Brief Bio

Dr. Nai-Ching Chi is a tenured Associate Professor at the University of Iowa College of Nursing and a nurse scientist and informaticist. Her pioneering research sits at the intersection of data science, technology, and health, driving transformative advances in dementia care, multimorbidity management, pain management, family caregiving, and healthy aging.

Research and Innovation

Dr. Chi earned her PhD in Biobehavioral Nursing and Health Informatics and her MS in Clinical Informatics and Patient-Centered Technologies from the University of Washington, where she was honored as an outstanding graduate.

Her work is distinguished by the integration of advanced data science and technology to address the complex needs of vulnerable populations. As principal investigator, Dr. Chi led the development of the PACE-app, a digital intervention supported by the Alzheimer’s Association that empowers family caregivers to manage pain in people with dementia. Building on this success, she is now leveraging AI to deliver real-time, personalized pain assessment and management support for caregivers. Additionally, she is involved in projects that advance patient safety through AI-powered tools designed to transform nursing communication.

Supported by NIH funding, Dr. Chi’s research uncovers critical patterns in multimorbidity and healthcare utilization among patients with Alzheimer’s disease. This work that directly informs clinical guidelines and best practices. She is also involved in projects that use state-of-the-art data science and AI to reveal syndemic interactions and predict early risks among people with dementia.

Leadership and Service

Dr. Chi is a dedicated leader and active contributor to the scientific community. She serves on the Editorial Board of Frontiers in Pain Research: Geriatric Pain. She is a trusted grant reviewer for organizations such as the Alzheimer’s Association. She has held key leadership roles, including Co-chair of the Early Career Investigator Special Interest Group for the Palliative Care Research Cooperative Group and Co-Chair of the Health Systems, Policy and Informatics Research & Implementation Group for the Midwest Nursing Research Society. Dr. Chi also serves on the University of Iowa’s Research Council and co-chairs the College of Nursing’s Technology Committee. Her commitment to community health is evident through volunteer work in nursing homes, homeless shelters, and international medical missions.

Teaching and Mentorship

Dr. Chi is passionate about education, integrating advanced technology and AI into her teaching. She mentors undergraduate and graduate students in health science and data science research, with topics spanning aging, dementia care, caregiving, multimorbidity, education, and technology- and data science-driven approaches.

Scholarly Impact and Recognition

Dr. Chi’s scholarly impact is substantial, with over 40 peer-reviewed articles published in leading journals including Alzheimer’s & Dementia, the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, and The Gerontologist, contributing to Google Scholar h-index of 17 and i10-index of 28. Her achievements have been recognized with many honors, including nomination and invitation to the National Academy of Medicine Emerging Leader Forum, selection as an NIA Butler-Williams Scholar, recognition as an NIA Aging Initiative MCCs Scholar, and receipt of the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association Emerging Leader Award.

Curriculum Vitae