College of Nursing Faculty

Gayenell S. Magwood, PhD, RN
Associate Professor

Medical University of South Carolina
College of Nursing
99 Jonathan Lucas
MSC 160
Charleston, SC 29425-1600

Telephone: (843) 792-0685
Fax: (843) 792-1741
magwoodg@musc.edu

Dr. Gayenell S. Magwood is an Associate Professor and Research Scientist in the College of Nursing at the Medical University of South Carolina. She received her Ph.D. in Nursing Science from the College of Graduate Studies, Medical University of South Carolina, a Master of Science in Nursing from George Mason University, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the Medical University of South Carolina; and a BA from Winthrop University.  Dr. Magwood also holds a certificate in Faith Community Nursing; completed specialized training in Cognitive Interviewing at the Joint Program of Survey Methodology, University of Michigan and University of Maryland; and post-graduate work in Public Health. She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society in Nursing, National Black Nurses Association and American Nurses Association.

Dr. Magwood serves as the co-chair for the SCTR/Center for Community Health Partnerships’ Community Advisory Board. She’s worked as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Research Assistant Professor) at the University of South Carolina, Arnold school of Public Health, Prevention Research Center.  Through that funded study she examined the effects of social-cultural context, health literacy, and body image on the effectiveness of interventions and outcomes among underserved obese women. Currently, she serves as PI on a NIH funded K01: Personalized Biobehavioral Weight Loss Intervention for African American Women.

Dr. Magwood was Project Director and Co-Investigator for REACH 2010: Charleston and Georgetown Diabetes Coalition, a grant focused on reducing disparities and improving care for African Americans with diabetes. She served (2007-2009), as the Co-Principal Investigator for the REACH U.S. Center of Excellence in the Elimination of Disparities (REACH SEA-CEED). Prior to joining REACH/CON, Dr. Magwood’s clinical experience was as a solid organ clinical transplant coordinator and a surgical/trauma critical care nurse. Dr. Magwood has held certifications as both, an adult critical care nurse (CCRN) and a clinical transplant coordinator (CCTC).

She is a Palmetto Gold recipient and 2010 Health Care Hero (Health Care Researcher); honored by the YWCA of Greater Charleston, Inc. as a Women of Influence. Additionally, Dr. Magwood received the Washington Hospital Center’s Community Outreach Service Award, given to those individuals that make significant contributions to improving the quality of life for District of Columbia residents.

Her research interests include cardiometabolic risk reduction, obesity, diabetes, health disparities and health literacy. Dr. Magwood teaches in the graduate and doctoral programs in the College of Nursing, and has a joint appointment with the College of Graduate Studies.