Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner
Dr Takiyah J Smith, DNP, MSN, MN, RN, SANE-A is a sexual assault nurse examiner, part-time lecturer at Case Western Reserve University, and behavioral health registered nurse practicing in Cleveland, Ohio.
Smith earned a Master’s in Nursing in 2019. After four years working as a psychiatric nurse, she earned both an MSN in Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner and DNP in 2023 from Case Western Reserve University. Dr Smith works to integrate her passions of mental health throughout women’s lifespan.
Dr Smith advocates for victims of violence outside the hospital through community service and testimonies to the Ohio legislature. Before nursing, she volunteered as a crisis counselor volunteer for RAINN’s Online Sexual Assault Hotline. Also, Takiyah has traveled to Guatemala and Ghana to provide volunteer nursing care and education. Dr Smith has provided proponent testimony for several state bills supporting victims, including helping strangulation become a felony in Ohio and eliminating spousal exemptions for sexual assault. Dr Smith was awarded the Rebecca and Samuel H Elliott Award for Outstanding Community Service in 2023. Recently, she was appointed Director at Large for IAFN Ohio Chapter Government Affairs 2024-2025.
