Dr. Shaquita Starks is an Assistant Professor, clinical track, and dually certified APRN in Psychiatric Mental Health and Family Nurse Practitioner. She earned a Ph.D., Master's, and Bachelor's degree in Nursing at The University of Tennesee Health Science Center in Memphis, TN, and a Post Master's Certificate in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing at The University of Mississippi Medical Center.

Peer-Reviewed Publications – Published

Josiah, N., Shoola, H., Rodney, T., Arscott, J., Ndzi, M., Bush, A. D., Wilson, P. R., Jacques, K., Baptiste, D. L., & Starks, S. (2023). Addressing systemic racism and intergenerational transmission of anxiety using Bowenian family therapy with African American populations: A Discursive paper. Journal of Advanced Nursing. Wiley Online Library. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.15610  

Woods-Giscombe, C.L., Yearwood, E.L., Ngugi, D., Bravo, L., Wilson, P.R., Minarik, P., Brooks, J., Rodney, T., Starks, S., Pasini, M., Tatum, M.L., Hines-Martin, V. (2022). Honoring the past and charting the future: The International Society of Psychiatric Mental Health Nurses’ commitment to advance diversity and equity in mental health care. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnu.2022.08.006

Baptiste, D., Caviness-Ashe, N., Josiah, N., Commodore-Mensah, Y., Arscott, J., Jackson, D., Wilson., P., Starks, S. (2022). Henrietta Lacks and America’s dark history of research involving African Americans. Nursing Open, 9(5),2236-2238. https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.1257 

East-Smith, M. & Starks, S. (2021) COVID-19 and mental health care delivery: A digital divide exists for youth with inadequate access to the internet. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 60(7), P798-800. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2021.04.006

Josiah, N., Starks, S., Wilson, P. Rodney, T., Arscott, J., Commodore-Mensah, Y., Turkson, R.A., Mauney, K., Ogungbe, O., Akomah, J. & Baptiste, D. L. (2021). The intersection of depression, anxiety, and cardiovascular disease among Black populations amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 30(9-10), pe36-e40. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.15632 

Hines-Martin V, Starks S., Hermann C, Smith M, & Montanez J. (2019). Understanding culture in context: An important next step for patient emotional well-being and nursing. Nursing Clinics of North America, 54(4), 609-623. 10.1016/j.cnur.2019.08.005

Starks, S., Graff, C., Wicks, M. (2019). "Factors associated with quality of life of family caregivers of dialysis recipients." Western Journal of Nursing Research, 42(3), 177-186. 10.1177/0193945919849816 

Starks, S., Outlaw, F, Graff, J. C., Likes, W., White-Means, S., Melaro, L., & Wicks, M. (2018). Quality of life and African American women who are family caregivers: A literature review with implications for psychiatric mental health advanced practice registered nurses, Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 39(6), 467-481. doi: 10.1080/01612840.2017.1423427; PubMed PMID: 29451830

Other Publications

Starks, S., & East-Smith, M. (2023). From minority fellowship program mentor-mentee to colleagues impacting healthcare policy. In Rollins Gantz, N., Hafsteinsdóttir, T.B. (Eds.). Mentoring in Nursing through Narrative Stories Across the World . Springer, Cham. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-25204-4_20

Starks, S. (2022). Addressing social determinants of health in SOAP notes. In J. Hamilton, A. Char, W. Kinuthia, A. Abiri, & P. Schaffner (Eds.). Social determinants of health: Emory nursing’s four pillar framework for teaching and learning about social determinants of health. Assignments for course integration. Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing

Starks, S & Outlaw, F. (2021, Jan). Black nurses call to duty: Mental health for ourselves and our communities. NBNA Special edition on mental health and resiliency. National Black Nurses Association News

Wilson, P., Starks, S., & Outlaw, F. (2020, June 12). Who’s caring for black nurses? We challenge our colleagues to be allies. Johns Hopkins Nursing. https://magazine.nursing.jhu.edu/2020/06/whos-caring-for-black-nurses-we-challenge-our-colleagues-to-be-allies/

Baptiste, D., Turner, S., Josiah, N., Arscott, J., Alvarez, C., Turkson-Ocran, R.A.N., Rodney, T., Commodore-Mensah, Y., Francis, L., Wilson, P.R., Starks, S., Alexander, K.A., Taylor, J.L., Ogungbe, O., Byiringiro, S., Fisher, M.C., Charlemagne-Badal, S.J., Marseille. B., Delva, S.,...Hamilton, J. (2021, Feb). Hidden figures of nursing: The historical contributions of Black nurses and a narrative for those who are unnamed, undocumented, and underrepresented. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 77(4), 1627-1632. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.14791Starks, S. (2023). SDOH in action: Exemplars of incorporating SDOH content in entry-level and advanced level nursing education. In J. Hamilton & B. Swan (Eds). Integrating a social determinants of health framework into nursing education. Spring Nature. Doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-21347-2_5

Public Scholarship, Quotes, and Appearances

Atlanta Journal Constitution (Fall 2023)

National Black Nurses’ Association (Fall 2021)

American Federation of Teachers (Spring 2021)

American Nurses Association (Fall 2022)

Johns Hopkins University, Mention (Fall 2021)

MFP/ANA, Mention (Spring 2021)

Emory Nursing, Mention (Summer 2021)

Share Care, Interview (Summer 2021)

American Psychiatric Association, Psychiatric News, Quotation (Summer 2021)

University of Pennsylvania Faculty, Mention (Summer 2021)

Journal of Advanced Nursing, Mention (Summer 2021)

Canadian Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Mention (Summer 2021) 

SCHOLARSHIP: PRESENTATIONS

National Presentations

Starks, S. & Kyle, M. (2022, Sep). Disruptive and conduct disorder diagnosis bias and the school to prison pipeline: Teaching creative and compassionate interventions for BIPOC youth. The NLN Education Summit., Las Vegas, NV. 

Dolgoff, J.S., Wicks, M.N., Tolley, E.A., Graff, J.C., Michael, C., Williams, L.A., Starks, S.A., Rhee, H. (2021). Differences in asthma self-management behaviors and perceived self-efficacy across adolescence. Southern Nursing Research Society 35th Annual Conference. February 24-25, 2021. Virtual.

Finch, K.A., Starks, S., Leak, C.L., Graff, J.C., Surbhi, S., Gaffney, S.M., Duncan, M., & Bailey, J. (2020, Feb). Patient perspectives regarding the social and cultural acceptability of a biblically based healthy eating and weight loss intervention: A mixed methods research study. Poster presented at the Society of General Internal Medicine Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA. 

Finch, K.A., Starks, S., Leak, C.L., Graff, J.C., Surbhi, S., Gaffney, S.M., Duncan, M., & Bailey, J. (2020, May). Patient perspectives regarding the social and cultural acceptability of a biblically based healthy eating and weight loss intervention: A mixed methods research study. Poster presented at the Society of General Internal Medicine Annual Meeting, Birmingham, AL.

Fairrow-Davis P.P., Coday M., Gutierrez M.L., Graff J.C., Leak C.L., Smith P, Starks S.A., Bailey J.E. (2020, Feb). African American patient experience with health coaching, text messaging, and educational interventions to improve diabetes self-care. Oral presentation. Southern Meeting of the Society of General Internal Medicine, New Orleans, LA. 

Dolgoff, J.S., Wicks, M., Tolley, E.A., Michael, C., Graff, J.C., Starks, S.A., Williams, L.A., Rhee, H. (2018). Personal factors and environmental influences within the family as predictors of adolescent asthma self-management. Poster presented at Sigma Theta Tau International Leadership Connection, September 15-18, Indianapolis, IN.

Starks, S. (2016, October). The Interplay of social and economic factors and stress on the quality of life of black women who provide care for persons on dialysis. Presentation conducted at the Black Doctoral Network Inc. 4th Annual Black Doctoral Network Conference, Atlanta, GA. 

Starks, S. (2016, October). Socioeconomic factors and stress predict the quality of life for black women who are caregivers of persons who receive dialysis. Poster presented at the 46th Annual Association of Black Sociologists Conference, Memphis, TN.

Starks, S. (2016, June). Understanding the interplay of race, sex, and gender on the stress appraisal of Black women caregivers in the South. A proposal for qualitative inquiry. Presented at the 2^nd Annual Intersectional Qualitative Research Methods Institute. University of Maryland, College Park, MD. 

Starks, S. (2016, March). No stress? Analysis of the psychological health and well- being of Black women who provide care to persons on dialysis. Poster presented at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Minority Fellowship Program Winter Intensive Training Institute, Boca Raton, FL.

Starks, S., & Wicks, M. (2015, April). Prodromal somatic symptoms of depression in African American women caregivers. Poster presented at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center Interprofessional Student Council Public Health Research Conference, Memphis, TN. 

Starks, S. (2015, June). Quality of life and mood profile of African American women caring for family members with end-stage renal disease. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Minority Fellowship Program Summer Intensive Training Institute. Silver Spring, MD. June 26, 2015. 

State/Regional Presentations

Starks, S. (2022, November). ADHD in the College Student.  Fisk University, Nashville, TN

Starks, S. (2022, October). Depression and Chronic Conditions. Community Forum. LiveWell South Fulton, Atlanta, GA.  

Starks, S. (2021, September 26). Hill Talk: Covid-19, Grenada, MS (Virtual Townhall)

Starks, S. (2021, September 14). Mental and Emotional Wellness: Lowering Your Risk Breast Cancer (Virtual) 

Smith, K., Wharton, W. Starks, S.  Wofsy, A. (2022). Incorporating history into disparities research: A model for interdisciplinary collaboration and trust building, Research Session at the International Alzheimer’s conference. San Diego.

Starks, S. (2020). The right to defend my life. (Virtual Town Hall Meeting) 

Starks, S. (2020). COVID-19 and mental health: Let’s talk through it.

Starks, S., Wicks, M., Graff, C.  (2018, March 23). Using Photovoice to understand stress and coping in African American women caregivers of children with chronic conditions: A pilot for intervention development. Poster presentation at the 32^nd Southern Nursing Research Society (SNRS), Atlanta, GA. 

Starks, S., Wicks, M., & Graff, C. (2018, June-July). Using photovoice to understand stress and coping in African-American women who are caregivers of children with chronic conditions: A pilot study. SAMHSA MFP at ANA 2018 Conference and Institute, Nashville, TN.

Starks, S. (2016, August). No Stress? Analysis of the Psychological Health and Well- Being of Black Women Who Provide Care to Persons on Dialysis. Poster presented at the TNA District One, Palliative, End of Life, and Hospice Care: Across the Lifespan, Memphis, TN. 

Starks, S. & Wicks, M. (2015, February) Quality of Life and Mood Profile of African American Women Caring for Family Members with End-Stage Renal Disease. Poster presented at the 29^th Southern Research Society Conference, Tampa, FL.

Starks, S. & Wicks, M. (2015, April). Somatic Symptoms of Depression in African American Women Caregivers of Family Members with End-Stage Renal Disease. Presented at Public Health Research Day at UTHSC, Memphis, TN. 

Starks, S. & Wicks, M. (2015, May). Somatic Symptoms of Depression in African American Women Caregivers of Family Members with End-Stage Renal Disease. Poster presented at Graduate Research Day at UTHSC, Memphis, TN.

Starks, S. & Wicks, M. (2010). Predictors of Overall Quality of Life Among African American Women Who are Caregivers of Individuals with End-Stage Renal Disease. Poster presented at Alumni Day. Memphis Marriot, Memphis, TN. 

Starks, S. (2010, October). Support Interventions for Caregivers of People with Chronic Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review. Nursing Seminar at UTHSC. Memphis, TN.

Starks, S. (2009, December). Family Functioning in Informal Caregivers of Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease. Nursing Seminar at UTHSC. Memphis, TN. 

Starks, S. (2009, October). Identification and Evaluation of the Strength of Evidence for Biological Based Practices and Mind-Body Medicine for Health Promotion in Hepatitis C. Nursing Seminar UTHSC, Memphis, TN.

Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1117-5485

Enjoys mentoring students and has experience teaching Methods for Evaluation of Practice, Scientific Dissemination Research/Evidence-Based Practice Nursing, Ethical Dialogue and Health Assessment.

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Dr. Starks' research has focused on predictors of quality of life in African American women who are caregivers of family members with end-stage kidney disease, and psychosocial impact of chronic stress in caregivers caring for family members with mental health conditions.

Honors and Awards

2022 - Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses Diversity and Equity Award
International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses 

2021 - Foundation Builder Award 
26^th Annual Stone EBEN Awards, Memphis, TN

2021 - Arts and Social Justice Faculty Fellowship
Emory University 

Doctor of Philosophy Nursing Advisement

2021 - Avi Wofsy, APRN, Emory, Ph.D. Student, Emory University, SON. “A Crisis in Care: Analyzing the link between mental health services and incarceration in the state of Georgia.”
Committee Member

2018-2020 - Jenn Dolgoff, BSN, UTHSC, Ph.D. Student
Committee Member

2018-2020 - Ryan Blue, BSN, UTHSC, Ph.D. Student
Committee Member

2018-2020 - Samantha Calhoun, MSN, UTHSC, Ph.D. Student
Committee Chair

2018-2020 - Marie Smith-East, APRN, PMHNP-BC, Ph.D. student, College of Nursing, University of Central Florida “Geographical access to community mental health care and adherence to treatment among patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders.” 
SAMHSA/ANA Alumni Mentor

SCHOLARSHIP: GRANTS & OTHER FUNDING

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Integrated Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Training Program Grant #T62HP49312- $2.6 million

Professional Memberships/Associations

2021 - American Association of Nurse Practitioners

2020-2021 - International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses DEI

2020 - American Association of Colleges of Nursing

2020 - American Psychiatric Nurses Association

2017-2020 - Black Nurses Student Association

2017-2018 - SAMHSA/ANA Alumni Executive Board Member

2016 - Neuroscience Education Institute

 2008-2017 - Southern Nursing Research Society

2008 - American Nurses Association/TNA/GNA

2007 - Beta Theta-at-Large Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society

National and International Scientific Review

2023 - Nursing Open (Wiley)
Guest Editor

2022 - New England Journal of Medicine
Reviewer

2020-2022 - Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved
Reviewer

2021 - American Nurses Foundation Reimaging Nursing (RN) Initiative Practice
Ready Nurse Graduate External Reviewer

2022 - Interdisciplinary Minority Fellowship Program/SAMHSA/American Psychological Association Interdisciplinary Training Advisory Committee Member
‍Fellowship Application Reviewer

National and International Consultation 

2022 - SAMHSA/MFP/ANA
Mentor

2020-2021 - SAMHSA/IMFP Member Project Consultant. Project TBA - Hiba Ali

2020-2021 - SAMHSA/IMFP Member Project Consultant. Project TBA - Danielle McDuffie

2020-2021 - SAMHSA/IMFP Member Project Consultant. Project TBA - LaTrice Wright

2020-2021 -SAMHSA/IMFP Member Project Consultant. Project TBA - Dana Jennings

2020-2021 - SAMHSA/IMFP Member Project Consultant. Project TBA - Tirini Hil

Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing Service           

2022 to present - EmWell Advisory Board
Member

2022 to present - Division Committee on Community and Diversity Community Engagement Domestic and Global
Member

2022 to present - Progressions Committee
Subcommittee Member 

2021 to present - Division Committee on Community and Diversity Community Engagement Domestic and Global
Subcommittee Member 

2020 - Progressions Committee
Member