SCHOLAR DIRECTORY

My journey as a Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) began in Nigeria 37 years ago, where I provided care to women in rural areas due to significant lack of access to care. After immigrating to the United States, I continued to practice as a CNM mainly in underserved areas, and eventually obtained a Master of Science in Nursing and a Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees. I am actively engaged in my local community health programs, providing patient education and preventive care programs through health fairs and pap smear and mammogram drives. I developed programs to decrease the incidence of preterm delivery, low birth weight, and anemia in pregnancy. Recognizing a growing need for focused diabetes education among the vulnerable populations I serve, I developed and implemented a Gestational Diabetes Education program in my community-based healthcare system providing care to primarily Hispanic and African American underserved populations. I also serve as a clinical preceptor for CNM and NP students. My clinical practice and preceptorship earned me Values in Action Awards in excellence and hospitality and recognition as a valued preceptor. My main interest and goal are to help women in vulnerable populations achieve optimal health through preventive health care and successful self-management of chronic diseases. As a PhD student at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Nursing, my goals are to develop a program of research applying a social-ecological model to study gestational diabetes in Hispanic women, with a focus on how social support enhances self-management and glycemic control.