Uzoji Nwanaji-Enwerem,
About
Dr. Uzoji Nwanaji-Enwerem, a family nurse practitioner and Yale School of Nursing lecturer, focuses on researching psychosocial stressors’ effects on sleep health among individuals from marginalized backgrounds. She’s presently engaged in an NIH/NCATS-funded project, investigating intersectional stigma against Black individuals with co-occurring HIV, post-traumatic stress symptoms, and sleep disturbance. The project also assesses the feasibility, acceptability, and appropriateness of utilizing accelerated resolution therapy (ART) to address these health challenges in efforts to improve trauma informed care.
Hometown
Concord, NC
Undergraduate Education
BSN, Winston Salem State University
Graduate Education
MSN, Family Nurse Practitioner Program, Winston
Salem State University -Duke Nursing Bridge to the Doctorate Program
PhD – Yale University School of Nursing
Research Interests
Psychosocial Stress, Stigmatization, Discrimination, Sleep Health
Publications and Presentations:
Publications:
Nwanaji-Enwerem, U., Onsomu, O., Roberts, D., Singh, A., Brummett, B., Williams, R., Dungan, J., (2022). Relationship between psychosocial stress and blood pressure: The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Family Heart Study. Sage Open Nursing, 8, 23779608221107589.
Nwanaji-Enwerem, U. Condon, E., Conley, Wang, K., Iheanacho, T., S., Redeker, N. (2022). Adapting the health stigma & discrimination framework to understand the association between stigma and sleep deficiency: A systematic review. SleepHealth.
Breazeale, S., Jeon, S., Hwang, Y., O’Connell, M., Nwanaji-Enwerem, U., Linsky, S., … & Redeker, N. S. (2022). Sleep Characteristics, Mood, Somatic Symptoms, and Self-Care Among People With Heart Failure and Insomnia. Nursing Research.
Redeker, N. S., Yaggi, H. K., Jacoby, D., Hollenbeak, C., Breazeale, S., Conley, S., Hwang, Y., Iennacco, J., Linsky, S., Moemeka, L., Nwanaji-Enwerem, U., O’Connell, M., Jeon, S. (2021). Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia has sustained effects on insomnia, fatigue, and function among people with chronic heart failure and insomnia: The HeartSleep Study. Sleep.
Redeker, N. S., Rawl, S. M., & Nwanaji-Enwerem, U. (2021). Expanding the Pipeline of Nurse Scientists to Address the Health Care Needs of a Diverse Society. Nursing outlook, 69(4), 704-706.
Nwanaji-Enwerem, J. C., Nwanaji-Enwerem, U., Van Der Laan, L., Galazka, J. M., Redeker, N. S., & Cardenas, A. (2020). A longitudinal epigenetic aging and leukocyte analysis of simulated space travel: The Mars-500 Mission. Cell Reports, 33(10), 108406.
Moore, D., Onsomu, E. O., Brown, T. L., Nwanaji-Enwerem, U., Esquivel, M., Bush, D., & Richardson, S. (2019). African American nursing students understanding of media images and their role in intercultural exchanges, communication, and the nursing profession. Journal of Best Practices in Health Professions Diversity: Research, Education and Policy, 12(2), 154-164.
Redeker, N.S., Rawl, S., Nwanaji-Enwerem, U. (2021). Expanding the pipeline of nurse scientists to address the health care needs of a diverse society [Editorial]. Nursing Outlook, 69(4), 704-706. doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2021.06.010
Redeker, N. S., Bessette, A., Breazeale, S., Conley, S., Hollenbeak, C., Hwang, Y., Iennacco, J., Jacoby, D., Kelly-Hauser, J., Linsky, S., Moemeka, L., Nwanaji-Enwerem, U., O’Connell, M., Yaggi, H. K., & Jeon, S. (2021). Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia compared with heart-failure self-management education has sustained effects on insomnia among adults with chronic heart failure, Sleep, 44, A136
Nwanaji-Enwerem, J., Nwanaji-Enwerem, U., Laan L., Galazka, J., Redeker, N., Cardenas, A. (2020). A longitudinal epigenetic aging and leukocyte analysis of simulated space travel: The Mars-500 mission. Cell Reports, 33(10), 108406.
Moore, D., Onsomu, E. O., Brown, T. L., Nwanaji-Enwerem, U., Esquivel, M., Bush, D., & Richardson, S. (2020). African American nursing students understanding of media images and their role in intercultural exchanges, communication, and the nursing profession. Journal of Best Practices in Health Professions Diversity: Research, Education and Policy
Presentations:
Nwanaji-Enwerem, U., Beitel, M., Eggert, K., Zheng, X., Gaeta, M., Redeker, N., Madden, M., Oberleitner, L., Oberleitner, D., Barry, D. (2021, Submitted-Abstract). Correlates of perceived discrimination among patients in methadone maintenance treatment. The College on Problems of Drug Dependence (CPDD). March 25th-March 26th, 2021-Annual Conference (abstract)
Nwanaji-Enwerem, U., Sadler, S., Sangchoon. J., Barry, D., Yaggi, K., & Redeker, N. (2021, Submitted-Abstract). An explanatory sequential mixed methods study of stigma, sleep and treatment outcomes among individuals on medication for opioid use disorder. Eastern Nursing Research Society (ENRS). March 25th-March 26th, 2021-Annual Conference (abstract)
Awards
Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (F31). Recipient.
National Institute of Health (NIH) Diversity Supplement. Recipient.
Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Emerging Scholars Fellowship. Recipient.
Afro-American Cultural Center at Yale ORD Funding. Recipient.
JI Girls x Brown University Afro Health Campaign Project Funding. Recipient.
Extracurricular Activities
JI Organization- media blogging and entertainment (Website: https://www.jigirls.org)
Travel
Afrocultural work