Ellen Lavoie Smith

Dr. Ellen Lavoie Smith - University of Michigan School of Nursing faculty

Ellen Lavoie Smith, PhD, APRN, AOCN®

Assistant Professor
Division of Acute, Critical, and Long-term Care (Div. I)
Room 2151

University of Michigan School of Nursing
400 North Ingalls Building
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5482

Telephone: (734) 936-1267
Fax: (734) 936-5525

Scholarly Expertise / Activity

Interests:

  • Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy
  • Neuropathic pain
  • CNS analgesic mechanisms
  • Cancer cooperative group nursing
  • Cancer survivorship

Dr. Smith is an expert in chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy and associated neuropathic pain assessment and treatment. She also focuses more generally in the topics of instrument development and cancer survivorship.  As an active researcher, Dr. Smith has received independent research funding from the National Institutes of Health, the Oncology Nursing Society, the American Cancer Society, and Dartmouth’s Center for Clinical Translational Science. Some of her many research efforts include a cross-sectional study evaluating the clinimetric properties of peripheral neuropathy and neuropathic pain measurement approaches; an Oncology Nursing Society-funded study focused on utilizing quality improvement methodology to better neuropathic pain management in cancer patients;  an ongoing trial focused on vincristine neuropathy pharmacogenetics; and an ongoing multisite, placebo-controlled trial investigating the efficacy of duloxetine for the treatment of painful chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.

Current Research Grants and Programs:

  • CALGB 170601: A Phase III Trial of Oral Duloxetine for Treatment of Painful Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy - A CALGB National Cooperative Group Study (PI)
  • NOT-RR-09-005: NIH Administrative Supplement Grant to Indiana Clinical and Translational Science Institute: Clinical and Genetic Predictors of Vincristine-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (Co-PI)
  • 1 RC1 CA146882-01: FOA 0D09-003 Recovery Act Limited Competition: NIH Challenge in Health & Science Research – Developing a Prediction Model for Vincristine-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (Consultant)

Teaching

Dr. Smith has lectured nationally and internationally regarding multiple cancer-related topics. With over 28 years of experience as an oncology nurse, nurse practitioner, and nurse administrator, the areas she most often teaches are the ones that reflect her own interests, namely chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, neuropathic pain, instrument development, cancer survivorship program development, thoracic and head and neck oncology care, and other general oncology topics. Currently, Dr. Smith teaches the undergraduate Introduction to Nursing Research Course at U-M's School of Nursing which focuses on teaching nurses how to find and evaluate the best research evidence for use in clinical practice settings.  She uses interactive teaching methodologies such as web and classroom-based research simulation experiences.

Affiliations / Service

  • Member, Oncology Nursing Society, 1984-present
  • Chairperson, Cancer and Leukemia Group B Oncology Nursing Committee, 2000-Present
  • Member Oncology Nursing Society Advanced Nursing Research Special Interest Group, 2006-present
  • Member University of Michigan Cancer Center – Biobehavioral & Quality of Life Subcommittee, 2010-present
  • Member UMHS/SON Nurse Research Partner Committee, 2010-present
  • Member University of Michigan SON CAASS, 2010-2012

Notable Awards / Honors

  • Doctoral Scholarship, American Cancer Society, 2004-2008
  • Nursing Excellence Award for Advancing the Profession, Nursing Spectrum New England Division, 2005

Education

  • PhD, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 2008
  • Post-Masters NP Certification, University of New Hampshire, Durham NH, 1995
  • MSN, University of New Hampshire, Durham NH, 1991
  • BSN, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, 1982

Publication Highlights

  • Beck, SL, Towsley, GL, Pett, M, Berry, PH, Smith, EL, Brant, JM, Guo, JW (In Press) Initial psychometric properties of the Pain Care Quality (PainCQ) Survey. Journal of Pain.
  • Smith, E. L, & Cohen, J. (In Press). Neuropathies/Sensory Deficits. In J. Lester & P. Schmitt (Eds.), Personalized Approach to Cancer Rehabilitation and Survivorship. Jones and Bartlett.
  • Beck, SL, Towsley, GL, Berry, PH, Brant, JM, Smith, EL (2010) Measuring the quality of care related to pain management: A multiple method approach to instrument development. Nursing Research, 59(2), 85-92.
  • Smith, E. L., Cohen, J. A., Pett, M. A., & Beck, S. L. (2010). The Reliability and Validity of a Modified Total Neuropathy Score-Reduced (TNSr) and Neuropathic Pain Severity Items When Used to Measure Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN) in Patients Receiving Taxanes and Platinums. Cancer Nursing, 33(3), 173-182.
  • Smith, E. L., Cohen, J. A., Pett, M. A., & Beck, S. L. (In Press 2011). The Validity of Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN) Measurement Approaches When Used to Assess Taxane and Platinum-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Oncology Outpatients. Oncology Nursing Forum.
  • Smith, E. L., & Ferrans, C. E. (2009). The Role of Cooperatives in Advancing Oncology Nursing Science. In Advancing Oncology Nursing Science. Pittsburgh: Oncology Nursing Society Publishing Company.
  • Smith, E. L., Bakitas, M., Homel, P., Fadul, C., Skalla, K., Meyer, L., & Bookbinder, M. (2009). Using Quality Improvement Methodology to Improve Neuropathic Pain Screening and Assessment in Patients with Cancer. Journal of Cancer Education, 24(2), 135-140.
  • Schaal, A. D., Skalla, K. A., Mulrooney, T. J., Stearns, D., & Smith, E. M. L. (2008). Building a collaboration of hematology-oncology advanced practice nurses. Part II: Outcomes. Oncology Nursing Forum, 35, (6), 875-878.
  • Smith, E. L., Beck, S. L., & Cohen, J. A. (2008). The Total Neuropathy Score (TNS): A Tool for Use by Oncology Nurses When Measuring Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy. Oncology Nursing Forum, 35 (1), 96-102.
  • Smith, E.L., Skosey, C, Armer, J., Berg, D., Cirrincione, C., & Henggeler, M. (2006). The Cancer and Leukemia Group B Oncology Nursing Committee (1983-2006): A History of Passion, Commitment, Challenge, and Accomplishment. Clinical Cancer Review, 12(11), 3638s-3641s.
  • Smith, E. L., Whedon, M., Bookbinder, M. (2002) Quality Improvement Approach of Painful Peripheral Neuropathy. Seminars in Oncology Nursing, 18(1), 36-43.
  • Smith, E. L., Hann, D. M., Ahles, T. A., Furstenberg, C. T., Mitchell, T. A., Meyer, L., Maurer, L. H., Rigas, J., & Hammond, S. (2001). Dyspnea, Anxiety, Body Consciousness, and Quality of Life of Patients with Lung Cancer. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 21(4), 323-328.
  • Maurer, L. H., Davis, T., Hammond S., Smith, E., West, P., & Doolittle, M. (2001). Clinical trials in a rural population: Professional Education Aspects. Journal of Cancer Education, 16(2), 89-92.
  • Smith, E. L. (1998). Pulmonary Metastasis. In P. J. Haylock (Ed)., Nursing Implications in the Management of Patients with Metastatic Disease, Seminars in Oncology Nursing, 14(3), 178-186.
  • Smith, E. L. (1992). Dyspnea and Quality of Life. In M. B. Whedon, & L. L. Powel (Eds.), Quality of life: A nursing challenge, Physical Well-Being, 1(1):31-38. Philadelphia: Meniscus

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