Biography
Dr. Susana Calderon is an Assistant Professor at Mennonite College of Nursing, Illinois State University. Dr. Calderon holds a bachelor's and master's degree in nursing from Millikin University and a doctorate in nursing from Illinois State University. She conducted her postdoctorate on children's oral health, focusing on oral microbiology and caries prevention at Drs. Jeffrey Banas and David Drake's laboratory at the University of Iowa, College of Dentistry, Iowa Institute of Oral Health Research. She is a veteran of the United States Air Force. Dr. Calderon is recognized for her research focused on children's oral health—particularly using early social media and dietary intervention to shape children's oral microbiome to reduce the risk for dental caries and obesity—and her mentorship to undergraduate and graduate nursing students.
Current Courses
599.004Dissertation
317.006Nursing Care Of Children Clinicals
314.007Psychiatric And Mental Health Nursing Clinicals
329.006Public Health Nursing: Prelicensure Clinicals
Teaching Interests & Areas
Dr. Calderon teach the innovative clinical portion of Nursing Care of the Children, and Public Health Nursing called "America Promise" and Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing.
Research Interests & Areas
My research interests are in the area of children and adult oral health and oral microbiome, particularly in caries and obesity prevention.
Conference Proceeding
Calderon, S., Mujeye, S.(2023) Internet of Things and Smart Technologies in Oral Health: A Systematic Mapping Study. International Institute for Applied Knowledge Management.
Journal Article
Blakeman, J., Carpenter, N., & Calderon, S. Describing acute coronary syndrome symptom information on social media platforms. Heart & Lung (2025)
Calderon, S., Mujeye , S., & Calvillo, M. Internet of Things and Smart Technologies in Oral Health: Trends, Impacts, and Challenges. Oral MDPI (2025)
Blakeman, J., Calderon, S., Watkins, S., Kim, M., Peterson, K., & Prasun, M. A cross-sectional study of Hispanic and Latina/o/x/e individuals’ acute coronary syndrome symptom knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs. Heart & Lung (2024)
Calderon, S., Comnick, C., Willhurnt, A., Marshall, T., Dahl, J., Banas, J., & Drake, D. A Social Media Intervention for Promoting Oral Health Behaviors in Adolescents: A Non-Randomized Pilot Clinical Trial. Oral MDPI (2023)
Calderon, S., Silva, R., Fonseca, M., Vilas-Boas, V., Misko, M., & Monsano-Schlosser, T. Compassionate interprofessional and interagency community: palliative care. Hospice & Palliative Medicine International Journal 6.3 (2023): 81-82.
Presentations
Exploring Children’s Oral Health Behaviors and Yogurt-Based Dietary Habits. AADOCR General Session & Exhibition Experience. (2025)
A Cross-Sectional Study of Hispanic and Latina/o/e/x Individuals' Acute Coronary Syndrome Symptom Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs. Mennonite College of Nursing Scholarship Symposium. Mennonite College of Nursing. (2024)
Digital health literacy on diabetes self-care for community-dwelling older adults in the United States. Sigma 35th International Research Congress. Sigma Global Nursing. (2024)
Effects of digital health literacy on diabetes knowledge among older adults in the United States: Cross-sectional study. Mennonite College of Nursing Annual Research Innovation Symposium. Illinois State University Mennonite College of Nursing - Normal, IL. (2024)
Vaping and College Students’ Oral Microbiome. VIII Congresso Internacional do Conhecimento Científico (VIII CICC) ISECENSA. (2024)
Exploring Hispanic and Latina/o/x Individuals’ heart attack symptom knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs. Mennonite College of Nursing Scholarship Symposium. (2023)
Prioritization and decision-making among school nurses: A scoping review. Midwest Nursing Research Society. (2023)
Vaping and Oral Health among College Students. 2023 AADOCR/CADR Annual Meeting. (2023)
Mujeye, S., Qaddour, J., Ullah, S., Calderon, S., Rhykerd, R., Edamala, C., & Kidwaro, F. (2023) A Proposal on How to Use Blockchain to Secure Communications in 5G Ecosystem. International Journal of Future Computer and Communication.
Collective action for school-wellness: An ecological example. AIESEP World Congress. (2022)
Grants & Contracts
Effects of digital health literacy on diabetes knowledge among older adults in the United States: Cross-sectional study. Sigma Xi Pi chapter. Illinois State University. (2024)
Feasibility of Children yogurt intervention and oral and gut microbiomes. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). Federal. (2022)
Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs Related to Acute Coronary Syndrome Symptoms and Perceived Acute Coronary Syndrome Risk in Spanish-Speaking and English-Speaking Hispanic and Latinx Individuals in the United States. University Research Grant. Illinois State University. (2021)
A Healthy Lifestyle Intervention for Adolescence Oral Health. Proctor and Gamble Company. Private. (2019)
National Institute of Health T90 training grant 2019-2020. University of Iowa. State. (2019)
