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Nikki Patel, Ph.D. is a 2026 graduate of the PhD Program in Leadership and Change at Antioch University.

Nikki Patel at her Dissertation Defense.

From L-R: Dr. Rengin B. Firat, Committee Chair, Dr. Jorge A. Rodriguez, Committee Member, Dr. Ken Williams, Committee Member.

Dissertation Committee

  • Rengin B. Firat, PhD, Committee Chair
  • Ken Williams, EdD, Committee Member
  • Jorge A. Rodriguez, MD, Committee Member

Keywords

telehealth, rural healthcare, leadership, interpersonal connection, patient–provider relationship, phenomenology, therapeutic relational connection, psychological safety, trust, social determinants of health, fundamental cause theory, relational communication, trust, empathy, technology

Document Type

Dissertation

Publication Date

2026

Abstract

This study explored the lived experiences of interpersonal connection during synchronous video telehealth encounters among rural patients and healthcare providers in South Carolina. Although telehealth has expanded access to care, less is known about how interpersonal connection is experienced within virtual healthcare relationships. Guided by a qualitative descriptive phenomenological approach grounded in Husserlian philosophy, the study included 10 rural patients and six healthcare providers with experience in synchronous video telehealth. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using descriptive phenomenological methods. Five themes emerged: relational communication as the foundation of interpersonal connection; development of trust through relational processes; intentional adaptation of empathy in virtual care; technology’s influence on the relational experience; and contextual influences on telehealth experiences. Findings demonstrated that interpersonal connection was a dynamic, reciprocal, and intentional process shaped by communication, trust, empathy, technology, and individual circumstances. Psychological safety emerged as an important condition supporting connection, while reciprocal transparency highlighted the shared responsibility of patients and providers in developing trust. Findings support the relevance of Therapeutic Relational Connection, Social Determinants of Health, and Fundamental Cause Theory and suggest that meaningful relationships can be developed when relational practices are intentionally adapted to virtual care. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA (https://aura.antioch.edu) and OhioLINK ETD Center (https://etd.ohiolink.edu).

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Nikki Patel, Ph.D.

ORCID id:  #0009-000o-7515-9903

Dr. Nikita Patel is a healthcare finance and operations professional whose work bridges strategic financial management, healthcare administration, and organizational leadership. With extensive experience in ambulatory services and healthcare finance, she brings a comprehensive understanding of the operational and financial complexities of healthcare delivery. Her professional interests include healthcare strategy, financial stewardship, organizational effectiveness, and the advancement of equitable, patient-centered care.

Passionate about exploring how healthcare systems can strengthen patient-provider relationships and improve the delivery of care, her research examines the interpersonal dimensions of synchronous video telehealth, with particular emphasis on trust, communication, empathy, and relational connection in rural healthcare settings. Through her work, she seeks to contribute to a deeper understanding of the lived experiences of patients and healthcare providers while informing approaches that foster meaningful connections in an increasingly technology-driven healthcare environment.

As a first-generation South Asian American and native of Charleston, South Carolina, Dr. Patel brings a unique perspective to her work in healthcare leadership and research. She earned her Ph.D. in Leadership and Change from Antioch University, along with a Master of Science, Master of Health Administration, Master of Business Administration, and Master of Arts. Her doctoral research, Exploring Patient-Provider Relationships in Rural Telehealth: A Phenomenological Study of Lived Experiences in South Carolina, reflects her commitment to advancing healthcare leadership, strengthening rural health systems, and promoting equitable access to quality care.

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