Ramona A. Benkert PhD, ANP-­BC, FAANP (ac3902)

University information

Title: Dean
Unit: Nursing Faculty, PTF & GTA
Department: College of Nursing

Contact information

313-577-4138
201 Cohn Bldg.
Adult Health/Admin
Nursing
Detroit, 48202

College of Nursing

Program of Research title: The impact of medical mistrust on health outcomes
Title: Dean and professor
Populations of interests:
  • African American Urban populations
  • Underserved and racial and ethnic minority groups
  • Hypertension management and outcomes
Office Address:

112 Cohn, 5557 Cass Ave., Detroit, Michigan 48202

Program of Research:
  • Health care providers in primary care
  • Persons of color
  • Persons with chronic illnesses
Phone: 313-577-­4138
Administrative support:

Amy Calcaterra

Bio Sketch:

Dr. Benkert conducts research focused on explicating the role of medical mistrust, racial identity and cultural competence on adherence to primary care recommendations and quality of care. Her research has focused on the role of nurse practitioners and other primary care providers in nurse managed and traditional primary care settings. She has received numerous Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grants and is currently the principal investigator for the statewide Area Health Education Center (AHEC) in Michigan and the PI of a Nurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention (NEPQR) grant focused on enhancing the registered nurse role in primary care.

Dr. Benkert has mentored over 70 nursing students in the conduct of various stages of the research and quality improvement enterprise. These students have been from all levels of education from pre-nursing to PhD. She has also continued to work with many of the trainees after graduation. Dr. Benkert has assisted students in the mastery of data collection and recruitment of subjects in busy primary care practices; the vast majority of these students have been students of color. Over the last 30 years, she has been the PI or Co-PI on multiple research projects. As PI or co-Investigator on several university- and HRSA-funded grants, Dr. Benkert laid the groundwork for the proposed research by measuring clinical outcomes, evaluating trust and mistrust of health professionals and other psychosocial factors relevant to the outcomes of chronic conditions, specifically hypertension.

Education:
  • PhD, University of Michigan, 2002
  • MSN, Wayne State University, 1987
  • BSN, Mercy College of Detroit, 1981
Research Interests:
  • Chart and electronic health record data extraction
  • Qualitative interviews with persons of color and survey data collection on chronic illnesses affecting African American urban dwelling adults
Clinical Area(s) of Expertise:
  • Measuring clinical outcomes
  • Evaluating trust and mistrust of health professionals and other psychosocial factors
  • Outcomes of chronic conditions, specifically hypertension
Selected publications:
  • Dove-Medows, E., Misra, D., Benkert, R. & Giurgescu, C. (2022). A qualitative approach to the dimensions of segregation among pregnant Black women. Journal of Urban Health, 1-9, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-022-00661-3.
  • Caparso, C. & Benkert, R. (2021). Family cohesiveness: A dying concern for the co-parent in families with young parents with advanced cancer (PWAC): A pilot study. Cancer Nursing, 00, 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1097/NCC.0000000000001024.
  • Attaallah, S., Peters, R. M., Benkert, R., Yarandi, H., Oliver-McNeil, S. & Hopp, F. (2021). Developing a Middle-Range Theory of Health Failure Self-Care. Nursing Science Quarterly, Vol. 34(2), 168-177. DOI: 10.11770894318420987164
  • Ascione, F., Najjar, G., Barnett, S. G., Benkert, R., Ludwig, D. A., Doll, J., Gallimore, C. E., Pandey. J. & Zorek, J. A. (2021). A preliminary exploration of the impact of accreditation on interprofessional education using a modified Delphi analysis. Journal of Interprofessional Education & Practice, 25, 100466. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xjep.2021.100466
  • Oliver-McNeil, S., Benkert, R., & Lauzon-Clabo, L. (2020). Enhancement of Bachelor of Science Nursing Program for Military Veterans through an Academic Practice Partnership. Journal of Professional Nursing, 36, 212-217. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2019.12.005
  • Benkert, R., Peters, R., & Templin, R. (2019). Sociodemographics and medical mistrust in a population based sample of Michigan residents. International Journal of Nursing and Health Care Research. 6:092. DOI: 10.29011/IJNHR-092.1000092
  • Benkert, R., Cuevas, A., Thompson, H., Dove-Medows, E.*, & Knuckles, D.* (2019). Ubiquitous yet unclear: A systematic review of medical mistrust. Behavioral Medicine, 45:2. https://doi.org/10.1080/08964289.2019.1588220
  • Nagelkerk, J., Benkert, R., Pawl, B. Myers, A., Moore, H., Armstrong, M., Murray, D., Baer, L., Rayford, A., Berlin,S., Fenbert, K., Boone, P. D., Masselink, S., & Jakstys, C.. (2018). Test of an interprofessional collaborative practice model to improve obesity-related health outcomes in Michigan. Journal of Interprofessional Education & Practice, 11, 43-50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xjep.2018.02.001
  • Benkert, R, Dennehy, P, White, J, Hamilton, A, Tanner, C, & Pohl, J. (2014). Diabetes and hypertension quality measurement in four safety-net sites: Lessons learned after implementation of the same commercial electronic health record. Applied Clinical Informatics, 5, 757-772. http://dx.doi.org/10.4338/ACI-2014-03-RA-0019
  • Benkert, R., Templin, T., Schim, S., Doorenbos, A. & Bell, S. E. (2011). Testing a multi-group model of cultural competence behaviors among underrepresented Nurse Practitioners. Research in Nursing and Health,34, 327-341. https://doi.org/10.1002/nur.20441
  • Benkert, R., Hollie, B., Nordstrom, C. K., Wickson, B., & Binns-Emerick, L.* (2009). Trust, mistrust, racial identity and patient satisfaction in urban African American primary care patients of nurse practitioners. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 41, 211-219. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1547-5069.2009.01273.x
Honors and Awards:
  • Service Award: Michigan Area Health Education Center, 2015
  • Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 2013
  • Alumni of the Year, University of Detroit Mercy McAuley School of Nursing, 2011
  • Community Service Award, Outstanding Volunteer, Joy-Southfield Community Development Corporation, 2006 
  • Spirit of Detroit Award, 2006
Current Research:

Dr. Benkert's current research focuses on explicating the role of medical mistrust, racial identity and cultural competence on adherence to primary care recommendations and quality of care. Her research has focused on the role of nurse practitioners and other primary care providers in nurse managed and traditional primary care settings.

Ramona A. Benkert PhD, ANP-­BC, FAANP

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