Qiuhua Shen, PhD, APRN, RN

Professional Background

Qiuhua Shen, PhD, APRN, RN is an Associate Professor in the School of Nursing, University of Kansas. In addition to her faculty position, Dr. Shen had also served as a Project Staff in the Promoting Nursing Education in Kansas (PNEK) project, the Future of Nursing state implementation program funded by Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (PI: Dr. Cynthia Teel) 2013-2017.

Dr. Shen received her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Sun Yat-Sen University in Guangzhou, China. She earned her master’s degree and PhD in nursing from University of Kansas Medical Center. Prior to joining the KU School of Nursing faculty in 2014, Dr. Shen completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Kansas Medical Center.

Dr. Shen teaches courses across programs, including traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Community College Nursing Partnership (CCNP) program, the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and PhD nursing program at the KU School of Nursing. Her current areas of teaching include: NURS 413 Ethics, Advocacy, and Collaboration in Nursing Practice, NRSG 812 Advanced Pathophysiology, NRSG 946 Measurement Principles and Practice, NRSG 948 Methods for Assessing Organizational and Clinical Practice Outcomes, NRSG 949 Synthesis II Workshop, NRSG 953 Quantitative Research Methods and Application.

Dr. Shen is a member of the Council for the Advancement of Nursing Science (CANS), Midwest Nursing Research Society (MNRS), Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI), American Heart Association (AHA), and the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.

Dr. Shen serves as a peer reviewer for Nursing Research, Journal of Professional Nursing, Journal of Advanced Nursing, Journal of Nursing Management, Japan Journal of Nursing Science, BMC Endocrine Disorders, Biological Research in Nursing, and Cardiology and Angiology. She also serves as an abstract reviewer and grant reviewer for the annual research conferences by the Midwest Nursing Research Society (MNRS) and the Council for the Advancement of Nursing Science (CANS).

Dr. Shen is a fellow of 2022-2023 Midwest Nursing Research Society (MNRS) Leadership Academy. She received the KUMC Faculty Investigator Research Award and Karen L. Miller Visionary Leadership Award in 2023. She was also a recipient of the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Faculty in 2021 and the Chancellor's Distinguished Teaching Award in 2020. Dr. Shen also received the Early Career Achievement in Nursing KUMC Alumna Award in 2019 and the DAISY Award for Graduate Faculty in 2018. She was a finalist for the March of Dimes Academic Educator award in 2018 and has been nominated for the Phyllis Keeney Lawrence Teaching Award.

• PhD, Nursing, University of Kansas, Kansas City, KS
• MSN, Adult/Geriatric Nurse Practitioner, University of Kansas, Kansas City, KS
• BSN, Nursing, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
• Post Doctoral Fellowship, Nursing, University of Kansas , Kansas City, KS

• Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, Kansas State Board of Nursing
• Registered Nurse, California State Board of Nursing
• Registered Nurse, Kansas State Board of Nursing
• Registered Nurse, Missouri Board of Nursing

• American Heart Association, Member, 2018 - Present
• The Council for the Advancement of Nursing Science, Member, 2014 - Present
• Midwest Nursing Research Society, Member, 2009 - Present
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, Member, 2008 - Present
• Honor Society of Sigma Theta Tau International , Member, 2006 - Present

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Research

Overview

Dr. Shen’s program of research focuses on understanding pathophysiological mechanisms especially the roles of oxidative stress and mitochondrial bioenergetics in various diseases and investigating potential intervention strategies to reduce symptoms and improve health outcomes of patients. Her emphasis areas of research include symptom science and data science.

Dr. Shen’s current research is related to congestive heart failure especially heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Most recently, she completed a research project funded by Healthy Americas Foundation to investigate multi-dimensional risk factors for heart failure among Hispanic adults, using the NIH All of Us Research Program data. Dr. Shen was the PI for a leukocyte transcriptomics study focusing on morbidly obese patients with high output heart failure, using RNA sequencing. In addition, she led a clinical study funded by the KUMC Research Institute to investigate the role of platelet mitochondrial function in patients with heart failure and explore its potential as a biomarker for heart failure. Dr. Shen was a co-investigator on a clinical study aiming to decrease symptoms and improving physiological functions in patients with post-COVID 19 syndrome. She was also a co-investigator on a NIH funded randomized clinical trial (R01) that examines the effects of ubiquinol and d-ribose in reducing symptom burden of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).

Dr. Shen’s past research included 1) investigation of the relationship between major depression and insulin resistance among nondiabetic young adults; 2) examination of the effects of coenzyme Q10 in reducing cellular injury following hemorrhagic shock and fluid resuscitation and traumatic brain injury; 3) promoting progression of nursing education and implementation of recommendations of IOM report on the Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health.

In addition to her research focus on heart failure, Dr. Shen has expertise in quantitative, correlational/regression analyses, large database analysis, and laboratory experimental design.

• Multi-Dimensional Risk Factors for Heart Failure in Hispanic Participants from the All of Us Research Program, Healthy Americas Foundation, PI

• Shen, Qiuhua, Clark, Lauren, Diaz, Francisco, Pierce, Janet. 2025. Multidimensional Risk Factors for Heart Failure in Hispanic Adults: Findings from the All of Us Research Program. The American Journal of Cardiology, 245, 54-61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjcard.2025.03.010
• Shen, Qiuhua, Cintron, Samantha., A., Pierce, Janet., D.. 2024. Platelet and Leukocyte Mitochondrial Function With Cardiac Function and Self-Reported Health Status Among Obese Patients With Heart Failure. Nursing Research, 73 (4), 294-303. https://doi.org/10.1097/nnr.0000000000000723
• Shen, Qiuhua, Tucker, Sharon. 2024. Fostering leadership development and growth of nurse leaders: Experiences from Midwest Nursing Research Society Leadership Academy. Nursing Outlook, 72 (6), 102293. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0029655424001866
• Shen, Qiuhua, Hiebert, John., B., Rahman, Faith., K., Krueger, Kathryn., J., Gupta, Bhanu, Pierce, Janet., D.. 2021. Understanding Obesity-Related High Output Heart Failure and Its Implications. International Journal of Heart Failure, 3 (3), 160-171. https://doi.org/10.36628/ijhf.2020.0047
• Shen, Q, Mahoney, D, Peltzer, J, Rahman, F, Krueger, K., J, Hiebert, J., B, Pierce, J., D. 2020. Using the NIH symptom science model to understand fatigue and mitochondrial bioenergetics. Journal of Nursing, 7 (2)
• Shen, Qiuhua, Peltzer, Jill, Teel, Cynthia, Pierce, Janet. 2018. Kansas nurse leader residency programme: advancing leader knowledge and skills. Journal of Nursing Management, 26 (2), 148-157. https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.12527
• Pierce, Janet., D., Shen, Qiuhua, Peltzer, Jill, Thimmesch, Amanda, Hiebert, John., B.. 2017. A pilot study exploring the effects of ubiquinol on brain genomics after traumatic brain injury. Nursing Outlook, 65 (5), S44-S52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2017.06.012
• Shen, Qiuhua, Hiebert, John., B., Hartwell, Julie, Thimmesch, Amanda., R., Pierce, Janet., D.. 2016. Systematic Review of Traumatic Brain Injury and the Impact of Antioxidant Therapy on Clinical Outcomes. Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing, 13 (5), 380-389. https://doi.org/10.1111/wvn.12167
• Shen, Qiuhua, Pierce, Janet. 2015. Supplementation of Coenzyme Q10 among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Healthcare, 3 (2), 296-309. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare3020296
• Shen, Qiuhua, Peltzer, Jill., Nicole, Teel, Cynthia., S, Pierce, Janet., D. 2015. The initiative to move towards a more highly educated nursing workforce: Findings from the Kansas registered nurse workforce survey. Journal of Professional Nursing, 31 (6), 452-463