About Uzo
Educator | Nurse | Artist | Researcher
Dr. Uzo Nwankpa is a fourth-generation descendant of healers and a queer Igbo womyn from Southeast Nigeria. With ancestral roots gifted to restore balance through Indigenous Igbo practices and beyond, she brings a holistic, culturally grounded approach to public health, education, and the arts.
Through storytelling, movement, and community rituals, the Uzo Method empowers individuals to reconnect with their roots, heal from within, and thrive in community. As a nurse, educator, and performing artist, Dr. Nwankpa integrates holistic practices into public health and education. Her innovative RICHER Model offers a practical framework for community-based healing, blending reflection, creative expression, and restoration.
Meet Dr. Uzo Nwankpa
Educator | Nurse | Artist | Researcher
As an educator, facilitator, performer, and researcher, Dr. Nwankpa founded The Uzo Method Project – A Public Health Solution to fulfill her mission of igniting a billion souls rising in the divine. As a first-generation immigrant and global citizen, she is committed to decolonizing internalized systems of oppression and serving as a bridge between Africans on the continent and across the global diaspora. She centers embodied learning and honors difference as a site of connection and healing.
Dr. Nwankpa currently serves as an Assistant Professor at Samuel Merritt University, where she brings the healing arts into healthcare education, fostering a more resilient and holistic approach to well-being. Her work uplifts communities by honoring cultural wisdom and fostering resilience, inspired by her journey from Nigeria to the U.S.
Through storytelling, movement, and community rituals, the Uzo Method empowers individuals to reconnect with their roots, heal from within, and thrive in community. As a nurse, educator, and performing artist, Dr. Nwankpa integrates holistic practices into public health and education. Her innovative RICHER Model offers a practical framework for community-based healing, blending reflection, creative expression, and restoration.
About Uzo
Through storytelling, movement, and community rituals, the Uzo Method empowers individuals to reconnect with their roots, heal from within, and thrive in community. As a nurse, educator, and performing artist, Dr. Nwankpa integrates holistic practices into public health and education. Her innovative RICHER Model offers a practical framework for community-based healing, blending reflection, creative expression, and restoration.
Dr. Nwankpa currently serves as an Assistant Professor at Samuel Merritt University, where she brings the healing arts into healthcare education, fostering a more resilient and holistic approach to well-being. Her work uplifts communities by honoring cultural wisdom and fostering resilience, inspired by her journey from Nigeria to the U.S.
Education and Training
Education:
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
Barry University, Miami, Florida
Master of Science in Nursing – Public Health (MSN-PH),
Grand Canyon University, Phoenix, Arizona
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Samuel Merritt University, California (2022)
Caroline Plummer Community Dance Fellowship
University of Otago, New Zealand (2015)
Healer in Residence:
Freedom Community Clinic (2023)
Professional Experience:
Community Arts and Health Educator:
18 years of experience integrating cultural arts and holistic well-being strategies in diverse community settings.
Academic Leadership:
Assistant Professor at Samuel Merritt University, teaching community health nursing and wellness practices.
Grant Leadership:
Co-Principal Investigator on the HRSA Stronger Together Resiliency Grant, leading the Communal Healing Through Expressive Arts project to reduce burnout among health professions students.
Key Achievements:
HRSA Stronger Together Resiliency Grant:
Co-Principal Investigator on the Communal Healing Through Expressive Arts initiative, creating innovative spaces for students to address stress and burnout through Indigenous healing practices and technology integration.
Development of the RICHER Model for Holistic Wellbeing:
An innovative framework that integrates reflection, embodiment, choreography, and evaluation to enhance mental, emotional, and spiritual health, particularly benefiting healthcare workers from marginalized communities.
Education:
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
Barry University, Miami, Florida
Master of Science in Nursing – Public Health (MSN-PH),
Grand Canyon University, Phoenix, Arizona
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Samuel Merritt University, California (2022)
Caroline Plummer Community Dance Fellowship
University of Otago, New Zealand (2015)
Healer in Residence:
Freedom Community Clinic (2023)
Professional Experience:
Community Arts and Health Educator:
18 years of experience integrating cultural arts and holistic well-being strategies in diverse community settings.
Academic Leadership:
Assistant Professor at Samuel Merritt University, teaching community health nursing and wellness practices.
Grant Leadership:
Co-Principal Investigator on the HRSA Stronger Together Resiliency Grant, leading the Communal Healing Through Expressive Arts project to reduce burnout among health professions students.
Research and Scholarship:
Presented at national and international conferences on communal healing and expressive arts, with publications focusing on health equity and wellness.
Key Achievements:
HRSA Stronger Together Resiliency Grant:
Co-Principal Investigator on the Communal Healing Through Expressive Arts initiative, creating innovative spaces for students to address stress and burnout through Indigenous healing practices and technology integration.
Development of the RICHER Model for Holistic Wellbeing:
An innovative framework that integrates reflection, embodiment, choreography, and evaluation to enhance mental, emotional, and spiritual health, particularly benefiting healthcare workers from marginalized communities.
Expressive Arts Interventions in Healthcare Settings:
Implementation of music, dance, and mindfulness practices to reduce burnout and improve well-being among healthcare professionals, as demonstrated in community health projects and professional development workshops.
Community Participatory Research in Public Health:
Conducted interdisciplinary research exploring how cultural practices, storytelling, and movement can address health disparities, promoting resilience and wellness in underserved populations.
Contact And Get Involved
We welcome collaborations, partnerships, and community engagement. Whether you are an organization, researcher, or individual interested in holistic healing, we’d love to connect.
Ways to Get Involved:
Donate – Support community healing initiatives.
Collaborate – Partner with us on research and projects.
Newsletter Signup – Stay updated on events and insights.
Get Involved
We welcome collaborations, partnerships, and community engagement. Whether you are an organization, researcher, or individual interested in holistic healing, we’d love to connect.
Ways to get involved
Donate – Support community healing initiatives.
Collaborate – Partner with us on research and projects.
Newsletter Signup – Stay updated on events and insights.