Biography

Dr. Safiya George earned her PhD and MSN degrees from Emory University and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Duke University in Religion and Health. She previously served as a Faculty in Residence at both The University of Alabama and at Emory University where she led the “Bridging Academics, Service and Ethics” Program. Her primary research area aims to promote the health and holistic wellbeing of individuals with or at risk for HIV/AIDS through evidence-based psychosocial interventions focused on social determinants of health. Her research has previously been funded by the, National Institutes of Health, including the National Institutes of Nursing Research, the Georgia Department of Community Health, the John Templeton Foundation, Emory University Religion and Public Health Collaborative, the Biomedical Imaging Technology Center, and the University of Alabama. Her work is currently funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, HRSA, ViiV Healthcare’s Southern Initiative Positive Action program, and the NIH-funded Resource Center for Minority Aging Research (RCMAR). Dr. George’s research productivity demonstrates the quality as well as quantity of her work and also signals her national reputation in the areas of holistic health, spirituality and HIV. Dr. George has received a number of honors and recognitions for her work. Most recently, on April 17, 2019, she was awarded the 2019 President’s Faculty Research Award at the University of Alabama. Her holistic approach to her research also garnered her an international award, the Daniel J. Pesut Spirit of Renewal Award in 2015. In 2017, she was elected to serve on the International Board of Directors for Sigma Theta Tau, the International Honor Society for Nursing, where she has also held numerous leadership roles, including Chair of the International Service Committee, elected member of the Leadership Succession Committee and Vice President of the Epsilon Omega Chapter. Dr. George is a board certified Adult Nurse Practitioner and in 2018, she was inducted as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.

Research Grants

  • George, S. (PI), Payne-Foster, P. (Co-PI), Mugoya, G.T. (Co-I), Williamson, L. (Co-I), Kirkpatrick, B. (Co-I). (2016-2019). Multi-level Strategies to Improve HIV Care in West Alabama. University of Alabama, Research Grants Committee. $40,600.
  • Dalmida, S. G. (PI) (2015-current). Biomedical Imaging Technology Center and Emory Center for Systems Imaging. $12,000 - 20,000 (in kind).
  • Dalmida, S. G. (PI) (2015-2016). U.S. Virgin Islands HIV Project. Emory University Global Health Institute, Multidisciplinary Team Field Scholars Award. $12,000.

Program Grants

  • George, S. (Fellow). (September – October 2018). Global Learning Exchange in Cuba Leadership Program. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
  • Dalmida, S. G. (Co-PI) (2012-2013). Computerized Virtual Reality Simulation in Clinical Nursing Education. Center for Faculty Development and Excellence Fund for Innovative Teaching (FIT), Emory University. $2,950.
  • Dalmida, S. G. (Co-Coordinator) (2011). Classroom Mini-Grant, for Clinical Nursing I: Maturing and Aging Families. Center for Faculty Development and Excellence, Emory University. $150.

Extramural Research Grants

  • Kirkpatrick, B., George, S. (Consultant) Mugoya, G.C.T., Vaugans, D., Carter, V.(2018-2020). Rural Virtual Therapy for People Living with HIV. Viiv Healthcare, Southern Initiative Positive Action Grant. $25,000.
  • Morales-Aleman, M. (PI), Bradley, L.J. (PI), Graettinger, K. (Co-I), George, S. (Co-I), Lee, A. (Co-I). (2019-2020).Telemedicine-toward Empowering Rural Moms (TERM). Remote Pregnancy Monitoring Challenge. HRSA. $10,000
  • Mumba, M. (PI), George, S. (Co-I/Mentor), Findlay, L. (Co-I/Mentor), & Davis, L. (Co-I/Mentor). (2018). VA Health. Funded by the Veteran’s Affairs Administration. ($174,550).
  • George, S. (PI), Mugoya, G.T. (Co-PI), Kirkpatrick, B. (Co-PI) (2017-2019). Affordable Housing and Community Advocacy for People Living with HIV: Assessing Best Practices and Health Impact. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Interdisciplinary Research Leaders Program Research Grant. $125,000
  • George, S. (PI), Mugoya, G.T. (Co-PI), (Co-I), Kirkpatrick, B. (Co-PI) (2016-2019). Affordable Housing and Community Advocacy for People Living with HIV: Assessing Best Practices and Health Impact. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Interdisciplinary Research Leaders Program Fellowship. $225,000.

Invited Publications

  • George Dalmida, S., Kraemer, K., Ungvary, S., Di Valerio, E., Koenig, H., & Holstad, M.M. (2018). The Psychosocial and Clinical Well-Being of Women Living with HIV/AIDS, Nursing Clinics of North America, 53(2), 203-225.
  • George Dalmida, S. (2018). She dreamed of being a global servant leader. Reflections on Nursing Leadership, May 4, 2018. https://www.reflectionsonnursingleadership.org/features/more-features/she-dreamed-of-being-a-global-servant-leader
  • George, S. How housing impacts the health of people living with HIV/AIDS. Culture of Health Blog, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. https://www.rwjf.org/en/blog/2018/04/housing-impact-on-people-living-with-HIV-AIDS.html
  • Dalmida, S.G., Lewis, R.L., and Waldrop-Valverde, D. (2015). Prevention counseling and other strategies in the HIV care setting. In T. J. Hope, M. Stevenson, and D. Richman (Eds). Encyclopedia of AIDS. New York: Springer Science. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4614-9610-6
  • Dalmida, S.G., Thurman, S. (2014). Religion and HIV/AIDS. In E. Idler (Ed.) Religion as a social determinant of health. New York: Oxford University Press.

Refereed Journal Articles (published or in press)

  • Thomas, T., George Dalmida, S. Threadgill, A.H., Ungvary, S. (In Press). Beliefs, health habits and HPV vaccination. Journal of Cultural Diversity.
  • McDonough, I. M., McDougall, G. J., LaRocca, M., Dalmida, S. G., & Arheart, K. L. (2019). Refining the metamemory in adulthood questionnaire: a 20-item version of change and capacity designed for research and clinical settings. Aging & mental health, 1-10.https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2019.1594160
  • Clayton-Jones, D., Haglund, K., Schaefer, J., Koenig, H. G., George Dalmida, S. (2019). Use of the spiritual development framework in conducting spirituality and health research with adolescents. Journal of Religion and Health, 58(4), 1259–1271. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-018-00752-z
  • George Dalmida, S.G., Aduloju-Ajijola, N., Freeman, B., & Fleming, T. (2018). Perceptions of the Influence of Hip-Hop Music and Media on Sexual Decision-Making and Behaviors of African American Adolescent Females. Journal of Black Sexuality and Relationships 5(1), 1-20. doi:10.1353/bsr.2018.0016.
  • George Dalmida, S., Mugoya, G.C.T., Kirkpatrick, B., Kraemer, K., Bonner, F., Merritt, J., Satcher, J., Foster, P.P., Neal, L.B. (2019). Interdisciplinary, Community and Peer Leadership Approach to Addressing Housing Among People Living with HIV in the Rural South, Housing Policy Debate. https://doi.org/10.1080/10511482.2018.1530274
  • Tice, J., Cole, L.G., Ungvary, S.M., George, S.D., Oliver, J.S. (2019). Clinician accountability in a primary care clinic time-interval blood pressure measurements study: Practice implications. Applied Nursing Research, 45, 69-72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnr.2018.12.006
  • George Dalmida, S.G., McCoy, K., Koenig, H.G., Miller, A., Holstad, M.M., Thomas, T., Clayton-Jones, D., Grant, M., Wirani, M.M., Fleming, T., Mugoya, G.T. (2018). Religious and psychosocial correlates of medication adherence among outpatients living with HIV/AIDS. Journal of HIV/AIDS & Social Services. Published online 10/8/18. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15381501.2018.1502709
  • George Dalmida, S., Kraemer, K., Ungvary, S., Di Valerio, E., Koenig, H., & Holstad, M.M. (2018). The Psychosocial and Clinical Well-Being of Women Living with HIV/AIDS, Nursing Clinics of North America, 53(2), 203-225. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cnur.2018.01.008
  • Mugoya, G.C.T., Hooper, L. M; Tomek, S., George Dalmida, S., Bolland, A., Ufomadu, J., Bolland, J. (2018). The Interrelationships among Pain Interference, Depressive Symptoms, Loneliness and Employment Status: A Moderated Mediation Study. Clinical Rehabilitation, 1-13, Online First. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/0269215518758483
  • Miller, A.D., George Dalmida, S., Miller, C. (2018). Myiasis in an intensive care unit in the United States: A case report. Open Journal of Clinical and Medical Case Reports, 4(4), 1-6. http://www.jclinmedcasereports.com/articles/OJCMCR-1379
  • George Dalmida, S., McDougall, G., Mugoya, G.T., Payne-Foster, P., Plyman, M., Burrage, J. (2017). Engagement of African Americans with rapid HIV testing and HIV care. HIV/AIDS Research and Treatment Open Journal, Special Issue: Stigma across the Life Span. SE(2): SE-2-106. doi: 10.17140/HARTOJ-SE-2-106
  • George, S., McCoy, K., Koenig, H. G., Miller, A., Holstad, M.M., Mugoya, G. T., Clayton-Jones, D., Thomas, T., Grant, M., Fleming, T., Wirani, M.M. (2017). Examination of the role of religious and psychosocial factors in HIV medication adherence rates. Journal of Religion and Health, 1-18. DOI: 10.1007/s10943-017-0377-1
  • Mugoya, G.C.T., Witte, T.H., Bolland, A., Tomek, S., Bolland, George Dalmida, S. (2017). Depressive symptoms and intimate partner violence among low-income African American women living in impoverished inner city neighborhoods. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 1-25. DOI: 10.1177/0886260517691519
  • Payne-Foster, P., George Dalmida, S.., McDougall, G., Burrage, J. (2017). Salivary rapid HIV testing: health seeking and coping in African Americans. HIV/AIDS Research and Treatment Open Journal, SE(2): S31-S37. DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.17140/HARTOJ-SE-2-105
  • George Dalmida, S., Aduloju-Ajijola, N., Clayton-Jones, D., Thomas, T.L., Erazo Tuscano, R. J., Lewis, R., Fleming, T., Taylor, S., Lunyong, M. (2016). Sexual risk behaviors of African American adolescent females: The role of cognitive and religious factors. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 1-10. DOI: 10.1177/1043659616678660
  • George Dalmida, S., Amerson, R., Foster, J., Magowe. M., McWhinney-Dehaney, L., Nicholas, P.K., Pehrson, K., Leffers, J. (2016). Volunteer service and service learning: Opportunities, partnerships, and United Nations. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 48(5), 517-526. doi: 10.1111/jnu.12226
  • Thomas, T., Higgins, M. & George-Dalmida, S.G. (2016). The student human papillomavirus survey: Nurse led instrument development and psychometric testing to increase HPV vaccine series completion in young adults. Journal of Nursing Measurement, 24(2), 226-244. http://dx.doi.org/10.1891/1061-3749.24.2.226
  • Holstad, M.M., Spangler, S., Higgins, M., Dalmida, S.G. & Sharma, S. (2016). Psychosocial characteristics associated with both antiretroviral therapy adherence and risk behaviors in women living with HIV/AIDS and Behavior. AIDS and Behavior, 20(5), 1084-1096. DOI: 10.1007/s10461-015-1209-5
  • George Dalmida, S., DiValerio, E., Hunte-Ceasar, T., Martinez, G.C.B., Savinkina, A., Harker, L., Yuhas, K., Simhachalam, K., Robinett, H., Huang, P., Freeman, B., and Mugoya, G.C.T. (2016). Perceptions of HIV-associated stigma in the US Virgin Islands. HIV/AIDS Research and Treatment Open Journal, SE(3): S23-S30. doi:10.17140/HARTOJ-SE-3-104
  • Mugoya GCT, Aduloju-Ajijola N, George Dalmida S. (2016). Relationship between Knowledge of Someone Infected with HIV/AIDS and HIV Stigma: A moderated mediation model of HIV knowledge, gender and HIV test uptake. HIV/AIDS ResTreat Open J. 2016; SE(3): S14-S22. doi:10.17140/HARTOJ-SE-3-103
  • George Dalmida S, Hunte-Ceasar T, Martinez GCB, Schweizer A, Freeman B, et al. (2016) Examination of HIV Risk and the HIV/AIDS Epidemic in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Journal of AIDS Clinical Research, 7, 621. doi: 10.4172/2155-6113.1000621
  • McDougall, G..J., George Dalmida, S., Payne-Foster, P.P., Burrage, J. (2016). Barriers and facilitators to HIV testing among women. HIV/AIDS Research and Treat Open Journal, SE(3): S9-S13. doi: 10.17140/HARTOJ-SE-3-102
  • Di Valerio E, George Dalmida S, Hunte-Ceasar T, et al. Perceptions of HIV-associated stigma in the U.S. Virgin Islands. HIV/AIDS Res Treat Open J. 2016; SE(3): S23-S30. doi: 10.17140/HARTOJ-SE-3-104
  • Plyman, M.B., George Dalmida, S. (2016). A study of the role of music and religion on African American adolescent females’ sexual beliefs and behaviors. Journal of Science and Health at the University of Alabama, 13, 43-47.
  • Di Valerio, E., George Dalmida, S. (2016). Exploring HIV stigma in the US Virgin Islands. Journal of Science and Health at the University of Alabama, 13, 27-31.

Honors/Awards