Tina Savla

Tina Savla is a Professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Science at Virginia Tech's College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences. She holds multiple significant roles including being a Research Methodologist at the Virginia Tech Center for Gerontology, Faculty Affiliate at the VT Center for Autism Research, and Professor at Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine in Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine. Dr. Savla also serves as Director of the Whole Health Consortium and Chair of its Leadership Council.

Dr. Savla's research focuses on three interconnected areas: Stress, Health, and Well-Being in Mid and Late Life, Family Relationships, Support Networks, and Caregiving, and Chronic Disease Management. Her work employs a biopsychosocial framework, combining daily diary methods with biomarkers to understand how everyday stressors impact health outcomes in aging populations. She has particular expertise in dementia caregiving in rural Appalachia, examining how cultural factors, family dynamics, and social support networks influence caregiver well-being.

Her recent publications (2023-2025) reveal a strong emphasis on innovative approaches to dementia caregiving, with particular attention to diverse caregiver roles beyond the traditional spouse/child paradigm. Her research explores niece/nephew caregivers, sibling caregivers, and extended family networks, while also developing and testing interventions like the mindfulness-based PAACC program. A consistent theme across her work is the examination of rural health disparities, particularly in Appalachian communities, and how geographic and cultural contexts shape caregiving experiences and outcomes.

Dr. Savla has been actively involved in teaching advanced research methods and topics courses at Virginia Tech, mentoring graduate students, and leading collaborative research initiatives. She has received media attention for her work on elder fraud prevention programs, with coverage in Forbes and Market Watch.