Aliza Ben-Zacharia, PhD, DNP, RN, ANP-BC, FAAN

Aliza Ben-Zacharia is an assistant professor at the Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing.

Aliza Ben-Zacharia is an Assistant Professor

Profile

Aliza Ben-Zacharia is an assistant professor at the School of Nursing at Hunter College, City University of New York. Aliza has a passion for gaining a greater understanding and working toward improving the care of patients with neurological diseases. She has worked as an adult-acute nurse practitioner, a clinical nurse specialist and a staff nurse. She has been the past president of the International Organization of Multiple Sclerosis Nurses (IOMSN) and the associate director of the Center for Nursing Research and Innovation at Mount Sinai Hospital.

As a researcher, Aliza recognizes the talent and skillset required to leverage science to inform public policy and improve clinical practice. Aliza's current research interests involve technology use in neurology, palliative care in neurology, and the impact of environmental factors such as BMI on the progression of multiple sclerosis and on cognitive function and brain volume in patients with MS.

Educational Background

PhD, Nursing Science, New York University, 2020
MS, Nutrition, Institute of Human Nutrition, Columbia University, 2014
DNP, Nursing Education, Case Western Reserve University, 2010
Advanced Certificate, Adult Nurse Practitioner, Columbia University, 1997
MS, Medical-Surgical Nursing, Hunter College, CUNY, 1992
BSN, Nursing Science, Hebrew University Hadassah Jerusalem, Israel, 1983

Honors and Awards

2019: Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN), Washington DC
2017: Cullman Family Award for Excellence in Physician/Patient Communication, Mount Sinai Hospital - Honors physicians and advanced practice providers who rank in the top 1% nationally in provider communication in 2017 as measured by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services CG-CAHPS patient experience survey.
2017: Member, The New York Academy of Medicine, NY
2016: President Elect & President, The International Organization of Multiple Sclerosis Nurses (IOMSN)
2015: Research Award, The International Organization of Multiple Sclerosis Nurses (IOMSN)
2009: Hall of Fame Award, Health Care Professional Volunteer Award, The National MS Society
2007: Professional Education Award, The National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS), NYC Chapter, NY
2004: Volunteer Award of Excellence: In recognition of exemplary services in the fight against MS, The National MS Society (NMSS), Mid-Jersey Chapter, NJ
2002: Recognition of Excellence Service Award: In recognition of outstanding contributions to Mount Sinai Hospital; and in appreciation for continuous excellence in leadership, compassion, and work behavior. The Mount Sinai Medical Center, NY
1995: Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI), Honor Society of Nursing
1994: Divisional Award for Rehabilitation expertise and for unique ability to consistently balance clinical/technical expertise with sincere compassion and a sense of humor. Award in excellence and skill performance in rehabilitation, The Mount Sinai Medical Center, NY

Research

Dr. Ben-Zacharia is known for her work in improving the care of patients with multiple sclerosis and other neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases such as, neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders and their care partners throughout the spectrum of their diseases. Dr. Ben-Zacharia research interests involve technology use in neurology, palliative care in neurology, the effect of music on cognitive function in patients with neurological diseases and the impact of environmental factors such as body mass index on the progression of multiple sclerosis and on cognitive function and brain volume in patients with multiple sclerosis. Currently, Dr. Ben-Zacharia is part of a neurology team from the northeast region of the USA (Yale University Neurology Center, Greenwich Hospital Neurology Center CT, Maimonides Hospital Multiple Sclerosis Center in Brooklyn, and Independence care System in NY) that is addressing the need for palliative care education among patients with neurological chronic illnesses.

Funded by the PSC-CUNY Foundation, Dr. Ben-Zacharia is collaborating with nurse researchers at Yale University and Mount Sinai to test an educational and technological model to improve the learning experience of undergraduate students of the complexity of the brain and related neurological diseases, focusing on multiple sclerosis.

Grants and Publications

Articles

Ben-Zacharia, A., Adamson, M., Boyd, A., Hardeman, P., Smrtka, J., Walker, B., & Walker, T. (2018). Impact of shared decision making on disease-modifying drug adherence in multiple sclerosis. International Journal of MS Care, 20(6), 287–297. https://doi.org/10.7224/1537-2073.2017-070
Ben-Zacharia, A. (2018). The effects of body mass index (BMI) on multiple sclerosis (MS) progression. Annals of Multiple Sclerosis Research, 1(1), 1001.
Ben-Zacharia, A., & Lublin, F. (2018). Talking with your patients about initiating and adhering to treatment with disease modifying therapy. The National MS Society publication.
Ben-Zacharia, A. B. (2015). Screening for depression in adult patients with multiple sclerosis. Journal of Multiple Sclerosis, 2(2). https://doi.org/10.4172/2376-0389.1000140
Ben-Zacharia, A., & Squires, A. (2014). Quality of life in aging multiple sclerosis. Journal of Clinical Outcomes Management, 22(10).
Perrin Ross, A., Ben-Zacharia, A., Harris, C., & Smrtka, J. (2013). Multiple sclerosis, relapses, and the mechanism of action of adrenocorticotropic hormone. Frontiers in Neurology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2013.00021
Brodkey, MB, Ben-Zacharia, A. B., & Reardon, J. D. (2011). Living well with multiple sclerosis. American Journal of Nursing, 111(7): 40–48; quiz 49–50. Review.
Ben-Zacharia, A. B. (2011). Therapeutics for multiple sclerosis symptoms. Mount Sinai Journal of Medicine, 78(2): 176–191.
Ben-Zacharia, A. B., & Lublin, F. D. (2001). Palliative care in patients with multiple sclerosis. Neurologic Clinics, 19(4): 801–827.

Book Chapters

Ben-Zacharia, A. B., & Mathewson, G. (2017). Symptom management in multiple sclerosis. In A. Miller (Ed.), Handbook of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (pp. 115–134). Springer International Publishing.
Ben-Zacharia, A. B. (2016). Concept analysis: Self-motivation. In J. Fitzpatrick & G. McCarthy (Eds.), Nursing concept analysis: Applications to research and practice (pp. 115–122). Springer Publishing Company.
Ben-Zacharia, A. B., & Brodkey, M. B. (2014). Palliative care in multiple sclerosis. In AB Brody (Ed.), Palliative care for uncommon disorders. Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association.
Ben-Zacharia, A. B. (2010). Maximizing the effectiveness of pharmacotherapeutics. In J. Halper & N. Holland (Eds.), Comprehensive nursing care in multiple sclerosis (3rd ed.). Springer Publishing Company.
Ben-Zacharia, A. B., & Del Bene, M. (2008). Inflammatory demyelinating diseases. In E. Barker (Ed.), Neuroscience nursing: A spectrum of care (3rd ed.). Mosby Elsevier.

View Aliza's NCBI Bibliography

Contact Details

Aliza Ben-Zacharia

School of Nursing
Brookdale West 816
(212) 481-8890
ab1288@hunter.cuny.edu