Eugenia Flores Millender, Ph.D., RN, PMH-APRN, FAAN, has dedicated her career to increasing access to integrated mental health services and community-engaged research. She is the Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Center of Population Sciences for Health Equity, Assistant Dean of Research, and a tenured Professor at Florida State University (FSU) College of Nursing. She is an Afro-Indigenous Latina scientist, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, and a bilingual first-generation immigrant. These diverse experiences shape and guide her research, focusing on reducing mental health disparities. Her research program is focused on addressing mental health disparities by examining how sociocultural stressors, trauma, and discrimination contribute to transgenerational psychological and physical illness. By exploring the intersection of these complex dynamics in vulnerable and marginalized populations both nationally and globally, her work seeks to generate critical insights and foster transformative change in mental health outcomes, ultimately improving the well-being of underserved communities worldwide. She brings together academia and the community as equal partners in research initiatives. Before her tenure at FSU, Dr. Millender served as the founder and inaugural director of the Florida Atlantic University (FAU) Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing Nurse-led community health center, the first nurse-led university health center in Florida to achieve Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike status, as designated by the United States Health Resources and Services Administration.

As an experienced community-based researcher, Dr. Millender has received over $26 million in extramural funding as principal investigator and multiple PI to decrease health disparities among underserved populations.  Internationally, she holds the role of adjunct investigator with both the Institute of Scientific Research and High Technology Services of Panama (INDICASAT), the equivalent of the NIH, and the Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas, comparable to the CDC. Her leadership extends across multiple countries, as she co-leads impactful research studies in the U.S., Panama, Madagascar, Brazil, and Mexico. Through these cross-border collaborations, she is driving critical advancements in mental health research and fostering solutions that improve mental health outcomes on a global scale.

Dr. Millender is a distinguished 2023 Presidential Leadership Scholar fellow, a prestigious program affiliated with the presidential centers of George W. Bush, William J. Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Lyndon B. Johnson. This elite fellowship brings together visionary leaders committed to addressing critical global and domestic challenges by learning advanced problem-solving strategies from former U.S. presidents and their administrations. Dr. Millender's expertise is further grounded in her six years of service in the U.S. Army and her academic achievements, which include a BSN, MS, and Ph.D. from Florida Atlantic University. She holds post-graduate certifications in psychiatric and mental health nursing from Rush University, precision medicine from the University of Florida, executive leadership from the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton Business School, and AI in healthcare from Harvard Medical School executive program. Her extensive education and leadership experience equip her to drive transformative change in mental health and healthcare innovation.

EDUCATION

PhD, Florida Atlantic University
Graduate Certificate, Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Rush University
MS, Florida Atlantic University
BSN, Florida Atlantic University

HONORS/AWARDS

2024     DAISY Award for Advancing Health Equity, Florida State University, College of Nursing

2023     Presidential Leadership Scholars – Class of 2023

              (Presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Lyndon B. Johnson)

2022     Florida State University Latinx Faculty and Staff Network Co-Chair

2022     Invited Speaker: White House Florida Clinician Leaders Listening Session

2021     FSU Faculty Latinx Distinguished Service Award, Florida State University

2021     Inducted as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN).

2021     Selected as Fellow of the FSU inaugural Faculty Program with the Office of the Vice-President of

             Research, Florida State University

2020     Heroes in Medicine, Health Care Provider Hero Category Finalist, Palm Beach County Medical

             Society

2018     Inducted into the Florida Atlantic University Hall of Fame as Distinguished Alumni of FAU’s

             Christine E. Lynne College of Nursing

SELECT PUBLICATIONS

1. Gabster, A., Diaz Fernández, F., Pascale, J. M., Orillac, A., Moreno-Wynter, S., Xavier Hall, C. D., Millender, A. F., Wong, F. Y., Jhangimal, M., Yu-Pon, A., Rodríguez-Vargas, C., Arjona-Miranda, D., Henostroza, G., & Araúz, A. B. (in press). Factors associated with self-reported suboptimal antiretroviral adherence and limited retention in care among people living with HIV who attend a large ART clinic in Panama City, Panama. PLOS ONE.
2. Rangel, G. A., Tratner, A. E., Oviedo, D. C., Villarreal, A. E., Carreira, M. B., Rodriguez-Araña, S., Millender, E. F., Xavier Hall, C. D., Young, F. Y., O’Bryant, S. E., & Britton, G. B. (in press). Depression and plasma pTau181 levels are associated with frailty status in Hispanic (Panama) community-dwelling older women. Gerontol Geriatr Med.
3. Xavier Hall, C., Okantey, B., Meng, Z., Sabuncu, C., Lane, B., Millender, E. I., Queiroz, A. A. F. L. N., Kim, J., Okada, L., Gillepsie, A., Simoncin, G., Barile, J., Ma, G., & Wong, F. (in press). Examining bio-psycho-social predictors of risk for cognitive impairment among a racially diverse sample of men who have sex with men living with HIV. Therapeutic Advances in Infectious Disease.
4. Radey, M., Wu, Q., McWey, L., & Millender, E. I. (in press). Instrumental safety net configurations and changes over time among low-income, vulnerable families. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry.
5. Gabster, A., Xavier Hall, C. D., Yi, A., Millender, E., Wong, F. Y., & Pascale, J. (2023). Dating violence prevalence and risk factors among adolescents (14-19 years) in urban settings in Panama. Lancet Regional – Americas. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4104375
6. Li, C., Liu, T., Zhang, R., Millender, E. I., Miao, H., Ormsbee, M., Conley, Y., Westbrook, A., Yang, P., Wang, J., & Kelly, T. (2023). The impact of polygenic score on cognitive function decline considering baseline cognitive function, lifestyle behaviors, and diabetes among middle-aged and older U.S. adults. Alzheimer's Research & Therapy, 15(196), 1-10.
7. Erausquin, J. T., Sánchez, J., Pon, A. Y., Jhangimal, M., Millender, E. I., Peña, Y., Ng, W., Reina, A., Nakad, C., Quintana, J., Herrera, R., Vistica, G., Pinzón-Espinosa, J., Cabezas-Talavero, G., Katz, J., Pascale, J. M., Rodríguez, F., & Gabster, A. (2022). Sexual and reproductive health and access: Results of a rapid epidemiological assessment among migrant peoples in transit through Darién, Panamá. Frontiers in Reproductive Health, 4(953979), 1-10.
8. Millender, E. I., Harris, R. M., Barneris, J., Marks, L., Barcelona, V., Wong, F., Crusto, C., & Taylor, J. Y. (2022). The cumulative influence of perceived discrimination, stress, and coping responses on symptoms of depression among young African American mothers. Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (JAPNA), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F10783903221105281
9. Agudelo-Higuitaa, N., Antonio Suarezb, J., Millender, E. I., Garcia-Creightonf, E., Corbisierof, M. F., Freitesg, C. O., Henao Corderoh, J., Kousari, A., Unterborn, R., Marcos, L. A., Henao-Martínez, A. F., Meng, M., Alvarado, Y. W., Nicholls, S. B., Sanchez, J., Rincο, T., Viquez, D., Owen, D., Pascale, J. M., & Gabster, A. (2022). U.S. bound journey of migrant peoples in transit across Dante's inferno (Panama) and purgatory in the Americas. Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease, 47, 102317. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmaid.2022.102317
10. Joiner, T. E., Robison, M., Robertson, L., Keel, P., Daurio, A. M., Mehra, L. M., & Millender, E. (2022). Ethnoracial status, intersectionality with gender, and psychotherapy utilization, retention, and outcomes. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000726
11. Millender, E. I., Barile, J. P., Barneris, J., Harris, R. M., De Faria, L., Wong, F., Crusto, C. A., & Taylor, J. (2021). 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), 94-101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnu.2020.09.014
12. Millender, E. & Dunphy, L. (2019). Anxiety, stress, and trauma-related disorders. In L. M. Dunphy, J. E. Winland-Brown, D. E. Thomas, & B. Porter (Eds.), Primary care: The art and science of advanced practice nursing (5th ed., pp. 1129–1152). FA Davis Co.
13. 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).
14. 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., 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. American Journal of Nursing, 24(1), 39-49. https://doi.org/10.20467/1091-5710.24.1.39

15. 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

FUNDED GRANTS

Ongoing and recently completed projects that I would like to highlight include:

R01DA059240-01A1

Xavier Hall (Contact PI); Role: MPI

Characterizing Intersectional Geospatial Stigma and Affirmation Landscapes and Their Influences on Black and Latino Bisexual Men at Risk for Substance Abuse and HIV

2024-2029

1H79SM087909

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Center for Mental Health Services.

Layman (PI); Role: Co-I and FSU subcontract PI

Project BRAVE (Building Resilience and Accessibility for Vulnerable populations Ensuring Equity

2024-2029

3U01FD007976-02S1 (FDA Innovation Award: Minority Health and Health Equity)

Millender (Contact PI)
Elevating Community Voices by Developing a User-centered Approach to Enable Self-testing and Remote Data Collection among Under-represented Populations (Project Elevate)

2024-2025

1U01FD007976-01 (FDA Innovation Award: Minority Health and Health Equity)

Millender (Contact PI)
Elevating Community Voices by Developing a User-centered Approach to Enable Self-testing and Remote Data Collection among Under-represented Populations (Project Elevate)

2023-2025

6H79SM080386-05M003

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Center for Mental Health Services.

Millender, Eugenia Isabel (Contact PI/consultant).

Minority Fellowship Program at the American Nurses Association: Increasing the Behavioral Health Nurse Workforce.

Dec 2023–Sep 2024

N/A, Quantum Foundation

Millender (Contact PI)

Beyond Shelters: Developing a Holistic and Integrated Team Approach to Mitigate Healthcare Crisis for Recently Homeless and Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE) families in Palm Beach County (PBC)

2022-2024

1U01FD007784-01 (Innovation Award: Minority Health and Health Equity)

Xavier Hall (Contact PI); Role: MPI

Identifying Opportunities for Improving Equity in Vaccine Trial Engagement among Sexual and Gender Minority LatinX Communities Through an Explanatory Mixed-methods Design (Palm Beach County)

2022-2024 (NCE)

1U54CA267730-01

Wong (Contact PI); Role: MPI and Faculty Core Lead

Fostering Institutional Resources for Science Transformation: The FLORIDA-FIRST Health-science Brigade

2021-2026

2UL1TR001427-05

Mitchell (PI); Role: FSU Advisory Board member and Community Engagement Leadership team The UF-FSU Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA)

2019-2024 

NIH Loan Repayment Program (NHLBI)    

Millender (PI).                  

Impact of Stress, Depression, Coping, and DNA Methylation on Blood Pressure Among African American Women

2020-2024