Sherry Chesak, PhD, MS, RN

Dr. Sherry Chesak is a Clinical Professor in the Population Health and Systems Cooperative Unit in the School of Nursing at the University of Minnesota. She is a recognized nurse leader and scientist who investigates resilience-promoting interventions for both professional and family caregivers. Her program of research is centered on care for the caregiver, and she primarily studies mindfulness-based interventions that promote resilience and mitigate stress among clinicians and family caregivers. She has led inter-disciplinary teams in the assessment of stress and burnout over time and identifying predictors of burnout. Dr. Chesak also has expertise in identifying best practices for promoting a sense of belonging among healthcare workers. Her research has been funded by the NIH, DoD, and several internal funding mechanisms. Her research foci areas include:

• Methods to measure stress and burnout among clinicians, and promote individual, team, and organizational resilience
• Integrative health interventions for promoting self-care and resilience among community-based family caregivers of patients with complex healthcare needs
•  Best practices for engendering a sense of belonging among healthcare workers in diverse settings

Dahlberg Visiting Scholar Award, Gundersen Medical Foundation, 2022

Mayo Clinic Proceedings outstanding “limelight” article of 2021: Chesak SS, Yngve KC, Taylor JM, Voth ER, Bhagra A. Challenges and solutions for physician mothers: a critical review of the literature. Mayo Clin Proc. 2021; 96(6). doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2020.10.008

Trainee Outstanding Poster Award, International Society for Complementary Medicine Research, 2014

Sigma Theta Tau International, Honor Society of Nursing, 2011

Society for Simulation in Healthcare

Minnesota Holistic Nurses Association

American Association of Colleges of Nursing Leadership, Resilience, and Well-Being, Advisory Board Member

Chesak, S. S., Dose, A. M., Mandrekar, J., James, D., Pachman, D., Cutshall, S., Fuehrer, D. L., & Sood, A. (2023). Outcomes of a Stress Management and Resilience Training (SMART) program for family caregivers of individuals with advanced head and neck cancer. Oncology Nursing Forum, 50(1), 6-18. 
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1188/23.ONF.6-18

Chesak, S. S., Rhudy, L. M., Tofthagen, C., & Chlan, L. L. (2022). A practice-based model to guide nursing science and improve the health and well-being of patients and caregivers. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 31(3-4), 445-453.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.15837

Chesak, S. S., Salinas, M., Abraham, H., Harris, C. E., Carey, E. C., Khalsa, T., Mauck, K. F., Feely, M., Licatino, L., Moeschler, S., & Bhagra, A. (2022). Experiences of gender inequity among women physicians across career stages: Findings from participant focus groups. Women's Health Reports, 3(1), 359-368.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1089/whr.2021.0051

Tofthagen, C., Chesak, S., Rhudy, L., Krecke, C., & Gaugler, J. E. (2021). Informational gaps, needs, and preferences of adults with chronic health conditions and their family caregivers. Journal of Ambulatory Care Management, 44(2), 101-115.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/JAC.0000000000000371

Chesak, S. S., Morin, K. H., Cutshall, S. M., Jenkins, S. M., & Sood, A. (2021). Feasibility and efficacy of integrating resiliency training into a pilot nurse residency program. Nurse Education in Practice, 50, 102959. 
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2020.102959

Croghan, I. T., Chesak, S. S., Adusumalli. J., Fischer, K. M., Beck, E. W., Patel, S. R., Ghosh, K., Schroeder, D. R., & Bhagra, A. (2021). Stress, resilience, and coping of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Primary Care &
Community Health, 12, 21501327211008448. 
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/21501327211008448

Joseph, J., Dao, D., Hwang, S. M., Dotzler, S. M., Chesak, S. S., Weiskittel, T. M., Lang, M. E., Melo, V. D., Anderson, J. B., Vega, B., Englund, M., Boruch, P. M., & Bhagra, A. (2021). Perceptions of barriers and facilitators to becoming a
medical professional among underrepresented undergraduate and postbaccalaureate learners. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. Innovations, Quality & Outcomes, 5(2), 347-358. 
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocpiqo.2021.01.003

Chesak, S. S., Yngve, K. C., Taylor, J. M., Voth, E. R., & Bhagra A. (2021). Challenges and solutions for physician mothers: A critical review of the literature. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 96(6), 1578-1591. 
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2020.10.008

Chesak, S. S., Bhagra, A., Cutshall, S., Ingram, A., Benoit, R., Medina-Inojosa, J. R., Hayes, S. N., Carolan, B. J., & Luthar, S. (2020). Authentic connections groups: A pilot test of an intervention aimed at enhancing resilience among nurse leader mothers. Worldviews on Evidence Based Nursing, 17(1), 39-48.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/wvn.12420

Chesak, S. S., Morin, K. H., Cutshall, S., Carlson, M., Joswiak, M. E., Ridgeway, J. L., Vickers, K. S., & Sood, A. (2019). Stress management and resiliency training in a nurse residency program: Findings from participant focus groups. Journal for Nurses in Professional Development, 35(6), 337-343.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/NND.0000000000000589

A Mindful Approach to Building a Resilient Healthcare Workforce, St. Elizabeth Healthcare Meeting, Edgewood, Kentucky, 2022

Building Post-Pandemic Individual and Team Resilience, CHRISTUS St Vincent Resilience Training for Nursing Staff, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 2022

Resiliency & Self Care, Mayo Clinic Primary Care Nursing 2022 CNE Conference, Baraboo, WI, 2022

Excellence in Academic Nursing: A Focus on Well-Being in Schools of Nursing, American Association of Colleges of Nursing Thought Leaders Assembly, Vail, CO

A Mindful Approach to Cultivating Inclusion and Belonging, Mayo Clinic RISE for Equity: Reflect, Inspire, Strengthen & Empower Conference, Chicago, IL 2022

Microaggressions, Stereotype Threat, and Impostor Syndrome: Coaching, Mayo Clinic RISE for Equity: Reflect, Inspire, Strengthen & Empower Conference, Chicago, IL, 2022

A Mindful Approach to Preventing and Managing Compassion Fatigue, Nursing Research on the Green, La Crosse, WI, 2022

Finding Strength in the Darkest of Times: Evidence Based Methods for Building Individual and Team Resilience, St. Jude Nurses Week Event, Memphis, TN, 2022

RAIN: A Mindfulness Practice to Transform Suffering, Mayo Clinic Holistic Health and Well-Being Conference, Virtual, 2021

Meditation: Facilitated Interactive Session, GRIT for Women in Medicine: Growth, Resilience, Inspiration, & Tenacity Conference 2021, Colorado Springs, CO, 2021

Award: SCH: Wearable Augmented Prediction of Burnout in Nurses: A Synergy of Engineering, Bioethics, Nursing
Principal Investigator: Athreya, Arjun
Sponsoring Organization: NIH National Institute of Nursing Research
Award Dates: 2022 - 2026

Award: Designing and Evaluating a Comprehensive Support Program for Families Caring for Relatives Living with TBI-AD/ADRD
Principal Investigator: Gaugler, Joseph
Sponsoring Organization: U.S. Department of Defense
Award Dates: 2022 - 2024

Award: Evaluating the Impact of a Family Caregiver Support and Resource Program on Respect, Compassion, Integrity and Stewardship
Principal Investigator: Griffin
Sponsoring Organization: Mayo Clinic Values Council 
Award Dates: 2022 - 2023

Award: Feasibility and Acceptability of Virtual Dignity Therapy for Palliative Care Patients with Advanced Cancer
Principal Investigator: Pachman
Sponsoring Organization: Mayo Clinic Values Council 
Award Dates: 2021 - 2022

Award: Resilient Living Program for Patients with Advanced Cancer and Their Caregivers
Principal Investigator: Pachman
Sponsoring Organization: Mayo Clinic Benefactor Award
Award Dates: 2019 - 2021

Award: Feasibility and Acceptability of a Stress Management and Resiliency Training (SMART) Intervention for Family Caregivers of Individuals with Advanced Cancer Undergoing Outpatient Chemotherapy
Principal Investigator: Chesak, Sherry
Sponsoring Organization: Mayo Clinic Values Council
Award Dates: 2018 - 2021

Award: Feasibility of a Wearable Health Monitor to Measure Stress in Family Caregivers
Principal Investigator: Chesak, Sherry
Sponsoring Organization: Mayo Clinic Center for Clinical and Translational Science
Award Dates: 2019 - 2019

Award: Fostering Resilience Amongst Mothers Under Stress: Authentic Connections for Nurse Leaders
Principal Investigator: Chesak, Sherry
Sponsoring Organization: Mayo Clinic Elizabeth C. Bonner Endowment
Award Dates: 2018 - 2019

Award: Integration of a Stress Management And Resiliency Training (SMART) Program within a Nurse Residency Program
Principal Investigator: Chesak, Sherry
Sponsoring Organization: Mayo Clinic Values Council
Award Dates: 2012 - 2013

• Methods to measure stress among clinicians and promote resilience
• Integrative interventions for promoting self-care and resilience among community-based family caregivers of patients with complex health care needs
• Best practices for engendering a sense of belonging among health care workers