Mercy Ngosa Mumba, PhD, RN, CMSRN, FAAN, is an award-winning scientist and philanthropist. She is a published author in peer-reviewed scientific journals, and her research is widely funded by various agencies, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH). She is an Associate Professor and Founding Director of the Center for Substance Use Research and Related Conditions in the Capstone College of Nursing at the University of Alabama. She is also a Sigma liaison to the United Nations. She graduated with her PhD from the University of Texas at Arlington College of Nursing and Health Innovation in December 2016 and with her honors bachelor of science in nursing in December 2010. Her research focuses on substance use disorders, addictive behaviors, and their comorbid mental health conditions. She is particularly interested in the impact of social determinants of health and the role of health disparities in preventing, treating, and managing these conditions. Mumba is passionate about improving the human condition through evidence-based initiatives and interventions and is a strong advocate for increasing research productivity, infrastructure, and human capital globally. She is personally involved in many initiatives that improve healthcare outcomes and promote holistic wellness and quality of life among individuals and communities worldwide. Mumba gained tenure and was promoted from Assistant Professor to Tenured Associate Professor in a record-breaking three years. She has $17 million in grant funding and is principal investigator on studies supported by over $9 million of extramural funding, including from the National Institutes of Health.Mumba is also a passionate servant leader who believes in the power of advocacy to effect policy changes that result in positive population outcomes. She serves on many boards and committees internationally, nationally, and locally, including the International Organization of African Nurses, the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, the Southern Nursing Research Society, and Sigma Theta Tau International's Epsilon Omega Chapter. Professional engagements and service make Mumba's work worthwhile and allow her the opportunity to interact with people from all walks of life from around the world. She considers herself a global citizen, and her worldview is informed by diverse perspectives from interactions with individuals around the globe. Mumba leads yearly nursing student medical mission trips to Zambia, Africa, where she was born and raised. There, they provide free healthcare services to some of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged communities in Zambia. She also works collaboratively with the University of Zambia School of Nursing and Lusaka Apex Medical University to provide consultative services related to uptake and implementation of evidence-based nursing in both the nursing school curricula and practice settings. Mumba's long-term goal for Africa is to improve the quality of nursing education in Zambia and other African countries, increase the number of doctorally prepared nurses, and improve patient outcomes through implementation of person-centered healthcare systems and processes.
