Eleanor Rivera, PhD, RN, CNE
Assistant Professor
Department of Population Health Nursing Science
Pronouns: she/her
Contact
Building & Room:
NURS 914
Address:
845 S. Damen Ave., MC 802, Chicago, IL 60612
Office Phone:
Email:
About
Dr. Rivera's research is focused on developing strategies to tailor healthcare delivery to patients' needs, preferences, and lived experience of their illness. This includes an emphasis on social determinants of health, patient-centered outcomes, chronic disease self-management, and a stakeholder-informed approach to intervention development. Dr. Rivera's research interests include chronic kidney disease, chronic disease self-management, gerontology, and health disparities.
In addition to her program of research, teaching, and advising students, Dr. Rivera works in partnership with multiple clinical and community organizations, including the Research to Policy Collaboration, the National Kidney Foundation, and multiple Federally Qualified Health Centers in Chicago. Dr. Rivera also holds a research appointment at the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center.
Selected Grants
Chicago Center for Diabetes Translational Research (P30DK092949 subaward), CKD Awareness, Referrals, Education, and Support (CARES) Intervention for Early Stage CKD (2025-2026), PI
Chicago Chronic Condition Equity Network (P50MD017349 subaward), INtegrating IllneSs Perceptions to Improve the PatienT-Provider Encounter for CKD (INSITE-CKD): A Pilot Study (2022-2023), Role: PI
United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Center of Innovation for Complex Chronic Healthcare (CINCCH), Assessment of shared decision making and patient/provider communication in the Speak Up! study (2022-2023), Role: PI
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), INcreaSing Program DIveRsity for NursEs (INSPIRE) (2021-2025), Role: Co-I
Selected Publications
Rivera, E. “Chronic kidney disease often goes undiagnosed, but early detection can prevent severe outcomes.” The Conversation. (3/28/2025). https://theconversation.com/chronic-kidney-disease-often-goes-undiagnosed-but-early-detection-can-prevent-severe-outcomes-250744
Kim, M.S., Darach, N., Wi, D., & Rivera, E. (2025). Shared Decision-Making and Quality of Life in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review. Nephrology Nursing Journal, 52(4), 411-422. doi: 10.37526/1526-744x.2025.52.4.411
Rivera, E., Tintle, N., Townsend, R.R., Rahman, M., Schrauben, S.J., Clark-Cutaia, M.N., Hannan, M., Lash, J.P., Wolfrum, K., Missikpode, C., & Hirschman, K.B. (2024). Characterization of CKD illness representation profiles using patient-level factors. Journal of Nephrology, 37(3), 671-679. doi: 10.1007/s40620-024-01955-2
Rivera, E., Levoy, K., Park, C., Villalobos, A., Martin, P., Kim, M.J., & Hirschman, K. (2024). Internal Consistency Reliability of the Revised Illness Perceptions Questionnaire: A Systematic Review and Reliability Generalization Meta-analysis. Journal of Health Psychology, 29(7), 734-746. doi: 10.1177/13591053231221351
Knisely, M.R., Rivera, E., DeMartelly, T., Abdulkadir, A., Doorenbos, A., Ezenwa, M., Molokie, R.E., Li, H., Shah, N., Schlaeger, J. & Patil, C. (2023). Developing an implementation blueprint for the NIH HEAL Initiative GRACE Trial: Perspectives on acupuncture and guided relaxation for chronic sickle cell disease pain. Journal of Integrative & Complementary Medicine, 29(10), 683-688. doi: 10.1089/jicm.2022.0781
Rivera, E., Clark-Cutaia, M.N., Schrauben, S.J., Townsend, R., Lash, J.P., Hannan, M., Jaar, B.G., Rincon-Choles, H., Kansal, S., He, PhD, J., Chen, J., & Hirschman, K.B. (2022). Treatment adherence in chronic kidney disease and support from healthcare providers: A qualitative analysis. Kidney Medicine, 4(11), 100545. doi: 10.1016/j.xkme.2022.100545
Hirschman, K., Rivera, E., Sefcik, J., McCauley, K., Hanlon, A., Pauly, M., Press, M., & Naylor, M. (2022). Older Adults and Their Family Caregivers’ Perspectives on Engagement in Primary Care. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 48(11), 7-13. doi: 10.3928/00989134-20221003-02
Rivera, E., Levoy, K., Clark-Cutaia, M.N., Schrauben, S., Townsend, R.R., Rahman, M., Lash, J., Saunders, M., Frazier, R., Rincon-Choles, H., & Hirschman, K.B. (2022). Content validity assessment of the Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire in CKD using qualitative methods. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(14), 8654. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19148654
Clark-Cutaia, M.N., Rivera, E., Iroegbu, C., Arneson, G., Deng, R., & Anastasi, J.K. (2022). Exploring the Evidence: Symptom Burden in Chronic Kidney Disease. Nephrology Nursing Journal, 49(3), 227–255. doi: 10.37526/1526-744X.2022.49.3.22
Levoy, K., Rivera, E., Hanlon, A., Hirschman, K., & Naylor, M. (2022). Caregiver engagement enhances outcomes among randomized control trials of healthcare transitions interventions: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Medical Care, 60(7), 519-529. doi: 10.1097/MLR.0000000000001728
Publication Aggregators
Notable Honors
2025, Chair, Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (KDOQI) Core Curriculum Resource Mapping Taskforce, National Kidney Foundation
2025, Center for Health Equity Research (CHER) Champion, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science
2024, Faculty Fellowship, UIC Institute for Research on Race and Public Policy
2023, 40 Under 40 Emerging Nurse Leader Award, Illinois Nurses Foundation
2021, Janet A. Deatrick Award, University of Illinois Chicago College of Nursing
2020, Fellowship, Leadership and Education Advancement Program for Diverse Scholars, American Psychological Association
2018, Emerging Scholar and Professional Organization (ESPO) Interdisciplinary Paper Award, Gerontological Society of America
2016, PhD Jonas Nurse Leader Scholar, Jonas Center for Nursing and Veterans Healthcare
Education
PhD, Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago
MSN, Nursing, DePaul University
BA, Biology, University of Chicago
Selected Presentations
Invited Speaker
“Measurement of SDOH in Health Research.” Salvador Zubirán National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition (INCMNSZ), Mexico City, Mexico. (6/23/2025)
“Coding Social Determinants of Health Using ICD-10 Z-codes: Challenges and Opportunities.” Biomedical Informatics and Health Equity (BIHE) Monthly Seminar. University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL. (10/23/2024)
“Healthcare Provider Support of Adherence in CKD: Stages 3-4.” National Kidney Foundation Annual Clinical Meeting. Long Beach, CA. (5/17/2024) *Available as continuing education credit
“Characterizing Illness Perception Phenotypes in Chronic Kidney Disease.” Nephrology Grand Rounds. University of Illinois Chicago, College of Medicine, Chicago, IL. (1/29/2021)
Conference Presentations
Kim, M.S., Hannan, M.F., & Rivera, S.E. (2025, November). Shared decision-making in conservative care for patients with CKD: A concept analysis. American Society of Nephrology Kidney Week 2025, Houston, TX. Poster
Karasawa, M., Sakai, R., Ohno, S., Tayama, S., Rivera, E., & Koike, T. (2025, October). Development of processes and outcomes of shared decision making for patients with inflammatory bowel disease, family members, and healthcare providers: Protocol for a scoping review. International Conference on Communication in Healthcare, Ottawa, Canada. Poster.
Kim, M.S., Wiercinski, N., Garcia, K., Vonderheid, S., Johnson, R., & Rivera, E. (2025, March). Evaluating adherence to a standardized pressure injury prevention protocol in the ICU. Midwest Nursing Research Society Conference, Indianapolis, IN. Poster. Received the second place prize in the Student Poster Competition for the MSN Category
Smith, A., Smith, C., Schultz, C., Rivera, E., Eldeirawi, K., Calik, M., *Lenon, P., Lee, S.Y., Choe, C., Osei, E., Bimbi, O., Hernandez, R., & Matthews, P. (2025, March). Boosting Success and Retention: Evaluating the Seminars for Excellence in Nursing Science (SENS) Program for Underrepresented Minority Nursing Students. 2025 Midwest Nursing Research Society Annual Conference, Indianapolis, IN. Podium.
Alvarado, F., Geng, S., Rivera, S.E., Chen, J., Hoover, R.S., He, H., Saunders, M., Shah, V., Rincon-Choles, H., Drawz, P., Jaar, B., Ricardo, A., Sondheimer, J., Unruh, M., Lash, J., Crews, D., Anderson, A., Mills, K., & He, J. (2025, March). Association Between Social Support and Clinical Outcomes in Older Adults with Chronic Kidney Disease. EPI Lifestyle Scientific Sessions 2025, New Orleans, LA. Poster.
Lee, S.Y., Lenon, P.P., Duangjina, T., Fritschi, C., Rivera, E., Koenig, M.D., Kilroy, S., & Martyn-Nemeth, P. (2025, January). PhD Peer Mentorship to Cultivate Belonging. American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) 2025 Doctoral Education Conference. Poster.
Dunn, S.L., Tintle, N., Rivera, E., & DeVon, H. L. (2024, November). The relationship between hope and hopelessness in adults with an acute cardiac event. 2024 American Heart Association Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL. Poster Presentation.
Hannan, M.F., Sawatpanich, A., Kringle, E., Rivera, E., Doorenbos, A.Z., & Lash, J.P. (2024, November). Distribution of Sedentary Time During the 24-Hour Day in Adults with CKD. American Society of Nephrology Kidney Week 2024, San Diego, CA. Poster.
Hannan M., Sawatpanich A., Kringle E., Rivera E., Doorenbos A.Z., & Lash J.P. (2024, May). Steps per Day and Time Spent Standing in Adults with CKD in a Sedentary-Reducing Intervention. 2024 National Kidney Foundation Annual Clinical Meeting, Long Beach, CA. Poster.
Rivera, E., Perry, R., Iroegbu, C., Lenon, P., Clark-Cutaia, M.N., Lofton, S., & Raszewski, R. (2024, March). EHR Coding for Social Determinants of Health: A Scoping Review of ICD-10 Z Codes Usage. 2024 Society of Behavioral Medicine Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA. Poster.