UB remembers nursing researcher Ellen Volpe

Ellen Volpe, PhD, RN, FNP-BC, assistant professor and researcher in the School of Nursing, died June 8 in a car accident on the Thruway. She was 45.

A native of Rochester, Volpe is remembered for her dedication to her family and community, teaching, patient care, research and regard for her colleagues.

“Ellen was a caring, loving human being. Those special qualities were evident in how she valued and loved her family, friends, patients and colleagues,” said Darryl Somayaji, PhD, assistant professor of nursing.

“All of us at the UB School of Nursing so appreciated her enthusiasm and determination for excellence in nursing, teaching, doing research and participating in school and community service. She was truly a positive presence among us. She was a colleague and a friend. We will deeply miss her.”

An assistant professor in the UB School of Nursing, she was one of the KL2 Scholars in the first cohort of the Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA)-linked KL2 Mentored Career Development Award Program established in 2015.

Under the CTSA, she worked with an interdisciplinary team of scientists and mentors from the School of Nursing, the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, and Roswell Park Cancer Institute.

An accomplished scientist, Volpe’s research reflected a passion for enhancing the well-being of teenagers affected by traumatic experiences.

“Dr. Volpe’s enthusiasm, tenacity, hard work and devotion to advancing science and helping others has been an inspiration for us all, and invaluable to begin understanding violence-related trauma in adolescents,” said Margarita L. Dubocovich, SUNY Distinguished Professor and KL2 program lead. "She will be sorely missed by our team."

Kim Griswold, MD, MPH, associate professor and KL2 program co-lead, added: “Ellen knew the true value of community engagement, and was a leader in making strong connections with vulnerable communities.”

More here.