Background

Dr. Dyer graduated from the College of Charleston in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in biology.  She then attended Francis Marion University and obtained her BSN in 2012 and MSN in nursing education in 2016.  She later graduated from USC with my PhD in Nursing Science in 2024.  Much of her bedside nursing career was in the Medical Intensive Care Unity, but it also included home hospice, long term acute care ICU, COVID ICU, nursing administration and a role as a nursing practice coordinator.

Teaching

Dr. Dyer has experience teaching undergraduate health assessment skills laboratory and senior thesis, and graduate classes including evidenced-based practice; leadership and safety; ethics, policy, and advocacy; and theory analysis and application.

Research

Dr. Amanda Dyer’s program of research focuses on improving symptom management and quality of life among individuals affected by cancer, with a particular emphasis on lung cancer survivorship. Her work examines the complex and interconnected symptoms experienced by cancer survivors, including sleep disturbances and fatigue, and how these symptoms influence physical functioning, well-being, and quality of life. She is also interested in the experiences of family members and care partners and the use of dyadic approaches to support survivors and their families throughout the cancer continuum.

A growing focus of Dr. Dyer’s research is sleep and circadian health in cancer survivorship. Her work seeks to better understand sleep and circadian disruption and to develop and evaluate accessible, nonpharmacologic interventions—including bright light and mindfulness-based approaches—to improve sleep, reduce symptom burden, and enhance quality of life. Ultimately, her research aims to develop practical, evidence-based interventions that can be integrated into supportive cancer care and improve outcomes for survivors and their families.

Dissemination

McDonnell, K. K., Yang, Dyer, A. M., Yang, C., Andrews, J. O., Bratnichenko, V., Wang, K. (2026, May). A Dyad-Based Lifestyle Intervention for Improving Physical and Emotional Health in Survivors with Lung Cancer and their Partners: Results of a Pilot RCT. Oncology Nursing Society Congress, San Antonio, TX
 
Dyer, A.M., Wright, P.J., Seeney, A., Wang, K. & McDonnell, K.K. (February 2026) Evaluating the Feasibility and Preliminary Effects of a Remotely Delivered Dyad-Based Intervention Incorporating Resistance Training to Improve Fitness in Individuals with Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer and in Their Partners.  Accepted poster presentation, Consortium for Cancer Implementation Science annual meeting, Philadelphia, PA., USA
 
Dyer, A.M., McDonnell, K.K., Wirth, M.D., Fouladbakhsh, J. & Davis, J.E. (April 2025). Comparative Sleep Assessment Among African American Survivors of Lung Cancer. Submitted for Poster/Podium presentation, Oncology Nursing Society Congress, Denver, CO., USA.
 
Dyer, A.M., McDonnell, K.K., Wirth, M.D., & Fouladbakhsh, J. (June 2025). Sleep Quality and Quantity Assessment Among African American Survivors of Lung Cancer, Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC), Seattle, WA., USA.
 
Myhren-Bennett, A.R., McDonnell, K.K., Davis, J.E., Wirth, M.D., & Fouladbakhsh, J. (2024, April) Sleep Quality and Quantity Assessment Among African American Survivors of Lung Cancer With and Without Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Abstract and invited podium presentation, 2024 Oncology Nursing Society Congress, Washington, D.C., USA
 
Myhren-Bennett, A. R., McDonnell, K.K., Davis, J., Wirth, M.D., Hardin, J.W., & Gallerani, D.G. (2020, May) Evaluating Sleep Quality as a Preliminary Outcome of Breathe Easier: A Mindfulness-based Intervention for Survivors of Lung Cancer and Family Members (Dyads).  Abstract, poster, and invited podium presentation, 2020 Oncology Nursing Society Congress, San Antonio, TX
           
Myhren-Bennett, A. R., McDonnell, K. K., Gallerani, D., & Tavakoli, A. A (March, 2018). Baseline Profile of Sleep Quality in African American Survivors of Lung Cancer and their Family Members (Dyads). Abstract, Poster and Invited Podium, Southern Nursing Research Society, Atlanta, GA.

Professional Service

• 2023 – Present: American Nurses Association, member
• 2019 – Present: Cancer Survivorship Research Center, Student Affiliate Member
• 2019 - Present: American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, member
• 2019 – Present: Sleep Research Society, member
• 2018 – Present: Oncology Nurses Society, member
• 2018 – Present: Southern Nursing Research Society, member
• 2014 – Present: Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society, member

Professional Practice

Medical ICU (2011-2018), Home Hospice (2018), Long term acute care (2019-2020), COVID ICU (2020), Nursing Administrator on Duty (2020-2023), Nursing Practice Coordinator (2022-2023).

Research Studies (selected)

Center for Advancing Chronic Care Outcomes through Research and Innovation (ACORN); Dyer (MPI), Wright (MPI),McDonnell (Co-I), Wang (Co-I), Newsome (Co-I);08/2025 - Present; Salivary Bioscience: Adding Innovation to the Breathe Easier+ Research Program

Oncology Nursing Foundation Doctoral Research Scholarship, Oncology Nursing Foundation; Dyer (PI), McDonnell (Co-I), Wirth (Co-I); 05/01/2021–7/30/2024; Sleep Quality and Quantity Assessment Among African American Survivors of Lung Cancer with and without Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

American Cancer Society Research Scholar Grant, MRSG-17-152-01 CPHPS; McDonnell (PI), Yang (Co-I), Andrews (Co-I), & Wang (Co-I), Dyer (GRA); 01/01/2018–06/30/2024; NCE. A Pilot RCT: Dyad-based Multiple Behavior Intervention for Reducing Lung Cancer Symptoms  

Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation—Bridging Cancer Care Awards (I & II); McDonnell (PI, MPI), Dyer (GRA); 01/01/2017–01/01/2023; Advancing Quality Lung Cancer Survivorship in South Carolina  

Publications (selected)

Dyer, A.M., McDonnell, K.K., Wirth, M.D., & Fouladbakhsh, J. (2026) Experience and perception of sleep symptoms among African American survivors of localized lung cancer. Oncology Nursing Forum. (In Press)

McDonnell, K.K., Gallerani, D.G., Newsome, B.R., Owens, O.L., Beer, J., Myhren-Bennett, A.R., Regan, E., Hardin, J.W., & Webb, L.A. (2020).  A Prospective Pilot Study Evaluating Feasibility and Preliminary Effects of Breathe Easier:  A Mindfulness-based Intervention for Survivors of Lung Cancer and their Family Members (Dyads).  Integrative Cancer Therapies, 19: 1-14.

Owens, O. L., Beer, J. M., Reyes, L. I., Gallerani, D. G., Myhren-Bennett, A. R., & McDonnell, K. K. (2018). Mindfulness-based symptom and stress management apps for adults with chronic lung disease: Systematic search in app stores. JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 6(5), e124. doi:10.2196/mhealth.9831

Myhren-Bennett, A. and Bell, N. (2017).  Adherence to standards of practice treating diabetes between physicians and nurse practitioners:  The National Hospital and Ambulatory Medical Care Surveys.  Quality in Primary Care, 25(3):  176-186.