Dr. Christopher Coleman

10/11/21 • 56 min

Mental Health Trailblazers: Psychiatric Nurses Speak Up

Plug into a new episode of “Mental Health Trailblazers, Psychiatric Nurses Speak Up,” where our host Indrias Kassaye will be connecting with Dr. Christopher Coleman, professor and associate dean at the Indiana University School of Nursing. His research focuses on understanding factors that influence health-promoting behaviors of HIV infected middle-aged and older African American men and HIV risk factors among vulnerable populations Hear directly from Dr. Coleman about how a chance encounter accompanying a roommate into the ER led him to grow into a seasoned nursing professional with experience in critical care, ER, administration, and psychiatric wards. Through past and present reflections, you'll learn how his engagement with the ANA Minority Fellowship Program offered key tools and mentorships along the way that aided in an acceptance into a fantastic postdoctoral program. Discover eye-opening tidbits as Indrias and Dr. Coleman go back-and-forth on areas such as overcoming the layered bias of working as an African-American male in nursing and how rising in the ranks has impacted Dr. Coleman’s way forward in career choices, communication tools, and research topics. Inside this episode's discussion, you’ll explore generational differences alongside shifting perceptions of men in nursing, ways the COVID-19 pandemic has altered the landscape of nursing for people of color, and Dr. Coleman’s insights into not just HIV/AIDS but also mental health challenges in African-American communities. Don't miss Dr. Coleman’s observations from his book “Man Up! A Practical Guide for Men in Nursing” as well as his earnest beliefs on why staying steadfast with the ANA Minority Fellowship Program allows individuals to continue paying it forward to promote a legacy of producing scholars and leaders of color. To learn more about Dr. Christopher Coleman, visit https://www.iufw.edu/nursing/faculty-staff/christopher-coleman.html.

Previous Episode

Dr. Phyllis Sharps

Tune in for the next episode of “Mental Health Trailblazers, Psychiatric Nurses Speak Up,” where our host Indrias Kassaye will be connecting with Dr. Phyllis Sharps, professor emerita and former associate dean for Community Programs and Initiatives at Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing. Her practice and research examine the consequences of intimate partner violence (IPV) among pregnant and parenting women specifically the effects of IPV on the physical and mental health of pregnant women, infants, and very young children. Dive into Dr. Sharps' journey from being raised on a former plantation where her high-school educated father built a nurturing home that propelled her through desegregation and onto a path that led to the rare honor of having a scholarship named after her upon her recent retirement. Together, Indrias and Dr. Sharps ponder topics such as the challenges of pursuing an education in nursing in the early 1970s, what led Dr. Sharps to specialize in psychiatric and mental health, and influential decisions impacting her research and career. Within this stimulating conversation, you’ll explore why maternal mortality rates in America across all racial groups are getting worse, despite being the wealthiest country in the world, and the particularly troubling situation of African American women. Don't miss Dr. Sharps' wisdom on the importance of nurturing new generations of minority nurse scholars who will enter academia to continue the quest for health equity and address the unmet psychiatric and mental health needs of under-served communities. To learn more about Dr. Phyllis Sharps, visit https://nursing.jhu.edu/faculty_research/faculty/faculty-directory/phyllis-sharps.

Next Episode

Dr. Rosa Gonzalez-Guarda

Turn up the volume on a new episode of “Mental Health Trailblazers, Psychiatric Nurses Speak Up,” where our host Indrias Kassaye will be connecting with Dr. Rosa Gonzalez-Guarda, an Associate Professor at Duke University School of Nursing. At the center of her research and professional career lies a focus on improving the behavioral health and public health of minorities as well as other at-risk communities throughout the world. Understand directly from Dr. Gonzalez-Guarda how her initial community research scaled in focus to international heights to capture engagement and representation of diverse communities. Through her stories, you’ll dive into the “why” behind so many key topics such as health disparities in prominent Latinx as well as black communities and the unforeseen impacts of various types of stress on these communities. Follow along as Indrias and Dr. Gonzalez-Guarda tap into areas such as why the high rates of intimate partner violence within Latino communities has not translated into higher rates of maternal mortality and studies focused on comparing what's happening in the US versus other countries that people migrate to. Within this episode's conversation, you’ll discover the importance of having a strong psychiatric and mental health nurse workforce to combat the above topics, Dr. Gonzalez-Guarda’s role in the 2010 Institute of Medicine Future of Nursing Report, and examples of how her history within the ANA Minority Fellowship Program have influenced her future involvement. Don't miss Dr. Gonzalez-Guarda’s advice on how to best maximize your own experience within the ANA Minority Fellowship Program. To learn more about Dr. Rosa Gonzalez-Guarda, visit https://medschool.duke.edu/about-us/our-faculty/rosa-gonzalez-guarda.