Miriam Ezenwa, Ph.D.
Professor of Biobehavioral Nursing Science
College of Nursing
Miriam Ezenwa’s research focuses on health disparities in pain management. Her work investigates pain and symptom management in individuals with sickle cell disease and cancer, as well as palliative care for end-of-life patients.
Her biobehavioral research explores biomarkers of stress, including cortisol, and the application of computer technologies for pain and stress assessment and intervention delivery.
She is an accomplished nurse scientist and educator whose work bridges classroom instruction, cutting-edge research and service to the nursing profession. She brings a deep commitment to student-centered learning, scholarly excellence and advancing equitable health care practices, particularly in the area of pain management.
By leveraging her skills and scientific contributions, Ezenwa has received more than $20 million in research funding. She is now leading two research grants funded by the NIH’s National Cancer Institute.
As an educator, Ezenwa has contributed meaning- fully to the academic success of both undergraduate and graduate nursing students through classroom teaching, online instruction and individualized mentoring. Grounded in constructivist learning theory, her teaching philosophy emphasizes active learning and collaborative knowledge-building. She sees her role not as an “all-knowing orator,” but as a facilitator who empowers students to take ownership of their learning and engage in the thoughtful exchange of ideas.
“She is an outstanding researcher, author, mentor, and educator,” said Ann L. Horgas, chair of the Department of Biobehavioral Nursing Science. “Through her dedication and scientific rigor, she has made invaluable contributions to improving the quality of life for those suffering from chronic pain.”
In addition to her teaching and research, Ezenwa is actively involved in professional service. She serves on the Midwest Nursing Research Society Grant Review Committee and is a peer reviewer for several scholarly journals focused on health disparities and pain management. She is also a member of the American Pain Society, Council for the Advancement of Nursing Science, Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing and the Golden Key International Honour Society.
Ezenwa earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Hunter College, CUNY, and her master’s and doctoral degrees in nursing from the University of Wisconsin- Madison, with a minor in anthropology and educational psychology, focusing on chronic pain management. She completed postdoctoral training as a Sickle Cell Scholar at the University of Illinois at Chicago.