Setor Kofi Sorkpor, PhD, MPH, MSN, RN-BC, is an assistant professor in the College of Nursing at Florida State University with an overarching goal to become a leader in research that will reduce health inequalities and advance health equity among underserved and marginalized populations with chronic health conditions such as chronic pain. Dr. Sorkpor’s research focuses on health promotion interventions to optimize chronic health conditions like chronic pain among underserved and marginalized populations. He hopes to achieve this by utilizing cutting-edge technology in the form of consumer-facing devices like wearables, smartphone-based mobile apps, and others to deliver community-based interventions aimed at improving the health and well-being of these populations, which are typically at high risk for multiple health problems but face numerous barriers when attempting to access healthcare and public health goods and services. Dr. Sorkpor is also interested in global health, concentrating on pioneering research on identifying and developing programs to mitigate occupational health risks among sub-Saharan African workers, particularly healthcare professionals and maritime crew members on foreign-flagged ships.

Education

• PhD. Nursing, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
• Post Masters Certification in Nursing Education, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
• Master of Science in Nursing-Nursing Informatics, Texas Tech University Health Science Center
• Master of Public Health (MPH) Environmental and Occupational Health Focus, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
• Graduate Certificate in Public, The University of Texas Health Science Health at Houston
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing, The University of Texas Medical Branch
• Diploma in Marine Engineering, Regional Maritime University, Accra Ghana

Honors/Awards

Sigma Theta Tau International
Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi

Grant/Research Activity

Feasibility and Efficacy of Remotely Supervised Home-based Listening to Preferred Music for Pain in Older Adults with Low Back Pain.
Sponsor: Center for Nursing Research, Cizik School of Nursing.
Role: PI

Key Publications

Ahn, H., Sorkpor, S., Kim, M., Miao, H., Zhong, C., Wang, J., Debra, L., & Fillingim, R. (2018). The Relationship between acculturation and experimental pain sensitivity in Asian Americans with knee osteoarthritis. Pain Research and Management, 9128015. doi: 10.1155/2018/9128015. PMID: 30607217. PMCID: PMC6304828. (Impact Factor = 1.7)

Sorkpor, S., Ahn, H., Pollonini, L., Do, J. (2019). Cortical hemodynamic response to contact thermal stimuli in older adults with knee osteoarthritis: A functional near infrared spectroscopy pilot study. Journal of Pain, 20(4), S33. doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2019.01.155. (Impact Factor = 5.4)

Ahn, H., Zhong, C., Sorkpor, S., & Miao, H. (2019). Home-based transcranial direct current stimulation and experimental pain sensitivity. Innovation in Aging, 3(Supple 1), S338. doi: 10.1093/geroni/igz038.1227

Ahn, H., Sorkpor, S., Miao, H., Zhong, C., Jorge, R., Park, L., Abdi, S., & Cho, R. (2019). Home-based self-administered transcranial direct current stimulation in older adults with knee osteoarthritis pain: An open-label study. Journal of Clinical Neuroscience, 66, 61-65. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2019.05.023. PMID: 31153751. (Impact Factor = 1.6)

Ahn, H., Zhong, C., Miao, H., Chaoul, A., Park, L., Yen, I.H., Vila, M.A., Sorkpor, S., & Abdi, S. (2019). Efficacy of combining home-based transcranial direct current stimulation with mindfulness-based meditation for pain in older adults with knee osteoarthritis: A randomized controlled pilot study. Journal of Clinical Neuroscience, 70, 140-145. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2019.08.047. PMID: 31421990 (Impact Factor = 1.6)

Ahn, H., Park, L., Sorkpor, S., Zhong, C., & Miao, H. (2020). Home-based transcranial direct current stimulation for symptom management in older adults with knee osteoarthritis. Neuromodulation, 23, e326-e368. doi: 10.1111/ner.13152. (Impact Factor = 4.0)

Ahn, H., Park, L., Sorkpor, S., & Miao, H. (2020). Meditation combined with brain stimulation for clinical pain severity in older adults with knee osteoarthritis. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 54, S628.

Sorkpor, S. K., Johnson, C. M., Santa Maria, D. M., Miao, H., Moore, C., & Ahn, H. (2021). The Effect of Music Listening on Pain in Adults Undergoing Colonoscopy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of Perianesthesia Nursing. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jopan.2020.12.012. (Impact Factor = 0.9)

Sorkpor, S. K., Galle, K., Teixeira, A. L., Colpo, G. D., Ahn, B., Jackson, N., . . . Ahn, H. (2021). The Relationship Between Plasma BDNF and Pain in Older Adults with Knee Osteoarthritis. Biological Research for Nursing, 10998004211012479. doi:10.1177/10998004211012479. (Impact Factor = 1.8)

Sorkpor, S. K., & Ahn, H. (2021). Transcranial direct current and transcranial magnetic stimulations for chronic pain. Current Opinion in Anesthesiology.