Research Interests

conflict transformation, interreligious studies, somatic psychotherapy, pastoral care, qualitative methods

Biography

Fernando Ona is a methodologist, medical anthropologist, and minister, originally from the Northeast. He began his career in local and State public health and social services before joining the faculties at several public and private universities. He is also a somatic psychotherapist who has supported refugee and asylum-seeking communities who are survivors of torture. He is a certified 500-hour yoga instructor and an ordained minister.

Education

Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley and San Francisco

DMin Boston University School of Theology 

MDiv (magna cum laude) Boston University School of Theology

MSW Boston University School of Social Work

MPH Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine

Awards & Distinctions

Walter Wink and June Keener Wink Fellowship

Whitney M. Young  Fellowship

Eillen O'Neil Teaching Award

Cota Robles Fellowship

Publications

Schlaff AL, Amutah-Onukagha NN, Mabiala D, Kamruddin J, Ona FF. Can US Medical Schools Teach About Structural Racism?. Milbank Q.2023 Sep;101(3):975-998. doi: 10.1111/1468-0009.12650. Epub 2023 Apr 20. PubMed PMID: 37082794; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10509511.  

Robertson DJ, Dominitz JA, Beed A, Boardman KD, Del Curto BJ, Guarino PD, Imperiale TF, LaCasse A, Larson MF, Gupta S, Lieberman D, Planeta B, Shaukat A, Sultan S, Menees SB, Saini SD, Schoenfeld P, Goebel S, von Rosenvinge EC, Baffy G, Halasz I, Pedrosa MC, Kahng LS, Cassim R, Greer KB, Kinnard MF, Bhatt DB, Dunbar KB, Harford WV Jr, Mengshol JA, Olson JE, Patel SG, Antaki F, Fisher DA, Sullivan BA, Lenza C, Prajapati DN, Wong H, Beyth R, Lieb JG 2nd, Manlolo J, Ona FV, Cole RA, Khalaf N, Kahi CJ, Kohli DR, Rai T, Sharma P, Anastasiou J, Hagedorn C, Fernando RS, Jackson CS, Jamal MM, Lee RH, Merchant F, May FP, Pisegna JR, Omer E, Parajuli D, Said A, Nguyen TD, Tombazzi CR, Feldman PA, Jacob L, Koppelman RN, Lehenbauer KP, Desai DS, Madhoun MF, Tierney WM, Ho MQ, Hockman HJ, Lopez C, Carter Paulson E, Tobi M, Pinillos HL, Young M, Ho NC, Mascarenhas R, Promrat K, Mutha PR, Pandak WM Jr, Shah T, Schubert M, Pancotto FS, Gawron AJ, Underwood AE, Ho SB, Magno-Pagatzaurtundua P, Toro DH, Beymer CH, Kaz AM, Elwing J, Gill JA, Goldsmith SF, Yao MD, Protiva P, Pohl H, Kyriakides T. Baseline Features and Reasons for Nonparticipation in the Colonoscopy Versus Fecal Immunochemical Test in Reducing Mortality From Colorectal Cancer (CONFIRM) Study, a Colorectal Cancer Screening Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2023 Jul 3;6(7):e2321730. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.21730. PubMed PMID: 37432690; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10336619.  

Ona FF, Amutah-Onukagha NN, Asemamaw R, Schlaff AL. Struggles and Tensions in Antiracism Education in Medical School: Lessons Learned. Acad Med. 2020 Dec;95(12S Addressing Harmful Bias and Eliminating Discrimination in Health Professions Learning Environments):S163-S168. doi: 10.1097/ACM.0000000000003696. PubMed PMID: 33229958.

Cislaghi B, Bukuluki P, Chowdhury M, Miranda AE, Kenny L, Kohli A, Kusumaningrum S, Brah BH, Love C, Mathpati MM, Nkwi P, Ona F, Porter J, Ruiz-Casares M, Saldanha N, Sulaiman M, Wessells M. Global health is political; can it also be compassionate?. J Glob Health. 2019 Dec;9(2):020306. doi: 10.7189/jogh.09.020306. Review. PubMed PMID: 31489185; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6708589.  

Chew JF, Corlin L, Ona F, Pinto S, Fenyi-Baah E, Osei BG, Gute DM. Water Source Preferences and Water Quality Perceptions among Women in the Eastern Region, Ghana: A Grounded Theory Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 Oct 11;16(20). doi: 10.3390/ijerph16203835. PubMed PMID: 31614511; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6843409.  

Shams-White MM, Cuccia A, Ona F, Bullock S, Chui K, McKeown N, Must A. Lessons Learned From the Creating Active Communities and Healthy Environments Toolkit Pilot: A Qualitative Study. Environ Health Insights. 2019;13:1178630219862231. doi: 10.1177/1178630219862231. eCollection 2019. PubMed PMID: 31320799; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6628517.  

Piwowarczyk LA, Ona F. BeWell: quality assurance health promotion pilot. Int J Health Care Qual Assur. 2019 Mar 11;32(2):321-331. doi: 10.1108/IJHCQA-08-2017-0152. PubMed PMID: 31017063.  

Moreau AS, Martin-Loeches I, Povoa P, Salluh J, Rodriguez A, Thille AW, Diaz Santos E, Vedes E, Lobo SM, Mégarbane B, Molero Silvero E, Coelho L, Argaud L, Sanchez Iniesta R, Labreuche J, Rouzé A, Nseir S. Impact of immunosuppression on incidence, aetiology and outcome of ventilator-associated lower respiratory tract infections. Eur Respir J. 2018 Mar;51(3). doi: 10.1183/13993003.01656-2017. Print 2018 Mar. PubMed PMID: 29439020.  

Martin-Loeches I, Povoa P, Rodríguez A, Curcio D, Suarez D, Mira JP, Cordero ML, Lepecq R, Girault C, Candeias C, Seguin P, Paulino C, Messika J, Castro AG, Valles J, Coelho L, Rabello L, Lisboa T, Collins D, Torres A, Salluh J, Nseir S. Incidence and prognosis of ventilator-associated tracheobronchitis (TAVeM): a multicentre, prospective, observational study. Lancet Respir Med. 2015 Nov;3(11):859-68. doi: 10.1016/S2213-2600(15)00326-4. Epub 2015 Oct 22. PubMed PMID: 26472037.  

Rodríguez A, Póvoa P, Nseir S, Salluh J, Curcio D, Martín-Loeches I. Incidence and diagnosis of ventilator-associated tracheobronchitis in the intensive care unit: an international online survey. Crit Care. 2014 Feb 12;18(1):R32. doi: 10.1186/cc13725. PubMed PMID: 24521533; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4057509.  

Sheats JL, DE Leon B, Ona FF. Where Are the Fresh Fruits and Vegetables?: A Systematic Exploration of Access to Food Stores Offering Fresh Fruits and Vegetables as Told by Midwestern African American Women. J Hunger Environ Nutr. 2014;9(4):523-534. doi: 10.1080/19320248.2014.908449. PubMed PMID: 25844109; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4383250.  

Sheats JL, Middlestadt SE, Ona FF, Juarez PD, Kolbe LJ. Understanding African American women's decisions to buy and eat dark green leafy vegetables: an application of the reasoned action approach. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2013 Nov-Dec;45(6):676-82. doi: 10.1016/j.jneb.2013.07.013. Epub 2013 Sep 8. PubMed PMID: 24021457; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4041387.  

Boyce DE, Tice AD, Ona FV, Akinaka KT, Lusk H. Viral hepatitis in a homeless shelter in Hawai'i. Hawaii Med J. 2009 Jun;68(5):113-5. PubMed PMID: 19583106.  

Mittal A, Ona FV, Randolph ML, Yamamoto J. A fresh look at esophageal cancer incidence among Asian/Pacific Islanders and Caucasians. Hawaii Med J. 2008 Aug;67(8):206-8. PubMed PMID: 18853891.  

Marineau M, Tice AD, Taylor-Garcia D, Akinaka KT, Lusk H, Ona F. Culturally sensitive strategies designed to target the silent epidemic of hepatitis B in a Filipino community. Hawaii Med J. 2007 Jun;66(6):154-6. PubMed PMID: 17621862.  

Dominitz JA, Boyko EJ, Koepsell TD, Heagerty PJ, Maynard C, Sporleder JL, Stenhouse A, Kling MA, Hrushesky W, Zeilman C, Sontag S, Shah N, Ona F, Anand B, Subik M, Imperiale TF, Nakhle S, Ho SB, Bini EJ, Lockhart B, Ahmad J, Sasaki A, van der Linden B, Toro D, Martinez-Souss J, Huilgol V, Eisen S, Young KA. Elevated prevalence of hepatitis C infection in users of United States veterans medical centers. Hepatology. 2005 Jan;41(1):88-96. doi: 10.1002/hep.20502. PubMed PMID: 15619249.