)-Elected Board Member, 2014-2016. Texas Nurses Association, District 3—Immediate Past President—2013–2014. Texas Nurses Association, District 3-President—2011-2013. Southern Nursing Research Society (SNRS)-Communication liaison with Program Committee 2012. Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM)—Summer Conference Planning Committee-2010-2011. Doctoral Education Conference SubCommittee-American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), 2010-12. Research Committee, National Gerontological Nursing Association (NGNA), 2005-2013. International Society of Nursing in Genetics (ISONG)-Plenary Committee, 2009-2010. Chair, AACN NTI Workgroup, 2004-05.