
Audrey Roach, BSN
- Spina Bifida Program Coordinator
- Member, Department of Nursing Research & Evidence Based Practice
Locations
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8915 W. Connell CourtMilwaukee, WI 53226
Overview
Audrey Roach is an early investigator with a program of research focused on improving the health and quality of life for individuals with disabilities. Her primary responsibility is leadership of the Children’s Wisconsin Spina Bifida Program which serves approximately 225 patients and families affected by spina bifida. This multifaceted role encompasses all aspects of care for patients with including prenatal consults, NICU parent education, facilitating the ambulatory Spina Bifida Clinic, and engaging in quality improvement and research projects.
Audrey Roach’s research focuses on developing self-management skills in adolescents and young adults with spina bifida to improve the transfer to adult health care. Self-management and transition to adulthood were identified as two of the top six priority research areas by the spina bifida community in a survey of adults with spina bifida and parents of children and adults with spina bifida. Therefore, Ms. Roach’s work contributes meaningful information to the spina bifida community. Additionally, Ms. Roach is a co-investigator in the CDC funded National Spina Bifida Patient Registry, an important initiative that gathers information from individuals with spina bifida to better understand the health care they receive, health outcomes, and how to improve the quality of care across the lifespan. Finally, Ms. Roach has contributed to work that analyzes how sociodemographic variables influence health outcomes for people with spina bifida, specifically regarding access to in-utero surgery for myelomeningocele closure.
Bibliography
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/audrey.roach.1/bibliography/public
Education and Awards
Education
- 2025, University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, PhD
Awards
- 2023 - Sigma Theta Tau Excellence in Nursing Practice Award, Eta Nu Chapter
- 2022 - Building Bridges to Research Based Nursing Practice Doctoral Student Nursing Research Award
- 2022 - Harriet H. Werley Doctoral Student Nursing Research Award
- 2020, 2021, 2022 - UW-Milwaukee College of Nursing PhD Physiologist Scholarship
- 2022 - Sigma Theta Tau Outstanding Doctoral Student Award, Eta Nu Chapter
- 2018, 2019, 2020 - Chancellor’s Graduate Student Award
- 2015, 2017 - REACH Gold Level, Children’s Wisconsin
- 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018 - REACH Silver Level, Children’s Wisconsin
- 2017 - Daisy Nurse Excellence Award Nominee, Children’s Wisconsin
- 2016 - Julie Lathrop Nursing Research Award – Early Investigator, Children’s Wisconsin
- 2011 - Nurse Excellence Award, Neuroscience Unit
- 2007 - Sigma Theta Tau Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award, Eta Nu Chapter