Laila Cure Ph.D., Dr.

Overview

Dr. Laila Cure is an Associate Professor in the Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering at Wichita State University. Her research focuses on the use of analytics and mathematical modeling techniques to understand and design operations involving humans interacting with technology in uncertain environments. 

Academic Interests and Expertise

Professional Degrees:

• 2011 Ph. D., Industrial Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL.
• 2006 M.S. in Industrial Engineering, Universidad del Norte, Barranquilla, Colombia
• 2003 B.S. in Industrial Engineering, Universidad del Norte, Barranquilla, Colombia 
  Certificates

Certificates:

• 2020 Basic MOST Certification, Accenture Workforce Optimization Academy Team, Online.
  2011 Healthcare Risk Management Certificate, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL. 

Areas of Research Interest

Research interests:

• Analysis and (re)design of operations involving complex work.
• Evaluating automation options and desigining residual work systems.
• Model-based decision support for the design and improvement of operations.
• Model-based decision support for the deployment of patient safety and population health interventions.

Lab capabilities:

• Developing Engineered Labor Standards (time study, predetermined motion time systems (MOST), standard data systems)
• Systems simulation
• Data analytics (visualizations, descriptive modeling, predictive modeling)
• Formulation and solution of optimization problems (examples: scheduling, resource allocation)

Example projects in collaboration with industry:

• Sedgwick County Emergency Medical Services. Data analytics applications to support ambulance dispatching policy development. Wichita, KS.
• Aerotech. New facility layout development. Wichita, KS. L. Cure, CV Page 4 of 4
• RedGuard. Evaluation of processes to optimize task sequences, tools and facility layout to improve productivity and build new facility. Wichita, KS.
• Landscape Forms, Kalamazoo, MI. In collaboration with the Green Manufacturing Initiative at Western Michigan University. Evaluation of worker injury risk in manual workstation. Kalamazoo, MI
   
   
   

Areas of Teaching Interest

Undergraduate:

• Work Systems Analysis
• Production Systems Analysis
• Statistical Quality Control
• Systems Simulation

Graduate:

• Introduction to Data Mining and Analytics
• Introduction to Data Visualization (online badge)
• Basics of Analytics (online badge)
• Reliability Engineering
• Modeling and Analysis of Manufacturing Systems

Publications

• Darvishi, S., Misasi, P., Cure, L. (2025) Developing workload-informed crew configuration recommendations for emergency medical services, International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, 108(103777).
• Ali, U., Cure, L., Lewis, R., Rattani, A., Hill, T., & Woods, N. K. (2024) Examining Rurality and Social Determinants of Health Among Women with GDM: A 15-year Comprehensive Population Analysis, BMC Women’s Health, 24 (467) 
• Ercolani, J., Cure, L., Misasi, P. (2024) Identifying and validating perceived workload metrics for emergency medical services. Applied Ergonomics, 118(104270). 
• Siddiqui, H., Rattani, A., Woods, N. K., Cure, L., Lewis, R., Twomey, J., Smith-Campbell, B., & Hill, T. (2021). A Survey on Machine and Deep Learning Models for Childhood and Adolescent Obesity. IEEE Access. Vol 9. 
• Hampton, D., Cure, L. Work Systems and the BoK. Industrial and Systems Engineer, the IISE Magazine. March 2021.
• Aragon, L., Schieman, K., Cure, L. (2021). Incorporating the six aims for quality in the analysis of trauma care. Health Systems. Published Online. DOI: 10.1080/20476965.2021.1906763
• Majidirad, A., Yihun, Y., Cure, L. (2020). Toward an Integrated Intervention and Assessment of Robot-Based Rehabilitation. ASME J of Medical Diagnostics. 3(2).  
• Huynh, N.H. Bui, H. Cure, L. Characterizing the Workday of Ambulance Crew Members. Proceedings of the 2020 IISE Annual Conference.
• Aragon, L. Cure, L. Developing Context-based work planning policies for inpatient care. Proceedings of the 2019 IISE Annual Conference.
• Tiong, E. Cure, L. Augmenting Inpatient Care Work Analysis with Computer Simulation and Data Analytics. Proceedings of the 2018 Industrial and Systems Engineering Research Conference.
• Aragon, L., Cure, L., Tiong, E., Bush, R., (2018). Modeling and Analysis of Short-term Work Planning in Inpatient Care Settings. Operations Research for Healthcare, 19, 14-25.
• Cure, L. Elliot, A., Nicks, S. (2017). Identifying Appropriate Interruption-Handling Strategies during Healthcare Care Processes. IISE Transactions on Healthcare Systems Engineering, 7(4), 261-270.
• Cure, L. Van Enk, R. (2015). Effect of Hand Sanitizer Location on Hand Hygiene Compliance. American Journal of Infection Control, 43(9):917-921.
• Cure, L. Zayas-Castro, J. Fabri, P. (2014). Challenges and Opportunities in the Analysis of Risk in Healthcare. IIE Transactions on Healthcare Systems Engineering, 4(2):88-104.
• Cure, L. Van Enk, R. Tiong E. (2014). A Systematic Approach for the Location of Hand Sanitizer Dispensers in Hospitals. Healthcare Management Science,  17(3): 245-258.
• Cure, L. Zayas-Castro, J. Fabri, P. (2011). Clustering Near-Miss Reports to Identify Risk in Healthcare Delivery. Journal of Biomedical Informatics, 44(5): 738-48.

Professional Experience

Academic:

• 2015-present Associate Professor, Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, Wichita State University, Wichita, KS.
• 2011-2014 Assistant Professor, Department of Industrial and Entrepreneurial Engineering & Engineering Management, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI.
• 2010-2011 Research Assistant, Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering, University of South Florida. Tampa, FL.
• 2009-2011 WOC Research Associate, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 
  James A. Haley VA Medical Center, Tampa, FL.
• 2006-2009 Teaching Assistant, Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering, University of South Florida. Tampa, FL.
• 2003-2004 Instructor, Department of Industrial Engineering, Universidad del Norte, Barranquilla, Colombia

Industry:

• 2005 – 2006 Inventory Planning and Operations Engineer (Green Belt) Biofilm S. A., Cartagena, Colombia.
• 2004 – 2005 Engineer (Industrial Engineering Department), Worldtex Caribe LTDA. Cartagena, Colombia.
• 2002 Coal Planning and Coordination Intern, CERREJON, Albania (Guajira) Colombia.

Clinical Experience

• Sedgwick County Emergency Medical Services. Data analytics applications to support ambulance dispatching policy development. Wichita, KS.
• Aerotech. New facility layout development. Wichita, KS. L. Cure, CV Page 4 of 4
• RedGuard. Evaluation of processes to optimize task sequences, tools and facility layout to improve productivity and build new facility. Wichita, KS.
• Landscape Forms, Kalamazoo, MI. In collaboration with the Green Manufacturing Initiative at Western Michigan University. Evaluation of worker injury risk in manual workstation. Kalamazoon, MI
• Developing Engineered Labor Standards (time study, predetermined motion time systems (MOST), standard data systems)
• Systems simulation
• Data analytics (visualizations, descriptive modeling, predictive modeling)
• Formulation and solution of optimization problems (examples: scheduling, resource allocation)

Grants

• 2025 Laila Cure (PI) “Prototype Factory Use Case for Work Design”. Sponsor: State of Kansas Applied Learning Fund.
• 2025 Laila Cure (PI), Souvika Sarkar (co PI)  “Food System Data Acquisition to Support Real Time Food Navigation using Large Language Models”. Sponsor: Wichita State University, MURPA.
• 2025 Laila Cure (PI), Souvika Sarkar (co PI) “Leveraging AI for Food System Data Acquisition and Inquiry”. Sponsor: Hunger Free Kansas
• 2022 Laila Cure (PI). “ERI: Workload-Informed Operations for Emergency Medical Services and other First-Responder Systems”. Sponsor: National Science Foundation. (REU Supplement obtained in 2023).
• 2020 Laila Cure (PI). “URCA EMS Workload Assessment”. Sponsor: Wichita State University.
• 2017 Laila Cure (PI). “Multivariate Analysis of Quality in Trauma Care”. Sponsor: Bronson Healthcare Group, Inc. Bronson Research Fund.
• 2013 Laila Cure (PI). “Systems Simulation Analysis of a Hospital Rapid Response System”. Sponsor: Western Michigan University Faculty Research and Creative Activities Award, FRACAA.
• 2012 Laila Cure (PI), Richard Van Enk (co-PI). “Engineering Approach to Improving Hand Hygiene in Hospitals”. Sponsor: Bronson Research Foundation.
• 2012 Tycho Fredericks (PI), Steven Butt (co-PI), Laila Cure (co-PI), Diana Prieto (co-PI). “Cot Loading – Data Collection”. Sponsor: Stryker Medical. 

Areas of Service

• 2020-2021, Editorial board, Healthcare Management Science Journal.
• 2019-2024 Director, Work Systems Division, IISE
• 2018-2019 Communications Co-Chair, Minority Issues Forum, INFORMS.
• 2017 Volunteer at Women in Engineering summer camp organized by the College of Engineering
• 2016-present Support for department recruitment activities
• 2016-present Student chapter advisor for the Association for Supply Chain Management, APICS.
• 2016 Chair of the INFORMS Membership and Member Services Committee
• 2013-2015 Research Mentor for the Kalamazoo Area Math and Science Center (KAMSC)
• 2012-2015 Member of the INFORMS Membership and Member Services Committee
• 2011 Volunteer at Project World Health. Support Medical Students in designing the patient flow of temporary clinics in the Dominican Republic.
• 2008-2011 INFORMS USF student chapter: Newsletter Editor (2010-2011), President (2009-2010), Secretary (2008-2009), Newsletter Co-editor (2007-2011).
• 2009 Volunteer at Metropolitan Ministries in Tampa, FL. Redesigned the holiday tent layout to improve customer flow.
• 2008-2010 Volunteer for after school program, math tutor for low-income children