Nichole Nidey, assistant professor of epidemiology in the College of Public Health, focuses her research on pregnant people and mothers with substance use disorders. She directs the EMPOWER Project, which is committed to listening to patient stories and ensuring that the voices of those with lived experiences drive meaningful change in health care.

Learn more about Nidey’s work and how the EMPOWER Project brings together different stakeholders to dismantle barriers to care, enhance access to resources, and reduce stigma around substance use.

The EMPOWER Project: Changing Stigma to Support

As a part of her EMPOWER Project, Dr. Nichole Nidey worked with artist Jo Byrne to create a visual map documenting the lived experience of women dealing with substance use during pregnancy.

Empowering Mothers to Overcome Addiction

University of Iowa efforts to support pregnant people with substance use disorders are helping to deliver vital health care, provide treatment resources, and keep families together. Read more

Opinion: From stigma to support: Win the battle against maternal substance use in Iowa 

In an opinion piece, Nichole Nidey writes that “Iowa can lead the way by investing in comprehensive, statewide education campaigns that focus on the realities of substance use disorder, highlighting that it is a health issue, not a moral failing.” Read the full opinion piece