Education
PhD, Northwestern University
MSN, Loyola University
BSN, Loyola University
Sandra Millon Underwood R.N., Ph.D., F.A.A.N. is Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM). Dr. Underwood has directed courses that focus on nursing research, foundations of health, cancer prevention and control, cultural diversity in health care, and perspectives of health care systems. In addition, she served as the founding Director of the UWM House of Peace Community Nursing Center.
Dr. Underwood has engaged in a number of funded research projects focused on cancer education, cancer prevention, early detection and cancer risk management. These projects have targeted at-risk and underserved populations of men, women and children from urban communities, rural communities, and island community beyond the contiguous United States. Included among the agencies providing funding to support this body of research has been the National Cancer Institute, the Susan G. Komen Foundation for the Cure, the Wisconsin Department of Health and family Services, the American Cancer Society, and the UWM Center on Race and Ethnicity.
Dr. Underwood has assumed a number of statewide and national appointments and positions. She was appointed to serve on the National Institutes of Health Council of Councils, the National Cancer Advisory Board, the National Institute of Nursing Research Advisory Council, the National Cancer Policy Board, the Department of Defense Prostate Cancer Integration Panel, and the Wisconsin Women's Health Foundation Expert Panel.
Dr. Underwood is an active member of the American Academy of Nursing, the National Black Nurses' Association, the Association of Black Nursing Faculty, Sigma Theta Tau International, the Oncology Nursing Society, and the National Black Leadership Initiative on Cancer. Dr. Underwood is committed to improving the access of women, minorities, the disadvantaged, and the underserved to state-of-the-art cancer prevention and control programs and behavioral and biomedical research and has dedicated her professional career to accomplishing this goal. For more information, please visit her personal website.
Selected Funded Research ProjectsCancer Control Collaborative for Congregational Nurses
Milwaukee Affiliate, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
This project aimed to reduce breast cancer morbidity and mortality in Southeastern Wisconsin through the presentation of culturally-specific and faith-based breast health and breast cancer education and referral programs for American women.
Research Institute for Nurse Scientists
Susan G. Komen Foundation
This project aimed to expand and strengthen research focused on breast cancer in African American women through the implementation of a Research Institute for Nurse Scientists. The Research Institute provided nurse scientists didactic, laboratory and mentored experiences directed toward expanding and strengthening research focused on breast cancer screening, breast cancer control and breast cancer survivorship among African American women
Wisconsin Well Women Hispanic, African American and African Immigrant/Refugee Outreach Program
WI Department of Health & Family Services, Well Woman Program
This pilot project aimed to reduce breast and cervical cancer morbidity and mortality among Hispanic, African American and African Immigrant/Refugee women in Wisconsin through the implementation of a Wisconsin Well Woman Hispanic Outreach Program.
Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Program for Nurse Educators
National Cancer Institute
This project sought to contribute to the reduction of health disparities and cancer mortality among African Americans through the implementation of a series of cancer prevention and early detection programs for nurse educators, academic staff and clinicians from historically black and minority serving institutions.
