Summary
Dr. Randi Arias-Fontenot is an Assistant Professor of Nursing at the ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ, whose scholarship, teaching, and clinical practice are grounded in a commitment to improving health outcomes for rural, Indigenous, and underserved populations. She brings more than 30 years of experience as a health educator and over 14 years of nursing experience across inpatient, home health, hospice, case management, and population health settings.
Dr. Arias-Fontenot earned her Ph.D. in Nursing from Washington State University, where her dissertation, "The Experiences of Native Americans Post Nonfatal Suicide Event and Healthcare," examined the intersection of Indigenous health, suicide prevention, and healthcare access. Her research focuses on rural healthcare, Native American health, suicide prevention, health equity, and the lived experiences of individuals and communities navigating complex healthcare systems.
At the University, Dr. Arias-Fontenot teaches undergraduate nursing courses with an emphasis on evidence-based practice, population health, rural and community health, research methods, statistics, and culturally responsive pedagogy. Her teaching philosophy centers on fostering critical thinking, compassion, and clinical excellence while preparing future nurses to serve diverse populations.
Previously, Dr. Arias-Fontenot served as a Nurse Consultant III for the California Department of Health Care Services, where she provided policy leadership for Medicaid population health initiatives, including Enhanced Care Management, justice-involved populations, rural health programs, California Children's Services, and partnerships with Indian Health Services. She continues to practice as a Home Health and Hospice Nurse, bringing current clinical expertise into the classroom.
Dr. Arias-Fontenot's scholarly work includes publications focused on Indigenous health, psychometric assessment, perinatal health, aging, and health disparities among American Indian populations. She has presented her research at regional and national conferences, including the Western Institute of Nursing and Sigma Theta Tau International.
Among her many professional achievements, Dr. Arias-Fontenot is recognized as one of a small number of PhD-prepared Native American nurses in the United States. She has been an advocate for health equity and mentorship throughout her career and remains actively involved in community engagement, suicide prevention initiatives, and professional nursing organizations.
Research Interests
- Indigenous and Native American Health
- Rural and Frontier Healthcare
- Suicide Prevention and Mental Health
- Health Equity and Social Determinants of Health
- Population Health Management
- Community-Based Research
- Evidence-Based Practice
- Aging and Gerontological Health
Teaching Interests
- Undergraduate Nursing Education
- Population and Community Health
- Nursing Research and Statistics
- Evidence-Based Practice
- Culturally Responsive Nursing Education
- Leadership and Professional Development
Professional Memberships
- American Nurses Association
- Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing
- Western Institute of Nursing
- Native Association of Indian Nurses of America
- Transcultural Nursing Society
- University of California Davis Alumni Association
Publications
Thomas, A. B., Matthews, A. L., Brooks, O., Winquist, A., Nelson, L. A., Arias-Fontenot, R., Buchwald, D., Casaletto, K. B., Weintraub, S., Heaton, R. K., French, B. F., Suchy-Dicey, A., & Barbosa-Leiker, C. (2025).. Alzheimer's & Dementia, 21(10), e70673.
Barbosa-Leiker, C., Brooks, O., Smith, C. L., Reid, S. C., Fatima, G. L., Hirchak, K. A., Arias-Losado, R., & Cabell, M. (2025). . The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 51(2), 254-262.
Barbosa-Leiker, C., Burduli, E., Arias-Losado, R., Muller, C., Noonan, C., Suchy-Dicey, A., Nelson, L., Verney, S. P., Montine, T. J., & Buchwald, D. (2022). : The Strong Heart Study. Psychological Assessment, 34(9), 870-879.
Barbosa-Leiker, C., Burduli, E., Arias-Losado, R., Muller, C., Noonan, C., Suchy-Dicey, A., Nelson, L., Verney, S. P., Montine, T. J., & Buchwald, D. (2021). : The Strong Heart Study. Psychological Assessment, 33(6), 574-579.