Graciela Emilia Silva Torres

Graciela Emilia Silva Torres , PhD, MPH

Assistant Professor, Public Health

Clinical Professor

Graciela Emilia Silva Torres

I obtained my Doctorate degree in Epidemiology from the University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health in 2004. My research focus is on sleep, sleep disordered breathing, obesity, asthma, emphysema, bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and infectious diseases.

Education

  • Ph.D., Doctor of Philosophy in Epidemiology, University of Arizona, 2004
  • B.S., Medical Technologist, University of Arizona, 1991

Licensure & Certifications

  • Clinical Laboratory Scientist, National Certification Agency for Medical Laboratory Personnel, Inc., 1992

Awards

  • Best Reviewer Award 2019, Journal of Research in Nursing and Health, Spring 2019

Teaching Interests

My philosophy in teaching is to give students all the necessary tools for them to be able to learn and apply their new knowledge so that students may perform their own evaluations. At the same time, students should be able to apply critical thinking, perform independent studies, and interpret their results.

Courses

  • Adv Stat Hlth Sci
    NURS 631 (Spring 2023)
  • Statistic Infer Evid-Bas Pract
    NURS 629 (Spring 2023)
  • Mthds Scholarly Inquiry
    NURS 652 (Fall 2022)
  • Stats For Hlth Science
    NURS 630 (Fall 2022)
  • Statistic Infer Evid-Bas Pract
    NURS 629 (Fall 2022)
  • Adv Stat Hlth Sci
    NURS 631 (Spring 2022)
  • Statistic Infer Evid-Bas Pract
    NURS 629 (Spring 2022)
  • Stats For Hlth Science
    NURS 630 (Fall 2021)
  • Statistic Infer Evid-Bas Pract
    NURS 629 (Fall 2021)
  • Dissertation
    NURS 920 (Spring 2021)
  • Adv Stat Hlth Sci
    NURS 631 (Spring 2021)
  • Dissertation
    NURS 920 (Fall 2020)
  • Stats For Hlth Science
    NURS 630 (Fall 2020)
  • Eval Meth/Safe+Qual Impr
    NURS 752 (Summer 2020)
  • Research Preceptorship
    NURS 791A (Spring 2020)
  • Adv Stat Hlth Sci
    NURS 631 (Spring 2020)
  • Stats For Hlth Science
    NURS 630 (Fall 2019)
  • Adv Stat Hlth Sci
    NURS 631 (Spring 2019)
  • Population Health
    NURS 753 (Fall 2018)
  • Statistic Infer Evid-Bas Pract
    NURS 629 (Fall 2018)
  • Statistic Infer Evid-Bas Pract
    NURS 629 (Summer 2018)
  • Adv Stat Hlth Sci
    NURS 631 (Spring 2018)
  • Applied Stats for Evid Based
    NURS 502 (Fall 2017)
  • Adv Stat Hlth Sci
    NURS 631 (Spring 2017)
  • DNP Project
    NURS 922 (Fall 2016)
  • Statistic Infer Evid-Bas Pract
    NURS 629 (Fall 2016)
  • Applied Stats for Evid Based
    NURS 502 (Fall 2016)
  • DNP Project
    NURS 922 (Summer 2016)
  • Applied Stats for Evid Based
    NURS 502 (Summer 2016)
  • DNP Project
    NURS 922 (Spring 2016)
  • Dissertation
    NURS 920 (Spring 2016)
  • Adv Stat Hlth Sci
    NURS 631 (Spring 2016)
  • Applied Stats for Evid Based
    NURS 502 (Spring 2016)

Research Impact

My research focus is on sleep and outcomes related to quality of sleep such as weight gain, circadian rhythms, quality of life, and glycemic control, as well as biometrics to detect sleep disordered breathing. I use statistical techniques to evaluate associations, such as mixed models and longitudinal analysis.

Research Interests

Asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases,Sleep and Sleep Disordered Breathing, Longitudinal Decline of Lung Function, Mixed Models, Random Effects Analyses, and Longitudinal Analyses.

Journals/Publications

  • Silva, G. E., Rojo-Wissar, D. M., Quan, S. F., & Haynes, P. L. (2021). Predictive ability of the International Classification of Sleep Disorders-3 in identifying risk of obstructive sleep apnea among recently unemployed adults. Sleep & breathing = Schlaf & Atmung.
  • Vana, K. D., Silva, G. E., Carreon, J. D., & Quan, S. F. (2021). Using anthropometric measures to screen for obstructive sleep apnea in the Sleep Heart Health Study cohort. Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 17(8), 1635-1643.
  • Elrokhsi, S. H., Bluez, G. P., Chin, C. N., Wheeler, M. D., Silva, G. E., & Perfect, M. M. (2020). Differences in sleep architecture according to body mass index in children with type 1 diabetes. Pediatric diabetes, 21(1), 98-105.
  • Fitzpatrick, J. M., Silva, G. E., & Vana, K. D. (2020). Perceived Barriers and Facilitating Factors in Implementing Delayed School Start Times to Improve Adolescent Sleep Patterns. The Journal of school health.
  • Loescher, L., Heslin, K., Silva, G., & Muramoto, M. (2020). Partnering With Massage Therapists to Communicate Information on Reducing the Risk of Skin Cancer Among Clients: Longitudinal Study. JMIR formative research, 4(11), e21309.
  • Perfect, M. M., Silva Torres, G. E., Wheeler, M. D., Chin, C., Bluez, G. P., & Elrokshsi, S. (2020). Differences in Sleep Architecture According to Body Mass Index in Children with Type 1 Diabetes. Diabetes.
  • Silva, G. E., Quan, S. F., McMorrow, T., Bautista, R., Bell, M. L., & Haynes, P. L. (2020). Association between obstructive sleep apnea and multiple involuntary job loss history among recently unemployed adults. Sleep health.
  • Butler, E. A., Glickenstein, D. A., Silva Torres, G. E., Quan, S. F., Thomson, C. A., & Haynes, P. L. (2019). Inconsistent Social Rhythms are Associated with Higher Waist Circumference Following Job Loss. Society of Behavioral Medicine annual meeting.
  • Frye, S. S., Perfect, M. M., & Silva, G. E. (2019). Diabetes management mediates the association between sleep duration and glycemic control in youth with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Sleep medicine, 60, 132-138.
  • Kindarara, D. M., & Silva, G. E. (2019). Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Diabetes in the African Immigrant Population of Sacramento County, California. The Diabetes educator, 45(2), 225-239.
  • Li, A., Chen, S., Quan, S. F., Silva, G. E., Ackerman, C., Powers, L. S., Roveda, J. M., & Perfect, M. M. (2019). Sleep patterns and sleep deprivation recorded by actigraphy in 4th-grade and 5th-grade students. Sleep medicine, 67, 191-199.
  • Loescher, L. J., Heslin, K. M., Szalacha, L. A., Silva, G. E., & Muramoto, M. L. (2019). Web-Based Skin Cancer Prevention Training for Massage Therapists: Protocol for the Massage Therapists Skin Health Awareness, Referral, and Education Study. JMIR research protocols, 8(5), e13480.
  • Muramoto, M. L., Silva Torres, G. E., Szalacha, L. A., Heslin, K. M., & Loescher, L. J. (2019). Online Skin Cancer Prevention Training for Massage Therapists: Protocol for the MTsSHARE Study: A Research Protocol. Journal of Medical Internet Research Protocols, 8(5), 4-15. doi:doi:10.2196/13480
  • Silva Torres, G. E., Quan, S. F., McMorrow, T., Bautista, R., Bell, M. L., & Haynes, P. L. (2019). Association between obstructive sleep apnea and multiple involuntary job loss history among recently unemployed individuals. Sleep Health.
  • Haynes, P. L., Silva, G. E., Howe, G. W., Thomson, C. A., Butler, E. A., Quan, S. F., Sherrill, D., Scanlon, M., Rojo-Wissar, D. M., Gengler, D. N., & Glickenstein, D. A. (2017). Longitudinal assessment of daily activity patterns on weight change after involuntary job loss: the ADAPT study protocol. BMC public health, 17(1), 793.
  • Nahapetian, R., Silva, G. E., Vana, K. D., Parthasarathy, S., & Quan, S. F. (2016). Weighted STOP-Bang and screening for sleep-disordered breathing. Sleep & breathing = Schlaf & Atmung, 20(2), 597-603.
  • Silva, G. E., Goodwin, J. L., Vana, K. D., & Quan, S. F. (2016). Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Quality of Life: Comparison of the SAQLI, FOSQ, and SF-36 Questionnaires. Southwest journal of pulmonary & critical care, 13(3), 137-149.
  • Silva, G. E., Goodwin, J. L., Vana, K. D., Vasquez, M. M., Wilcox, P. G., & Quan, S. F. (2014). Restless legs syndrome, sleep, and quality of life among adolescents and young adults. Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 10(7), 779-86.
  • Vana, K. D., & Silva, G. E. (2014). Evaluating the use of a simulated electronic health record and online drug reference in a case study to enhance nursing students' understanding of pharmacologic concepts and resources. Nurse educator, 39(4), 160-5.
  • Shaw, N. D., Goodwin, J. L., Silva, G. E., Hall, J. E., Quan, S. F., & Malhotra, A. (2013). Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) in preadolescent girls is associated with delayed breast development compared to girls without OSA. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 9(8), 813-818.
  • Vana, K. D., Silva, G. E., & Goldberg, R. (2013). Predictive abilities of the STOP-Bang and Epworth Sleepiness Scale in identifying sleep clinic patients at high risk for obstructive sleep apnea. Research in Nursing and Health, 36(1), 84-94.
  • Brown, M. A., Goodwin, J. L., Silva, G. E., Behari, A., Newman, A. B., Punjabi, N. M., Resnick, H. E., Robbins, J. A., & Quan, S. F. (2011). The Impact of Sleep-Disordered Breathing on Body Mass Index (BMI): The Sleep Heart Health Study (SHHS). Southwest journal of pulmonary & critical care, 3, 159-168.
  • Drescher, A. A., Goodwin, J. L., Silva, G. E., & Quan, S. F. (2011). Caffeine and screen time in adolescence: Associations with short sleep and obesity. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 7(4), 337-342.
  • Silva, G. E., Vana, K. D., Goodwin, J. L., Sherrill, D. L., & Quan, S. F. (2011). Identification of patients with sleep disordered breathing: Comparing the four-variable screening tool, STOP, STOP-bang, and epworth sleepiness scales. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 7(5), 467-472.
  • Silva, G. E., Goodwin, J. L., Parthasarathy, S., Sherrill, D. L., Vana, K. D., Drescher, A. A., & Quan, S. F. (2011). Longitudinal association between short sleep, body weight, and emotional and learning problems in hispanic and caucasian children. Sleep, 34(9), 1197-1205.
  • Vana, K. D., Silva, G. E., Muzyka, D., & Hirani, L. M. (2011). Effectiveness of an audience response system in teaching pharmacology to baccalaureate nursing students. CIN - Computers Informatics Nursing, 29(SUPPL. 6), TC105-TC113.
  • Goodwin, J. L., Vasquez, M. M., Silva, G. E., & Quan, S. F. (2010). Incidence and Remission of Sleep-Disordered Breathing and Related Symptoms in 6- to 17-Year Old Children-The Tucson Children's Assessment of Sleep Apnea Study. Journal of Pediatrics, 157(1), 57-61.
  • Lundy, S. M., Silva, G. E., Kaemingk, K. L., Goodwin, J. L., & Quan, S. F. (2010). Cognitive Functioning and Academic Performance in Elementary School Children with Anxious/Depressed and Withdrawn Symptoms. The open pediatric medicine journal, 4, 1-9.
  • Silva, G. E., An, M., Goodwin, J. L., Shahar, E., Redline, S., Resnick, H., Baldwin, C. M., & Quan, S. F. (2009). Longitudinal evaluation of sleep-disordered breathing and sleep symptoms with change in quality of life: The Sleep Heart Health Study (SHHS). Sleep, 32(8), 1049-1057.
  • Silva, G. E., Guerra, S., Keim, S., Barbee, R. A., & Sherrill, D. L. (2008). Longitudinal decline of diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide in community subjects with the PiMZ α1-antitrypsin phenotype. Chest, 133(5), 1095-1100.
  • Sharief, I., Silva, G. E., Goodwin, J. L., & Quan, S. F. (2008). Effect of sleep disordered breathing on the sleep of bed partners in the sleep heart health study. Sleep, 31(10), 1449-1456.
  • Goodwin, J. L., Silva, G. E., Kaemingk, K. L., Sherrill, D. L., Morgan, W. J., & Quan, S. F. (2007). Comparison between reported and recorded total sleep time and sleep latency in 6- to 11-year-old children: The Tucson Children's Assessment of Sleep Apnea Study (TuCASA). Sleep and Breathing, 11(2), 85-92.
  • Silva, G. E., Goodwin, J. L., Sherrill, D. L., Arnold, J. L., Bootzin, R. R., Smith, T., Walsleben, J. A., Baldwin, C. M., & Quan, S. F. (2007). Relationship between reported and measured sleep times: the sleep heart health study (SHHS). Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 3(6), 622-30.
  • Watson, R. R., Rohdewald, P., & Silva, G. E. (2007). Asthma risk factors in Desert Southwest of USA: Role of nutritional supplement, Pycnogenol® in therapy. Journal of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine, 16(1), 33-38.
  • Silva, G. E., Sherrill, D. L., Guerra, S., & Barbee, R. A. (2004). Asthma as a risk factor for COPD in a longitudinal study. Chest, 126(1), 59-65.
  • Silva, G. E., Sherrill, D. L., Guerra, S., & Barbee, R. A. (2003). A longitudinal study of alpha1-antitrypsin phenotypes and decline in FEV1 in a community population. Chest, 123(5), 1435-40.

Proceedings Publications

  • Skulas-Ray, A. C., Glickenstein, D. A., Silva Torres, G. E., Mayer, C., Thomson, C. A., Rojo-Wissar, D. M., & Haynes, P. L. (2019, June). Longer Sleep Duration Precedes Greater Water Intake at Breakfast. In Sleep, 42, A72.
  • Haynes, P. L., Haynes, P. L., Haynes, P. L., Haynes, P. L., Quan, S. F., Quan, S. F., Quan, S. F., Quan, S. F., Rojo-Wissar, D., Rojo-Wissar, D., Rojo-Wissar, D., Rojo-Wissar, D., Silva Torres, G. E., Silva Torres, G. E., Silva Torres, G. E., & Silva Torres, G. E. (2017, June). Sensitivity and Specificity of the Duke Structured Interview for Sleep Disorders to Assess Sleep Disordered Breathing. In Sleep, 40, A180.

Presentations

  • Heslin, K. M., Muramoto, M. L., Silva Torres, G. E., & Loescher, L. J. (2020, October). Educating massage therapists to engage in skin cancer primary prevention conversations with clients. International Cancer Education Conference.. Virtual (COVID-19): American Association of Cancer Education.
  • Butler, E. A., Glickenstein, D. A., Silva Torres, G. E., Quan, S. F., Thomson, C. A., & Haynes, P. L. (2019, Spring). Inconsistent Social Rhythms are Associated with Higher Waist Circumference Following Job Loss. Society of Behavioral Medicine annual meeting. Washington D.C.: Society of Behavioral Medicine.
  • Shea, K. D., Silva Torres, G. E., & Evans, B. (2017, April). A BEST PRACTICE ASSESSMENT PROTOCOL FOR MOBILE TECHNOLOGY HOME VISITS. Annual Research Conference. Denver, CO: Western Institute of Nursing.

Poster Presentations

  • Quan, S. F., Haynes, P. L., Quan, S. F., Haynes, P. L., Sherrill, D. L., Silva Torres, G. E., Sherrill, D. L., Silva Torres, G. E., Gengler, D., Gengler, D., Glickenstein, D. A., Glickenstein, D. A., Rojo-Wissar, D., Rojo-Wissar, D., Oliver, R., Oliver, R., Nair, U. S., Nair, U. S., Nair, U. S., , Nair, U. S., et al. (2017, March). High prevalence of over the counter sleep aid use among individuals who have experienced involuntary job loss. Society of Behavioral Medicine. San Diego, CA.