Victim Researcher Profile

Researcher Photo

Debra Patterson

 EMAIL DEBRA    
    

STATE

Michigan

INSTITUTION

Wayne State University

TITLE

Associate Professor

EDUCATION

PhD

DISCIPLINE

Psychology & Social Work

YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

11-20 years

BIO

Dr. Patterson is an Associate Professor in the School of Social Work at Wayne State University. She holds a Ph.D. in community psychology with a concentration in organizational and social change from Michigan State University. Her research examines sexual assault victims/survivors' barriers to help-seeking; culturally specific trauma-informed services; sexual assault nurse examiner programs; and improving professional and familial responses towards survivors of sexual and interpersonal violence. Her research also focuses on training attrition, knowledge attainment and retention, and competency development. Dr. Patterson has expertise in qualitative research methods, interviewing vulnerable populations, and training and program evaluation. She also engages in community participatory research and mutually beneficial research-practitioner collaborations. Dr. Patterson received the 2010 Patron Award from the International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN)and the 2010 Turning Point Forensic Nurse Examiner Program Award for Outstanding Commitment to Improving the Care for Sexual Assault Survivors. She also was named a distinguished chapter fellow of the Michigan Chapter of IAFN. She has been working in the violence against women field since 1996 and is the former director of a rape crisis center in Southeast Michigan.

VICTIMIZATION FOCUS

Sexual Abuse or Violence (other than campus sexual assault)

SPECIAL POPULATIONS

Child victims, Limited English proficiency victims, Immigrants and refugees, Latina Survivors

RESEARCH EXPERTISE

Community-based participatory research, Data collection, Descriptive studies, Needs assessment, Program evaluation, Qualitative studies

VICTIM RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

Community-based participatory research, Data collection, Descriptive studies, Needs assessment, Program evaluation, Qualitative studies, Quantitative studies, Training and/or technical assistance