Dena Nazer

Dena Nazer, Professor of Pediatrics at Wayne State University School of Medicine, serves as the Medical Director at Kids-TALK Children’s Advocacy Center in Detroit, where she performs medical evaluations for children suspected of maltreatment and human trafficking. She also directs the WE AIM faculty development program and holds a leadership role in the Women in Medicine and Science (WIMS) executive committee.

• Education: M.B.B.S. from University of Jordan, Fellowship and Residency at Children’s Hospital of Michigan/Wayne State University.
• Certified by the American Board of Pediatrics in General Pediatrics and Child Abuse Pediatrics.

Research Interests center on child abuse medical education and gamification as a teaching method, with a focus on improving healthcare professionals’ training through innovative approaches. Her work also addresses human trafficking, commotio cordis, and child maltreatment in disabled children.

Recent publications highlight her contributions to forensic pediatrics, including postmortem imaging, human trafficking evaluation, and sports-related injuries. She has edited three books and authored key chapters on child abuse.

• Scientific Awards: Appointed Chair of the Michigan Human Trafficking Health Advisory Board by Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

She actively teaches nationally and internationally, blending clinical practice with advocacy and education, and collaborates with teams at Kids-TALK and former roles at Children’s Hospital of Michigan.