My Profile

Dr. Sandra Cadena, PhD, APRN, FAAN, PMHCNS-BC, CNE

Professor Titular, Universidad El Bosque and Universidad Autonoma de Bucaramanga, Colombia, South America

Contact Details

Professor Titular, Universidad El Bosque and Universidad Autonoma de Bucaramanga, Colombia, South America
Ribbons

Professor Titular, Universidad El Bosque and Universidad Autonoma de Bucaramanga, Colombia, South America

Bio

Dr. Sandra Janashak Cadena is the immediate Past President of the APNA-Florida Chapter. She is currently a tenured Professor at the Universidad El Bosque (UEB) in Bogota, Colombia , a tenured professor at the Universidad Autonoma de Bucaramanga (UNAB). She has been a senior contributing faculty member of the Graduate Program of Walden University and a clinical professor at the University of Florida. She brings a wealth of mentoring, research and clinical practice experiences that enrich her teaching perspective. As an educator at several universities, Dr. Cadena has spoken to national and international audiences on mental health issues affecting disenfranchised populations. Her former position as Director of Global Health Programs provided Dr. Cadena with opportunities to integrate cultural aspects of health care delivery into multiple graduate and undergraduate nursing courses. Dr. Cadena is a Fulbright Senior Scholar for 2008-2012; 2019-2024.  She has completed 3 Senior Scholar Fulbright awards. She is currently an Ambassador for the Fulbright Commission office of Colombia, South America.

Dr. Cadena is actively involved on state, national and international levels in promoting mental health issues for persons with severe and persistent mental illness. Dr. Cadena participates in the development of legislative agendas and advocates for mental health issues affecting citizens throughout the world.

Dr. Cadena continues to be an entrepreneur in her practice as an Advanced Practice Adult Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. She brings her expertise of clinical issues to the educational arena, developing courses, successfully writing federal and state training grants, and teaching. Dr. Cadena integrates clinical, educational and research components in her teachings and practice. She has published numerous articles in national and international journals and focuses her research interests on domestic violence among indigenous populations in Central and South America and cultural competency acquisition in nursing students. She is has developed a Model on International Relationship-Building and has several publications on model development. She is on the Advisory Committees for 2 international nursing journals.
Her focus has evolved in the development of 'Un Banquillo Amigable' the Friendship Bench. This community-based mental health program is developing in conjunction with the original founders in Zimbabwe, Africa. It is a community mental health worker training program, integrating and improving mental health access, availability and stigma reducing strategies in conjunction with UNAB.

Expert Knowledge Areas

  • Chronic Mental Illness
  • Education
  • Health Policy
  • Psychopharmacology/Medication Management
  • Psychotherapy
  • Suicidology