
Dennis CheekPh.D. University of Nevada, Reno 1996.
Cellular Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology
MSN University of California,San Francisco 1988
Critical Care Clinical Nurse Specialist-Minor in Education/Curriculum
BSN California State University, Fresno 1982,Nursing
Teaching Responsibilities
Undergraduate Nursing---Pharmacotherapeutics
Graduate Nursing---Pathophysiology, Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics
Nurse Anesthesia---Advanced Pharmacology, Anesthetic Pharmacology, Cardiovascular Physiology
Doctor of Nursing Practice---Emerging Sciences for the Advanced Healthcare Provider
Research Interests
Basic Science Interests: Effects of female steroid sex hormones on coronary artery endothelial cells, release of pro/anti-inflammatory cytokines and ATP.
Clinical Interests: Cardiovascular disease in women and men, the disparities in the risk factors, clinical presentations and treatment of men and women with heart disease and the role of hormones in heart disease.
Selected Publications
Welliver, M. & Cheek, D.J., (2009). An update on sugammadex sodium. AANA Journal. 77(3):219-228.
Cheek, D.J., Hawthorne, J. & Sherrod, M.M. (2009). Unlocking the secrets of two common cardiac conditions. Nursing2009. 39(1):52-56.
Anderson-Pompa, K., Foster, A., Parker, L., Wilks, L., Mills, T., McSherry, G., Dore, M. and Cheek, D.J., (2008). Genetics and susceptibility to malignant hyperthermia. Critical Care Nurse. 28(6):32-37, CE
Cheek, D.J., Sherrod, M.M., Graulty, R., and Hawkins, J. (2008). Oral heart failure medications: An update for home health clinicians. Home Healthcare Nurse. 26(10): 600-613.
Cheek, D.J., & Rogers, S. (2008). SIRS and Multi Organ Dysfunction Syndrome (MODS) Chapter in Carlson, K.K. (Ed) AACN Textbook of Advanced Critical Care Nursing.
Watkins, A.M., Cheek, D.J., Harvey, A.E., Gillam, K.E. & Mitchell, J.B. (2008). Heat acclimation and HSP-72 expression in exercising humans. International Journal of Sports Medicine. 29(4):269-276.
Cheek, D.J., Graulty, R.D., & Bryant, S.L. (2008). Meet the multitasking endothelium. Nursing Made Incredibly Easy, 6(4):18-25.
Cheek, D.J., Sherrod, M.M. & Tester, J.E. (2008). Women and heart disease: What’s new? Nursing2008 38(1):36-40.
Cheek, D.J., Hawley, D.A. & Moser, D.K. (2007). Regulation of cardiac output and blood pressure. Chapter 7 in D.K. Moser and B. Riegel, Cardiac Nursing: A Companion to Braunwald’s Heart Disease. W. B. Saunders
Cheek, D.J., Sherrod, M.M. & Tester, JE (2007). Women and heart disease: What’s new? Cardiac Insider 37:8-13
Watkins, A.M., Cheek, D.J., Harvey, A.E., Gillam, K.E. & Mitchell, J.B. (2007). Heat acclimation and HSP-72 expression in exercising humans. International Journal of Sports Medicine September 18, 2007, 40-44-Online Pre-publication.
Watkins, A.M., Cheek, D.J., Harvey, A.E., Harvey, A.E., Goodwin, J.D., Blair, K.E. & Mitchell, J.B. (2007). Heat shock protein (HSP-72) levels skeletal muscle following work in heat. Aviation Space and Environmental Medicine, 78(9):901-905.
Sherrod, M.M., Albarez, Y., Brookshire, A., & Cheek, D.J. (2007). A women’s worst enemy. American Nurse Today, 2(2): 25-31.
Cheek, D.J., McGeHee-Smith, H. & Good, J. (2006). New respect for the humble endothelium. Nursing2006, 36(3):44-47. [3rd place in Nursing2007 Clinical Writing Contest]
Edkins, R. E., & Cheek, D.J. (2006). Pharmacogenetics. In M. Runge & C. Patterson (Eds.), Principles of Molecular Medicine (2nd ed., pp. 34-38). Totowa, NJ: Humana Press.
Baldwin, K.M., Cheek, D.J. & Morris, S.E. (2006). Shock, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome and burns in adult. Chapter 46 in K.L. McCance & S.E. Huether (Eds) Pathophysiology: The Biologic Basis for Disease in Adults & Children, 5th edition. Mosby.
Cheek, D.J., & Hall, M.A. (2005). Hematology and immunology. Chapter 7 in J.G. Alspach (Ed) Core Curriculum in Critical Care Nursing, 6 th edition . PA: Elsevier Publishers.
Cesan, A., Desamero, J.L. & Cheek, D.J. (2005). Genetic issues in Critical Care. Chapter 9 in P.G. Morton, B.M. Gallo & C.M. Hudak (Eds) Critical Care Nursing A Holistic Approach . PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Cheek, D.J. & Harshaw-Ellis, K. (2005). Advanced practice nurses in non-primary care roles: the evolution of specialty and acute care practices. Chapter 6 in J. Stanley (Ed) Advanced Practice Nursing-Emphasizing Common Roles, 2 nd edition. F.A. Davis
Cheek, D.J., McGehee-Smith, H., Cunneen, J. & Cartwright, M. (2005). Sepsis: a closer look. Nursing2005, 35(1):38-42.
Cheek, D.J., Jensen, L., & McGehee-Smith, H. (2004). Preventing and treating heart disease in women. A Guide to Women's Health-A supplement to Nursing2004 & The Nurse Practitioner, November, 4-8.
Gary, R.A., Sueta , C.A. , Rosenberg , B., & Cheek, D.J. (2004). Use of the six-minute walk test in women with diastolic heart failure. Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation, 24(4):264-268.
Gary, R.A., Sueta, Dougherty, M., C.A. , Rosenberg , B., Cheek, D.J., Preisser, J., Neelon, V., & McMurray, R. (2004). Home-based exercise improves functional performance and quality of life in women with diastolic heart failure. Heart & Lung, 33(4);210-218.
Cheek, D.J., & VanSoeren, M. (2004). Preface. Acute Cardiology-Update. Nursing Clinics of North America, 39(4):791-2.
Kaufman, J.S, & Cheek, D.J. (2004). Men's cardiovascular and pulmonary health. Nursing Clinics of North America, 39(2):283-300.
Olson, D., Cheek, D.J. & Morgenlander, J.C. (2004). The impact of bispectral index monitoring on rates of propofol administration. Biological Mediators. AACN Clinical Issues: Advanced Practice in Acute and Clinical Care, 15(1):63-73
Van Soeren, M., & Cheek, D.J. (2004). Preface. Biological Mediators. AACN Clinical Issues: Advanced Practice in Acute and Clinical Care, 15(1):1-2.
Cheek, D.J. & Cesan, A. (2003). What is the difference with women and heart disease? Nursing2003, 33(8):36-42-Continuing Education
Coffey, M., Crowder, G.K., Clark, T.S., & Cheek, D.J. (2003). Reducing coronary artery disease by decreasing homocysteine levels. Critical Care Nurse,23(1):25-30.
Cheek, D.J., & Cesan, A. (2003). Genetic predictors of cardiovascular disease: The use of chip technology. The Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 18(1):50-56.
Cheek, D.J. (2002). Preface. Current Issues in Genetics. AACN Clinical Issues: Advanced Practice in Acute and Clinical Care, 13(4):485.
Tinkle, M., & Cheek, D.J. (2002). Human genomic: Challenges and opportunities. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing,31(2):30-38.
Buxton, I.L.O., Kaiser, R.A., Oxhorn, B.C., & Cheek, D.J. (2001). Evidence supporting the nucleotide axis hypothesis: ATP release and metabolism by coronary endothelium. American Journal of Physiology: Heart and Circulatory, 281:1657-1666.
Cheek, D.J. (2001). Genomics and nursing. Central lines 17(3):14
Moser, T.L., Kenan, D.J., Uma, K., Ashley, T.A., Roy, J.A., Goodman, M.D., Cheek, D.J., & Pizzo, S.V. (2001). Endothelial cell surface F1 FO ATP synthase is active in ATP synthesis and is inhibited by angiostatin. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 98(12):6656-6661.
Cheek, D.J., & Buxton, I.L.O. (2000). Preface. Pathophysiology. AACN Clinical Issues: Advanced Practice in Acute and Clinical Care, 11(2):157.
Oxhorn, B., Cheek, D.J., & Buxton, I.L.O. (2000). Role of nucleotides and nucleosides in the regulation of cardiac blood flow. AACN Clinical Issues: Advanced Practice in Acute and Clinical Care, 11(2): 241-251
Cheek, D.J., Blood-Siegfried, J., McHugh, J.M., McFetridge, J.F., & Turner, B.T. (2000). Historical perspective on the discovery of adenyl purines. Biological Research for Nursing, 1(4): 263-273.
McHugh, J.C., & Cheek, D.J. (1998). Nitric oxide and regulation of vascular tone: Pharmacological and physiologic considerations. American Journal of Critical Care, 7(2):131-140.
Smith, A.S., Cheek, D.J., Buxton, I.L.O., & Westfall, D.P. (1997). Competition of adenine nucleotides for an [3H]-DPCPX binding site in rat vas deferens. Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology, 24(7):492-497.
Yang, S., Cheek, D.J., Westfall, D.P., & Buxton, I.L.O. (1994). A purinergic axis in cardiac blood vessels: Agonist mediated release of ATP from cardiac endothelial cells. Circulation Research, 74(3): 401-407.
Buxton, I.L.O., Cheek, D.J., Eckman, D.M., Westfall, D.P., Sanders, K.M., & Keef, K.D. (1993). Nitro-1-arginine methyl ester and other alkyl esters of arginine are muscarinic receptor antagonist. Circulation Research, 72(2):387-395.
Recent Presentations
Cheek, D.J., (2009). Pharmacogenomics: The Genomic Connection. Accepted to 35th National Teaching Institute and Critical Care Exposition of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses.
Cheek, D.J., & Reagan, C. (2009). Medication and the older adult. Hogstel Gerontological Nursing Symposium, Sponsored by TCU-Harris College of Nursing and Health Sciences and John Peter Smith Healthcare Network, April 14
Watkins, AM, Cheek, D.J., Harvey , AE, Gillam, KE, Willoughby , DS and Mitchell, JB. (2006) The relationship between cellular heat tolerance and whole body heat acclimation in exercising humans. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. Suppl . 38(5): S355.
Watkins, AM, Cheek, D.J., Harvey , AE, Smith, H, Goodwin, JD, Gillam, KE, and Mitchell, JB. (2005) The effects of acute aerobic exercise in hot environment on HSP-72 expression in human skeletal muscle. FASEB Journal 19(4):A114.12-#595.
Gary, RA, Dougherty, MC, Sueta, CA, Cheek, D.J., Rosenberg, B, Preisser, JD, Neelon, VJ, and McMurray, RG. (2004). Home-based exercise improves tolerance and quality of life in women with diastolic heart failure. Accepted to Southern Nursing Research Society 18 th Annual Conference, Louisville, Kentucky.
Cheek, D.J. (2004). Endothelium: The New Organ. Accepted to 30 th National Teaching Institute and Critical Care Exposition of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses.
Cheek, D.J. (2004). The Role of Endothelium in the Inflammatory Response. Accepted to 30 th National Teaching Institute and Critical Care Exposition of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses.
Cheek, D.J. (2003). Women and heart disease/Endothelium: the new organ. Nurse Anesthesia Program at Florida International University, Miami, Florida.
Cheek, D.J., Klein, C. & Greenlaw, D. (2003). How to become an NTI speaker. 30th Annual American Association of Critical Care Nurses National Teaching Institute and Critical Care Expostion, San Antonio, Texas.
Cheek, D.J. & Harshaw-Ellis, K. (2001). Emerging acute care nurse practitioner. Inaugural conference of the International Network of Nurse Practitioners and Advanced Practice Nurses held in Malahide County, Dublin, Ireland sponsored by Royal College of Nursing, United Kingdom and Irish Nursing Organisation.
Cheek, D.J. (2001). Cardiovascular Nursing Research. Annual Workshop of the Foothills Chapter of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses, Hickory, North Carolina.
Cheek, D.J. (2000). What part of NO (nitric oxide) don't you understand? Triangle Association of Critical Care Nurses, Durham, North Carolina.
Moser, T.L., Cheek, D.J., Kilhstrom, S.L., Kenan, D.J., & Pizzo, S.L. (2000). Inhibition of ATP synthesis on the surface of endothelial cells by angiostatin. Duke University Medical Center Research Symposium.
Harshaw-Ellis, K., & Cheek, D.J. (1998). Collaborative practice model in a community hospital setting for the Acute Care Nurse Practitioner. Sixth Annual Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Conference, University of Pittsburgh.
Professional Affiliations
Professional Service
Editorial Activities
Grant Review Activities
Honors & Awards