Amanda M. Emerson, PhD, RN

Professional Background

Amanda Emerson, PhD, RN, is a research assistant professor in the School of Nursing and teaches philosophy of science, theory, and qualitative methods. Dr. Emerson has supervised student doctoral work on historical trauma, moral distress in critical care nursing, spiritual coping in heart failure patients, and spiritual coping in parents of adult children with schizophrenia. Emerson holds a second PhD in English and formerly taught early American literature and women’s studies. Her clinical practice as an RN was in intermediate post-surgical cardiac care.

Research

Overview

As a researcher, Dr. Emerson seeks to improve health and access to health services in populations affected by criminal legal system involvement. She worked for eight years with the Sexual Health Empowerment ([S]HE) team in the KUMC Department of Population Health on NIH-funded studies to prevent cervical cancer by increasing screening and HPV vaccinations in people who have criminal-legal system involvement. Emerson’s current research centers on accelerated aging and leveraging its lessons to bolster functional health and resilience in older adults post-incarceration. Emerson has received funding from a KL2 mentored career development award, 2022-2024 (CTSA grant from NCATS awarded to Frontiers Clinical and Translational Science Institute [KL2TR002367]); an International Association of Forensic Nursing Research Grant; and an Aging Research in Criminal Justice and Health (ARCH) Network pilot award, and has been selected as a Fellow in the Betty Irene Moore Fellowship for Nurse Leaders and Innovators program (2024-2027). Emerson’s publications appear in Health and Justice; Journal of Aging and Health; Journal of Women and Aging; Prevention Science; Vaccine; Qualitative Health Research; Nursing Inquiry; and elsewhere.