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Laurie Theeke, Ph.D., R.N.
Laurie Theeke, Ph.D., R.N. is an Associate Professor of Nursing at West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia. Dr. Theeke’s research emphasizes the development of interventions that target loneliness as a psychosocial stressor that impacts overall health. Her pilot data indicate that loneliness is a significant problem for rural older adults and that it is associated with poor health perception and diminished quality of life. Her research will examine the efficacy of a story-sharing intervention on diminishing loneliness and its negative sequelae, including physiological stress measures, chronic illness measures, and quality of life. Dr. Theeke’s long-term goal is to maintain a research focus on the interaction of psychosocial factors, health, and quality of life for older adults. Dr. Theeke’s work is derived from her clinical practice in gerontology and family practice.
Dr. Theeke’s professional development plans are designed to facilitate working with multidisciplinary faculty at the WVU Health Sciences Center in a formal Teaching Scholars Program. Through her collaboration with RWJF leaders and her mentors, she plans to impact teaching excellence at the WVU School of Nursing through the exploration of innovative pedagogies at monthly teaching excellence sessions.
Dr. Theeke received her graduate degrees from West Virginia University