Sangita Pudasainee-Kapri

Dr. Pudasainee-Kapri is an Assistant Professor of Nursing at Rutgers University-Camden. She has expertise in an area of interdisciplinary research that integrates child development, public health, and nursing. Along with advanced certification in global health and pediatric nursing, she has a strong background in quantitative analysis of secondary data, using a large, nationally representative sample of children. Her fields of research interest include Disparities in Maternal and Child Health, Pediatric Asthma, Social Determinants of Health, Preterm birth and/or Low Birth Weight, Academic, Developmental Outcomes (i.e., Academic and Socioemotional Competence in children), and Global Health Policy. 

Primarily, her research aims to identify the unique social determinants impacting asthma control, quality of life, and asthma self-management behaviors among low-income minority children and adolescents. She drew inspiration and passion for reducing health disparities in childhood asthma through her pediatric clinical experience in which she worked with diverse children with asthma and their families and observed their unique unmet social needs impacting their asthma outcomes. In addition, her research examines the impact of social determinants of health and early parenting processes (e.g., mental health issues, self-efficacy, maternal warmth, etc.) on health and developmental outcomes among preterm/and low birth weight (LBW) children.

Her current research project uses a mixed-method approach to (1) identify unique social determinants that impact asthma control and healthcare utilization among adolescents in Southern New Jersey and (2) explore adolescents’ and parents’ perspectives of barriers and facilitators of asthma self-management in low-income minority families. Additionally, her research projects extend previous work on LBW children which will examine the association between perinatal and social determinants, postnatal mental health issues (such as depression), and developmental outcomes among LBW infants. She has published her research papers in top peer-reviewed journals such as the Journal of Pediatric Nursing, Early Child Development and Care, and Child and Family Studies.

Along with her interdisciplinary educational and research qualifications, she has more than 12 years of clinical experience working with children and families in both inpatient and outpatient pediatric settings. Her clinical experience extends to other areas, including the postpartum department, neonatal intensive care unit, medical/surgical department, and rural public health settings.  She holds advanced certifications in Global Health and Certified Pediatric Nurse. She is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner and is now transitioning to the advanced practice role.

She has been recognized through the receipt of numerous fellowships, scholarships, honors, and awards for her dedication to exemplary service as well as excellence in teaching and research. Some of them include National Minority Quality Forum 40 Under 40 Leaders in Minority Health Award; 2022 NIMHD Health Disparity Research Institute Scholars, Rutgers Engaged Civic Learning Faculty Fellow, Johnson & Johnson-AACN Minority Nurse Faculty Scholarship, Human Development and Family Science Doctorate Award for Research Excellence, Syracuse University Graduate Fellowship, Outstanding Newbie Award, etc.