Photo of Singer, Randi Beth

Randi Beth Singer, PhD, CNM

Assistant Professor

Department of Human Development Nursing Science

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Contact

Building & Room:

820 NURS

Address:

845 S. Damen Ave., MC 802, Chicago, IL 60612

Office Phone:

610-955-2240

About

Randi Singer, PhD, MSN, MEd, CNM, RN is an Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois Chicago College of Nursing. Dr. Singer obtained her BA from Clark University, her MSN from Vanderbilt University and her PhD from Widener University. A CNM with a background in human sexuality, social justice and equity education for healthcare providers, Singer’s research and practice have focused on how reproductive and sexual health education through an equity lens can reduce health disparity for vulnerable and marginalized populations such as LGBTQIA+ patients, sex workers, and Black adolescent girls . Although Singer has been teaching graduate nursing students at University of Illinois Chicago since 2018, she has been working in higher education since 2012 and has taught at Georgetown University, University of Pennsylvania and DePaul University Schools of Nursing.  In collaboration with stakeholders, community members and Howard Brown Health, Randi Singer (PI) is currently funded by the National Institute for Nursing Research to facilitate community empowered HIV/STI prevention interventions in Chicago, IL.

Selected Grants

National Institute of Nursing Research K23, Centering Those Engaged in Transactional Sex: A PrEP Innovation for Getting To Zero, PI

Rita and Alex Hillman Foundation, “Centering” and Empowerment: The Road to Reducing HIV and STIs in Chicago’s Sex Worker Community, PI

Steans Center, DePaul University, Community-based Service Learning Fellowship, PI

Institute for Research on Race and Public Policy, “Centering” and Empowerment: The Road to Reducing HIV and STIs among Black Sex Worker in Chicago, PI

DePaul University, Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Grant, PI

Selected Publications

Singer, RB., Crooks, N., Johnson, AK., Smith, A., Wesp, L., Singer, R.M., Karczmar, A., Stamps, J., Pardes, B., Patil, C., Matthews, A., Culturally safe nursing care for Black sex workers in the greater Chicago area, 2020-2021. American Journal of Public Health. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2022.306836 (Accepted 3/8/2022)

 

Singer, RB., Crooks, N., Green, N., Stamps, J., Singer, R.M., Patil, C., Matthews, A.K. (2022) Ballroom Icons and the Power to Promote COVID-19 Vaccination for Black and Brown LGBTQ+ Individuals. American Journal of Public Health. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2021.306581

 

Singer, R.B., Crooks, N., Abboud, S., Patil, C., (2022) Engaging Vulnerable Populations in Community Based Participatory Research: Lessons Learned, Progress in Community Health Partnerships: Research, Education, and Action. Accepted for Summer 2022 publication. doi:

 

Singer, RB., Johnson, AK., Crooks, N., Bruce, D., Karczmar, A., Mkandawire-Valhmu, L., Sherman, S., (2021) “Feeling Safe, Feeling Seen, Feeling Free”: Combating stigma and creating culturally safe care for sex workers in Chicago. PLOS ONE.

 

Singer, R .B., Crooks, N., Gelbort, J., Lenon, P. (2021), Nursing Student – Led Health Education. Sage Open Nursing. doi: 10.1177/23779608211029070

 

Singer, R., Crooks, N., Johnson, A.K., Lutnick, A, Matthews, P. COVID-19 Prevention and Protecting Sex Workers: A Call to Action. Arch Sexual  Behavior 49, 2739–2741 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-020-01849-x

 

Neely, J., Eddins, A., Lesure, N., Real, R., Dee, D., Singer, R.M., Crooks, N., Singer, R.B, (2021) Privacy or the lack thereof and its implications for dignity and mobile COVID-19 testing. Sage Open Nursing. doi: 10.1177/23779608211029096

 

Crooks, N., Singer, R.B. & Tluczek A. (2020). Black female sexual development across the life course: Impact of intersectional identities and historical contexts. Advances in Nursing Science. doi: 10.1097/ANS.0000000000000332

 

Mukerjee, R., Wesp, L., Singer, R.B.,  Menkin, D.,(2021) Clinician’s Guide to LGBTQ Care: Social Justice and Cultural Safety in Sexual, Reproductive and Primary Health. Springer Publication.

 

Singer, R.B., Crane, Lemay, Omary (2019) Improving the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behavioral Intentions of Perinatal Care Providers Toward Childbearing Individuals Identifying as LGBTQ: A Quasi-Experimental Study. The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 50(7), 303-311 doi 10.3928/00220124-20190612-05

Service to Community

2022          Reviewer for UIC Awards for Creative Activity

2022          Search Committee Associate Dean for Research

2021/22     Southside Health Advocacy Resource Partnership

2021/22     Oklahoma Maternal Health Taskforce

2021/22     Health Science Student Mental Health: University Senate Taskforce

2021/22     Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Ad Hoc University Senate Committee

2021          Peer Reviewer Culture, Health and Sexuality

2021          Peer Reviewer Archives of Sexual Behavior

2021          Peer Reviewer Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health

2020          HDNS department faculty representative for building committee

2020          Peer Reviewer JMWH, Journal for Nursing Education, Journal of Homosexuality

2019          Peer Reviewer JMWH, Journal for Continuing Education in Nursing

2017/18     Community-based Service-Learning Committee Member

2017          Philadelphia Trans Health Conference External Peer Reviewer

2017-19     External Peer Reviewer for Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health

2017          DePaul Athletics Mock Interview Night

2017          HESI Practice Test & Case Study Training, RFU

2017          Community Engagement Seminar, DePaul University

Notable Honors

2015, Gender and Women's Studies, Triota Honor Society

2005, Honor Society, Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society of Nursing

2004, Nursing Scholar, Vanderbilt University

Education

Clark University BA 05/1998 Communication Culture
Vanderbilt University MSN 12/2004 Nurse-Midwifery
Widener University MEd 05/2014 Sexuality Education
Widener University PhD 05/2015 Human Sexuality
DePaul University Fellowship 08/2018 Community Service Learning Research

Licensures and Certifications

Illinois RN License #RN560103, valid through 05/31/2024

Illinois APN License #209014152, valid through 5/31/2024

American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB) (2005-2024) #11772

Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner NCC Certified (2005-2008) # 104318173

Limited Third Trimester OB Ultrasound Certification (2005, 2011)

Basic Life Support

Neonatal Resuscitation

Professional Memberships

American Public Health Association

Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality

American Nurses Association

American Midwifery Certification Board

National League for Nursing

 

Selected Presentations

2022          Centering and Empowerment: The Road To Reducing HIV in Chicago’s Sex Worker Community.  Midwest LGBTQ+ Health Symposium. September 15, 2022, Chicago, IL.

2022          Centering and Empowerment: The Road To Reducing HIV in Chicago’s Sex Worker Community.  The Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality. November 4, 2022, Vancouver, Canada. Accepted for presentation

2022          Centering Around PrEP for Public Health Nurses: The Road To Reducing HIV in Chicago’s Sex Worker Community.  American Public Health Association. November 9, 2022, Boston, Massachusetts.

2020          Portable Privacy: The Effort of a Mobile COVID-19 Testing Team to Protect the Dignity of Its Patients. Jen Neely, Dani Dee, Amani Eddins, Naomi Leasure, Raquel Real, Randi B.  Singer, UI Health 10th Annual Quality & Safety Fair (Winning Entry). December 9, 2020, Chicago, IL.

2019           Community Empowerment: The Road to Reducing HIV among Sex Workers in Chicago. July 22, 2019 National Sexual Health Conference, Chicago, IL

Research Currently in Progress

I am excited to be part of an interdisciplinary team that has forged a partnership with Howard Brown Health and Southside Health Advocacy Resource Partnership. Funded by the National Institute of Nursing Research, our  team is aligned through our various work with sexually, economically and racially marginalized populations and a shared interest in facilitating research that builds capacity and supports health equity for under-resourced populations.  We share a breadth of experience ranging from scientific medicine to public health to epidemiology to nursing to anthropology in order to address the HIV prevention needs of sex workers in Chicago through a community empowerment approach. The literature acknowledges that community empowerment approaches have succeeded in lowering HIV transmission rates among sex workers in other countries and we aim to improve access to HIV prevention care in Chicago through our community empowered PrEP navigation work.