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Faculty and staff

Debra Lyon

Debra E. Lyon, PhD, RN, FNP-BC, FNAP, FAAN

Judith B. Collins and Joseph M. Teefey Distinguished Professor
Professor and Chair, Department of Family and Community Health Nursing
P.O. Box 980567
Richmond, VA 23298-0567
Phone: (804) 828-5635
E-mail: delyon@vcu.edu


Education

  • Post-Doctoral Fellow - National Center for Complementary and Alternative medicine, National Institutes of Health
  • Ph.D. - Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond
  • Post-Masters - Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond
  • M.S.N - Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond
  • B.S.N - Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond

Selected Publications

  • Lyon, D.E., McCain, N.L.,Pickler, R.H., Munro, C.L., & Elswick. (2011). Advancing the Biobehavioral Research of Fatigue with Genetics and Genomics. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 43 (3) 274-281.
  • Lyon, D., Walter, J., Starkweather, A., Schubert, C., & McCain, N. (2011). Tryptophan degradation in women with breast cancer: a pilot study. BMC Research Notes, 4(1), 156.
  • Starkweather, A., Lyon, D.E., McCain, N.L., & Elswick, R.K. (In press). Pain and Inflammation in Women with Early-Stage Breast Cancer Prior to Induction of Chemotherapy. Biological Research for Nursing.
  • Starkweather, A., Sherwood, P., Lyon, D. E., McCain, N. L., Bovbjerg, D. H. & Broaddus, W. C. (2011). A Biobehavioral Perspective on Depressive Symptoms in Patients with a Cerebral Astrocytoma. Journal of Neuroscience Nursing.
  • Lyon, D.E., Walter, J., McCain, N.L., Schubert, C. & Munro, C.L. (2011). Challenges in Interpreting Cytokine Biomarkers in Biobehavioral Research: A Breast Cancer Exemplar. Biological Research for Nursing. (13) 25-31.
  • Driscoll, C., Lyon, D.E., & McCain, N.L. (2010). A Biobehavioral Transplantation Model. Biological Research for Nursing. Published online before print December 30, 2010, doi: 10.1177/1099800410389603
  • Lyon, D.E., Taylor, A.G. & Schubert. (2010). Pilot Study of Cranial Stimulation for Symptom Management in Breast Cancer. Oncology Nursing Forum, 37(4), 476-483.
  • Erickson, J., & Lyon, D.E. (2010). Breast Cancer in Cowden Syndrome: Manifestation of a Familial Cancer Syndrome. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 14(1), 33-35.
  • Rattican, D., Kelly, D., Filler, K. & Lyon, D.E. (2010). Plasmacytoma. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing. 14(2), 149-152.
  • Lyon, D.E, Cheng, C., Howland, L., Rattican, D., Jallo, N., Pickler, R., Brown, L., & McGrath, J. (2010). Integrated Review of Cytokines in Maternal, Cord, and Newborn Blood: Part I--Associations With Preterm Birth. Biological Research For Nursing, 1099800409344620v1099800409344621.
  • Pickler, R., Brown, L., McGrath, J., Lyon, D., Rattican, D., Cheng, C., Howland, L., & Jallo, N. (2010). Integrated Review of Cytokines in Maternal, Cord, and Newborn Blood: Part II--Associations With Early Infection and Increased Risk of Neurologic Damage in Preterm Infants. Biological Research For Nursing, 1099800409344619v1099800409344611.
  • Lyon, D.E., Goodloe, L., Younger, J.B. & Ryland, K. (2010). Nursing Students’ Perceptions of How Their Prior Educational Foci and Work Experience Affected Their Transition into an Accelerated Nursing Program. Southern Online Journal of Nursing Research. 10 (1).
  • Menzies, V., & Lyon, D.E. (2009). Integrated Review of the Association of Cytokines With Fibromyalgia and Fibromyalgia Core Symptoms. Biological Research For Nursing, 1099800409348328v1099800409348321.
  • Afable, M.G. & Lyon, D.E. (2008). Severe fatigue: Could it be aplastic anemia. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 12(4):569-73.
  • Kennel, S., Taylor, A., Lyon, D.E., & Bourguignon, C. (2009). Pilot Feasibility Study of Binaural Auditory Beats for Reducing Symptoms of Inattention in Children and Adolescents with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Journal of Pediatric Nursing.
  • Lyon, D.E., Walter, J.W., McCain, N.L. & Schubert, C.M. (2008). Cytokine Comparison of Women with Negative Breast Biopsy with Women with Breast Cancer. Nursing Research. 57(1) 51-58.
  • Fox, S. & Lyon, D.E. (2007). Symptom Clusters in Ovarian Cancer Survivors. Cancer Nursing, 30(5), 354-361.
  • Fox, S., Lyon, D.E., & Farace, E. Symptom cluster in high-grade gliomas. (2007). Journal of Nursing Scholarship. 39(1), 61–67.
  • Fox, S. & Lyon, D.E. Symptom clusters in lung cancer survivors. (2006). Oncology Nursing Forum. 33(5), 31-36. Lyon, D.E., Roux, G. & Voll, S. (2006). Hormonal breast cancer therapies: Implications for the PCP. Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. 18(11), 58-523.
  • Salyer, J., Lyon, D.E., Elswick, R.K. & Settle, J. (2006). Life-style correlates of HIV-related lipodystrophy. Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care. 17(3), 3-17.
  • Lyon, D.E. & Younger, J. B. (2005). Development and preliminary evaluation of the Existential Meaning Scale. Journal of Holistic Nursing. 23, (1), 54-65. Lyon, D.E. & Parker, B. A. (2003). Gender related health concerns of rural women with severe and persistent mental illnesses. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 17(1), 27-32.
  • Joachim, B., Lyon, D.E. & Farrell, S.P. (2003). Antonovsky’s Sense of Coherence applied to obsessive-compulsive disorders. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, 39(4), 163-168.
  • Rodeheaver, P., Taylor, A.G. & Lyon, D.E. (2003). Incorporating patients’ perspectives into CAM clinical trial design. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Therapy, 9(6), 959-968.
  • Lyon, D.E., Chase, L. & Farrell, S. (2002). An interview guide for suicidality in primary care. Nurse Practitioner: The American Journal of Primary Health Care, 27(7), 26-31.
  • Lyon, D.E. (2001). HIV epidemic among persons with severe mental illness. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, (8), 23-20.
  • Lyon, D.E & Munro, C.L. (2001). Disease severity and symptoms of depression in black Americans infected with HIV. Applied Nursing Research, 14(1), 3-9.
  • Lyon, D. E. & Younger, J.B. (2001). Purpose in life and depressive symptoms in persons living with HIV disease. Journal of Nursing Scholarship (formerly Image), 33(2), 137-141.*
  • Lyon, D. E. & Midkiff, L. K. (2001). Pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorder. Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, (7), 35-38.
  • Lyon, D. E. & Peach, J. (2001). Primary care providers’ views of precepting nurse practitioner students. Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, 13(5), 237-240.
  • Lyon, D.E. & Truban, E. (2000). HIV-related lipodystrophy: Implications for practice and research. Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care, 11(2), 36-42.
  • Lyon, D.E. & Morgan-Judge, T. (2000). Childhood depressive disorders: An epidemic with implications for school nursing. Journal of School Nursing, 16(2), 26-31.
  • McCain, N.L., Lyon, D.E., Higginson, R., Settle, J., Robins, J.L.W. & Fisher, E.J. (1998). Revision of the HIV Center Medical Staging Scale. Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care, 9(5), 19-23.

Research Funding/External Funding

  • R01 NR012667 (Lyon & Jackson-Cook, MPI) 10/01/2010-8/30/2015 NIH/NINR Total Award: $3,368,295 Epigenetics and Psychoneurologic Symptoms in Women with Breast Cancer
  • R01 CA127446 (Lyon) 04/01/2009-01/31/14 NIH/NCI Total Award: $1,459,494 Cranial Stimulation for Chemotherapy Symptoms in Breast Cancer.
  • Presidential Research Incentive Program (Elmore, L.W., PI.) 06/2011-09/2012 Total Award: $50,000 Psychoneurological Symptoms Acquired by Women Treated for Breast Cancer: Insights Gained from Studying Neuronal-like Cells Generated by Reprogramming Adult Stem Cells
  • P30 NR011403 (Pickler) 08/10/09-05/31/14 NIH/NINR Total Award: $2,600, 000 Center of Excellence in Biobehavioral Approaches to Symptom Management.
  • R21 CA106149 (Lyon) 07/3/03-06/30/06 NIH/NCI Total Award: $456,000.00 Cranial Stimulation for Chemotherapy Symptoms in Breast Cancer.
  • P20 NR008988 (McCain) 07/01/05-06/30/06 NIH/NINR (~$50,000 for Lyon Project; $1,500,000 for P20) Comparison of Cytokine Profiles in Women with Breast Cancer with Women with a Negative Breast Biopsy.
  • K30 AT00060 (Taylor) 07/01/03-06/30/04 NIH/NCCAM Yearly Award: $312,963 CAM Clinical Research Curriculum Program.
  • Pilot study of cranial mocrocurrent therapy for breast cancer symptoms.
    2003 American Cancer Society ($15,000)
  • Cranial Stimulation Pilot Study
    2002 Ward K. Elsminger ($5,000)
  • Nightengale Summer Research Award:
    2001 University of Virginia School of Nursing ($5,000)
  • Correlates of HIV-related Lipodystrophy.
    2000 American Nurses' Foundation ($5,000)
  • HIV in Persons with Severe Mental Illness: Secondary Data Analysis
    1999 Oscar and Ruth Lanford Research Award ($13,424)
  • Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy, Phyllis J. Verhonick Award
    1999 Sigma Theta Tau, Beta Kappa Chapter ($1,000)
  • World AIDS Day Project, Educating University Students about HIV/AIDS
    1998 The American Red Cross ($100)

Memberships in Professional Organizations

  • National Academies of Practice (2009-present)
    • NAP Standards Task Force (2010)
  • American Nurses' Association/Virginia Nurses Association
  • Phi Kappa Phi, Virginia Commonwealth University
  • Sigma Theta Tau, Gamma Omega Chapter (1992 - present) Counselor 1997 - 1998
  • Sigma Theta Tau, Beta Kappa Chapter (1998 - present)
    Membership Committee 2000 - present
    Mentor, Alex Bingswanger. Sharon Clarke
  • Society for Education, Practice, Research in Psychiatric Nursing (SERPN) (1999 - 2001)
  • Southern Nursing Research Society (1996 - present)
  • National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculty (1998 - 2001)
  • American Psychiatric Nursing Association (1998- 2001)
  • Board Member at Large, Virginia (1999 - 2000)
  • Oncology Nursing Society (2003 - present)
    Research Mentor
  • American Cancer Society
    Relay for Life, Team Member
    Making Strides, Team Leader

Research Activities

Dr. Lyon's current research areas include symptom management in women with breast cancer and complementary and alternative therapies for symptom management.

Awards, Fellowships & Honors

  • 2011 Fellow, American Academy of Nursing
  • 2011 Alumni Star, VCU 2010 Exceptional Researcher Award, A.D. Williams Foundation, VCU School of Nursing
  • 2010 D. Jean Wood Scholarship Award, Southern Nursing Research Society 2009 National Academies of Practice, Distinguished Practitioner Fellow
  • 2008 Grace Harris Leadership Institute Fellow
  • 2005 Junior Researcher Award, VCU School of Nursing
  • 2003 University Seminar Course, "Mind, Body, Spirit"
  • 2003 Innovative Teaching Award, "A web-based psychopharmacology tool"
  • 2000, 2003 Faculty Marshall, University of Virginia School of Nursing
  • 2002 Seven Society Junior Faculty Award
  • 2002 Selected Participant, Annual Research Training Program: Developing Nurse Scientists, National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), Bethesda, Maryland
  • 2001-2002 University of Virginia Teaching Fellow
  • 2000 Southern Nursing Society Scholar, American Nurses' Foundation
  • 2000 Faculty Marshall, University of Virginia School of Nursing
  • 1997 Fellow, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing Maternal Child Institute

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