Patsy R. Smith

PhD, RN, CNE , Doctoral (Alumni)

Patsy Smith, PhD, RN, CNE, received an undergraduate degree from the University of Louisiana at Monroe (formerly Northeast University), a Master of Nursing degree from the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Graduate Program in Nursing in New Orleans, Louisiana, and a PhD in Nursing from Texas Woman’s University in Denton, Texas.

Dr. Smith is currently a faculty member at The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing. She has served as advisor to student groups and as elected counselor and Administrative Vice President of Beta Delta Chapter-at-Large, Sigma Theta Tau International. Dr. Smith has maintained active membership in the Honor Society for Nursing throughout her career.

Her research interest is in the health seeking behaviors of older adults in minority populations for whom substance abuse disorders and mental illness pose health risks. Her dissertation research focused on factors that influence the perceived willingness of older adults in the African American population to seek professional health care for depressive symptoms. She investigates the effect of electronic health risk assessment tools coupled with health coaching in vulnerable communities. 

August 2007 Update:

Patsy Smith successfully completed the requirements for the PhD at Texas Women’s University. Her dissertation topic is, “The Willingness of Older African Americans to Seek Care for Depressive Symptoms.”

August 2020 Update: 

Dr. Smith is an Associate Professor at The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing. She is Program Director of the MSN Education degree option, and is credentialed as a Certified Nurse Educator through the National League for Nursing. 

Contributions to Science