Email: suakpuaka@yahoo.com; vastcaremedical@gmail.com
Phone: 301-708-0100; Fax: 301-708-0101

Stella “Ujunne” Akpuaka, DNP, MS, MSc.HCA, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC, is a dual Board-Certified Family and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (NP) licensed to practice in the states of Maryland and Washington, DC, USA. Akpuaka is currently a tenured associate professor in the Division of Nursing, Allied Health, Life, & Physical Sciences at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) in Washington, DC, USA. In addition to her role as an educator, she is a clinical nurse practitioner and the owner of VASTCARE MEDICAL CLINIC, LLC, in Lanham, Maryland, she has more than thirty-one years of aggregate clinical practice, leadership, research, and academic experience.

She has trained undergraduate and graduate nursing students for over seventeen years. As a tenured associate professor at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC), she was course coordinator and instructor of their Maternal Newborn nursing course (theory and practicum) for sixteen years and is currently the coordinator and instructor for their Psychiatric Mental Health nursing course (theory and practicum). She has also held adjunct faculty positions at Sojourner Douglas College; Morgan State University; and Coppin State University (Family Nurse Practitioner graduate program), Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

Her clinical experiences include positions at DC General Hospital and Greater S.E. Community Hospitals both in Washington DC. Akpuaka remains in active clinical healthcare practice as a Family and Psychiatric NP at Vastcare Medical Clinic, Lanham, MD (an independent nurse-owned and managed primary care/psychiatric medical clinic).

Akpuaka was one of the successful UDC Research Infrastructure in Minority Institutions (RIMI) scholars. Her research activity on prostate cancer prevention and early screening with Nigerian male immigrant populations led her to several national podium presentations, a publication in the Association of Black Nursing Faculty (ABNF) scholarly peer-reviewed journal (winter 2012 edition), and several research excellence awards.

She has other publications in scholarly journals titled: “A Qualitative Study to Explore the Male Nursing Students’ Coping with Experiences in Maternal Newborn Nursing Course (Journal of NBNA, July 2017 Vol 28, 1); “Nurse Educators in the 21st century (NBNA Special Issue, May 2017); “Thirteen Lessons Learned During a Nursing Program Accreditation Process (NBNA Fall 2017 newsletter), and “Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on allied health programs at the University of the District of Columbia Community College (UDC-CC): an analytical case study (MedCrave Online Journal of Public Health Oct. 27, 2022.).

As a clinician, nurse educator, and nurse researcher, she has traveled widely in the USA and made several national presentations of her work and speaking engagements on women’s health issues. In March 2016, she was one of the few “Women in Science – Technology – Engineering – Math (STEM) and Allied Health” featured in the celebration of Women’s History Month at the University of the District of Columbia.

Education

Stella O. Akpuaka’s education includes:

  • Nigeria Certificate in Education from Awka College of Education, Anambra State Nigeria – 1985
  • Associate in Applied Science in Nursing from Cameron University Lawton, Oklahoma -1991
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Bowie State University, Maryland -1998
  • Master of Science in Health Care Administration from the University of Maryland, University College (UMUC), Maryland – 2006
  • Post-Masters Certificate in Nursing Education from the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) Baltimore – 2007
  • Master of Science in Health Services Leadership Management – Education Focus from UMSON – 2010
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice from Carlow University Pittsburgh, PA -2012
  • A Post Master’s Certificate in Family Nurse Practitioner from Coppin State University, Baltimore, Maryland – 2015
  • Post Master’s Certificate in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner from Washburn University, Topeka, KS – 2019

Awards

Stella O. Akpuaka is passionate about community service and has contributed towards community healthcare and education in USA and Nigeria. Stella O. Akpuaka believes in lifelong learning and respect for all humans. She has been honored with professional and numerous community service awards, to name a few;

  • USAFRICA25TH Anniversary, Best of Africa Award: INTERNATIONAL WOMAN LEADER, Houston, Texas, July 2017
  • Akpuaka’s Biography was published in the book titled: IGBO WOMEN IN THE DIASPORA AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTHEASTERN NIGERIA: GENDER MIGRATION & DEVELOPMENT, By Sussie U. Aham Okoro, 2017
  • Recipient, Women in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Allied Health, University of the District of Columbia, Washing DC, USA March 2016.
  • Recipient, Excellence in Leadership, Coppin State University School of Graduate Studies, Baltimore, MD. May 2015.
  • Recipient, Outstanding Achievement Professor of Nursing Award, University of the District of Columbia, Washington DC, May 2013.
  • Recipient, State of Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley Governor’s Citation for Inspiring Leadership, Organizing, and Bringing Together Native Immigrant Nigerian Women in the Community for Sustainable Igbo Culture Award, Marriot Hotel and Conference Center Hyattsville, MD August 2011
  • Recipient, Anambra State Government Governors Community Service Award, Awka Nigeria, July 2011
  • Recipient, Research Excellence Award 2005-2009, Gallaudet University, Washington, DC USA 2009.