Ejura Salihu

• University of Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria – BSc, Anatomy
• University of Nigeria, Enugu State, Nigeria – MSc, Anatomy
• Western Illinois University – MA, Sociology
• University of Wisonsin-Madison – PhD

Bio

Ejura Yetunde Salihu, PhD (she/her/hers) joined DFMCH in 2024. Salihu’s research interests include applying socio-behavioral theories and community-engaged principles to advance health equity initiatives, specifically developing and disseminating tailored interventions for marginalized individuals and communities. As a researcher with the PROTEA team, Ejura will be primarily responsible for grant and protocol writing, leading projects, and project oversight. Her study on the adaptation and dissemination of a culturally-tailored fall prevention program within African American/Black and Latinx communities in Wisconsin earned her the New Investigator Award for the University of Wisconsin-Madison Institute on Aging.

Research Interests

Salihu specializes in applying socio-behavioral theories, implementation science, and community-engaged research principles to promote the health and well-being of historically underserved individuals and communities. She has experience developing, implementing, and evaluating tailored interventions to meet the needs of diverse populations, including African American/Black and Latinx communities. Salihu is part of the PROTEA Lab. Her research interest include:

• Health promotion and wellness
• Community-based participatory research (CBPR)
• Dissemination and implementation
• Qualitative research methodologies

Publications and Presentations

• Salihu EY, Ali AM, Hassan JH, et al. Perspectives on self-management and meditation: a qualitative study of adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus and their parents. Cureus. 2024;16(9):e70019. doi:10.7759/cureus.70019
• Wen MJ, Salihu EY, Yang C, Maurer M, Shiyanbola OO. Peer ambassador perspectives in a culturally tailored self-management intervention for African Americans with type 2 diabetes: a qualitative study. Pharmacy (Basel). 2024;12(3):75. doi:10.3390/pharmacy12030075.
• Salihu EY, Ebert Wallace L. Use and attitudes toward complementary and alternative medicine among university students: the role of gender and race. J Am Coll Health. 2022;1-10. doi:10.1080/07448481.2022.2115296.
• Shiyanbola OO, Maurer M, Schwerer L, Sarkarati N, Wen MJ, Salihu EY, Nordin J, Xiong P, Egbujor UM, & Williams SD. A culturally tailored diabetes self-management intervention incorporating race-congruent peer support to address beliefs, medication adherence, and diabetes control in African Americans: a pilot feasibility study. Patient Prefer Adherence. 2022;16:2893-2912. doi:10.2147/PPA.S384974.
• Tarfa A, Salihu E, Xiong P, et al. Participant and group facilitator perspectives on a novel culturally tailored diabetes self-management program for African Americans. Res Sq. Published online 2023. doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-3136363/v1.

Awards and Honors

• New Investigator Award – University of Wisconsin-Madison Institute on Aging
• Teaching Assistant Award – University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Pharmacy
• Won M. Hurh Memorial Graduate Thesis Award – Western Illinois University