SAVIR Member Spotlight: Toni Marie Rudisill, MS, PhD

My specific areas of focus are transportation safety, substance use, and injury policy. I have always found injury research to be very fascinating. As a graduate student, I got the opportunity to work at our Injury Center and was instantly ‘hooked’.

I have been a member for well over a decade–I actually joined while I was a PhD student! My favorite part of SAVIR is all my wonderful colleagues. I love being able to connect with others at our annual conference. It’s a fantastic place to network with like-minded people.

I would have to say there are two overarching aspects that are the most rewarding. First, I enjoy the research process from coming up with a research question, writing a grant, securing the funding, carrying out the project, then publishing the manuscript. As a ‘type A’ person, it is very satisfying to see something go from an idea to a finished product. Secondly, I find mentoring to be very rewarding. I enjoy working with students and watching them grow as scientists.

I live in the Appalachian Mountains, so I am an outdoor girl. I have numerous hobbies in every season which include: backpacking, camping, kayaking/boating (I own 11 boats!), hiking, fly fishing, riding and spending time with my two horses, golf, skiing (cross country and alpine), and snowshoeing.