Biography and education
Ny'Nika T. McFadden earned her PhD in Health Education and Promotion and MA in Communication Studies from The University of Alabama. She received her BS in Psychology from Troy University.
Dr. McFadden is currently an Assistant Professor of Public Health at Texas State University. Her research interests include Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) management, patient education, patient engagement, patient-provider communication, and diabetes technology. Her primary population of interest are adolescents and young adults living with T1D. Her research seeks to provide support with their health care transition from pediatric to adult care, increase their self-efficacy communicating independently with providers, and to create mobile applications and other forms of patient education materials to improve their disease and symptom management behaviors related to nutrition, physical activity, and diabetes distress. She is also passionate about supporting individuals diagnosed as an adult (i.e., LADA, Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults). Her secondary research interests include working with colleagues to support individuals with Prediabetes, Type 2 Diabetes, and Gestational Diabetes. She has published in journals such as The Science of Diabetes Self-Management and Care, American Journal of Health Promotion, and the American Journal of Health Education. Additionally, she has presented at conferences such as the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (ADCES), American Public Health Association (APHA), Behavioral Research in Diabetes Group Exchange (BRIDGE), Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE), and Texas Society for Public Health Education (TSOPHE).
Dr. McFadden is currently an Assistant Professor of Public Health at Texas State University. Her research interests include Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) management, patient education, patient engagement, patient-provider communication, and diabetes technology. Her primary population of interest are adolescents and young adults living with T1D. Her research seeks to provide support with their health care transition from pediatric to adult care, increase their self-efficacy communicating independently with providers, and to create mobile applications and other forms of patient education materials to improve their disease and symptom management behaviors related to nutrition, physical activity, and diabetes distress. She is also passionate about supporting individuals diagnosed as an adult (i.e., LADA, Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults). Her secondary research interests include working with colleagues to support individuals with Prediabetes, Type 2 Diabetes, and Gestational Diabetes. She has published in journals such as The Science of Diabetes Self-Management and Care, American Journal of Health Promotion, and the American Journal of Health Education. Additionally, she has presented at conferences such as the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (ADCES), American Public Health Association (APHA), Behavioral Research in Diabetes Group Exchange (BRIDGE), Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE), and Texas Society for Public Health Education (TSOPHE).
Teaching Interests
Research Interests
Featured grants
- McFadden, Ny'Nika T. (Principal). Development of Mobile Health Intervention (Handova) to Support the Health Care Transition from Pediatric to Adult Care among Adolescents and Young Adults Living with Chronic Health Conditions, Netspective Foundation, Inc., Private / Foundation / Corporate, $50000. (Submitted: October 2024, Funded: May 2025 - May 2027). Grant.
- McFadden, Ny'Nika T. (Principal). Measuring and Exploring Hypoglycemia Problem-Solving Skills Among Young Adults with Type 1 Diabetes, Texas State University, $8000. (Submitted: October 6, 2023, Funded: January 1, 2024 - May 31, 2025). Grant.
- McFadden, Ny'Nika T. (Principal). Dissertation Funding Award, The University of Alabama - Tuscaloosa (Graduate School), Institutional (Higher Ed), $300. (Submitted: 2022, Funded: 2022). Grant.
- McFadden, Ny'Nika T. (Principal). Dissertation Funding Award, The University of Alabama - Tuscaloosa (Department of Health Science), Institutional (Higher Ed), $300. (Submitted: 2022, Funded: 2022). Grant.
- McFadden, Ny'Nika T. (Principal). Conference Funding Award, The University of Alabama - Tuscaloosa (Department of Health Science), Institutional (Higher Ed), $500. (Submitted: 2022, Funded: 2022). Grant.
Featured scholarly/creative works
- McFadden, N. T., Wilkerson, A. H., Chaney, B. H., Carmack, H. J., Jaiswal, J., Stellefson, M. L., & Lovett, K. (2024). Exploring symptom management experiences among college students with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus using a theoretical framework: A qualitative study. The Science of Diabetes Self-Management and Care, 50(5). https://doi.org/10.1177/26350106241268412
- McFadden, N. T., Wilkerson, A. H., Jaiswal, J., Chaney, B. H., Stellefson, M., Carmack, H. J., & Lovett, K. (2024). Disease management experiences among college students with Type 1 Diabetes: A qualitative study. American Journal of Health Education, 1–13. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/19325037.2024.2338463
- McFadden, N. T., Wilkerson, A. H., Jaiswal, J., Chaney, B. H., Stellefson, M., Carmack, H. J., & Lovett, K. (2024). Barriers and facilitators impacting disease and symptom management among college students with Type 1 Diabetes: A qualitative study. American Journal of Health Promotion, 38(5), 704–715. https://doi.org/10.1177/08901171241233407
- McFadden, N. T., Leeper, C. C., Stager, C. G., & Wilkerson, A. H. (2024). Overcoming Communication Challenges: Training Family Medicine Interns Amidst COVID-19. Marshall Journal of Medicine, 10(1), 1–23. https://doi.org/10.33470/2379-9536.1418
- Nickelson, J., McFadden, N. T., Johnson, P., & Boucher, A. (2022). Effectiveness of student-led interventions on improving diabetes outcomes: A systematic review. American Journal of Health Education, 53(5), 325–341. https://doi.org/10.1080/19325037.2022.2100020
Featured awards
- Award / Honor Recipient: Behavioral Research in Diabetes Group Exchange (BRIDGE) – Dr. Felicia Hill-Briggs Travel Award ($1500), Behavioral Research in Diabetes Group Exchange (BRIDGE). 2025
- Award / Honor Recipient: 2025 BRIDGE Early Career Investigator Paper Award (Honorable Mention), BRIDGE (Behavioral Research in Diabetes Group Exchange). 2025
- Award / Honor Recipient: NIH NIDDK NMRI Travel Award ($500), NIH NIDDK NMRI. 2024
- Award / Honor Recipient: Outstanding Doctoral Student in Health Education/Health Promotion Award, The University of Alabama - Tuscaloosa (Department of Health Science). 2023
- Award / Honor Nominee: Outstanding Dissertation, The University of Alabama - Tuscaloosa (Department of Health Science). 2023
Featured service activities
- Reviewer / Referee
Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology
- Reviewer / Referee
Journal of Health Communication International Perspectives
- Reviewer / Referee
American Journal of Health Education
- Reviewer / Referee
Patient Education and Counseling
- Reviewer / Referee
Patient Experience Journal
- Board of Directors
Breakthrough T1D (Austin Chapter)