Ana Diallo

Ana F. Diallo, Ph.D., M.P.H., RN (she/her) is an Assistant Professor at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Nursing, specifically in the Department of Adult Health and Nursing Systems. Her work focuses on cardiovascular health disparities, community-engaged research, and community-based nutrition interventions, with a strong emphasis on aging populations and health equity.

• Ph.D. in Nursing, University of Connecticut
• M.P.H. in Public Health, University of Connecticut
• B.S.N. in Nursing, Virginia Commonwealth University
• B.A. in International Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University

Dr. Diallo’s research bridges genomics, nutrition, and social determinants of health, particularly among African American and low-income communities. Her work includes dietary impacts on lipid profiles, community-academic partnerships for aging research, and structural interventions to address racial equity in healthcare. She has published extensively on topics such as:

• Gene-diet interactions in dyslipidemia
• Community-based food security programs
• Genomic associations with Alzheimer’s disease
• Structural inequities in older adult homelessness
• Interprofessional approaches to health equity

Current funded grants include:

• Va. Center on Aging (2022-25): Prescription Produce Program to promote access to fruits/vegetables for low-income older adults
• VCU BIRCWH (2022-24): Sex/gender differences in diet-dyslipidemia-cardiovascular links
• NIH/NIAAA (2018-24): Gene-diet interactions in dyslipidemia

She actively contributes to institutional diversity through service on VCU School of Nursing and Southern Nursing Research Society committees and engages in community advisory roles via the Greater Richmond Community Advisory Board.