I have earned my PhD from Penn State University, completing a dual-title doctorate in Nursing and Clinical & Translational Sciences. Before beginning my PhD journey, I practiced for over nine years as a pediatric critical care nurse, most recently serving as a Clinical Nurse Expert and pediatric critical care flight nurse for the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. I also hold an MSN in Nursing Education and a double-major BS degree in Nursing and Spanish. My translational research spans adolescent physical and mental health, puberty, child development, and artificial intelligence applications for research and healthcare. Beyond research, I am an experienced lecturer, clinical instructor, and high-fidelity simulation educator.

PUBLICATIONS

Schnabel, D. J., & Dorn, L. (2025). Computable phenotyping: Disease-agnostic translational methods to puberty and diabetes in adolescent males. Nursing Research, 74(6), 460-466. https://doi.org/10.1097/NNR.0000000000000848

Schnabel, D. J., Font, S., & Miyamoto, S. (2025). Putting kids first: Reaffirming universal strategies for accurate detection of child sexual abuse in child protection investigations. Child Protection & Practice 5(100151). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chipro.2025.100151

Zheng, Z. Z., Peckins, M. K., Beal, S. J., Schnabel, D. J., Shenk, C. E. & Dorn, L. D. (2024). The impact of time since menarche for depressive and anxiety symptom severity in adolescence. Journal of Adolescent Health, 75(2), 281-287. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2024.03.010

LICENSE/CERTIFICATION

American Association of Critical-Care Nurses                                                         

Effective August 1, 2016, Expires July 31, 2028

Critical Care Registered Nurse (Pediatric)

HONORS AND AWARDS

TL1 Scholar – Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) Translational Research Training Award, supported by the National Institutes of Health’s National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) (two consecutive annual awards starting August 2024 and August 2026)

(Grant TL1 TR002016 and Grant UL1 TR002014)

Janet A. Williamson Graduate Award in Nursing, Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing. Award accepted March 21, 2025