
Velda Gonzalez
PhD MSN RN
Assistant Professor
vg2145@nyu.edu
1 212 998 5392
433 FIRST AVENUE
NEW YORK, NY 10010
United States
Velda Gonzalez's additional information
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Velda J. González-Mercado, Ph.D, MSN, RN, is an assistant professor at NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing. Her research focuses on symptom science and symptom management, particularly in relation to addressing the needs of the GI/GU cancer population. Her research uses innovative patient-centered phenotyping and “omic” approaches (such as microbiomics, metabolomics, and genomics) to understand the bio-behavioral underpinnings of cancer-related symptoms experienced by GI/GU cancer patients. Her research also examines ethnic differences in cancer-related symptoms, with the goal of developing symptom management interventions to improve treatment outcomes of Latinx and other minority patients receiving cancer therapies.
In her post-doctoral fellowship, González-Mercado received funding for her research from the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) (F32NR016618; Dr. Wendy Henderson, PhD, MSN, CRNP, FAAN, consultant) and the American Nurses Foundation, to gather initial evidence of the relationship among chemo-radiation, dysbiosis, and fatigue in the rectal cancer population. Her dissertation, “Gene Expression and Fatigue in Puerto Rican Men Receiving Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer,” was supported and conducted intramurally at the NINR, Division of Intramural Research, under the mentorship of Leorey Saligan, PhD, RN, CRNP, FAAN.
Prior to joining NYU, González-Mercado was a postdoctoral scholar at the University of South Florida College of Nursing. She also worked as a nursing instructor at the University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences Campus School of Nursing; a research coordinator at the University of Puerto Rico Cancer Center; and a heart transplant coordinator at the Cardiovascular Center of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.
González-Mercado completed a PhD at the University of Kansas School of Nursing; an MS in nursing at the University of Florida College of Nursing; and a BS in nursing at the University of Puerto Rico Nursing School of the Medical Sciences Campus.
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PhD, Nursing - University of KansasMS, Nursing - University of FloridaBS, Nursing - University of Puerto Rico
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Chronic diseaseAdult health
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International Society of Nurses in GeneticsMidwest Nursing Research SocietyCollege of Nursing Professionals of Puerto RicoOncology Nursing SocietySigma Theta Tau International
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Faculty Honors Awards
Sousa Award of Excellence, University of Kansas, School of Nursing (2015)Crighton Award, University of Kansas, School of Nursing (2014)Ruth O. McKibben Alumni Research Award, University of Kansas, School of Nursing (2014)Manuel A. Pérez Award, Commonwealth Government of Puerto Rico (2002)Paulina R. Dávila Award, College of Nursing Professionals of Puerto Rico (2001)International inductee, Sigma Theta Tau (1992) -
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Publications
Insights from Bacterial 16S rRNA Gene into Bacterial Genera and Predicted Metabolic Pathways Associated with Stool Consistency in Rectal Cancer Patients: A Proof of Concept
Failed retrieving data.Association of radiotherapy-related intestinal injury and cancer-related fatigue: A brief review and commentary
Failed retrieving data.Changes in Gut Microbiome Associated With Co-Occurring Symptoms Development During Chemo-Radiation for Rectal Cancer: A Proof of Concept Study
Failed retrieving data.Co-Occurrence of Symptoms and Gut Microbiota Composition Before Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy for Rectal Cancer: A Proof of Concept
Failed retrieving data.Effectiveness of a Home-Based Exercise Intervention in the Fitness Profile of Hispanic Survivors of Breast Cancer
AbstractOrtiz, A., Hughes, D. C., Mama, S. K., Tirado-Gomez, M., Liao, Y., Song, J., Gonzalez, V., & Basen-Engquist, K. (2021). Rehabilitation Oncology, 39(4), 175-183. 10.1097/01.REO.0000000000000253AbstractBackground: Home-based exercise interventions might be a desirable long-term option for breast cancer survivors to enhance compliance and long-term health benefits. Purpose: To assess the effectiveness of a home-based intervention aimed at helping survivors of breast cancer meet the physical activity guidelines of the American College of Sports Medicine. Methods: Eighty-nine women (age: 55.4 ± 10 years; body mass index: 31 ± 6.5 kg/m2) from 2 cancer centers serving Hispanic women participated in this study. Women underwent a baseline assessment of cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle endurance and strength, flexibility, range of motion, and extremity disability. After baseline measures, women were randomized into a control or exercise group. The exercise intervention consisted of a walking program, elastic band strengthening, and flexibility exercises performed at home. The outcome measures were reassessed 16 weeks after baseline measures. Results: The intervention showed a strong effect of time on muscle strength and shoulder range of motion, and time and group for self-reported disability. There were no differences in sedentary behavior, physical fitness, and disability measures across intervention groups, including both exercise groups combined and changes over time between intervention groups. Conclusion: It appears that a home-based intervention affects only upper-body strength and related disability, indicating that other components might need closer monitoring for significant changes to occur across time.Gut Microbiota and Depressive Symptoms at the End of CRT for Rectal Cancer: A Cross-Sectional Pilot Study
AbstractGonzalez-Mercado, V. J., Lim, J., Saligan, L. N., Perez, N., Rodriguez, C., Bernabe, R., Ozorio, S., Pedro, E., Sepehri, F., & Aouizerat, B. (2021). Depression Research and Treatment, 2021. 10.1155/2021/7967552AbstractBackground. The role of alterations in gut microbiota composition (termed dysbiosis) has been implicated in the pathobiology of depressive symptoms; however, evidence remains limited. This cross-sectional pilot study is aimed at exploring whether depressive symptom scores changed during neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiation therapy to treat rectal cancer, and if gut microbial taxa abundances and predicted functional pathways correlate with depressive symptoms at the end of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Methods. 40 newly diagnosed rectal cancer patients (ages 28-81; 23 males) were assessed for depressive symptoms using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) and provided stool samples for 16S rRNA sequencing. Gut microbiome data were analyzed using QIIME2, and correlations and regression analyses were performed in R. Results. Participants had significantly higher depressive symptoms at the end as compared to before CRT. The relative abundances of Gemella, Bacillales Family XI, Actinomyces, Streptococcus, Lactococcus, Weissella, and Leuconostocaceae were positively correlated (Spearman’s rho=0.42 to 0.32), while Coprobacter, Intestinibacter, Intestimonas, Lachnospiraceae, Phascolarctobacterium, Ruminiclostridium, Ruminococcaceae (UCG-005 and uncultured), Tyzzerella, and Parasutterella (Spearman’s rho=−0.43 to−0.31) were negatively correlated with HAM-D scores. Of the 14 predicted MetaCyc pathways that correlated with depressive symptom scores at the end of CRT, 11 (79%) were associated with biosynthetic pathways. Conclusions. Significant bacterial taxa and predicted functional pathways correlated with depressive symptoms at the end of chemotherapy and radiation therapy for rectal cancer which warrants further examination and replication of our findings.Gut microbiota and fatigue in rectal cancer patients: a cross-sectional pilot study
Failed retrieving data.Consortium Building for Nurse Scientists Interested in Symptoms Research in the Era of Precision Health
Failed retrieving data.Gut microbiota differences in Island Hispanic Puerto Ricans and mainland non-Hispanic whites during chemoradiation for rectal cancer: A pilot study
Failed retrieving data.Gut microbiota perturbation is associated with acute sleep disturbance among rectal cancer patients
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