Faith S. Luyster

PhD
Assistant Professor
Health & Community Systems

Profile

My program of research focuses on comorbid sleep disorders and their impact on health outcomes in patients with chronic medical conditions. I have investigated sleep disturbances in chronic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, and asthma. Additionally, I have used qualitative methods to explore obstructive sleep apnea patients’ and their partners’ experiences with positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy, which informed the development and pilot testing of a couple-oriented PAP adherence intervention (K23 HL105887).

My current focus is investigating the nature and treatment of insomnia in adults with asthma. Currently, I have a study aimed at determining how to make an Internet-based cognitive-behavioral treatment for insomnia (CBT-I) most useful for adults with asthma via qualitative methods (R03 HL135213). I also am investigating the impact of CBT-I on sleep and asthma outcomes in adults with asthma and comorbid insomnia (R01 HL131587).

I earned my Doctorate (PhD) in Experimental Health Psychology from Kent State University in 2007, completed a post-doctoral fellowship (T32) in Cardiovascular Behavioral Medicine from University of Pittsburgh in 2009, and completed a post-doctoral fellowship (T32) in Sleep Medicine from the University of Pittsburgh in 2010.

 

Teaching

I teach NUR 2000 Research for Evidence Based Practice in the 2nd Degree Accelerated BSN Program. I have mentored students as part of the URMP Program.

 

Service

I am a member of the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Sleep Society and a member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), the Sleep Research Society (SRS), and the American Thoracic Society (ATS). Within the School of Nursing, I serve as Co-Chair for the Faculty and Staff Welfare Committee and Co-Director of the HUB for Sleep and Circadian Rhythms.