Meet Jamie Rausch, PhD, RN, and Assistant Professor at IU School of Nursing. (She is pictured above with IU Fort Wayne's mascot, Ruby the Red Fox.) Dr. Rausch earned her BSN from Ohio University and her PhD in nursing science from The Ohio State University. She also served as a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Future of Nursing Scholar!
What do you appreciate most about being a faculty member at the IU School of Nursing at Fort Wayne?
The thing I appreciate most about being a faculty member at the IU School of Nursing at Fort Wayne is my coworkers. The faculty and staff that have been assembled on this campus are fun, supportive, and simply amazing! It makes coming to work much easier when you know that others who are in the mix with you are working just as hard, care just as much, and have your back!
What fascinates you most about the research you do?
I study adipose tissue dysregulation which is a very new concept. Most people learned in high school – and even in college – that adipose tissue or fat tissue is just a storage of excess energy. We now know that adipose tissue produces more than a hundred different hormones that regulate other bodily functions. So, adipose tissue is now known as the largest endocrine organ in the human body.
What are you working on currently that you’re excited about? What is something you wish people knew about your area of study/research?
I have some very interesting and innovative ideas for my research that I am currently seeking funding for. I am really excited to get started with some of these ideas.
I wish people knew how difficult it really is for someone to lose weight once their adipose tissue has been dysregulated. Hormones produced by adipose tissue significantly affect hunger, metabolism, and inflammation.
What is the most helpful advice you’ve ever received?
“There is only one you. That means that there is only one person who thinks exactly like you, feels exactly like you, and will accomplish exactly what you will. You are important.”
“You can do anything you put your mind to.”
Both pieces of advice come from my mother, Sheryl Cox.
Is there a quote or saying that you live your life by?
“You’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”
- A.A. Milne, author and poet
Anything else that you care to add?
I truly feel appreciated at the IU School of Nursing, not just on my campus but within the core campuses of Indianapolis, Bloomington, and Fort Wayne. In fact, every interaction with faculty or staff from any campus has been a positive experience. I know this isn’t the case everywhere. When I started this job, I thought I would be here until I got something else. Now, I just can’t imagine being anywhere else!
