Her major research efforts address the needs of preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care and ways to modulate the caregiving environment to promote healthier, developmentally appropriate outcomes in these vulnerable children. A secondary area of research focuses on the effects of poverty on children's growth and development, including a longitudinal study of growth in Haitian school children. Kathleen Sawin, DNS, RN, CNS, FAAN , Associate Professor, Department of Maternal Child Nursing. She has a special interest in children, adolescents, and women with disabilities Her current focus is investigating factors that facilitate or hinder successful transition to adulthood for youth with disabilities. Dr. Tak's work focuses on developing self-management strategies among the elderly with chronic conditions.
Special interests are in self-efficacy and social support interventions in managing chronic illness.