Elisa Childs obtained her PhD in Social Work from the University of Georgia and her Bachelor and Master of Social Work degrees from Middle Tennessee State University. She works at the NRC’s Center for Evaluation and Research as an evaluator for CDC-funded public health programs focusing on health promotion and chronic disease prevention. Independent from the NRC, Elisa conducts research on expanding rural health care access and eliminating disparities related to social determinants of health, emphasizing medically underserved areas with high older adult populations.

Before a career in research and evaluation, Elisa worked in the health care field as a hospice social worker and the Director of Social Services for one of the largest skilled nursing facilities in Southern California. Recognized for her potential to influence older adults’ health outcomes and quality of life through her research, Elisa was awarded the national honor of Pre-Dissertation Fellow by the Association for Gerontology Education in Social Work, where she is an active member.