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In August, I received my PhD from the University of Virginia, where I was a predoctoral fellow at the NIH-funded Center for the Study of complementary and alternative therapies. My dissertation research was a randomized clinical trial of the effects of the herb valerian root on sleep disturbances in persons with arthritis.
My research areas of interest are sleep, musculoskeletal pain, women's health, and complementary therapies. It sounds (and is!) complex, but all of these areas are very much related. The symptoms of musculoskeletal pain and sleep interact with each other, and both are affected by female hormone patterns (menstrual cycle and menopause). Additionally, certain complementary therapies may be useful for managing sleep and pain in women. During my postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Washington, I will collaborate on existing research to gain greater skill with research in the areas of sleep and women's health. I also intend to investigate the contribution of female hormones, particularly during the menstrual cycle, to sleep and pain patterns in women with fibromyalgia. In the future, I plan to use this pilot research to design a study investigating the use of complementary modalities for symptom management in persons with fibromyalgia. Overall, my goal is to learn ways to effectively manage persistent symptoms make life better for persons with conditions that cannot be cured.
Until I moved here I had lived in beautiful Virginia my entire life, but am excited to be in the great Northwest! In my free time I love being outdoors, practicing yoga, writing songs, and playing old-time fiddle.
