Natalia Villegas Rodriguez, PhD, MSN, RN, IBCLC, FAAN
Associate Professor
School of Nursing
Campus Box #7460
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7460
Associate Professor
Dr. Villegas is a bilingual nurse that holds Bachelor’s degree in Nursing and a Master’s degree in Nursing from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. She completed her PhD in Nursing and Post doctoral Fellowship in Health Disparities at the University of Miami. Also, she is a Registered Nurse and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). Currently, she is an Associate Professor at the School of Nursing at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Dr. Villegas is a nurse midwife and has worked as clinical nurse and research assistant in various settings. Her research interest lies in women’s health, STI and HIV prevention and the use of technology for prevention. She has established a national and international reputation as a leader in the prevention of HIV in Latinos. Dr. Villegas is one of the first nurse researchers that has developed and implemented two culturally tailored interventions using technology for rural Latinas and young Latinas to expand and enhance HIV prevention and access to care not previously available for them. The impact of her work has been published and cited in evidence-based journals and disseminated in scientific conferences.
Currently, Dr. Villegas is funded to develop the intervention website and pilot test the feasibility and acceptability of Infección de Amor (Love Infection), a soap opera intervention to reduce HIV risk in Latinas (NC TraCS Pilot Award 550KR262124) and to conduct research for youth in the Galapagos that incorporates prevention of intimate partner violence and youth pregnancy. She is also a co-investigator in a study addressing Intersectional stigma and resilience among young Latinx gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men to improve HIV testing and PrEP use (1R21MD016356).
Also, her expertise was recognized by the PAHO/WHO Collaborating Centres for Nursing and Midwifery as an expert in women’s health and invited to participate in Training of Human Resources for Health to Improve the Quality of Maternal Health Care in Latin America and the Caribbean (2017). The training is available on the PAHO/WHO platform.
Date | Honor & Awards |
2021 | Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing |
2020-Present | Sigma Theta Tau, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing, Alpha Chapter, (Member) |
2013 | March of Dimes, Women’s Health Nurse of the year. Florida |
2010 | Sigma Theta Tau Beta Chapter Dissertation Award |
2009 | Golden Key International Honor Society, University of Miami. |
2012- Present | Sigma Theta Tau, School of Nursing and Health Studies, University of Miami, Beta Tau Chapter (Member) |
1. De Oliveira, G., Cianelli, R., Solorzano, A., Villegas, N., Iriarte, E. (2023). Biopsychosocial Factors of Depression among Hispanic Women Aged 50 and Older. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services. In press.
2. *‡ Nogueira, N.F., Salazar A.S., Hernandez L., Orr J., Beato P., Alcaide M.L., Peragallo Montano N., Cianelli R., Villegas N., Jones D.L., Orrego Dunleavy V. (2023). Acceptability, Suitability, and Feasibility of an Evidence-Based Intervention to Reduce HIV Risk Behaviors: Engaging Comadronas in HIV prevention in Rural Guatemala. AIDS Education and Prevention, 35(2).
3. *De Santis, J.P., Provencio-Vasquez, E., Radusky, P.D., Cianelli, R., Villegas Rodriguez, N., & Peragallo Montano, N. (2023). Living in stealth: A grounded theory study of transgender women’s barriers to HIV prevention services and interventions. Research and Theory for Nursing Practice, 37(1):17-39. doi: 10.1891/RTNP-2022-0044.
4. *†‡ Muheriwa Matemba, S.R., Cianelli, R., Leblanc, N.M., Zhang, C., De Santis, J., Villegas, N., McMahon, J.M. (2022). Associations between home- and school-based violent experiences and the development of sexual behavior in young adolescent girls in the rural southern region of Malawi. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(10):5809. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19105809. PMID: 35627344; PMCID: PMC9141795.
5. *‡ Toledo, C., Cianelli, R., Villegas, N., De Oliveira, G., Gattamorta, K., Wojnar, D. & Ojukwu, E. (2022). The significance of breastfeeding practices on postpartum depression risk. Public Health Nursing, 39(1): 15-23. doi: 10.1111/phn.12969. Epub 2021 Sep 12. PMID: 34510526. PMID: 34510526
6. *‡ Ojukwu, E., Cianelli, R., Villegas, N., De Oliveira, G., & Kalu, V. (2022). A Qualitative Study on Social Determinants of HIV Treatment Engagement among Black Older Women Living with HIV in Southeastern United States. Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care: JANAC, 33(2), 211–223. doi:https://doi.org/10.1097/JNC.0000000000000299. PMID: 35195612
7. *†‡ Iriarte, E., Cianelli, R., Villegas, N., De Oliveira, G., Toledo, C., Smith, L., & Castro, J. G. (2021). Factors associated with psychosocial illness impact among Black/African American and Hispanic older women living with HIV. Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 10783903211058786. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/10783903211058786. PMID: 34796759.
8. *†‡ Villegas, N., Cianelli, R., Ceriser, K., Fernandez-Pineda, M., Jacobson, F., Lin, H.H., Sanchez, H., Davenport, E., Zavislak, K. (2021). Development and evaluation of a telehealth-based simulation to improve breastfeeding education and skills among nursing students. Nurse Education in Practice, 57, 103226. PMID: 34649128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2021.103226
9. *†‡ Fernandez-Pineda, M., Cianelli, R., Villegas, N., Matsuda, Y., Iriarte, E., Fernandez, M., & Peragallo M. (2021). Preferred HPV and HPV vaccine learning methods to guide future HPV prevention interventions among rural Hispanics. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 60, 139-145. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2021.04.026145. PMID: 33962303.
10. *†‡ Cianelli, R., Villegas, N., Lewis-Pierre, L., Valdes, B., & Iriarte, E. (2021). Predictors of end of life discussions among minority older women living with HIV infection. American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, 38(6), 583-589 https://doi.org/10.1177/1049909120971826. PMID: 33213192.
11. *†‡ Berger, K., Cianelli, R., Valenzuela, J., Villegas, N., Blanquez, C., Toledo, C., Ramírez-Barrantes, R. (2021). Motivation for critical thinking in Nursing students in Chile. Hispanic Health Care International, 19(2):131-137. doi:10.1177/1540415320970110. PMID: 33243019.
12. *†‡ Ojukwu, E., De Oliveira, G., Cianelli, R., Villegas, N., & Toledo, C. (2021). Social determinants of peripartum depressive symptoms among Black peripartum women living with HIV. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing (online), 35(1), 102-110. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnu.2020.05.004. PMID: 33593501.
13. *†‡ Villegas, N., Cianelli, R., De Oliveira, G., Toledo, C., Jacobson, F., Davenport, E., Webb, D., & Wolf, B. (2020). Exploring intimate partner relationships before and after HIV diagnosis among minority older women. Clinical Gerontologist, 44(3), 273–287. https://doi.org/10.1080. PMID: 33126832.
14. *†‡ Adebayo, W., De Santis, J., Gattamorta, K., Villegas, N. (2020). Facilitators of Self-Initiated HIV testing among youth: A qualitative study. The Journal of Nursing Research, 28(5), e115. doi: 10.1097/JNR.0000000000000390. PMID: 32555003.
15. *† Fernandez-Pineda, M., Cianelli, R., Villegas, N., Matsuda, Y., Iriarte, E., & Peragallo Montano, N. (2020). Salient factors among Hispanic parents in South Florida rural communities for vaccinating their children against human papillomavirus. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 54, 24-33. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2020.05.016. PMID: 32521437 PMCID: PMC7484143.
16. *†‡ Cianelli, R., Villegas, N., De Oliveira, G., Sailsman, S., Peragallo Montano, N., Solorzano Martinez, A., Toledo., C., Sandalaula, M., & Sanchez., H. (2020). Exploring the Psychosocial Impact of Living with HIV on Minority Older Women. Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 8(3), 216-224. doi:10.1177/1078390320927462. PMID: 32469282.
17. *‡ Mendez-Ruiz, D., Villegas-Pantoja M., Alarcón-Luna, N., Villegas, N., Cianelli, R., & Peragallo, N. (2020). Prevención del consumo de alcohol y transmisión de virus de inmunodeficiencia humana: Ensayo clínico aleatorizado [Prevention of alcohol use and human immunodeficiency virus transmission: a randomized clinical trial]. Revista Latino-Americana de Enfermagem, 28, e3262. Epub May 11, 2020. ISSN 1518-8345. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1518-8345.3393.3262.
18. *†‡ Bizzio, R., Cianelli, R., Villegas, N., Hooshmand, M., Robinson, M., Hires, K., & Stathas, A. (2020). Non-Pharmacological Management Among Anesthesia Providers to Reduce Preoperative Distress in Children. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 50, (January-February)105-112. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2019.11.005. PubMed PMID: 31805493.
19. *†‡ De Oliveira, G., Cianelli, R., Villegas, N., Solorzano Martinez, A., Hires, K., & Muheriwa, S. (2019). Social Determinants of Depression Among Older Black Women Living With HIV. Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 26(6):576-585, doi: 1078390319858415. PMID: 31253058.
20. *†‡ Cianelli, R., Villegas, N., Irarrazabal, L., Castro, J., Ojukwu, E., Adebayo, W., Ferrer, L., & Peragallo Montano, N. (2019). HIV testing among heterosexual Hispanic women in South Florida. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 51(4): 427-437. doi:10.1111/jnu.12470. doi: 10.1111/jnu.12470. PMID: 30888099 PMCID: PMC9526396.
21. *†‡ Villegas, N., Cianelli, R., De Tantillo, L., Warheit, M., Peragallo, N., Ferrer, L., & Patel, S. (2018). Assessment of technology use and technology preferences for HIV/STI prevention among Hispanic women. Hispanic Health Care International, 16(4), 197-203. doi: 10.1177/1540415318808828. PMID: 31185747; PMCID: PMC6568264.
22. *†‡ Peragallo, N., Cianelli, R., Villegas, N., Gonzalez-Guarda, R., Williams, W., & De Tantillo, L. (2018). Evaluating a culturally tailored HIV risk reduction intervention among Hispanic women delivered in a real-world setting by community agency personnel. American Journal of Health Promotion, 33(4), 566-575. doi: 10.1177/0890117118807716. PMID: 30354190.
23. *‡ Villegas, N., & Cianelli, R. (2017). Salud de la mujer en el contexto de la salud materna. [Women’s health in the context of mother’s health]. Horizonte de Enfermería, 28 (2), 1-3. doi UC: 10.7764/Horiz_Enferm.28.2.1
24. *†‡ Sullivan, C., Ferrer L., Irarrázabal L., Villegas, N., Cianelli, C., Peragallo, N. (2017). Exploring self-efficacy and perceived HIV risk among socioeconomically disadvantaged Hispanic men [Exploración de la autoeficacia y la percepción de riesgo de VIH entre hombres hispanos de desventaja socioeconómica]. Revista Horizonte de Enfermeria, 28(1), 42-50. doi: 10.7764/Horiz_Enferm.28.1.42. PMID: 30220780; PMCID: PMC6136432.
25. *†‡ Villegas, N., Choudhury, S.M., Mitrani, V.B., & Guerra, J. (2017). Mothers in substance abuse recovery: Perspectives on motivators, challenges and family involvement. International Journal of High Risk Behaviors & Addiction, 6(1): e32558. doi: 10.5812/ijhrba.32558. Epub 2016 Feb 17. PMID: 30873391; PMCID: PMC6412135.
26. *‡ Cianelli, R., Villegas, N., Brian E., McCabe, E., de Tantillo, L., & Peragallo, N. (2017). Self-Efficacy for HIV Prevention among refugee Hispanic women in South Florida. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 19(4), 905-912. doi: 10.1007/s10903-016-0462-7. PMID: 27470226; PMCID: PMC5659853.
27. *‡ McCabe, B.E., Schaefer Solle, N., Gattamorta, K, Villegas, N., Cianelli, R., Mitrani, V.B., & Peragallo, N., (2016). Development and evaluation of a psychometric condom use self-efficacy measure in Spanish and English. HIV Clinical Trials, 17(5), 212-217. doi: 10.1080/15284336.2016.1213487. Epub 2016 Aug 5. PMID: 27491797; PMCID: PMC5062954.
28. *†‡ Villegas, N., Cianelli, R., Fernandez, M., Henderson, S., Sierra, S., Alfonso, Y., & Jackson, C. (2016). Assessment of breastfeeding clinical skills among nursing students using the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). Investigación en Educación Médica, 5(20), 244-252. doi.org/10.1016/j.riem.2016.04.001.
29. *†‡ Irarrazabal, L., Ferrer, L., Villegas, N., Sanhueza, S., Molina, Y., & Cianelli, R. (2016). Mujeres que consumen sustancias y su vulnerabilidad frente al VIH en Santiago de Chile [Women who consume substances and their vulnerability to HIV in Santiago of Chile]. Hispanic Health Care International, 14(2), 89-93. doi: 10.1177/1540415316647978. Epub 2016 May 10. PMID: 27257222; PMCID: PMC5715660.
30. *‡ Ferrer, L., Cianelli, R., Villegas, N., Reed, R., Hufstader, T., Bernales, M., Irarrazabal, L., Lara, L., Repetto, P., & Peragallo, N. (2016). Exploring the masculine identity in the context of HIV prevention in Chile. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 48(2) 128-138. doi:10.1111/jnu.12190. PMID: 26930046.
31. ‡ Cianelli, R., & Villegas, N. (2016). Social Determinants of Health for HIV among Hispanic Women. Hispanic Health Care International, 14 (1), 4-9. doi: 10.1177/1540415316629672. PMID: 27257185; PMCID: PMC4894530.
32. *†‡ Villegas, N., Cianelli, R., Santisteban, D., Lara, L., & Vargas, J (2016). Factores que influencian la adquisición de infecciones de transmisión sexual y VIH en mujeres jóvenes chilenas que participaron en la intervención online I-STIPI [Factors that influence the acquisition of sexually transmitted infections and HIV in Chilean young women who participated in the online intervention I- STIPI.] Hispanic Health Care International, 14 (1), 47-56. 10.1177/1540415316629682. PMID: 27257190; PMCID: PMC5715657.
33. *‡ Villegas, N., Santisteban, D., Cianelli, R., Ferrer, L., Ambrosia, T., Peragallo, N., & Lara, L. (2015). Pilot testing an internet based STI and HIV prevention intervention with Chilean women. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 47(2), 106-116. doi: 10.1111/jnu.12114. Epub 2014 Nov 19. PMID: 25410132; PMCID: PMC4535713.
34. *†‡ Cianelli, R., Villegas, N., Azaiza, K., Henderson, S., Hooshmand, M., & Peragallo, N. (2015). Developing and testing an online breastfeeding training among undergraduate nursing students. Clinical Nursing Studies, 3(1), 82-88. doi:10.5430/cns.v3n1P82. Epub 2014 Dec 1. PMID: 27766266; PMCID: PMC5069066.
35. *‡ Cianelli, R., Villegas, N., De Oliveira, G., Hires, K., Gattamorta, K., Peragallo, N., & Ferrer, L. (2015). Predictors of HIV enacted stigma among low-income women. Journal of Clinical Nursing. doi: 10.1111/jocn.12792. Epub 2015 Feb 19. PMID: 25693422; PMCID: PMC4544676.
36. *‡ Villegas, N., Santisteban, D., Cianelli, R., Ferrer, L., Ambrosia, T., Peragallo, N., & Lara, L. (2014). The development, feasibility and acceptability of an internet based STI-HIV prevention intervention for young Chilean women. International Nursing Review, 61(1), 55-63. doi: 10.1111/inr.12080. PMID: 24512261; PMCID: PMC4002211.
37. *‡ Villegas, N., Cianelli, R., Gonzalez-Guarda R., Kaelber L., Ferrer, L., Peragallo, N. (2013). Predictors of self-efficacy for HIV prevention among Hispanic women in south Florida. Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care, 24(1), 27-37. doi:10.1016/j.jana.2012.03.004. Epub 2012 Jul 13. PMID: 22795758; PMCID: PMC3474856.
38. *‡ Cianelli, R., Villegas, N., Lawson, S., Ferrer, L., Kaelber, L., Peragallo, N., & Yaya, A. (2013). Unique factors that place older Hispanic women at risk for HIV: Intimate partner violence, machismo and marianismo. Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care, 24(4), 341-354. doi: 10.1016/j.jana.2013.01.009. PMID: 23790277; PMCID: PMC3870152.
39. * Cianelli, R., Lara, L., Villegas, N., Bernales, M., Ferrer, L., Kaelber, L., & Peragallo, N. (2013). Impact of Mano a Mano-Mujer, an HIV prevention intervention, on depressive symptoms among Chilean women. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 20(3), 263-72. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2850.2012.01907.x. Epub 2012 Mar 27. PMID: 22452388; PMCID: PMC3401514.
40. †‡ Reed, R., Ferrer, L., & Villegas, N. (2012) Natural healers: a review of animal assisted therapy and activities as complementary treatment for chronic conditions. Revista Latino-Americana de Enfermagem, 20(3):612-618. doi: 10.1590/s0104-11692012000300025. Review. PMID: 22991126.
41. *‡ Villegas, N., Cianelli, R., Ferrer, L., Kaelber L., Peragallo, N., & Yaya, A. (2012). Factores de riesgo para la adquisición de VIH en mujeres Hispanas de 50 años y más residentes en el sur de la Florida [Risk factors for HIV acquisition among Hispanic women 50 years and older living in South Florida]. Horizonte de Enfermería, 23(1), 51-61. PMID: 25242862; PMCID: PMC4166485.
42. *† Villegas, N., Ferrer, L., Cianelli, R., Miner, S., Lara, L., & Peragallo, N. (2011). Conocimientos y autoeficacia asociados a VIH y SIDA en Mujeres Chilenas [Knowledge and self-efficacy associated to HIV and AIDS among Chilean women]. Investigación y Educación en Enfermería, 2(29), 212-221. SSN 0120-5307. PMID: 25284914; PMCID: PMC4183347.
43. * Cianelli, R., Villegas, N., Gonzalez-Guarda R., Kaelber L., & Peragallo, N. (2010). HIV Susceptibility among Hispanic Women in South Florida. Journal of Community Health Nursing, 27(4),1-9. doi:10.1080/07370016.2010.515458. PMID: 21058138; PMCID: PMC3092435.
44. * Urrutia, M.T., Villegas, N., & Poupin, L. (2010). Garantías Explicitas en Salud: Conocimiento y Fuentes de Información de un grupo de mujeres atendidas en el programa AUGE Cáncer Cérvico-uterino [Explicit guarantees in health: knowledge and knowledge sources in women attending in the AUGE cervical cancer program] Revista Chilena de Obstetricia y Ginecología, 74(3), 221-226. https://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0717-75262010000400002
45. ‡ Cabieses, B., Miner, S., & Villegas, N. (2010). Análisis reflexivo del cuidado en reflexología y masoterapia centrado en la persona, por parte del profesional de enfermería [A reflective analysis of nursing care in reflexology and massage therapy focusing on the person] Ciencia y Enfermería, XVI(1), 59-67. https://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0717-95532010000100007
46. †‡ Villegas, N., Aguilera, M., Poupin, L., & Cabieses, B. (2009). Terapias integrativas en la salud perinatal [Integrative therapies used in perinatal health]. Revista Horizonte de Enfermería, 20(2), 35-43. doi: 10.7764/Horiz_Enferm.20.2.35
47. *† Urrutia, M.T., Villegas, N., & Poupin, L. (2009). Garantías Explicitas en Salud del Programa Cáncer Cervicouterino: Grado de acuerdo de los profesionales del servicio de salud metropolitano sur oriente [Explicit health guarantees of the cervical cancer program: Degree of agreement among health care professionals from the Metropolitan South East Service in Santiago, Chile]. Revista Chilena de Obstetricia y Ginecología, 74(3), 143-150. doi: 10.4067/S0717-75262009000300003
48. * Cianelli, R., Urrutia, M.T., Ferrer, L., Poupin, L., Masalán, P., & Villegas, N., Arratia, A., & Ferrer, X. (2009). Desarrollo de la investigación en enfermería: Estudio diagnóstico [Nursing research development: analysis study]. Revista Investigación y Educación en Enfermería. XXVII(1), 112-119. ISSN 0120-5307.
49. ‡ Cook, M., & Villegas, N. (2008). Programa de observación en la Universidad de Miami: Una oportunidad para ampliar el desarrollo profesional [Observation program at the University of Miami: An opportunity to expand the nursing profesional development]. Revista Horizonte de Enfermería, 19(2), 11.
50. *† Lara, L., Cianelli, R., Ferrer, L., Bernales, M., & Villegas, N. (2008) Comunicación de pareja y VIH en mujeres en desventaja social [Partner communication and HIV among socially disadvantanged women]. Revista Horizonte de Enfermería, 19(2), 35-43. PMID: 19936328; PMCID: PMC2779544.