Michele Polfuss

Dr. Michele Polfuss is an Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) School of Nursing and a Joint Research Chair in the Nursing of Children. She is certified as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in both acute and primary care. Her research focuses on pediatric obesity, developmental disabilities, family-centered care, and the role of parenting/feeding behaviors in weight management. She collaborates with Children’s Wisconsin Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice Department.

• Ph.D. in Nursing, Marquette University
• MSN in Pediatric Nursing, Marquette University
• BSN in Nursing, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh

Her research explores energy expenditure, body composition, and self-management interventions in youth with Down syndrome and spina bifida. She investigates psychosocial impacts of obesity, yoga’s physiological benefits, and family dynamics in chronic illness caregiving.

Recent publications highlight advancements in measuring body composition, family resource development for research participation, and self-management theory applications. Academic trends span pediatric obesity prevention, gender-specific caregiving, and technology-assisted discharge education tools.

• 2024 Midwest Nursing Research Society Distinguished Abstract award
• 2023 Sheryl Kelber Research Award
• 2022 Midwest Nursing Research Society Senior Scientist Award
• 2020 Excellence in Nursing Award

Dr. Polfuss advises Ph.D. student Roddy, L. and leads NIH-funded projects like Energy Expenditure in Youth with Down Syndrome (NIH INCLUDE) and Body Composition in Spina Bifida (NIH NICHD). She co-invests in CDC-funded Spina Bifida registry research and HRSA LEND program subcontracts.

She contributes to the UWM Self-Management Science Center and collaborates with Children’s Wisconsin. Her work addresses weight stigma, discharge teaching innovations (ePED app), and family-centered interventions for children with special needs.