Thaís M. São-João, PhD, MSN, RN

Biography

Dr. Thaís Moreira São-João is a tenure-track Assistant Professor at the URI College of Nursing. Her work focuses on behavior change, cardiometabolic health, and harm-reduction interventions. Her clinical background is in adult and older adult health, and she has robust experience leading research across Brazil, Canada, and the United States.

At URI, she directs a research program investigating the sociocultural determinants of health and cardiometabolic risk among Rhode Island commercial fishermen. This community-engaged project, supported by NIH/NIGMS through Brown University’s Advance-CTR, explores links between lifestyle behaviors, cardiovascular health, and productivity.

Her expertise includes the design and evaluation of nurse-driven interventions, randomized controlled trials, and the cultural adaptation and validation of measurement instruments. She has published extensively on lifestyle behaviors, self-care, cardiovascular health, diabetes, and obesity, with more than 60 peer-reviewed publications.

Dr. São João is deeply committed to mentoring and inclusive pedagogy and is an active member of several national and international organizations, including the American Heart Association (Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing), the Society for Research on Nicotine & Tobacco, Sigma Theta Tau, and the International Behavioral Trials Network.

Research

Cardiometabolic health and lifestyle behaviors, behavior change in chronic disease, occupational health and the healthy blue economy, smoking cessation and harm-reduction strategies.

Education

PhD, Nursing, University of Campinas (Brazil)

MSN, University of Campinas (Brazil)

BSN, University of Campinas (Brazil)

RISE-UP Faculty Fellow, Innovation & Entrepreneurship (Office of Naval Research/401 Tech Bridge)

Selected Publications

Alho, A. E. O., Neves, M. L. S., Andrechuck, C. R. S., Rodrigues, R. C. M., Fernandes, H. G. C., São-João, T. M. (2025). The role of the nurse in smoking cessation: A critical essay. Nursing & Care Open Access Journal, 11(1), 22-25.

São-João T.M. Promoting Non-Violent Communication and De-Escalation through Role Play Using Generative AI (2025). Nurse Educator, 50(4):p E218.

Oliveira, M. K. de M., Kaizer, U. A. de O., Jannuzzi, F. F., Oliveira, H. C., Alexandre, N. M. C., Gallani, M.C.B. J., São-João T. M., Cornélio, M.E., Cunha Matheus Rodrigues, R. (2025). Predictors of adherence to insulin therapy in type 2 diabetes mellitus: an application of the theory of planned behavior. Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine, 13(1).

São-João, T.M., Cygler, A.D., Cooke, K., McCann, J., & Arcoleo K. (2024). Health and Behavior factors, Quality of Life and productivity among Commercial Fishermen in Rhode Island, US: a Research Framework. International Maritime Health, 75(3), 181-189.

Lourenço, L. B. A., Meszaros, M. J., Neves, M. F., & São-João, T. M. (2023). Nursing Training for early clinical deterioration risk assessment: Intervention Protocol. JMIR Research Protocols. 12:e47293.

De Paiva Santos, T. T., Luiz, A. D. S., Domingues, E. A. R., De Oliveira, U. A., & São-João, T. M. (2023). Development of a website for wound assessment. Journal of Vascular Nursing, 41:6-11.

Carrasco, V., de Freitas, M. I. P., São-João, T. M., Eduardo, A. H. A., & de Oliveira-Kumakura, A. R. S. O. (2023). Effect of an educational intervention on nursing knowledge about enteral nutrition therapy: A quasi-experimental study. Journal of Nursing Education and Practice, 13(5).

de Barros, R. C. L., Laura Lourenço, L. B. A., Neves, M. L. S., Cornélio, M. E., Rodrigues, R. C. M., & São-João, T. M. (2023). Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic isolation concerning physical activity and cardiovascular health: Scoping review. Medicine (Ribeirão Preto), 56(4), e-210070.

Sergio, C. C. M., Kaizer, U. A. O., Cornélio, M. E., Rodrigues, R. C. M., & São-João, T. M. (2022). Self-care and cardiometabolic risk in people with hypertension in follow-up in primary care. Health and Research Journal, 15, 1-14.

Kadri Filho, F. E., São-João, T. M., Alexandre, N. M. C., Lucca, S. R., Gallasch, C. H., Rodrigues, R. C. M., & Cornélio, M. E. (2021). Musculoskeletal symptoms, psychosocial factors, and work ability in Brazilian labor justice workers. WORK: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment & Rehabilitation, 69, 917-926.