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Faculty and staff

RK Elswick

R.K. Elswick, Jr., Ph.D.

Associate Professor
P.O. Box 980567
Richmond, VA 23298-0567
Phone: (804) 828-1336
E-mail: rkelswic@vcu.edu

"By a small sample, we may judge of the whole piece." Miguel de Cervantes from Don Quixote

Derived from more than 25 years of experience, Dr. Elswick has expertise in the design and analysis of clinical experiments. Specifically, he has expertise in power analysis, longitunial data analysis, mixed model methodology and crossover experiments. He has authored or co-authored more than 70 refereed manuscripts.

Dr. Elswick began his full time faculty appointment at VCU in 1988 after spending 3 years in the pharmacutical industry. In 1990, he served as co-investigator on an R01 with Dr. Jean Wyman funded by NINR. Four years later, he was jointly appointed to the School of Nursing (SON) as affiliate faculty and, in 2011, joined the SON full time. Dr. Elswick has served in key postions in more than 15 federally funded grants including as Coordinator of Data Services in the P20 Exploratory/Development Center. Currently, he serves as Director of the Data Services and Analysis Core in the VCU SON Center of Excellence (Grap PI).

Education

  • Ph.D. - Biostatistics, Richmond
  • B.S. - Mathematics, Radford

Research Funding (selected)

  • Co-investigator, Epigenetics and Psychoneurologic Symptoms in Women with Breast Cancer, Debra Lyon & Colleen Cook, M.P.I., (NCI #R01), 2010 – 2014.
  • Co-investigator, Cranial Stimulation for Chemotherapy Symptoms in Breast Cancer, Debra Lyon, P.I., (NCI #R01 CA127446-02), 2009 – 2014.
  • Core Director, Center of Excellence in Biobehavioral Approaches to Symptom Management, Dr. Rita Pickler, P.I., (NINR #P30), 2009 – 2014.
  • Co-investigator, Oral Care Intervention in Mechanically Ventilated Adults, Cindy Munro, P.I., (NINR #R01), $1,965,912 Total Direct Costs, 2009 – 2012.
  • Co-investigator, A Peri-intubation Intervention to Reduce Oral Flora and VAP, Dr. Mary Jo Grap (P.I.), (Tri-Service Nursing Research Grant #MDA-905-03-01-TS02), 2005 – 2008.
  • Coordinator, Data Services, Center for Biobehavioral Clinical Research, Dr. Nancy McCain (P.I.), (NINR #P20 NR008988), 2004 – 2009.
  • Co-investigator, PNI-based Stress Management in Early Breast Cancer, Dr. Nancy McCain (P.I.), (NCI, R01 CA114718), 2004 – 2009.
  • Co-investigator, Alternative Stress Management Approaches in HIV Disease, Dr. Nancy McCain (P.I.), (NCNR NR04395), 2000 – 2005.
  • Consultant, Back Rest Position and Oral Health: Effect on Ventilator Associated Pneumonia, Dr. Mary Jo Grap (P.I.), (NCNR), 1998 – 2000.
  • Co-investigator, PIN-Based Stress Management Intervention in HIV Disease, Dr. Nancy McCain (P.I.), (NCNR NR04395), 1996 – 2000.
  • Co-investigator, Balance Assessment and Intervention in the Elderly, Dr. Jean Wyman (P.I), (NCNR NR02561), 1990 – 1995.
  • Director of Biostatistics, AIDS Reduction in Pregnant and Non-Pregnant Addicted Women, Dr. Sidney Schnoll (P.I.), (NIDA DA06094), 1989 – 1994.

Awards & Honors

  • Outstanding Teacher Award, Department of Biostatistics, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, 2007 – 2008
  • Outstanding Teaching Award, Department of Biostatistics, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, 2008
  • Faculty Research Achievement Award, Department of Biostatistics, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, 2005
  • Outstanding Teacher Award, Department of Biostatistics, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, 2001 – 2002
  • Outstanding Teacher Award, Population Medicine Course, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1999 – 2000
  • Outstanding Teacher Award, Population Medicine Course, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1998 – 1999
  • Recipient Student Award Paper, 1985 Spring Meetings, Biometric Society ENAR, Raleigh, N.C.

Selected Publications

  • Corley, M.C., Elswick, R.K., Sargent, C.C. & Scott, S.: Attitude, self-image, and quality of life of living kidney donors. Nephrology Nurses Journal, 27(1), 43–50, 2000.
  • Burns, D.R. & Elswick, R.K.: Equivalence testing in dental clinical trials. Dental Research, 80(6), 1513–1517, 2001.
  • Corley, M.C., Elswick, R.K., Gorman, M. & Clor, T.: Development and evaluation of a moral distress scale. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 33(2), 250–256, 2001.
  • Ford-Smith, C., Wyman, J.F. & Elswick, R.K.: Reliability of stationary dynamometer muscle strength testing in community-dwelling older adults. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 82(8), 1128–1132, 2001.
  • Tuck, I., McCain, N.L. & Elswick, R.K.: Spirituality and psychosocial factors in persons living with HIV. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 33(6), 776–783, 2001.
  • Kimball, P.M., Shiffman, M. & Elswick, R.K.: Ethnicity and cytokine production gauge the response of patients with HCV to alpha interferon therapy. Journal of Medical Virology, 65, 510–516, 2001.
  • Sessler, C.N., Gosnell, M., Grap, M.J., Brophy, G.M., O’Neal, P.V., Keane, K.A., Tesoro, E.P. & Elswick, R.K.: The Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale: Validity and reliability in adult ICU patients. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 166, 1338–1344, 2002.
  • Corley, M.C., Elswick, R.K., Gorman, M. & Clor, T.: Development and evaluation of a moral distress scale. Neonatal Intensive Care, 14(4), 51–58, 2002.
  • Salyer, J., Flattery, M., Joyner, P. & Elswick, R.K.: Lifestyle and quality of life in long-term cardiac transplant recipients. Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation, 22(3), 309–321, 2003.
  • McCain N.L., Munjas B.A., Munro C.L., Elswick R.K., Robins J.L., Ferreira-Gonzalez A., Baliko B., Kaplowitz L.G., Fisher E.J., Garrett C.T., Brigle K.E., Kendall L.C., Lucas V. & Cochran K.L.: Effects of stress management on PNI-based outcomes in persons with HIV disease. Research in Nursing and Health, 26(2), 102–117, 2003.
  • Myers, B.J., Dawson, K.S., Britt, G.C., Lodder, D.E., Meloy, L., Saunders, M.K., Meadows, S & Elswick, R.K.: Prenatal cocaine exposure and infant performance on the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale. Substance Use & Misuse, 38(14), 2065–2096, 2003.
  • Grap, M.J., Munro. C.L., Elswick, R.K., Sessler, C.N. & Ward, K.R.: Duration of action of a single, early, oral application of chlorhexidine on oral microbial flora in mechanically ventilated patients: a pilot study. Heart & Lung: The Journal of Acute and Critical Care, 33(2), 83–91, 2004.
  • Grap, M. J., Harton, S.C., Savage, L. & Elswick, R.K.: Frequency and predictors or return to incentive spirometry volume baseline after cardiac surgery. American Journal of Critical Care, 13(3), 262–263, 2004.
  • Grap, M.J., Borchers, C.T., Munro. C.L., Elswick, R.K. & Sessler, C.N.: Actigraphy in the critically ill: Correlation with agitation and sedation. American Journal of Critical Care, 14(1), 52–60, 2005.
  • Jablonski, R.A., Munro, C.L., Grap, M.J. & Elswick, R.K.: The Role of Biobehavioral, Environmental, and Social Forces on Oral Health Disparities in Frail and Functionally Dependent Nursing Home Elders, Biological Research for Nursing, 7(1), 75–82, 2005.
  • Grap, M.J., Munro, C.L. Hummel, R.S., Elswick, R.K., McKinney, J.L. & Sessler, C.N.: Effect of backrest elevation on the development of ventilator-associated pneumonia, American Journal of Critical Care, 14(4), 325–332, 2005.
  • Corley, M.C., Minick, P., Elswick, R.K. & Jacobs, M.: Nurse moral distress and ethical work environment, Nursing Ethics, 12(4), 381–390, 2005.
  • Robins, J.L., McCain, N.L. Gray, D.P., Elswick, R.K., Walter, J.M. & McDade, E.: Research on psychoneuroimmunology: tai chi as a stress management approach for individuals with HIV disease, Applied Nursing Research, 19(1), 2–9, 2006.
  • Hogan, T.M., Myers, B.J. & Elswick, R.K.: Child abuse potential among mothers of substance-exposed and nonexposed infants and toddlers, Child Abuse and Neglect, 30(2), 145–56, 2006.
  • Munro, C.L., Grap, M.J., Elswick, R.K. Jr , McKinney, J.L., Sessler, C.N. & Hummell, R.S.: Effect of oral health status on the development of ventilator associated pneumonia: A descriptive study. American Journal of Critical Care, 15(5), 453–60, 2006.
  • Salyer, J., Lyon, D.E., Settle, J., Elswick, R.K. & Rackley D.: Coronary heart disease risks and lifestyle behaviors in persons with HIV infection. Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care, 17(3), 3–17, 2006.
  • Flattery, M.P., Salyer, J., Maltby, M.C., Joyner, P.L. & Elswick, R.K.: Lifestyle and health status differ over time in long-term heart transplant recipients, Progress in Transplantation, 16(3), 232–238, 2006.
    Harton, S.C., Grap, M.J., Savage L. & Elswick, R.K.: Frequency and predictors of return to incentive spirometry volume baseline after cardiac surgery. Progress in Cardiovascular Nursing, 22(1), 7–12, 2007.
  • Salyer, J., Flattery, M.P., Joyner, P.L., Friend, J. & Elswick, R.K. Jr.: Community-based weight management in long-term heart transplant recipients: a pilot study, Progress in Transplantation, 17(4), 315–323, 2007.
  • McCain, N.L., Gray, D.P., Elswick, R.K. Jr., Robins, J.L., Tuck, I., Walter, J.M., Rausch, S.M. & McKinney, J.L.: A randomized clinical trial of alternative stress management interventions in persons with HIV infection, Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 76(3), 431–441, 2008.
  • Robins, J.L., McCain, N.L. & Elswick, R.K. Jr.: Exploring the Complexity of Cardiometabolic Risk in Women, Biological Research for Nursing, (in press).
  • Grap, M.J., Munro, C.L., Hamilton, V.A., Elswick, R.K. Jr., Sessler, C.N. & Ward, K.R.: Early, single chlorhexidine application reduces VAP in trauma victims, Heart & Lung: The Journal of Acute and Critical Care, (in press).
  • Burns, D.R., Unger, J.W., Coffey, J.P., Waldrop, T.C. & Elswick, R.K. Jr.: Randomized, prospective, clinical evaluation of prosthodontic modalities for mandibular implant overdenture treatment, Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry, (in press).
  • Lyon, D.E., Munro, C.L., Pickler, R., Elswick, R.K. Jr. & McCain, N.L.: Phenotypic and Genomic Considerations in the Biobehavioral Study of Fatigue, Journal of Nursing Scholarship, (accepted).


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