Dr. Dishman’s research program is built on the model of situation awareness to improve patient outcomes, with aims of improving provider information processing from perception, through interpretation and on to critical decision-making using informed prediction. Her interest in improving provider situation awareness stems from her 20 plus years of clinical experience as a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA). Dr. Dishman’s clinical experiences as an anesthesia provider in many settings from small community facilities to large, urban, Level 1 trauma centers and across the spectrum of perioperative services for pediatric, adult, and geriatric patients, have directly informed her research trajectory.

Currently, Dr. Dishman is Lead of the Post-Stroke Pain Management Program at UTHealth Houston’s Institute for Stroke and Cerebrovascular Disease. The aim of this program is to dually develop effective treatments for post-stroke pain and remove the barriers to participation in critical rehabilitation. At present, Dr. Dishman is investigating biomarkers and other patient factors that are associated with the development of chronic pain after stroke. Additionally, Dr. Dishman is in collaboration with researchers at UTHealth Houston’s School of Dentistry leading investigations into adverse events pediatric patients experience after receiving in-office sedation for dental procedures.

Education & Training

Texas Christian University
Advanced Pain Management Fellowship
2022 - 2023 anticipated

Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
PhD, Health Related Sciences
January 2019

Cizik School of Nursing, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas
Post Master’s Certificate- Nurse Education
August 2018

Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice
August 2014

Columbia University, New York, New York
Master of Science Nursing
August 2000

Molloy College, Rockville Centre, New York
Bachelor of Science Nursing
June 1994

Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York
Bachelor of Arts-Social Science
June 1987

Research Focus:

Anesthesia, Acute and Chronic Pain, Situation Awareness

Publications:

A retrospective examination of pain in acute stroke at hospital discharge
Deniz Dishman a b 1, Tia Lal b 2, Christin Silos c 3, Luyao Chen d 4, Xiaoqian Jiang e 4, Jennifer Beauchamp a 1, Seema Aggarwal a 1, Charles Green f 5, Sean I. Savitz b 6