Dr. Christine Samuel Nakamura

Biography

Christine Samuel-Nakamura is an Associate Professor at the Joe C. Wen School of Nursing at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Her academic work focuses on community environmental health research, particularly the implications of heavy metal contamination in American Indian populations. She has substantial experience working with the Indian Health Service and as a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner, primarily addressing chronic health conditions such as diabetes, renal failure, and autoimmune disorders. Her research investigates the effects of environmental contaminants, especially uranium and heavy metals, on health in Native communities. Samuel-Nakamura's dissertation examined the impact of heavy metals on the food chain in the Diné (Navajo) Nation, and her subsequent postdoctoral work further explored the use of native plants in herbal teas that may be affected by such contamination. She is actively engaged in various professional nursing organizations and teaches courses related to diversity in health and the environmental health of American Indian communities.

Research Interests

Courses