Contact Information

Biography

Amber Kolesar joined Â鶹ֱ²¥ School of Nursing as an Instructor in August of 2016. She earned her BSN and MSN from Â鶹ֱ²¥, where she was also an adjunct clinical faculty member. She earned her PhD in Nursing from Saint Louis University in 2023. Her dissertation study was a phenomenological study about the lived experience of food insecurity among college students.

She is a certified critical care nurse with an extensive clinical background working primarily in cardiothoracic intensive care. Kolesar has been educating nursing students in both the clinical and didactic settings since 2008. She has been involved in leadership and curriculum redesign activities as well as program and course evaluation. 

Kolesar has a special interest in critical care and medical-surgical nursing. Research interests include food insecurity and methods to improve the learning experience for undergraduate students. She initiated and maintains a mini food pantry in the SON.

 She is a member of the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association, Transcultural Nursing Society, Sigma Theta Tau, Epsilon Phi Chapter and the Â鶹ֱ²¥ School of Nursing Alumni Association. 

Kolesar works with several colleagues to facilitate service-learning trips to Central America, including Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Honduras. She most recently visited Roatan, Honduras with 12 Nursing and Pharmacy students to provide interdisciplinary care in clinic and community settings.

She demonstrates a passion for educating nursing students and fostering critical thinking in a challenging but supportive manner. Her most recent course responsibilities include Critically Ill Adult and Adult Health and Illness.

Education

  • PhD, St. Louis University
  • MSN, Nursing Education, Â鶹ֱ²¥
  • BSN, Â鶹ֱ²¥

Research Interests

  • Food insecurity in college students

  • Strengthening the learning experience for undergraduate nursing students

  • The impact of the global immersion experience for undergraduate students

School

Â鶹ֱ²¥

Podium:
Karakachian, A., Kolesar, A., Devido, J. (2021). Falling in the gap: Poverty and food insecurity in college students. 12th Annual McGinley-Rice Symposium on Social Justice for Vulnerable Populations: The Face of the Person Who is Poor. Pittsburgh, PA. (Virtual)

Devido, J., Kolesar, A., & Karakachian, A. (2020). Role of healthcare providers on food insecurity in maternal child health. 11th Annual McGinley-Rice Symposium on Social Justice for Vulnerable Populations: The Face of the Person Who is Hungry. Pittsburgh, PA. (Virtual)

Poster Presentations:
Kolesar, A, Karakachian, A., & Devido, J. (2022). Responding to poverty and food insecurity in college students: A toolkit for educators. National League for Nursing Education Summit. Las Vegas, NV. 

Weideman, Y., Kolesar, A., Covvey, J., & Tidgewell, K. (2021). The impact of interdisciplinary learning in a global clinical immersive experience. Transcultural Nursing Society. Albuquerque, NM. 

Kolesar, A., Devido,J., & Karakachian, A. (2021). Enabling Student Nurses to Recognize and Respond to Food Insecurity. National League for Nursing Education Summit. Washington, D.C. 

Panels:
Moderator, Keynote Address: Social Isolation and Access to Healthcare. (2022). 12th Annual McGinley-Rice Symposium on Social Justice for Vulnerable Populations: The Face of the Person Who is Socially Isolated. Pittsburgh, PA. 

Panelist: [Just the] Facts, Period: Exploring Period Poverty. (2021). Â鶹ֱ²¥ Sociology Club, Pittsburgh, PA. (Virtual). 

Moderator, Plenary Panel: Community-Based Approaches to Improve Access to Nutritious Food. (2020).  11th Annual McGinley-Rice Symposium on Social Justice for Vulnerable Populations: The Face of the Person Who is Hungry. Pittsburgh, PA. (Virtual).

Publications:

  • Kelly, S. H., Koharchik, L., Henry, R., Cippel, M., Hardner, S., Kolesar, A., & Clark, B. (2018). An advanced medication administration experience to promote students' knowledge acquisition in the skill of administering medications. Teaching and Learning in Nursing, 13(2), 104-107.
  • Kolesar, A. L., & Colbert, A. M. (2018). What would you do if this were your mother? Nursing, 47(7), 11-13.
  • Simko, L., Henry, R., McGinnis, K. & Kolesar, A. (2014). Simulation and mock code: A safe way for nursing students to learn. Journal of Nursing Education and Practice 4(7), 95-103.
  • Henry, R., Kolesar, A., McGinnis, K. & Simko, L. (2009). Use of simulation in mock code participation. Clinical Simulation in Nursing 5(3), S13-S14.
Magazine: 
  • Kolesar, Amber and Khemthong, Usa. Recognizing and Responding to Food Insecurity in Individuals with Cancer. (2021). Oncology Nursing News.
  • 2023 Honoree, Cameo of Caring, Education category
  • 2022 Honorable mention, Academic Excellence category, Pittsburgh Magazine Excellence in 
    Nursing Awards
  • 2022 Nominee, Cameo of Caring Award 
  • 2021 Honorable mention, Emerging Leader category, Pittsburgh Magazine Excellence in 
    Nursing Awards 
  • 2021   School of Nursing Excellence in Teaching Award, Â鶹ֱ²¥
  • 2017 Participant Favorite Poster, Greater Pittsburgh Nursing Research Conference
  • 2011 Nominee, Daisy Faculty Award, UPMC ShadysideHospital
  • 2009 First Place - UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside Fair, Quality Division. The Role of Tight Glucose Monitoring in Decreasing Mortality and Sternal Wound Infection Rates Post Cardiac Surgery. UPMC Shadyside Hospital
  • 2009 Special Recognition - Shadyside Hospital Foundation Quality Award. The Role of Tight Glucose Control in Decreasing Mortality and Sternal Wound Infection Rates Post Cardiac Surgery. UPMC Shadyside Hospital
  • 2006 Nominee, Rookie of the Year, UPMC Shadyside Hospital 
  • 2005 Marie Miller Award for Excellence in Medical/Surgical Nursing, Â鶹ֱ²¥
Sigma, Epsilon Phi Chapter Research Award. Project Title: Understanding the Lived Experience of College Students Who Have Food Insecurity: A Phenomenological Inquiry. Dissertation, 2023