Her research changed practice in pediatric epilepsy nationally and internationally. Prior to her research, behavior problems were considered a consequence of the diagnosis or treatment. Her work demonstrated that behavior problems in children exist prior to epilepsy onset. Her research, which was funded for over 20 years by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has received many awards, including a MERIT award from the NIH, the Clinical Investigator Award from the American Epilepsy Society/Milken Foundation, the Social Accomplishment Award from the International Bureau for Epilepsy/International League Against Epilepsy, and the Distinguished Contribution to Nursing Science Award from the American Nurses Foundation.