Interim Director, PhD Program, College of Nursing
Professor
Ruth Taylor-Piliae, PhD, RN, FAHA, FAAN is a Professor in the College of Nursing at the University of Arizona. She is recognized internationally as a nurse scientist and mind-body exercise interventionist, with training in cardiovascular epidemiology and clinical trials. Her research is focused on promoting physical activity and improving patient-centered outcomes among older adults with heart disease and stroke through the implementation of innovative non-pharmacologic interventions such as Tai Chi. Dr. Taylor-Piliae received her B.S.N. from California State University Fresno, her M.N. from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and her Ph.D. from the University of California San Francisco. She completed a 2-year post-doctoral fellowship in cardiovascular epidemiology and prevention at Stanford University.
Dr. Taylor-Piliae is a long-standing member in the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, European Society of Cardiology, Sigma Theta Tau’s International Honor Society of Nursing, and the American College of Sports Medicine. She has received several teaching, research and service awards including the Suzanne Van Ort Peer Award for Graduate Teaching, the Extraordinary Faculty Award, the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the Mathy Mezey Excellence in Aging Award from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing Council, and the Award of Distinction for Excellence in Research from Sigma Theta Tau International, Beta Mu Chapter. In addition, she was named a Tucson Fabulous 50 Nurse in 2015 and is a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing.
Research Interests:
Dr. Taylor-Piliae has received funding as a principal investigator from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, Hospital Authority of Hong Kong, National Institute of Health, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. She reviews for professional journals and has had over 75 peer-reviewed manuscripts published in top-tiered journals both within nursing and inter-professional journals. She is highly cited for her work (citations>4330, h-index=34, i10-index=55). Her research focuses on increasing physical activity among older adults, especially those with heart disease and stroke. I use innovative interventions such as Tai Chi, to help them improve their physical and cognitive function, reduce fall rates, ameliorate negative symptoms, and enhance quality of life.
Board Certifications:
Registered Nurse, Arizona State Board of Nursing, 2007
Public Health Nurse, California Board of Registered Nursing, 1981
Registered Nurse, California Board of Registered Nursing, 1980
Degrees:
PhD, Nursing, University of California San Francisco, 2005
MSN, Nursing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1998
BSN, Nursing, California State University, Fresno, 1980
Fellowships:
American Academy of Nursing, American Academy of Nursing, Fall 2019
Honors and Awards:
3rd place Poster Presentation Innovation Award, El Rio Research Fair, Spring 2018
Suzanne Van Ort Award for Teaching, University of Arizona, College of Nursing, Spring 2018
Award of Distinction: Excellence in Research, Sigma Theta Tau International, Beta Mu Chapter, Spring 2018
2017 Annual Service Awards, The University of Arizona, Spring 2017
Mathy Mezey Excellence in Aging Award, Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing Council, American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, Fall 2016
Distinguished Alumni Award, Nethersole School of Nursing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Fall 2016
Top Nurse in Tucson, International Nurses Association, Spring 2016
Primary College, Department: