Lori Montoya, a graduate student at Washington State University’s College of Nursing, has made an impact on public health, helping to secure a $75,000 grant to establish the first Fetal Infant Mortality Review (FIMR) Team in Washington State. The grant, awarded by the Michigan Public Health Institute’s National Center for Fatality Review and Prevention and funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), underscores the power of nursing education to translate into real-world change.
During her coursework at WSU, Montoya gained grant writing skills through the Research Seminar: Grant Development and Critique course. While the grant she wrote in class focused on perinatal depression, she leveraged those skills to write her first professional grant for work. The funding aims to address Thurston County’s higher-than state-average for fetal and infant mortality rates. Thurston County has the highest infant mortality rates and has the second highest fetal mortality rates in Washington State. Though Washington State does not rank at the top for such rates nationwide, Thurston County’s statistics show an urgent need for intervention.
The FIMR Team is tasked with reviewing cases of fetal and infant mortality, identifying contributing factors, and developing community-driven prevention strategies. Through training, team development, and the establishment of legal and medical review processes, Montoya and her colleagues have brought this program to life.
“This has been a transformative experience,” Montoya shares. “We overcame county process challenges to implement the program, and we’re excited to conduct our first mortality review [in October 2024].”
Montoya’s accomplishment is a testament to the impact of WSU’s rigorous nursing program, empowering students to make lasting contributions to public health. Since receiving the initial grant, Montoya has gone on to apply for three additional grants, continuing to advocate for the health and well-being of vulnerable populations.
Her work not only sets a precedent for other counties in Washington to follow but also demonstrates the invaluable role of nursing professionals in shaping the future of healthcare systems.
For more information on FIMR programs, visit the National Center for Fatality Review and Prevention and Thurston County’s Fetal Infant Mortality Review & Prevention web page.
