Miriam O Ezenwa, PhD, MSN, BSN, RN, FAAN
Professor
Department:
Biobehavioral Nursing Science
Business Phone:
(352) 273-6344
Business Email:
moezenwa@ufl.edu
About Miriam O Ezenwa
TEACHING
Dr. Ezenwa has contributed to teaching and learning of both undergraduate and graduate students through classroom and online instruction and one-on-one mentoring. Her teaching philosophy is based on the constructivist learning theory (CLT). The CLT states that “teaching is based on the belief that learning occurs as learners are actively involved in a process of meaning and knowledge construction as opposed to passively receiving information.” In applying this philosophy to her teaching approach, Dr. Ezenwa’s goal as a teacher is to cultivate active and independent, yet collaborative learners who engage in exchange of diverse ideas. To this end, Dr. Ezenwa views her role as a facilitator as she involves students in their learning. She encourages students to view her not as an “all-knowing orator” but as one of the resources for their academic success. Dr. Ezenwa has achieved her teaching goal by teaching in core research courses at the undergraduate and graduate level. Dr. Ezenwa is slated to teach NUR 4829 in both Spring and Fall 2016.
RESEARCH
Dr. Ezenwa’s research interests focus on health disparities in pain management, particularly, healthcare injustice, a psychological stressor, as an explanatory factor for the disparities; pain and symptom management for people with sickle cell disease or cancer; palliative care for end-of-life cancer patients; biobehavioral research including cortisol as a biomarker of stress and use of computer technologies for stress and pain measurement, and delivery of stress reduction intervention in sickle cell disease.
SERVICE
Dr. Ezenwa serves on the Midwest Nursing Research Society Grant Review Committee. She is a peer reviewer for health disparities, cultural diversity, and pain management journals, journals with publications relevant to her research expertise. Dr. Ezenwa is a member of the American Pain Society, Midwest Nursing Research Society, Council for the Advancement of Nursing Science, Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society, and Golden Key International Honor Society.
EDUCATION
Dr. Ezenwa earned her BSN from Hunter College, part of the City University of New York where she graduated Cum Laude, her MS from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and PhD with a major in nursing and distributed minor in Anthropology and Educational Psychology with a focus on chronic pain management from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Ezenwa completed post-doctoral work as a National Institutes of Health/National Heart Lung & Blood Institute Basic and Translational Research Program Sickle Cell Scholar at the University of Illinois at Chicago with a focus on sickle cell pain management.
Accomplishments
New Investigator Award
2015
·
Nursing Research Society
Excellence in Research Award for a co-authored manuscript, “Pain and Symptom Management in Palliative Care and at End of Life.”
2014
·
Nursing Outlook
Recipient
2007-2008
·
Gwen Shapiro Graduate Fellowship Award
Scholar
2005
·
American Pain Society
Advanced Opportunity Fellow
2003-2004
·
–
Academic Excellence Award
2003
·
Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing-Alpha Chapter
Recipient
2003
·
National Collegiate Nursing Awards
Recipient
2003
·
Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing
Recipient
2002-2003
·
Dorothy G. Fowler, The Scholarship and Welfare Fund
Class of 1955 Scholarship
2002
·
The Scholarship and Welfare Fund
Ellen Lloyd Gallagher Scholarship
2002
·
–
Member
2002
·
Golden Key International Honour Society
Recipient
2001-2003
·
John F. Kennedy, Jr. Institute for Worker Education
Recipient
2001-2003
·
Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program
Rudin Scholarship
2001-2002
·
Hunter Bellevue School of Nursing
Scholarship
2001-2002
·
Philip and Aida Siff Educational Foundation
Joseph Goldberg Scholarship
2001
·
The Scholarship and Welfare Fund
Teaching Profile
Courses Taught
2017-2020,2022-2023
NGR7970L Adv Nursing Project
2017-2021
NGR7940L Residency in Adv Nurs
2019-2020
NUR3168 Lead and Inspire 2: Research and Evidence-Based Nursing
2017-2024
NGR7661 Nursing Science in Health Disparities and Vulnerable Populations
2020
NUR4827 Lead and Inspire 4: Leadership and Innovation in Nursing Practice
2016,2019
NUR4829 Leadership and Management in Nursing
2018
NUR3169 Inquiry and Evidence in Professional Nursing Practice
2017-2018
NGR7980 Research for Doctoral Dissertation
2016-2017
NUR3825 Introduction to the Profession of Nursing
2016-2017
NGR7979 Advanced Research
2017
NGR7124 Theory Development in Nursing
Research Profile
Health disparities in pain management, particularly, healthcare injustice, a psychological stressor, as an explanatory factor for the disparities; pain and symptom management for people with sickle cell disease or cancer; palliative care for end-of-life cancer patients; biobehavioral research including cortisol as a biomarker of stress and use of computer technologies for stress and pain measurement, and delivery of stress reduction intervention in sickle cell disease.
Open Researcher and Contributor ID (ORCID)
0000-0002-6188-8969
Publications
2024
Adherence to a reproductive health intervention for young adults with sickle cell.
Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.
[DOI] 10.1097/JXX.0000000000000997.
[PMID] 38408228.
2024
Collecting patient-reported outcome measures in the electronic health record: Lessons from the NIH pragmatic trials Collaboratory.
Contemporary clinical trials.
137
[DOI] 10.1016/j.cct.2023.107426.
[PMID] 38160749.
2024
Feasibility of Nurse-led Development of Custom Virtual Reality Experiences for Health Care Interventions.
The Journal of nursing education.
63(4):261-264
[DOI] 10.3928/01484834-20230712-10.
[PMID] 37738044.
2024
Mentorship in Black and White: Updates over 20 years later.
Research in nursing & health.
47(3):275-276
[DOI] 10.1002/nur.22385.
[PMID] 38528701.
2024
Social network analysis of the CaRE2 health equity center: Team science in full display.
Clinical and translational science.
17(3)
[DOI] 10.1111/cts.13747.
[PMID] 38445540.
2023
Adolescents’ practical knowledge of asthma self-management and experiences in the context of acute asthma: a qualitative content analysis
Journal of Asthma.
60(2):277-287
[DOI] 10.1080/02770903.2022.2045309.
[PMID] 35195484.
2023
Care, lead, and inspire: Infusing innovation into nursing research and evidence-based practice course.
Worldviews on evidence-based nursing.
20(3):281-284
[DOI] 10.1111/wvn.12654.
[PMID] 37194344.
2023
CHOICES for sickle cell reproductive health: A protocol of a randomized preconception intervention model for a single gene disorder.
PloS one.
18(12)
[DOI] 10.1371/journal.pone.0294907.
[PMID] 38060589.
2023
Developing an Implementation Blueprint for the NIH HEAL Initiative GRACE Trial: Perspectives on Acupuncture and Guided Relaxation for Chronic Sickle Cell Disease Pain.
Journal of integrative and complementary medicine.
29(10):683-688
[DOI] 10.1089/jicm.2022.0781.
[PMID] 37184905.
2023
Equity and bias in electronic health records data.
Contemporary clinical trials.
130
[DOI] 10.1016/j.cct.2023.107238.
[PMID] 37225122.
2023
Florida-California Cancer Research, Education and Engagement (CaRE2) Health Equity Center: Structure, Innovations, and Initial Outcomes.
Cancer control : journal of the Moffitt Cancer Center.
30
[DOI] 10.1177/10732748231197878.
[PMID] 37703814.
2023
Hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial of guided relaxation and acupuncture for chronic sickle cell disease pain (GRACE): A protocol.
Contemporary clinical trials communications.
32
[DOI] 10.1016/j.conctc.2023.101076.
[PMID] 36852100.
2023
Monitoring and responding to signals of suicidal ideation in pragmatic clinical trials: Lessons from the GRACE trial for Chronic Sickle Cell Disease Pain.
Contemporary clinical trials communications.
36
[DOI] 10.1016/j.conctc.2023.101218.
[PMID] 37842321.
2023
Potential bias and lack of generalizability in electronic health record data: reflections on health equity from the National Institutes of Health Pragmatic Trials Collaboratory.
Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association : JAMIA.
30(9):1561-1566
[DOI] 10.1093/jamia/ocad115.
[PMID] 37364017.
2022
A Novel Measure of Pain Location in Adults with Sickle Cell Disease.
Pain management nursing : official journal of the American Society of Pain Management Nurses.
23(6):693-702
[DOI] 10.1016/j.pmn.2022.09.004.
[PMID] 36261305.
2022
A Stress and Pain Self-management mHealth App for Adult Outpatients With Sickle Cell Disease: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Study
JMIR Research Protocols.
11(7)
[DOI] 10.2196/33818.
[PMID] 35904878.
2022
Adherence to Analgesics Among Outpatients Seriously Ill With Cancer.
Cancer nursing.
45(5):337-344
[DOI] 10.1097/NCC.0000000000001064.
[PMID] 35175950.
2022
Characteristics associated with the perceived likelihood to become parents among young adults with sickle cell disease or sickle cell trait in the USA.
Journal of genetic counseling.
31(3):689-697
[DOI] 10.1002/jgc4.1535.
[PMID] 34826361.
2022
Factors associated with young adult engagement with a web-based sickle cell reproductive health intervention.
PEC innovation.
1
[DOI] 10.1016/j.pecinn.2022.100063.
[PMID] 36618121.
2022
Influence of Haptoglobin Polymorphism on Stroke in Sickle Cell Disease Patients.
Genes.
13(1)
[DOI] 10.3390/genes13010144.
[PMID] 35052484.
2022
Mechanisms of injustice: what we (do not) know about racialized disparities in pain.
Pain.
163(6):999-1005
[DOI] 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002528.
[PMID] 34724680.
2022
Prevalence of HIV-related stigma in adults living with HIV & disability in Florida, 2015–2016
AIDS Care.
34(1):47-54
[DOI] 10.1080/09540121.2021.1929812.
[PMID] 34011205.
2022
Tailored Parenting Plans of Young Adults With Sickle Cell Disease or Sickle Cell Trait.
Computers, informatics, nursing : CIN.
40(9):633-640
[DOI] 10.1097/CIN.0000000000000933.
[PMID] 35930415.
2022
The Meaning and Perceptions of HIV-Related Stigma in African American Women Living With HIV in Rural Florida: A Qualitative Study.
The Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care : JANAC.
33(2):118-131
[DOI] 10.1097/JNC.0000000000000252.
[PMID] 33782240.
2021
Clinical efficacy and implementation issues of an electronic pain reporting device among outpatients with cancer.
Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer.
29(9):5227-5235
[DOI] 10.1007/s00520-021-06075-2.
[PMID] 33646365.
2021
Critical Role of Hemopexin Mediated Cytoprotection in the Pathophysiology of Sickle Cell Disease.
International journal of molecular sciences.
22(12)
[DOI] 10.3390/ijms22126408.
[PMID] 34203861.
2021
Development of an Online Reproductive Health Intervention for Individuals with Sickle Cell Disease or Trait.
Women's health reports (New Rochelle, N.Y.).
2(1):142-148
[DOI] 10.1089/whr.2020.0098.
[PMID] 34036297.
2021
Enhancing the use of EHR systems for pragmatic embedded research: lessons from the NIH Health Care Systems Research Collaboratory.
Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association : JAMIA.
28(12):2626-2640
[DOI] 10.1093/jamia/ocab202.
[PMID] 34597383.
2021
Pain, symptom distress, and pain barriers by age among patients with cancer receiving hospice care: Comparison of baseline data.
Journal of geriatric oncology.
12(7):1068-1075
[DOI] 10.1016/j.jgo.2021.04.008.
[PMID] 33967022.
2021
Reflections of Healthcare Experiences of African Americans With Sickle Cell Disease or Cancer: A Qualitative Study.
Cancer nursing.
44(1):E53-E61
[DOI] 10.1097/NCC.0000000000000750.
[PMID] 31743153.
2021
The Crisis of Sickle Cell Disease in Africa from Insights into Primary Prevention in Ghana and Nigeria: Notes from the Field
Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health.
23(4):871-878
[DOI] 10.1007/s10903-021-01186-8.
2020
A QST-based Pain Phenotype in Adults With Sickle Cell Disease: Sensitivity and Specificity of Quality Descriptors.
Pain practice : the official journal of World Institute of Pain.
20(2):168-178
[DOI] 10.1111/papr.12841.
[PMID] 31553824.
2020
A Stepped-Wedge Randomized Controlled Trial: Effects of eHealth Interventions for Pain Control Among Adults With Cancer in Hospice.
Journal of pain and symptom management.
59(3):626-636
[DOI] 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2019.10.028.
[PMID] 31711969.
2020
Keys to Recruiting and Retaining Seriously Ill African Americans With Sickle Cell Disease in Longitudinal Studies: Respectful Engagement and Persistence.
The American journal of hospice & palliative care.
37(2):123-128
[DOI] 10.1177/1049909119868657.
[PMID] 31394904.
2020
Neuropathic Pain Screening: Construct Validity in Patients With Sickle Cell Disease
Western Journal of Nursing Research.
42(2):125-130
[DOI] 10.1177/0193945919836446.
[PMID] 30900520.
2020
Patients and Caregivers Rate the PAINReportIt Wireless Internet-Enabled Tablet as a Method for Reporting Pain During End-of-Life Cancer Care.
Cancer nursing.
43(5):419-424
[DOI] 10.1097/NCC.0000000000000743.
[PMID] 31517649.
2020
Randomized clinical trial of computerized PAINRelieveIt® for patients with sickle cell disease: PAINReportIt® and PAINUCope®.
Patient education and counseling.
103(1):136-144
[DOI] 10.1016/j.pec.2019.08.021.
[PMID] 31451364.
2020
Randomized Pilot Study: A Mobile Technology-based Self-management Intervention for Sickle Cell Pain
Western Journal of Nursing Research.
42(8):629-639
[DOI] 10.1177/0193945919878821.
2020
Sensitivities to Thermal and Mechanical Stimuli: Adults With Sickle Cell Disease Compared to Healthy, Pain-Free African American Controls.
The journal of pain.
21(9-10):957-967
[DOI] 10.1016/j.jpain.2019.11.002.
[PMID] 31733363.
2020
The relationship between individual characteristics and HIV-related stigma in adults living with HIV: medical monitoring project, Florida, 2015-2016.
BMC public health.
20(1)
[DOI] 10.1186/s12889-020-08891-3.
[PMID] 32429947.
2019
Relationship of Pain Quality Descriptors and Quantitative Sensory Testing: Sickle Cell Disease.
Nursing research.
68(5):365-373
[DOI] 10.1097/NNR.0000000000000375.
[PMID] 31283720.
2019
Thermal and mechanical quantitative sensory testing values among healthy African American adults.
Journal of pain research.
12:2511-2527
[DOI] 10.2147/JPR.S211855.
[PMID] 31496792.
2019
Vasopressin SNP pain factors and stress in sickle cell disease.
PloS one.
14(11)
[DOI] 10.1371/journal.pone.0224886.
[PMID] 31710639.
2018
Differences in Sensory Pain, Expectation, and Satisfaction Reported by Outpatients with Cancer or Sickle Cell Disease.
Pain management nursing : official journal of the American Society of Pain Management Nurses.
19(4):322-332
[DOI] 10.1016/j.pmn.2017.11.010.
[PMID] 29501359.
2018
Opioid doses and acute care utilization outcomes for adults with sickle cell disease: ED versus acute care unit.
The American journal of emergency medicine.
36(1):88-92
[DOI] 10.1016/j.ajem.2017.07.037.
[PMID] 28802541.
2017
Coping with Pain in the Face of Healthcare Injustice in Patients with Sickle Cell Disease.
Journal of immigrant and minority health.
19(6):1449-1456
[DOI] 10.1007/s10903-016-0432-0.
[PMID] 27215766.
2017
Implementing the PAIN RelieveIt Randomized Controlled Trial in Hospice Care: Mechanisms for Success and Meeting PCORI Methodology Standards.
Western journal of nursing research.
39(7):924-941
[DOI] 10.1177/0193945916668328.
[PMID] 27621272.
2017
Pain Intensity and Misconceptions Among Hospice Patients With Cancer and Their Caregivers: Status After 2 Decades.
The American journal of hospice & palliative care.
34(4):318-324
[DOI] 10.1177/1049909116639612.
[PMID] 27006391.
2016
Caregivers’ perspectives on oral health problems of end-of-life cancer patients.
Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer.
24(11):4769-77
[DOI] 10.1007/s00520-016-3328-6.
[PMID] 27358170.
2016
Safety and Utility of Quantitative Sensory Testing Among Adults With Sickle Cell Disease: Indicators of Neuropathic Pain?
Pain Practice.
16(3):282-293
[DOI] 10.1111/papr.12279.
[PMID] 25581383.
2015
Composite Pain Index: Reliability, Validity, and Sensitivity of a Patient-Reported Outcome for Research.
Pain medicine (Malden, Mass.).
16(7):1341-8
[DOI] 10.1111/pme.12703.
[PMID] 25712169.
2015
Infomarkers for transition to goals consistent with palliative care in dying patients.
Palliative & supportive care.
13(5):1427-34
[DOI] 10.1017/S1478951515000103.
[PMID] 25711431.
2015
Perceived injustice predicts stress and pain in adults with sickle cell disease.
Pain management nursing : official journal of the American Society of Pain Management Nurses.
16(3):294-306
[DOI] 10.1016/j.pmn.2014.08.004.
[PMID] 25439119.
2014
Outpatient pain predicts subsequent one-year acute health care utilization among adults with sickle cell disease.
Journal of pain and symptom management.
48(1):65-74
[DOI] 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2013.08.020.
[PMID] 24636960.
2013
ResearchTracking: Monitoring gender and ethnic minority recruitment and retention in cancer symptom studies.
Cancer nursing.
36(3):E1-6
[DOI] 10.1097/NCC.0b013e31826909a8.
[PMID] 23051871.
2012
Pain and symptom management in palliative care and at end of life.
Nursing outlook.
60(6):357-64
[DOI] 10.1016/j.outlook.2012.08.002.
[PMID] 22985972.
2012
Racial Disparities in Pain Management in Primary Care.
Journal of health disparities research and practice.
5(3):12-26
[PMID] 24244911.
2010
Testing mediation in nursing research: beyond Baron and Kenny.
Nursing research.
59(4):288-94
[DOI] 10.1097/NNR.0b013e3181dd26b3.
[PMID] 20467337.
2006
Racial and ethnic disparities in pain management in the United States.
Journal of nursing scholarship : an official publication of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.
38(3):225-33
[PMID] 17044339.
Grants
Sep 2023
ACTIVE
2/3 Florida-California Cancer Research, Education & Engagement (CaRE2) Health Equity Center
Role: Other
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NCI
Sep 2021
ACTIVE
Hybrid Effectiveness-Implementation Trial of Guided Relaxation and Acupuncture for Chronic Sickle Cell Disease Pain
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: UNIV OF ILLINOIS CHICAGO
via NATL INST OF HLTH NCI
Sep 2021
ACTIVE
CHOICES for Sickle Cell Reproductive Health: RCT of a Preconception Intervention Model for a Single Gene Disorder
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NHGRI
Sep 2020
– Aug 2021
Hybrid Effectiveness-Implementation Trial of Guided Relaxation and Acupuncture for Chronic Sickle Cell Disease Pain
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: UNIV OF ILLINOIS CHICAGO
via NATL INST OF HLTH NINDS
Sep 2020
ACTIVE
A Stress and Pain Self-management m-Health App for Adult Outpatients with Sickle Cell Disease
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NINR
Sep 2018
– Aug 2023
2/3 Florida-California Cancer Research, Education & Engagement (CaRE2) Health Equity Center
Role: Other
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NCI
Feb 2015
– May 2019
PHENOTYPIC CHARACTERIZATION OF CHRONIC PAIN IN ADULTS WITHSICKLE CELL DISEASE
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding: UNIV OF ILLINOIS URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
via NATL INST OF HLTH NHLBI
Education
Post-doctoral Scholar
2010-2011
·
University of Illinois at Chicago
Ph.D. in Nursing
2005-2009
·
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Master of Science in Nursing
2003-2005
·
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Cum Laude
1998-2003
·
Hunter College of the City University of New York
Contact Details
Phones:
- Business:
- (352) 273-6344
Emails:
- Business:
- moezenwa@ufl.edu
Addresses:
- Business Mailing:
-
PO Box 100197
GAINESVILLE FL 32610 - Business Street:
-
1225 CENTER DR
GAINESVILLE FL 32610