Linda P. Riley, PhD, RN

Dr. Linda P. Riley is the Director of Nursing Research & Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. Dr. Riley earned her PhD in Nursing Science from Vanderbilt University and is a member of several nursing organizations including the Association Pediatric Hematology Oncology Nursing, Oncology Nursing Society, and the Southern Nursing Research Society.  She also serves as a member of the Atlanta Clinical & Translational Science Institute (ACTSI) Nursing Advisory Committee and is Adjunct Associate Professor, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, at Emory University. As Director of Nursing Research & EBP, Dr. Riley’s aims are to fortify the organizational structure and processes to support inquiry at many levels. Dr. Riley’s program of nursing research focuses on the study of supportive care and end of life issues including parental grief, personal growth, and positive change. A current pilot study examines the unique needs of pediatric cancer survivors and their parents who are transitioning from active treatment. Factors related to quality of life of survivor and parent including resilience, optimism, and uncertainty will be examined as the basis for creation of supportive interventions to bridge successfully to routine survivorship care. Using a transition theoretical framework, her research study of parental grief explored personal and situational variables that impact how individuals cope with loss included assessment of positive outcomes of personal growth and positive change in bereaved parents.  Provision of supportive care for cancer survivors and their families continues to be an interest of research. Dr. Riley discussions with the survivorship research team about potential studies include exploration of strategies to engage pediatric cancer survivors and their parents in long term follow up as they transition to young adults and are followed over time for late effects.