Dr. Smith was conferred a Ph.D. in Nursing in 2015 from the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Smith’s research interest is primarily in adolescents, emerging adults, and other marginalized populations.  Dr. Smith’s interest in HIV in adolescents and emerging adults stems from frequent visits to Kenya, East Africa, where she cared for children in orphanages, remote clinics, and homes that catered to HIV-positive youth.

Additionally, Dr. Smith is interested in nursing research as a means to improve patient care and the overall public health of underserved populations. In her role on the University of California, San Diego, research advisory board, she reviews research proposals and abstracts to ensure credibility and diverse representation in potential research populations.  Dr. Smith hopes to continue research to understand the unique healthcare needs of adolescents and emerging adults and translate the findings into evidenced based practice care for this vulnerable population.

Dr. Smith’s research focuses on improving the experiences of HIV-infected and affected adolescents and emerging adults. She is particularly interested in promoting better health outcomes and understanding their perspectives as it relates to the health care delivery system as a means to improve their health outcomes. Dr. Smith’s professional experience includes Geriatric nursing, low-level neurological injuries and insults, Vascular Access care, critical care nursing.