Jeri Antilla, Ph.D., MSN-Ed., RNC-OB
University of Michigan School of Nursing
400 North Ingalls Building
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5482
Interests
- Perinatal Loss
- Maternal and Infant Mortality
- Reproductive Health
- Health inequities and racism
Dr. Antilla has dedicated her nursing career to supporting individuals during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period, as well as caring for their newborns. She is passionate about the specialty area of obstetrics and holds a certification in inpatient obstetrical nursing. Dr. Antilla’s scholarship focuses on how key constructs of racism, sexism, classism, and gender inequities contribute to health disparities, continued oppression, and the mental health and well-being of marginalized birthing people. Her recent work explored perceptions of chronic stressors of African American women before, during, and after a perinatal loss and during a subsequent pregnancy.
Current Research Grants and Programs
- Examining the effects of racism and discrimination on health disparities among Black women, investigating their experiences with perinatal loss, as well as the interplay between chronic stress and mental well-being.
Teaching
Dr. Antilla has varied teaching experience that includes didactic, skills lab, clinical, and simulation for a variety of courses. Her teaching role at the University of Michigan School of Nursing includes teaching both didactic and clinical to undergraduate nursing students during their reproductive health course. Dr. Antilla instills the charisma and love of learning along with the passion of nursing to inspire learners to continue a lifelong pursuit of knowledge within the discipline. She instills advocacy in her learners and promotes the ongoing need to address health care disparities and promote social justice as they provide care for vulnerable populations. Dr. Antilla encourages learners to take personal ownership in their growth and development through the many different avenues of learning that are presented to them. It is her overall objective to show students how to flourish within the nursing profession.
Affiliations / Service
- Member, Sigma Theta Tau, Rho Chapter
- Member, Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nursing (AWHONN)
- Member, Pregnancy Loss and Infant Death Alliance (PLIDA)
- Member, Midwest Nursing Research Society (MNRS)
- Perinatal Outreach Support Team (POST)- Henry Ford Health System
Education
- Ph.D., University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 2020
- MSN, Walden University, Minneapolis, MN 2014
- ADN, Schoolcraft College, Livonia, MI 1999
Publication Highlights
Olukotun, O., Mkandawire, E., Antilla, J., Alfaifa, F., Weitzel, J., Scheer, V., Olukotun, M, & Mkandawire-Valhmu, L. (2021). An analysis of reflections on researcher positionality. Qualitative Reports.
Antilla, J. (2020). Maternal-fetal relationship in pregnancy after perinatal loss among African American women (Publication No. 28029047) [Doctoral dissertation, University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee]. ProQuest.
Mkandawire-Valhmu, L., Lathen, L., Baisch, M., Cotton, Q., Dressel, A., Antilla, J., Olukotun, O., Washington, R., Jordan, L., & Hess, A. (2018). Enhancing healthier birth outcomes by creating supportive spaces for pregnant African American women living in Milwaukee. Maternal Child Health Journal.
Antilla, J. & Johnson, T.S. (2024). Life stressors and mental well-being: Experiences of African American women navigating perinatal loss and pregnancy subsequent to loss. Journal of Black Psychology.
Antilla, J., & Johnson, T. (2022). Perceptions of chronic stress and mental well-being of African American women who experienced perinatal loss and pregnancy subsequent to loss [abstract]. Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nurses
