Episode Summary
Welcome back for the second episode of the second season of “Mental Health Trailblazers, Psychiatric Nurses Speak Up,” with our host, Indrias Kassaye. This week, Indrias discusses community engagement in research, the impact of elder care on caregivers, and Alzheimer’s research with Dr. Kalisha Bonds Johnson, PhD, MSN, RN, PMHNP-BC. Dr. Bonds Johnson is currently an Assistant Professor, Tenure track at Emory University’s Nell Woodruff School of Nursing. Her research focuses on the mental health of African American individuals with dementia and their caregivers, beginning with early diagnosis and treatment.
Dr. Kalisha Bonds Johnson believes her desire and love for psychiatric mental health, and family allowed her to pursue her Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certification–among many other markers of academic achievements. Dr. Bonds Johnson recalls how her experience receiving treatment for a bad burn on her leg in college was the first time she realized she was more interested in pursuing nursing instead of becoming a physician. She observed that the doctor was constantly in and out of the room, but the nurse was always the one who stayed and got to know their patients, building rapport. Dr. Bonds Johnson took that interpersonal aspect of nursing and combined it with her love of psychology to further understand the mental health of African-American dementia dyads.
Later in this episode, Dr. Bonds Johnson explains her hopes to improve health outcomes for African-American persons living with dementia and their families through the development of culturally tailored clinical interventions. Indrias and Dr. Bonds Johnson unpack the biases and issues at the intersection of medical research and diversity through the lens of dementia statistics. Together, they consider the value of caregivers while also providing suggestions for resources and a call to action to get involved with research. Dr. Bonds Johnson shares that she has recently been awarded a five-year grant to develop culturally tailored interventions for African-American persons living with dementia and their familial caregivers and how these families navigate the healthcare decision-making process.
As a multifaceted scholar and professional, Dr. Kalisha Bonds Johnson has made a unique and impactful position for herself in the field of mental health nursing. In addition to her work as an Assistant Professor, Dr. Kalisha Bonds Johnson works as a PMHNP at Emory’s Integrated Memory Care Clinic. To hear more about Dr. Kalisha Bonds Johnson’s grant or her research, take a look at her biography at https://www.nursing.emory.edu/faculty-staff/kalisha-bonds-johnson (opens new window).
Episode Notes
Welcome back for the second episode of the second season of “Mental Health Trailblazers, Psychiatric Nurses Speak Up,” with our host, Indrias Kassaye. This week, Indrias discusses community engagement in research, the impact of elder care on caregivers, and Alzheimer’s research with Dr. Kalisha Bonds Johnson, PhD, MSN, RN, PMHNP-BC. Dr. Bonds Johnson is currently an Assistant Professor, Tenure track at Emory University’s Nell Woodruff School of Nursing. Her research focuses on the mental health of African American individuals with dementia and their caregivers, beginning with early diagnosis and treatment.
Dr. Kalisha Bonds Johnson believes her desire and love for psychiatric mental health, and family allowed her to pursue her Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certification–among many other markers of academic achievements. Dr. Bonds Johnson recalls how her experience receiving treatment for a bad burn on her leg in college was the first time she realized she was more interested in pursuing nursing instead of becoming a physician. She observed that the doctor was constantly in and out of the room, but the nurse was always the one who stayed and got to know their patients, building rapport. Dr. Bonds Johnson took that interpersonal aspect of nursing and combined it with her love of psychology to further understand the mental health of African-American dementia dyads.
Later in this episode, Dr. Bonds Johnson explains her hopes to improve health outcomes for African-American persons living with dementia and their families through the development of culturally tailored clinical interventions. Indrias and Dr. Bonds Johnson unpack the biases and issues at the intersection of medical research and diversity through the lens of dementia statistics. Together, they consider the value of caregivers while also providing suggestions for resources and a call to action to get involved with research. Dr. Bonds Johnson shares that she has recently been awarded a five-year grant to develop culturally tailored interventions for African-American persons living with dementia and their familial caregivers and how these families navigate the healthcare decision-making process.
As a multifaceted scholar and professional, Dr. Kalisha Bonds Johnson has made a unique and impactful position for herself in the field of mental health nursing. In addition to her work as an Assistant Professor, Dr. Kalisha Bonds Johnson works as a PMHNP at Emory’s Integrated Memory Care Clinic. To hear more about Dr. Kalisha Bonds Johnson’s grant or her research, take a look at her biography at https://www.nursing.emory.edu/faculty-staff/kalisha-bonds-johnson (opens new window).