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.