Blanca Iris Padilla

Dr. Blanca (Iris) Padilla is an Assistant Professor at Duke University School of Nursing since 2014, with prior appointments at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing and the University of Michigan‒Ann Arbor. She brings extensive clinical expertise in trauma-critical care, emergency room, and primary care nursing, particularly focused on diabetes management and underserved populations.

• Education:
  • PhD, University of Tennessee Health Science Center
  • MSN, Tennessee State University
  • BSN, Belmont University

Research Interests: Dr. Padilla specializes in diabetes self-care, adherence strategies via texting, co-morbid depression, insulin management, cardiovascular risk reduction, and provider education in diabetes care. Her work addresses chronic illness management in vulnerable populations and interprofessional education models.

• Grants & Projects:
  • Co-investigator/consultant on NIH R01-funded intervention project for Type II diabetes medication adherence in underserved populations
  • Developed diabetes/obesity self-management program for Tennessee Diabetes Prevention and Health Improvement
  • Created web-based diabetes management module for nurse practitioners