Gwen Wyatt was raised a Spartan, so when it came time for her to pick a college to attend, Michigan State University was a no-brainer.
After attending graduate school at a different university, Wyatt decided to come back to MSU for her career, where she is a professor in the College of Nursing. Her research focuses on therapies that would help cancer patients.
“I’m interested in supportive care therapies, especially complimentary and integrative therapies,” said Wyatt. “The terminology has evolved over time, but basically these therapies assist patients as they go through the cancer journey, helping them maintain quality of life. We work on ways to relieve these symptoms in ways that do not require additional medication.”
The research and therapies Wyatt conducts coincide with the focus of this year's recent National Nurses Week.
One of the most interesting things about her position at MSU is that Wyatt is able to work in an area that she has a great passion for, something she began researching very early on in her career.
“I started my work in this area very early,” she said. “Before complimentary and integrative therapies were widely accepted within the health care community. I’ve really been able to carve out my own research focus and implement many of these therapies for cancer patients throughout the Midwest and that has been very gratifying. I remember when my work was avant garde, but now most cancer institutes have some type of integrative therapy center. Being able to work in the area of my passion for patient care has been phenomenal.”