As an indigenous Afro-Latina nurse scientist, Dr. Eugenia Millender has dedicated her career to increasing access to mental health equity and providing culturally appropriate care. Dr. Eugenia Millender is currently the Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Center for Population Sciences for Health Equity and an Associate Professor at Florida State University College of Nursing. Dr. Millender's program of research is to investigate ways to reduce mental health disparities by exploring how socio-cultural stressors and trauma influence transgenerational psychological and co-occurring physical illness through gene-environment interaction among vulnerable, underserved, and marginalized populations. She does so by working with community-based organizations to co-create community-academic partnerships, meaningful investigations, and interventions for diverse communities. 

EDUCATION

• PhD, Florida Atlantic University
• MS, Florida Atlantic University
• BSN, Florida Atlantic University
• AA, College of Lake County

ADDITIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING

• Post-Graduate Certificate (Precision Medicine), University of Florida, 2021
• Summer Institute in Statistical Genetics: University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, 2021
• Summer Epigenetics in Training: Columbia University, 2019
• Genetics Training: NIH-NINR-the Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences Summer Genetic Institute, 2018
• Post-Doctoral Fellow, HIV/AIDS and Mental Health, University of Washington, 2018-2020
• The Dartmouth Institute Microsystem Academy Coaching program, eCoach-theCoach: Dartmouth Institute, 2016
• The Dartmouth Institute Microsystem Academy Coaching program, Credentialed Microsystem Coach, Level 1 Share Decision Approach Master Trainer: Dartmouth Institute, 2016
• Share Decision Approach Master Trainer: AHRQ, 2015
• TeamSTEPPS Master Trainer for Primary Care Conducting Research in Difficult Times Collaborating in an Evolving Health Car System: Duke Medicine, 2015
• Big  Data in Symptoms Research Methodologies Boot Camp: NIH-NINR- the Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences, 2015
• Pre-Doctoral Fellow SAMHSA/ANA; 2008-2013
• Post-Graduate Certificate (Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner) - Rush University; 2011

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATION

• Register Nurse
• Advance Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner license DATA 2000 waiver to prescribe Buprenorphine U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) National Provider Certified Diabetes Educator 

HONORS AND AWARD

• 2021 FSU Faculty Latinx Distinguished Service Awards
• 2021 Selected as Fellow of the FSU inaugural Faculty Program with the Office of The Vice-President of Research
• 2021 Inducted as Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN).
• 2018 Distinguished Graduate Award, Florida Atlantic University, Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing
• 2016 Community Leadership Award for Decreasing Health Disparities among Vulnerable Populations Presented by The Northwest Community Consortium, Inc., West Palm Beach, FL
• 2015 Ending Homelessness Award, The Lord's Place Annual Breakfast - Out of the Shadows, Presented by The Lord's Place Homeless Inc., West Palm Beach, FL
• 2015 Hispanic Women of Distinction, 14th Annual Awards Luncheon - Excellence in Community Service, Presented by Bank of America and Latina Style Magazine
• 2015 Association of Black Nursing Faculty, Inc., 28th Annual Meeting and Scientific
• 2015 Conference - Excellence in Community  Service and Engagement Award Palm Beach County Alumni Chapter Bethune-Cookman University, 11th Annual HBCU Scholarship Luncheon - Honoree
• 2015 National Coalition of 100 Black Women - West Palm Beach Chapter, 2015 HERStory Award Honoree
• 2013 Selected one of the Most Powerful and Influential Black Professionals in Business and Industry for 2013 by Legacy Palm Beach, Palm Beach Post
• 2013 Heroes in Medicine, Health Care Provider Hero Category Finalist, Palm Beach County Medical Society
• 2013 Women of Excellence Award Winner, Health and Wellness Category, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated, West Palm Beach Alumnae Chapter

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Quintero Garzola, G. & Millender, E. (Submitted November 2021). Review of the prevalence, risks factors, and treatment-related variables associated with sports betting across different populations. International Gambling Studies.

Joiner, T., Daurio, A., Keel, P., Mehra,L., Millender, E., Robertson, L., & Morgan Robison. (Submitted January 2022). Ethnoracial Status, Intersectionality with Gender, and Psychotherapy Utilization, Retention, and Outcomes. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology.

Lowe, J., Millender, E., & Best, O. (Submitted January 2022). Talking Circle for Young Adults (TC4YA) Intervention: A Culturally Safe Research Exemplar. Contemporary Nurse.

Millender, E., Harris, R.M., Bagneris, J.R., Mark, L.R., Barcelona, V., Wong, F.Y., Crusto, C.A., & Taylor, J.Y. (Submitted 9.2021). The Cumulative Influence of Perceived Discrimination, Stress, and Coping Responses on Symptoms of Depression Among Young African American Mothers. JAPNA.

Millender, E., Dickey, S., Ouma, C., Bruneau, D., Wisdom-Chambers, K., Harris, R.M., & Bagneris, J.R. (2021). Addressing Disparities by Evaluating Depression as a Predictor of Prostate Screenings Among Black Men in a Community Health Clinic. Journal of Community Health Nursing. 39 (1).

*Wimbish-Cirilo, R., Lowe, J., & Millender, E. (2020). The impact of a substance use intervention among urban Native American youth. Genealogy, 4(3), 79.

*Millender, E., Barile, J. P., Barneris, J., Harris, R. M., De Faria, L., Wong, F., Crusto, C. A., & Taylor, J. (2020). Associations between social determinants of health, perceived discrimination, and body mass index on symptoms of depression among young African American mothers. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 35(1), 95–101. 

Dickey, S., Matthews, C., & Millender, E. (2020). An exploration of precancer and post-cancer diagnosis and health communication among African American prostate cancer survivors and their families.American Journal of Men's Health, May-June, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1177/155798832092720

Power, T., Wilson, D., Best, O., Brockie, T., Bearskin, L. B., Millender, E. & Lowe, J. (2020). COVID-19 and Indigenous Peoples: An imperative for action. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 29(15–16), 2737–2741. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.15320

*Millender, E., Valentine, K., Eggenberger, T., Lucier, C., Sandala, H., & Bruneau, D. (2020). Implementing interprofessional collaboration to improve patient outcomes: A caring and social approach to integrated nurse-led community based-care. International Journal for Human Caring, 24(1), 52–64. DOI: 10.20467/1091-5710.24.1.39

Eggenberger, T., Millender, E., Drowos, J., & France, N. E. M. (2019). Interprofessional education and practice guides: Developing interprofessional community-based clinical experiences. Cogent Medicine, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/2331205X.2019.1676582

Lowe, J., Wagner, E., Morris, S. L., Thompson, M., Sawant, M., Kelley, M., & Millender, E. (2019). Utility of the Native-Reliance Theoretical Framework, Model, and Questionnaire. Journal of Cultural Diversity, 26(2), 61–68.

Drowos, J. L., Millender, E., & Eggenberger, T. (2019). Developing interprofessional skills through clinical care of the underserved using the TeamSTEPPS Framework. Society of Teachers of Family Medicine National Family Medicine Clerkship Curriculum. https://www.stfm.org/teachingresources/curriculum/nationalclerkshipcurriculum/overview/

*Millender, E., & Lowe, J. (2017). Cumulative trauma among Mayas living in southeast Florida. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 19, 598–605. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-015-0337-3

Drowos, J. L., Eggenberger, T., & Millender, E. (2016). The future health care workforce: Interprofessional education in community settings. Journal of Community and Public Health Nursing. 2(3), 1–2. DOI: 10.4172/jcphn.1000126

*Millender, E., Lowe, J. & Liehr, P. (2015). What’s in a name? Hispanic immigrant and refugee identity crisis: Focus on Mayas. AlterNative: An International Journal of Indigenous Peoples, 11(2), 191–198. https://doi.org/10.1177/117718011501100208

Valentine, K., Ordonez, M., & Millender, E. (2014). Transforming practice through embracing caring in nurse-managed centers. International Association of Human Caring Journal, 18(3), 52–64.

Millender, E. (2012). Acculturation stress among Guatemalan Maya in the United States. Journal of Cultural Diversity, 19(2), 58–64.

Millender, E. (2011). Using stories to bridge cultural disparities, one culture at a time. The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 42(1), 37–42. https://doi.org/10.3928/00220124-20100901-01

Millender, E. (2010). Haiti: A firsthand view. American Journal of Nursing, 110(4), 22. doi: 10.1097/01.NAJ.0000370152.02729.60

*Millender, E. (2010). Stress experienced by Guatemala-Mayan immigrants. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 24(3), 212–214. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnu.2009.04.001

Millender, E. (2009). Bridging cultural disparities: From practice to research. Southern Online Journal of Nursing Research, 9(2). [Supplement]

SELECTED GRANTS

Lowe, J. Brooks, J & Millender, E. (2022-2024). “Using a School Wide System Talking Circle Intervention to Transform the Mental Health of Native American young adults. Hillman Foundation. Amount $600,000. Role: (MPI).

Wong, Naar & Reed (2021-2026). Fostering Institutional Resources for Science Transformation: The FLORIDA-FIRST Health-science Brigade(U54CA267730-01); amount: $14M, National Institutes of Health. Role: Co-Investigators (Millender, and Barile)

Millender, E. (Pilot Principal Investigator). (2020–2022). Impact of Sociocultural Determinants, depression, and anxiety risk on alcohol misuse and COVID-19 experiences among Native Americans living along the Eastern and Southern seaboard of the U.S. Washington State University, Native Center for Alcohol Research and Education (NCARE) pilot project program award number P60AA026112.

Millender, E. (Principal Investigator) (2020–2022). Impact of stress, depression, coping, and DNA methylation on blood pressure among African American women (Project No. 9089706292; L30-HL154217). National Heart, Lung, & Blood Institute loan forgiveness program.

Joyce, J., & Muszynski. FSU U54 NIH Subcontract proposal entitled "Transforming and Translating Discovery to Improve Health" submitted by University of Florida. April 1, 2019 – March 31, 2024, amount $21 Million (funded). Role: Steering Advisory Committee Member

Millender, E. Indigenous HIV/AIDS and Mental Health Research Training program. Post-Doctoral Training. R25 program (under PAR-06-494; Award Number: R25MH084565), April 2018 – April 2020, amount: $20,000 (funded). Role: PI

Lowe, J., & Millender, E. The Talking Circle for Young Adults (TC4YA). Hillman Foundation. January 2019 – December 2019. Amount $150,000 (funded). Role: co-PI

Millender, E. Psychiatric Metal Health Nurse Practitioner Program. Quantum Foundation, 6/10/17 – 8/6/17; $199,160.00 (funded). Role: Program Director/PI

Millender, E. Increasing Access to Integrated Nurse-Led Primary and Behavioral Care. Farris Foundation; $600,000; 7/1/16-8/6/17 (funded). Role: Program Director/PI.

Millender, E. Utilizing Evidence-base programs to increase health equity for clients living with mental disorders. Quantum Foundation; $85,000; 7/1/16-6/30/17 (funded). Role: Program Director/PI

Millender, E. FAU Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing – Community Nurse Lead Care. Agency for Health Care Administration Divisions of Health Quality Assurance Community and Primary Care Services; $651,000; 7/1/16-6/30/17 (funded). Role: Program Director/PI.

Millender, E. Innovation in Access to Diabetes Care through Interprofessional Collaborative Practice. 7/1/14 – 6/30/17; $1,500,000 by Health Resources and Services Administration; (funded). Role: Program Director/PI

Millender, E. Increasing Access to Diabetes and Cardiovascular Care with Early Screening and Community Collaboration. Florida Department of Health Office of Minority Health; 7/1/14 – 8/6/17; $640,194 (funded). Role: Program Director/PI

Millender, E. FAU Community Health Center grant, 7/1/14-12/30/15; $205,000 by Quantum Foundation; (funded). Role: Program Director/PI