Pearl Anna Mcelfish

Pearl Anna McElfish is a Professor at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, with primary affiliations in the College of Nursing. Her work focuses on health disparities among Marshallese Pacific Islanders and other marginalized populations.

• Academic Leadership: Principal Investigator on 15+ NIH/HRSA/PCORI grants totaling $30M+ since 2015
• Research Pillars: Diabetes prevention, vaccine hesitancy, maternal health, telehealth implementation, and social determinants of health

Her research combines community-based participatory approaches with clinical interventions, emphasizing culturally adapted models for diabetes self-management and prenatal care. Recent work examines telehealth adoption during pandemics and food insecurity impacts on clinical outcomes.

• 2025 Scientific Awards: Barton Award FY18, Sturgis FY19 Internal Research Award

As Co-PI for the Center for Research, Health, and Social Justice, she leads transdisciplinary teams addressing health equity in rural Arkansas and the Marshall Islands. Her grant portfolio includes multiple R01s and PCORI projects focused on diabetes prevention programs and vaccine distribution equity.