Manka Nkimbeng

Manka Nkimbeng is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the University of Minnesota School of of Public Health. Her research focuses on health disparities, dementia care for African immigrants, and the impact of structural racism on healthcare outcomes for older adults.

Dr. Nkimbeng's research interests span several critical areas in public health and geriatrics. She is particularly focused on understanding and addressing health disparities among racial and ethnic minority populations, with special attention to African immigrants and older Black Americans. Her work examines how structural racism impacts healthcare access and outcomes, and she explores resilience strategies that communities use to navigate these challenges. Additional research areas include dementia care, financial strain and health outcomes across the lifespan, and self-efficacy in chronic disease management among older adults.

Her recent publications show a strong emphasis on systematic reviews examining the connections between financial strain and health outcomes in both children and adults. She has also published influential work on structural racism and its impact on Black Americans' healthcare experiences. A significant portion of her research uses evidence mapping to identify strategies for addressing racial and ethnic disparities in chronic disease management.

Dr. Nkimbeng has secured significant grant funding for her research. She is Principal Investigator on the Mentored Research Scientist Development Award from the NIH National Institute on Aging (2022-2027) and The African Immigrant Dementia Education Project (2020-2023). She also serves as Co-Investigator on the Establishing Mechanisms of Benefit to Reinforce the Alzheimer's Care Experience (EMBRACE) project and as a team member on the Minnesota Northstar Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program.