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Chuka Nestor Emezue, PhD, MPH, MPA, CHES

Chuka Nestor Emezue, PhD, MPH, MPA, CHES
Assistant Professor
Department of Women, Children and Family Nursing, College of Nursing
Pronouns: 
He/Him
Education

PhD, Nursing, Sinclair School of Nursing, University of Missouri-Columbia
MPH, School of Health Professions, University of Missouri-Columbia
MPA, Harry S. Truman School of Public Affairs, University of Missouri-Columbia
Graduate Certificate, participatory health & community-based research, University of Missouri-Columbia
BSc, Biochemistry, College of Health Sciences, Niger Delta University (NDU), Nigeria

Areas of Expertise

Domestic and family violence prevention, substance use prevention, maternal-child health, adolescent health, immigrant health, technology-based interventions, community-engaged research.

Contact Info:

600 S. Paulina
Suite 1064A
Chicago, IL 60612
Chuka_N_Emezue@rush.edu
Links:
Biography

Dr. Chuka Emezue is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Women, Children, and Family Nursing at RUSH University College of Nursing. He earned a Ph.D. in Nursing, a Master of Public Health (MPH), and a Master of Public Affairs (MPA) from the University of Missouri-Columbia. His research program utilizes community-engaged approaches to develop, pilot test, and deploy technology-enhanced interventions that address co-occurring interpersonal violence, mental health co-morbidities, and substance use with at-risk populations in humanitarian, justice-involved, immigrant, Black, and Latinx/Hispanic contexts. 

Over the past five years, Emezue has developed and is pilot-testing two culturally congruent and technology-enhanced interventions. BrotherlyACT™ is a web- and mobile-compatible intervention for violence and early substance use prevention among young Black males using life skills coaching, safety planning tools, and an AI-facilitated chatbot. While FatherlyACT is a trauma-informed father-son dyadic in-person and online program to improve the safety and well-being of mothers and children exposed to intimate partner violence by enhancing healthy father-child connections, lessening the devastating impact of partner violence on mothers and children. 

Emezue is a 2023 public voices fellow with The OpEd Project, RBIHE Health Equity Scholar, and Cohn Fellow. He has been a Contributor-In-Residence with the Synapsis Medical Humanities Journal, and his op-eds have appeared in Bored Panda, Ms. Magazine, and Clever-ish Magazine.  

Honors and Activities
  • Cohn Fellowship (Cohn Family Foundation and Rush Research Mentoring Program, 2023)
  • 2022 New Investigator Award - Health of Diverse Populations RIIG
  • 2022 Dissertation Award, Qualitative Methods RIIG, MNRS Annual Research Conference
  • Citation Award & Meritorious Abstract Recipient, Society for Behavioral Medicine (SBM 2021)
  • Charles & Josie Sinclair Fellow, Pre-doc Fellowship, MU Sinclair School of Nursing, 2018 - 2021
  • Rollins Honors Society Inductee, University of Missouri, 2021
  • Mizzou 18 Award recipient, 2021 – Honors 18 graduate & professional students for Academic, Research, & Service.
  • Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Award, STTI Alpha Iota chapter, 2021
  • African Leadership Award, MU Africa Graduate and Professional Student Association, 2020
  • Inductee, Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, Alpha Iota Chapter, 2019
Publications

View publications by Chuka Nestor Emezue, PhD, MPH, MPA

Invited Presentations 

  • Invited Presenter, March 2023 5th Annual Texas Substance Use Symposium (TxSUS). Hands-On Workshop 2D: Innovative Approaches to Advancing Screening and Interventions for SUDs (CE: 0.75), Co-panelists: Dr. Niranjan Karnik, Dr. Sarah Messmer. 
  • Emezue C., “Technolojinin Siddete Etkisi,” or “The Impact of Technology on Violence,” Violence Awareness Session at the Human Rights Day Event. Dokuz Eylül University, İzmir, Turkey. (December 2022 [Online])
  • Interpersonal Violence: People, Policy, and Paradigms. Presenters: Annelise Mennicke, Ph.D., Kelly Cue Davis, Ph.D., Chuka Emezue, Ph.D., MPH, MPA [SBM Webinar, May 2023]
  • Competitive Symposium at MNRS (April 2023): Leveraging Qualitative Methods and Design to Innovate, Create, & Implement Novel Health Solutions in the New Nursing Science Era. Emezue, C. Topic: “Regional Analysis of Barriers and Facilitators to Using Technology-Enhanced Interventions to Prevent Dating Violence in At-Risk Young Rural Males.”  
  • Emezue C., The Effects of Technology-Based Interventions on Victimization & Mental Health Outcomes of Survivors (Meta-Analysis). International Aegean Current Topics in Women’s Health and Diseases Nursing Symposium, Ege University Faculty of Nursing, Turkey. (November 2022 [Online])
  • Emezue, C., Pozneanscaia, C., Sheaf, G., Groppo, V., Bakrania, S., Kaplan, J., The Impact of Educational Policies and Programmes on Child Work and Child Labour in Low- and- Middle-Income Countries: A rapid evidence assessment. What Works Global Summit (WWGS) 2022. Session: Children & Young Persons Wellbeing.
  • Invited Presenter, MU. Health Sciences Research Day 2020 “Clinical Application of Digital Interventions Responsive to the Mental Health Needs of Victims of Partner Violence.” Online (2020)
  • Invited Discussant, the 27th Annual Psychiatric-Mental Health Update: Hot Off the Press Topics for the New Normal, MU. Extension, “What’s Stigma Got to do with it? Service Provider Interactions with Male Rape Victims.” (Approved for 0.66 CEU), Online (2020)
  • Early-Career/Trainee Discussant, SBM Behavioral Informatics & Technology SIG, Online (2020)
  • Invited Panelist, MNRS, Emerging Scholars Network (ESN) Lunch & Learn “Global Opportunities for Nursing Research & Evidence-Based Practice.” [Virtual, COVID-19], (2020)
  • Invited Speaker, Immigrant Men in Batterer Intervention Program, ‘Focus on Africa’ seminar series, sponsored by MU. African Interdisciplinary Studies Hub, Div. of Applied Social Sciences in CAFNR and Bond Life Sciences Center. Columbia, MO (2019)
  • Invited Panelist/Session organizer, Annual Black Studies Fall Conference: Addressing Racial Health Disparities, “Treatment Gaps & Therapeutic Disparities for Black Male Batterers in Intervention Programs (Including Immigrants).” University of Missouri, Columbia, MO (2019)
  • Invited Panelist, Presidents United to Solve Hunger, PUSH Leaders Forum 2019, “Creating Public Will to End Hunger: The Role of Public Policy.” Portland, ME (2019)
Grants

Rush BMO Institute for Health Equity - Health Equity Research Scholars Program, 2022-2023

Principal Investigator, SecondAct: Developing and Adapting a Technology-Enhanced Intervention to Reduce Recidivism and Relapse to Partner Violence and Substance Use Among Young Black Men

Chicago Chronic Condition Equity Network (NIMHD P50MD01734) (PI: Emezue), 2023-2024

Funded by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD; U24MD017250) 

BrotherlyACT: Developing a Novel Equity-Focused Coping- and Life-Skills Digital Tool for Sustained Violence Prevention Among Young Black Males in Chicago https://www.c3en.org/pilot-awardees/

Cohn Family Foundation Fellowship (Rush Research Mentoring Program [RRPM]) -2023-2024

 https://www.rushu.rush.edu/about/faculty-affairs/rush-mentoring-programs/rush-research-mentoring-program/cohn-fellows

Chicago Chronic Condition Equity Network (NIMHD, P50MD01734) (PI: Emezue), mini-grant 2023-2024

Technology-Enhanced Contemplative Practices for Violence-Impacted Young Black Men (mini-grant). As part of an ongoing study, we are organizing the BrotherlyACT Hackathon to provide a valuable opportunity for 10-15 young Black men, ages 15-17, from West and Southside Chicago to build industry relationships, gain experience in mHealth and app design, benefit from structured mentorship/upskilling, and add meaningful digital health experiences to their resumes and job applications. https://www.rushu.rush.edu/technology-enhanced-contemplative-practices-violence-impacted-young-black-men 

Invited Presentations
  • Invited Presenter, MU. Health Sciences Research Day 2020 “Clinical Application of Digital Interventions Responsive to the Mental Health Needs of Victims of Partner Violence.” Online (2020)
  • Invited Discussant, the 27th Annual Psychiatric-Mental Health Update: Hot Off the Press Topics for the New Normal, MU. Extension, “What’s Stigma Got to do with it? Service Provider Interactions with Male Rape Victims.” (Approved for 0.66 CEU), Online (2020)
  • Early-Career/Trainee Discussant, SBM Behavioral Informatics & Technology SIG, Online (2020)
  • Invited Panelist, MNRS, Emerging Scholars Network (ESN) Lunch & Learn “Global Opportunities for Nursing Research & Evidence-Based Practice.” [Virtual, COVID-19], (2020)
  • Invited Speaker, Immigrant Men in Batterer Intervention Program, ‘Focus on Africa’ seminar series, sponsored by MU. African Interdisciplinary Studies Hub, Div. of Applied Social Sciences in CAFNR and Bond Life Sciences Center. Columbia, MO (2019)
  • Invited Panelist/Session organizer, Annual Black Studies Fall Conference: Addressing Racial Health Disparities, “Treatment Gaps & Therapeutic Disparities for Black Male Batterers in Intervention Programs (Including Immigrants).” University of Missouri, Columbia, MO (2019)
  • Invited Panelist, Presidents United to Solve Hunger, PUSH Leaders Forum 2019, “Creating Public Will to End Hunger: The Role of Public Policy.” Portland, ME (2019)
  • Invited Discussant, Editorial session, Journal of Health Politics, Policy, & Law (JHPPL) (2018)
  • Principal Organizer/Panelist, 11th Universities Fighting World Hunger. MU (2016)
  • Invited Panelist: 4th International Health Humanities Conference: Intersections, Inquiry, & Innovations, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Denver, Colorado (2016)
  • Delegation from the University of Missouri, Global Open Data for Agriculture & Nutrition (GODAN), New York City, NY (2016)
  • Invited Panelist, DigiHealth Conference – Health Ethics & Storytelling in a Digital Age (2016)
  • Organizing Panelist, MU Black Studies Fall Conference, Invited Speaker at the Black Life: Transdisciplinary/Intergenerational Conversations; “Creative Advocacy, University Activism and Other Non-Violent Tools of Social Activism.” (2015)