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Elizabeth Tait

 

Name:  Elizabeth M. Tait       
Department: Health Sciences
Program: Master of Health Science
Rank: Associate Professor, Tenured.
Work Phone: 828.227.2657
Work Email: emtait@wcu.edu
Office address: HHSB 111

Education:
Doctorate PhD, UNC-Charlotte, Health Services
Masters MS, WCU, Health Science
Bachelors BS, UNCA & NCSU, Computer Science

Experience: I came to healthcare as an advocate; not as a clinician.  As such, my experience lies in research, teaching, management and computer science. 

Area of Expertise: Research, Teaching, Management, Computer Science

 Primary Teaching Responsibilities:
MHS 698 - Research
MHS 670 - BioStats
MHS 630 – Medicare/Medicaid
MHS 662 – Quantitative Methods for Healthcare
MHS 564 – Cost Accounting
MHS 510 – Healthcare Policy

Scholarly Interests:
Helping people age well
Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Recent Publications and Presentations:

  •          Smith, R., Mannle, S. E., Livsey, K., Tait, E. M. (2017). Where Fear Begins: The Effect of a Nurse Navigator Home Visit to Decrease Distress in Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer Patients. ORIGINAL RESEARCH: PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT, 8(12), 6.
  •          Tait, E., Hollis, M. A., Raming, B. W. (2016). Reasons for Movement Therapy Alternatives for Older Adults from the NHIS Survey: A Guide for Practitioners. Journal of Alternative Medical Research, 2(2), 6. http://elynsgroup.com [Peer-Reviewed]
  •          Miles, C., Tait, E.*, Hollis, M., & Schure, M., (2016). A case-controlled, multi-site study of the effects of Laughter Yoga on participants' bio-metrics. Advances in Mind-Body Medicine. 30(1): 12-20. *Corresponding Author.
  •          Tait E., Laditka, J.N., Laditka, S.B., Nies, M.A., Racine, E.F., Tsulukidze, M., (2013). Reasons why older Americans use complementary and alternative medicine: costly or ineffective conventional medicine and recommendations from health care providers, family and friends. Educational Gerontology, 39: 684–700.
  •          Tait, E. M., "Purpose after Age 65 or WHAT's Next?," National Aging Projects Inc.  4th annual conference, Blue Ridge Community College, Hendersonville, NC. (September 21, 2017). [Not Peer-Reviewed]
  •          Tait, E. M., Advanced care directives:  your healthcare wishes in writing.  For you & your loved ones.  (2015, September 15) Symposium presented at the Aging Project Inc.’s (API) National Conference: Blue Ridge Community College Conference Hall, Hendersonville, North Carolina.
  •          Tait, E. M., "Aging at Home — Expanding the Caregiving Team to Include Distant Family," American in America, American Society on Agin, Chicago, IL. (March 21, 2017 - March 23, 2017).
  •          Tait, E. M. (Presenter & Author), Hollis, M. A. (Presenter & Author), Raming, B. W. (Presenter & Author), College of Health and Human Sciences Faculty Scholarship Showcase, "Reasons for Movement Therapy Alternatives for Older Adults from the NHIS Survey: A Guide for Practitioners," Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC. (March 21, 2017 - March 22, 2017).
  •          Tait, E.M., Raming, B.W, Hollis, M.A. (2016, March 31-April 3). Reasons for using Yoga by older Americans with chronic bone conditions. Presented at the 36th Annual Meeting of the Southern Gerontological Society in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Service Interest:
World Heath Organization and AAPR “Age Friendly Community” (2017 – present)
AARP (2014 - Present)  Committee Coordinator for the AARP Advocacy Network and Key Legislative Contact
Rotary international (volunteer)
Aging Projects Inc, (board member)

Honors/Awards:
Faculty Service Award, 2017
Community Training: Social Security, AARP, Service, Community, State, Awarded (2016)
Prepare to Care – Facilitator training to help family caregivers prepare for their role as caregiver, AARP, Service, Community, State, Awarded (2016)
Medical Orders for Scope of Treatment (MOST) training, MAHEC, Service, Community, State, Awarded (2014)
Quality Matters Certificate Applying the QM Rubric Certification, Service, University, University, Awarded (2014)
Effective and Ethical Communication with Seniors, Service, Community, National, Awarded (2013)
Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL), Teaching, National, Awarded (2013)
Advance Care Planning; Respecting Choices® Online Facilitator Certification MAHEC, Service, Community, State, Awarded (2011)
Partnering Western Medicine and CAM: Connecting Provider-Creating Health in Community, MAHEC, Service, Community, State, Awarded (2011)   

Bio:
Elizabeth Tait, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor in the Master of Health Sciences (MHS) Program at Western Carolina University.  She has two master level certifications in Gerontology, one from Western Carolina University and one from UNC-Charlotte.  Her passion is helping people age well.  She has presented at numerous conferences (Gerontological Society of America, Southern Gerontological Society, American Society on Aging) and published numerous papers on the use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine and Older Americans.                                                                                                  

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