Samantha Cintron, PhD, RN, PCCN

Professional Background

Dr. Samantha Cintron is an Assistant Professor at the University of Kansas School of Nursing. Dr. Cintron received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing from the University of Kansas. Prior to joining the KU School of Nursing faculty, Dr. Cintron completed her postdoctoral fellowship studying both heart failure and post-acute sequalae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) at the University of Kansas Medical Center. She has a clinical background in medical/surgical nursing and caring for adults with cystic fibrosis.

Dr. Cintron holds memberships with the American Heart Association, Midwest Nursing Research Society, American Association of Critical Care Nurses, and Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. Throughout her career, she has received multiple honors, including the Midwestern Nursing Research Society Physiology, Behavior, Genomics & Society RIIG Dissertation Award, the University of Kansas School of Nursing Early Career Achievement in Nursing Alumna Award, and the Sigma Theta Tau-Delta Chapter Clinical Leadership Award.

• BSN, Nursing , University of Kansas School of Nursing, Kansas City , KS
• PhD, Nursing, University of Kansas School of Nursing , Kansas City, KS
• Post Doctoral Fellowship, Nursing , University of Kansas School of Nursing , Kansas City , KS

• Registered Nurse (RN) Licensure, Kansas State Board of Nursing

• American Heart Association , Member, 2023 - Present
• Midwest Nursing Research Society , Member, 2019 - Present
• American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, Member, 2016 - Present

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Research

Overview

Dr. Samantha Cintron’s program of research investigates the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying complex chronic conditions, with a focus on heart failure, obesity, and long COVID. Her work integrates symptom science, data science, genomics, and mitochondrial bioenergetics to examine how cellular dysfunction contributes to symptom burden, particularly fatigue. She is currently leading a preclinical study evaluating the effects of semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, on myocardial and mitochondrial structure and function in a model of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and obesity. She has also collaborated on clinical studies funded by the University of Kansas Medical Center examining mitochondrial dysfunction in patients with heart failure and long COVID, and served as a co-investigator on a Department of Defense-funded study assessing the prevalence of long COVID in active duty military personnel. Her previous research includes the first genomic analysis of leukocyte transcriptomes in patients with obesity-related high output heart failure. Dr. Cintron has expertise in mitochondrial bioenergetics, symptom science, and transcriptomic analysis in heart failure. She has experience coordinating preclinical and clinical research and applying pathway analysis tools to interpret complex biological data. Her long-term goal is to advance precision health through translational research and interdisciplinary collaboration.

• Cintron , Samantha ., A., Shen , Qiuhua , Pierce, Janet . 2024. Balancing Nursing Science with Biobehavioral Approaches. . Nursing Research , 73 (5), 340
• Cintron , Samantha , Diaz, Francisco , Shen , Qiuhua , Yang , Francis ., M. , Comfort , B. , Pierce, Janet . 2024. Reducing symptoms and improving physiological functions in patients with post-COVID-19 conditions using a mushroom supplement: A pilot study. Journal of Clinical & Medical Surgery , 4, 1-6
• Cintron , Samantha, Pierce , Janet , Sardiu , M.., E. , Mahoney , Diane , Peltzer , Jill , Gupta , B. , Shen , Qiuhua . 2023. Differences in Leukocyte Transcriptomes of Morbidly Obese Patients with High Output Heart Failure: A Pilot Study. International Journal of Heart Failure , 5 (4), 201-212
• Cintron , Samantha , Shen , Qiuhua , Mahoney , Diane , Sardiu , M.., E. , Hiebert , John ., B. , Pierce , Janet . 2023. Obesity-related high-output heart failure: An integrative review. The Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 38 (4), 339-351
• Pierce , Janet , Shen , Qiuhua , Cintron , Samantha ., A. , Hiebert , John ., B. . 2022. Post-COVID-19 Syndrome. Nursing Research , 71 (2), 164-174