Meet a Stakeholder: Bettye Emmanuel

Bettye Emmanuel

Member of the Goodman CARDS since 2012

Bettye EmmanuelWhat is one thing you really like about being a member of the CARDS at Goodman?

I like the commitment, how everyone keeps coming. I’ve always liked information, and being in the CARDS makes me want to dig deeper.

What is one interesting experience or research topic we discussed at a meeting? Something that stands out in your memory about CARDS meetings?

There was one meeting with a young lady [part of the research team], and I remember her saying something had happened to her grandma in assisted living. She wanted to improve contact between CNAs and providers so things would be better for the residents. I’m a CNA myself, and I’ve seen problems in assisted living homes, so I liked knowing that someone was trying to do something to make that better.

How has being in the CARDS affected your attitude about research?

It really changed my opinion to see the background, the big picture of all of this. Researchers are trying to figure it all out – they’re learning as they go. And that’s really important that someone is trying to figure things out when it comes to health.

I was at my kids’ function recently, a family fun night for science, and a guy there recognized me – he was a researcher who remembered me from one of the CARDS meetings! He had one of the flyers that we [the CARDS] revised. You never know what people will remember about you and UW is huge. He saw me, recognized me, and remembered what I had to say.

Tell us something interesting about yourself that people might be surprised to learn!

I’ve got an old soul! I think people usually think I’m much older than I am.