profiles

PhD/DNP: Doctor of Nursing Practice, University of Maryland, Baltimore, May 2022

Certificate of Teaching in Nursing and Health Professions, University of Maryland, Baltimore, July 2022

MSN: Master of Science, Family Nurse Practitioner, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, November 2013

Advanced Certificate in Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, June 2013

BSN: Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Cum Laude Honors, Towson University, Towson, Maryland, May 2009

Dr. Marilyn F. Berchie-Gialamas is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Nursing within the School of Community Health and Policy at Morgan State University. She is a nurse educator, clinician, and researcher whose work focuses on improving maternal and child health outcomes through culturally responsive and community-based care models.

At Morgan State University, Dr. Berchie-Gialamas coordinates courses including Parent-Child Nursing (Maternity) and Introduction to Nursing Research. Her teaching emphasizes hands-on learning, simulation, and clinical experiences that prepare students to deliver equitable, evidence-based care to diverse populations.

Dr. Berchie-Gialamas also serves as a Co-Investigator for Morgan State University’s Center for Maternal and Family Health, a five-year initiative funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The Center aims to advance interdisciplinary research, workforce development, and community engagement to improve maternal and child health outcomes in underrepresented and historically marginalized populations. In her role, Dr. Berchie-Gialamas contributes to research design, implementation, and mentorship of emerging scholars, with a focus on integrating nursing practice and public health approaches to address racial disparities in maternal health.

In addition to her academic and research roles, Dr. Berchie-Gialamas is the Director of Trinity Maternal Wellness, Inc., and serves as the Healthcare Director and Community Health Nurse Practitioner at Trinity Wellness. Both organizations strive to advance equitable maternal and infant health through community-based care and culturally competent perinatal education. Through these initiatives, she leads programs that provide holistic support to women and families across Baltimore City and surrounding communities—bridging clinical care, community advocacy, and research to promote maternal health equity and family well-being.

Research Interests
Dr. Berchie-Gialamas’s research explores racial disparities in maternal and child health, postpartum depression screening and treatment, and the role of doulas and community health workers in reducing inequities in care. She has presented her work nationally on topics related to postpartum depression, maternal health equity, and diversity and inclusion in nursing education.

Grants

● Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Minority Research Grant (2023–2025)
   Racial Disparities in Maternal Child Health and the Role of Doulas to Reduce Disparities
   Principal Investigator – $379,498

● Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Maternal Child Health Research Center             Grant (2023–2028)
   Co-Investigator – $933,400

● Maryland Higher Education Commission – Nurse Support Program II (2025–2030)
    MSUDoN Cohen Scholars Program
    Principal Investigator – $360,038

Publication

Berchie-Gialamas M (2023) Implementation of Postpartum Depression Screening and Referral. J Comm Pub Health Nursing, 9: 417. DOI: 10.4172/2471-9846.1000417