Resume

• 2013

  Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

  Sociology

  Kent State University

• 2012

  Master of Arts (M.A.)

  Political sociology with a concentration on critical-postmodern theory

  focusing on the works of Jameson

  Barthes

  Rorty

  Foucault and Baudrillard.

  Sociology

  American Sociological Association

  Alpha Kappa Delta.

  Cleveland State University

• 2009

  Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

  Primary focus ideological formation

  regeneration and synthesis from a critical-symbolic perspective.

  Sociology

  American Sociological Association

  Alpha Kappa Delta.

  Cleveland State University

• 1994

  Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

  Psychology

  The University of Toledo

• Political field organization and volunteer management.

  Democratic National Committee

  Quantitative Research

  Statistics

  Policy Analysis

  Political Sociology

  Academic Writing

  Qualitative Research

  Sociology

  Medical Sociology

  Continental Philosophy

  Psychometrics

  Symbolic Interactionism

  Political Philosophy

  Sociological Theory

  Behavioral Interviewing

  Social Stratification

  Research

  Semiotics

  Ethnomethodology

  Criminology

  Critical Theory

  The Assessment and Treatment of Non-Malignant Back and Neck Pain: An Initial Investigation in a Primary Care Practice-Based Research Network

  Rebecca Fischbein

  AIM:\nThe purpose of this study was to conduct an exploratory examination of the current state of non-malignant acute and chronic back and neck pain assessment and management among primary care providers in a multi-site

  practice-based research network.\nBACKGROUND:\nAcute and chronic pain are distinct conditions that often require different assessment and management approaches

  however

  little research has examined assessment and management of acute and chronic pain as separate conditions. The large majority of patients with acute and chronic back and neck pain are managed in primary care settings. Given the differences between acute and chronic pain

  it is necessary to identify differences in patient characteristics

  practitioner evaluation

  treatment and management in primary care settings.\nMETHODS:\nOver a two-week period

  24 practitioners in a multi-site practice-based research network completed 196 data cards about 39 patients experiencing acute back and neck pain and 157 patients suffering from chronic back and neck pain. Findings There were significant differences between the patients experiencing acute and chronic pain in regards to practitioner evaluation

  current medication management and current treatment for depression. In addition

  diagnostics differed between patients experiencing acute versus chronic back and neck pain. Further

  primary care providers' review of online drug monitoring program reports during the current visit was associated with current medication management using short term opioids

  long-term opioids or tramadol. Most research examining acute and chronic pain focuses on the low back. Additional research needs to be conducted to explore and compare acute and chronic pain across the whole spine.\n

  The Assessment and Treatment of Non-Malignant Back and Neck Pain: An Initial Investigation in a Primary Care Practice-Based Research Network

  Michael Hewit

  Problems paying medical bills have been reported to be associated with increased stress

  bankruptcy

  and forgone medical care. Using the Behavioral Model for Vulnerable Populations developed by Gelberg et al as a framework

  as well as data from the 2010 Ohio Family Health Survey

  this study examined the relationships between difficulty paying medical bills and forgone medical and prescription drug care. Logistic regression was used to examine associations between difficulty paying medical bills and predisposing

  enabling

  need (health status)

  and health behaviors (forgoing medical care). Difficulty paying medical bills increased the effect of lack of health insurance in predicting forgone medical care and had a conditional effect on the association between education and forgone prescription drug care. Those who had less than a bachelor's degree were more likely to forgo prescription drug care than those with a bachelor's degree

  but only if they had difficulty paying medical bills. Difficulty paying medical bills also accounted for the relationships between several population characteristics (eg

  age

  income

  home ownership

  health status) in predicting forgone medical and prescription drug care. Policies to cap out-of-pocket medical expenses may mitigate health disparities by addressing the impact of difficulty paying medical bills on forgone care.

  Associations Between Difficulty Paying Medical Bills and Forgone Medical and Prescription Drug Care

  Background\n\nTwin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) affects 10–20 % of monochorionic diamniotic (MCDA) births and accounts for 50 % of fetal loss in MCDA pregnancies. This exploratory qualitative study identified shared experiences

  including potential emotional and psychosocial impacts

  of this serious disease.\n\nMethods\n\nForty-five publicly accessible

  online stories posted by families who experienced TTTS were analyzed using grounded theory.\n\nResults\n\nShared TTTS experiences included a common trajectory: early pregnancy experiences

  diagnostic experiences

  making decisions

  interventions and variable outcomes. Families vacillated between emotional highs such as joy

  excitement and relief

  and lows including depression

  anxiety

  anger and grief.\n\nConclusions\n\nTTTS disease experience can be considered an “emotional roller coaster” exacerbated by TTTS’s unpredictable and quickly changing nature with the potential for emotional and psychosocial effects. Increased TTTS awareness and research about its corresponding impacts can ensure appropriate patient and family support at all phases of the TTTS experience.

  Identifying Shared Disease Experiences Through a Qualitative Analysis of Online Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome Stories

  The Impact of Chiari Malformation on Daily Activities: A Report from the National Conquer Chiari Patient Registry Database

  Rebecca Fischbein

  Jenna Amerine

  BACKGROUND:\nChiari malformation (CM) is characterized by herniation of the cerebellar tonsils into the cervical spine. While ample literature on CM exists for clinical and procedural aspects of the disease

  few studies have measured the impact CM has on daily activities.\nOBJECTIVE:\nThe objective of this study was to measure the impact that CM has on daily living activities.\nMETHODS:\nData was analyzed from 798 CM patients gathered by the national Conquer Chiari Patient Registry database.\nRESULTS:\nResults indicate CM is associated with negative impact on daily living and physical activities for patients

  even those exhibiting mild symptoms. Participants with severe symptoms experience the greatest deficit with regards to daily living such as difficulty walking

  driving

  housecleaning and food preparation.\nCONCLUSIONS:\nAs 96.1% of CM patients report impact in one or more areas of daily living

  CM is classified as a disability according to 42 U.S. CODE § 12101 (Americans with Disabilities Act). The degree of self-reported CM symptom severity is strongly related to the frequency and extent of limitations in both physical and daily activities.

  The Impact of Chiari Malformation on Daily Activities: A Report from the National Conquer Chiari Patient Registry Database

  Rebecca Fischbein

  Chiari malformation (CM) is a condition in which cerebellar tonsillar ectopia may manifest with various clinical presentations. This study reports from the only national

  online patient registry available

  the symptoms

  comorbid neurocognitive and psychological conditions

  and diagnostic experiences of patients living with CM type I (CM I). The current research is one component of a large investigation designed to collect information from individuals with CM through the online Conquer Chiari Patient Registry questionnaire. Analyses included descriptive statistics to study body system impact and patient diagnostic experiences. Participants were 768 individuals with CM I and were predominantly female (86.8 %) and Caucasian (93.8 %) with an average age of 35 years. Pain was the most frequently reported symptom (76.69 %) experienced prior to diagnosis with headaches implicated most often (73.44 %). Neurocognitive comorbidities included memory difficulties (43.88 %) and aphasia (43.75 %) and psychological disorders such as depression (31.77 %) and anxiety disorders (19.92 %) were reported. Average time to diagnosis from first physician visit to diagnosis was 3.43 years

  and only 8.46 % of patients had previous awareness of CM. CM I diagnosis was found incidentally for 24.87 % of participants. Common misdiagnoses were classified as psychological (19.26 %) and neurological (19.26 %). Fear was the most frequent emotion elicited at the time of correct diagnosis (42.19 %). CM I can be a challenging condition for patients and physicians

  during both the search for diagnosis and management of symptoms. Patient and physician education about CM I may permit early intervention and the prevention of further deterioration and patient suffering.

  Patient Reported Chiari Malformation Type I Symptoms and Diagnostic Experiences: Results from an Online Patient Registry

  BACKGROUND:\nAlthough patients prefer that physicians initiate advance care planning (ACP) conversations

  few physicians regularly do so. Physicians may be reluctant to initiate ACP conversations because they lack self-efficacy in their skills. Yet

  no validated scale on self-efficacy for ACP exists. Our objective was to develop a scale that measures physicians' ACP self-efficacy (ACP-SE) and to investigate the validity of the tool.\nMETHODS:\nElectronic questionnaires were administered to a random sample of family medicine physicians (n = 188). Exploratory factor analysis was performed to determine whether the scale was multidimensional. An initial assessment of the scale's validity was also conducted.\nRESULTS:\nThe exploratory factor analysis indicated that a single factor was appropriate using all 17 items. A single

  unidimensional scale was created by averaging the 17 items

  yielding good internal consistency (Cronbach α = 0.95). The average scale score was 3.94 (standard deviation = 0.71) on a scale from 1 to 5. The scale was moderately correlated with a global single-item measure of self-efficacy for ACP ( r = .79

  P < .001)

  and the scale differentiated between physician groups based on how much ACP they were doing

  how recently they had an ACP conversation

  formal training on ACP

  and knowledge of ACP. In a multivariate analysis

  the ACP-SE scale was a strong predictor of the percentage of patients with chronic life-limiting diseases with whom the physician discussed ACP.\nCONCLUSION:\nThe final ACP-SE scale included 17 items and demonstrated high internal consistency.

  Development and Validation of a Scale to Assess Physician Self Efficacy for Advance Care Planning

  Culture has increasingly been analyzed ironically in relation to social conflict

  emphasizing themes of ideology

  co-optation

  and complicity in reproducing inequalities. Arguably the most sophisticated ironic cultural critique is provided by Bourdieu. Bourdieu’s critique is often criticized for reductionism

  but without pursuing what is neglected by ironic reductionism. Nietzsche provides a remarkable counterpoint

  offering both seminal resources for modern social criticism

  and profound reflections on culture’s potential to affirm life with integrity and authenticity. Nietzsche’s analysis of classical Greek tragedy suggests how culture can collectively affirm life through art without illusions. The relative emphases and insights of these two critics are contrasted here in relation to the cultural phenomenon of hip-hop

  addressing latent ideological baggage but also its social activism and tragic-realist aesthetic. Grounded in this discussion of hip-hop as predictably compromised

  but also incisively defiant and painfully honest

  a challenge is posed for cultural analysis to be critical without being dismissive of existential and aesthetic questions

  or blind to the potentials of popular culture. Culture is neither as derivative as much social criticism would suggest

  nor as autonomous as many artists and art critics would suggest. Cultural studies therefore must find a middle way

  navigating between cynicism and naiveté.

  Irony

  Conflict

  and Tragedy in Cultural Analysis: Hip Hop between Bourdieu and Nietzsche

  Working towards a doctoral degree in sociology with aspirations of university level research and teaching. Current interests: the relationship between cultural capital and hip-hop cultural production

  surveillance society and actuarial policing.\n\nPrior to returning to university life I worked as a freelance and staff audio engineer. While in the US Navy I was a cryptological technician

  working in the military intelligence field for over four years.

  James

  Meeker

  Kent State University

  Strawberry Fields Recording Studio

  Cleveland State University

  Ante Up Recording Studio

  Lava Room Recording

  Audio engineering.

  Ante Up Recording Studio

  Lava Room Recording

  Recording engineer.

  Producer

  Cleveland/Akron

  Ohio Area

  English composition and research.

  Cleveland State University

  Graduate Student

  Medical sociology

  research methods.

  Cleveland State University

  Cleveland State University

  Professor Adjunct

  Cleveland/Akron

  Ohio Area

  Kent

  Ohio

  Professor Adjunct

  Kent State University

  Swanton

  Ohio

  Audio engineering and production.

  Producer

  Strawberry Fields Recording Studio

  Member

  American Sociological Association

  Grammy Voting Member

  The Recording Academy

  Member

  Alpha Kappa Delta

  German

  English

  James E. Fleming Memorial Award in Theory

  Awarded for presenting the most distinguished paper in social theory: “The Crack in Foucault’s Lens: Discipline

  Discourse

  and Criminology.”

  Kent State University

  Outstanding Doctoral Student Award in Sociology

  Department of Sociology

  Kent State University