School of Nursing Home

Funded Research and Projects

Deborah J. Konkle-Parker, PhD, RN, FNP

Assistant Professor

Department of Medicine/Infectious Diseases
School of Nursing
University of Mississippi Medical Center
2500 North State Street
Jackson, MS  39216-4505
USA

Phone: 601.984.5553
Fax: 601.984.5777
E-mail: dkparker@medicine.umsmed.edu

Debbie Konkle-Parker is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine/Division of Infectious Diseases and the School of Nursing.  She joined the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) in 1996, teaching community health and HIV care in the School of Nursing on a part-time basis, as well as providing clinical care as a Nurse Practitioner to HIV-infected clients in a UMMC outpatient clinic. 

During the past years at UMMC she has obtained her PhD in Nursing, with a research focus on behavioral health related to adherence to HIV medications and HIV prevention. During that period she has also obtained federal funding to support clinical care at the outpatient clinic, and obtained NIH funding to support development in her research career. She is a board member for the HIV Medicine Association of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, and has won several research and clinical care awards at UMMC and in the community.
Research Overview
Research Interests
  • HIV
  • Behavioral research
  • Treatment adherence
  • HIV prevention
  • Substance use/abuse
  • Linkage to chronic care

Dr. Konkle-Parker’s previous research has included exploring barriers to HIV medication adherence in a Deep South primarily minority clinic population, and then testing an adherence intervention to improve the rate of adherence. She was also involved in a multi-site trial feasibility-testing a provider-initiated intervention to reduce high-risk behavior for transmitting HIV.

Current work is exploring barriers to prompt entry into HIV care after diagnosis, and barriers to maintenance of chronic HIV care. Future work includes developing and testing interventions to facilitate prompt entry into HIV care and maintenance of consistent care; the role of personal denial and other mental health issues in entering and staying in HIV care, and exploring the issues involved with those who have never entered care for their HIV in Mississippi.

In addition to research, she hopes to be able to obtain funding to develop substance abuse treatment services for HIV-infected individuals seen at UMMC.