PhD, RN , Doctoral (Alumni)
Assistant Professor, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
Dr. Yolanda R. Davila is an educator, researcher, and scholar of mental health issues. As an educator, her focus is the teaching of psychiatric mental health nursing and nursing research to undergraduate and graduate nursing students. Additionally, she teaches intimate violence assessment and intervention skills to both undergraduate and graduate nursing students as well as other health care professionals through continuing education programs. As a researcher and scholar, she is recognized for her work on intimate partner violence among Hispanic women. This research continues to be presented at state, national, and international conferences and published within peer-reviewed journals such as Applied Nursing Research, Issues in Mental Health Nursing, and Journal of Transcultural Nursing.
In reference to her program of research, findings from Dr. Davila's most recent qualitative studies explored relationship dynamics and cultural, gender, and psychosocial factors that adversely influence the negotiation and use of HIV prevention strategies among Mexican American women involved in violent intimate relationships. The focus of her current work is to build a scientific knowledge base to underpin cultural and gender specific HIV prevention strategies that incorporate power differentials and relationship dynamics central to abused Mexican American women's intimate relationships.
Dr. Davila received the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care Researcher Recognition Award for her work in violence as a risk factor for HIV exposure and barrier to HIV prevention in November 2003 in New York City. Other work related honors and accomplishments include recognition as a Charter Member of the UTHSCSA Center for Health Disparity and keynote speaker at the first national Ciclo de Conferencia Sobre Violencia Familiar held in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon. Additionally, Dr. Davila is Founder and past Co-Director of the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Center for Violence Prevention, an interdisciplinary academic resource center whose goal is to promote and support the conduct of violence related research, education, and practice.