By David DeFusco
For nearly four decades, Dr. Christy Jared has devoted her career to nursing, research and education. From her early days as a labor and delivery nurse to her current role as a faculty member of the Katz School’s accelerated B.S. in Nursing, her career reflects an unwavering dedication to patient care, mentorship and scientific inquiry.
Building on this lifelong dedication, she discussed the findings of her doctoral research study in June at the 41st International Human Science Research Conference at Molloy University, where she explored the lasting impact of childhood trauma on women’s health and well-being, offering critical insights into the connection between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and obesity in adult women.
“While the link between obesity and ACEs was first identified over 25 years ago, there has been limited research focusing solely on understanding how viewing ACEs and obesity as a phenomenon manifests in adult women,” said Dr. Jared, a clinical associate professor.
Using a qualitative, phenomenological Reflective Lifeworld Research approach, Dr. Jared sought to answer the following key questions: How does the phenomenon of co-occurring obesity and ACEs manifest among adult women? What is the deeper meaning behind this phenomenon? How can these findings be applied to healthcare interventions?
Reflective Lifeworld Research, which emphasizes the lived experiences of individuals, provided a framework for understanding the complex and deeply personal narratives of the study’s participants. Her research identified essential and constituent meanings of the phenomenon of obesity and a history of childhood trauma in adult women. The essential meanings included a boundary-less childhood existence, being in and out of control and a vague or distorted sense of self, while constituent meanings manifested in obesity as an existential response to ACEs: Chaotic, abusive childhoods with neglectful caregivers; indoctrination into food misuse, weight concerns and body-focused anxieties; the burden of obesity and chronic health conditions; and adult perspectives on surviving childhood trauma.
Dr. Jared’s study offers a more holistic and humanistic understanding of obesity and ACEs, emphasizing the need for comprehensive, integrated solutions to care. Among her key recommendations: Address essential meanings of trauma through somatic, mind-body and body-oriented treatments; implement weight loss programs that account for psychological trauma and ACE-related behaviors; reduce obesity stigma in healthcare settings through education and policy changes; and expand training for healthcare providers on identifying ACEs and integrating trauma-informed care.
Originally, Dr. Jared intended to conduct in-person interviews with women from the tri-state metropolitan area; however, the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a shift to virtual recruitment and Zoom interviews.
“Despite the challenges, this approach yielded rich and comprehensive data, demonstrating the feasibility of conducting qualitative research on sensitive topics in virtual settings,” she said.
Dr. Jared’s path to nursing was profoundly personal. At the age of 23, she gave birth to her son in a hospital in Fort Worth, Texas, where an attentive and compassionate nurse stayed by her side throughout a long and difficult labor. At the time, she was working as an accounting clerk, still searching for her true calling. The experience of being cared for so diligently and professionally ignited a passion in her—she knew right away that she wanted to provide that same level of comfort and support to other women in a maternal-child setting. After completing her prerequisites at a community college, she was accepted into the University of Texas at Austin, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
Her career and educational paths evolved in multiple directions over the next 10 years, and in 2001, she satisfied a dream by moving to New York to work for a nonprofit, Care for the Homeless, as a policy analyst. Her passion for nursing, however, soon called her back and by 2003, she was working in labor and delivery at New York University Medical Center. Her experience in direct patient care, policy analysis and education would shape her belief in the critical need for collaborative teamwork, mentorship and strong leadership in healthcare.
“A great nursing leader is someone who mentors you, inspires you and pushes you outside of your comfort zone,” she said. “One of the reasons I love teaching is that I can pay it forward; I can share the wisdom, guidance and support that I received with my students.”
While Dr. Jared pursued her Ph.D. in Nursing Research and Theory at the N Rory Meyers College of Nursing, she sought out positions that would allow her to complete the requirements of the doctoral program—work that would also keep her connected with patients and families in an outpatient setting. During the COVID-19 crisis, she played a crucial role in the initial immunization and testing efforts in the Bronx and Manhattan. At N Langone Perlmutter Cancer Center, where she has worked as a per-diem RN since 2021, Dr. Jared provides key support to teams of medical doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other nurses in neuro-oncology and gynecological oncology patient care.
In addition to her clinical and research work, she is committed to shaping the future of nursing education. At the Katz School, she teaches courses in Introduction to Professional Nursing; Health Assessment; Maternal-Newborn Nursing; and Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, and is the faculty advisor of a new chapter of the National Student Nurses Association.
“We are doing such great work in this program, and there is so much room for growth,” said Dr. Jared. “I am thrilled to be part of this transformation.”
