Beth Schwartz
Adjunct Professor
Biography
Dr. Beth K. Schwartz, PhD, RN, PHN, MAT, is a nursing professor, public health scholar, and ordained minister whose interdisciplinary work integrates nursing science, spiritual care, and trauma-informed healing. She teaches at UCLA and the University of San Francisco and has over 20 years of experience in clinical, academic, and community health settings.
Dr. Schwartz is the founder of the Discovering Self healing model, developed through a classical grounded theory study on women’s recovery after experiencing adverse religious events. Her research addresses the intersection of health, spirituality, gender equity, and voice reclamation. She is passionate about advancing holistic, justice-oriented care through qualitative inquiry, narrative research, and spiritually integrated practice.
Dr. Schwartz speaks nationally on religious trauma, women’s health, and leadership in healing professions. Her goal is to bridge evidence-based science with soul-centered compassion, helping individuals and systems move toward wholeness.
Expertise
- Faith-informed health policy and advocacy
- Women's health and social justice leadership
- Spiritual care integration in public health systems
- Trauma-informed nursing education and practice
- Qualitative research translation for policy impact
Research Areas
- Religious trauma and women's health
- Healing processes and voice recovery
- Grounded theory methodology in nursing
- Spiritual care and holistic health
- Gender equity in global and public health
Education
- Azusa Pacific University, PhD in Nursing, 2023
- West Chester University, MSN, 2013
- Immaculata University, BSN, 2007
Prior Experience
- Assistant Professor, West Coast University
- Lecturer, University of Los Angeles
Selected Publications
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Discovering Self: From Adversity to Awakening—An Emergent Grounded Theory Toward Wholeness (Dissertation published)
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Poster – Adverse Religious Experiences: A Grounded Theory Trauma-Informed Proposal to Inform Nursing Practice, Norway, 2023.
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Presentations at Roy Adaptation Association, APHA, ACHNE/APHN, Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, 2022-2025.