Nursing Faculty and Staff

Chad Rittle DNP, MPH, RN crittle@chatham.edu Chatham Faculty Assistant Professor - Pathways Coordinator Hometown : Pittsburgh, PA Joined Chatham : 2011 Academic Areas of Interest Public Health, Long-term Care, Immunizations, Vaccines, Evidence-based Practice, Nursing Administration and Management, Politics and Health Policy, Patient Safety, Community Health, Environmental and Occupational Health Personal Areas of Interest Skiing, Golf, Gardening, Reading, my Grandson, Home Improvements Biography I bring to Chatham a wide variety of experiences. After service as an Officer in the U.S. Navy aboard a Submarine Rescue Ship, I spent over 20 years in the computer industry in a variety of sales, systems design, management and marketing support positions. During this time I began teaching as an adjunct instructor at CCAC in Pittsburgh teaching computer-related courses as well as Project Management. Changing careers, I began my service in Public Health as an Air Quality Specialist for the PA Department of Environmental Protection while attending Nursing School at UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing in the Evening/Weekend Program, then completion of studies for a BSN and MPH at the University of Pittsburgh. This led to positions with the PA Department of Health as Community Health Nurse in Butler and Armstrong Counties and then Northwest District Epidemiology Manager in Mercer, PA. While working at the Department of Health I completed studies for a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) at Waynesburg University while serving as an adjunct instructor at Waynesburg as well as at CCAC. My interests in nursing include public health, long-term care, reduction of infectious diseases, and achieving universal vaccination to control the incidence of vaccine-preventable diseases. During my years in nursing and public health I have developed a love of life-long learning, good communications and writing skills, and helping students develop these skills to further their careers. My academic journey has introduced me to many outstanding educators who helped me to develop these skills. My goal is to emulate these mentors and pass these skills along to students I encounter in my academic career. Nursing and teaching are two noble professions. I believe we need to encourage our students to achieve their very best and to help meet the needs of our patients and their families, wherever we meet them.

Education • DNP, Waynesburg University, 2009 • MPH, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, 2003 • BSN, University of Pittsburgh, School of Nursing, 2000 • RN, UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing (Pittsburgh, PA), 1998 • BA, Biology, St. Vincent College (Latrobe, PA), 1970 Publications • Rittle, C. (2010). Pertussis - The Case for Universal Vaccination of Adolescents and Adults. Journal for Specialists in Pediatric Nursing. 15(4), 282-91. doi:10.1111/j.1744-6155.2010.00249.x • Rittle, C. (2009, November). Contributing Reporter. Human Vaccinia Infection After Contact with Raccoon Rabies Vaccine Bait --- Pennsylvania, 2009. MMWR. 58(43), 1204-1207. • Rittle, C. (2008). Maintaining Vaccine Effectiveness in Occupational Health Clinics. AAOHN Journal, 25(7), 277-9. Awards • 3rd Prize in Annual Dean's Day Competition (March 2003) at University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health - "A Risk Assessment of Nitrate Pollution in the Connoquenessing Creek Organizations • AAOHN, Southwest PA Chapter, Director • University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Past President of the Alumni Society • University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, At Large Member of the Alumni Association Executive Board • UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing Alumni Association • Sigma Theta Tau Nursing National Honor Society • Golden Key National Honor Society Achievements • Reviewer for Policy and Politics in Nursing and Health Care, 6th Edition, Mason, D., Leavitt, J., Chaffee, M. (2012). ISBN: 978-1-4377-1416-6 • Class President, UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing Presentations • Rittle, C. (April, 2010). "Maintaining Vaccine Effectiveness" presented to Southwest Pennsylvania Association of Occupational Health Nurses (SWPAOHN), Theme of program is "Special Concerns for the Nurse in Today's World. • Rittle, C. (April, 2008). Panel Discussion about Vaccine Handling and Storage Practices, at Operation Immunization, sponsored by the University of Pittsburgh and the Southwest Immunization Conference (SWIC). • Rittle, C. (2007). Nursing Adjunct Faculty Seminar: Are Vaccines Safe? Sponsored by Community College of Allegheny County, Allegheny and North Campuses.