Seema Aggarwal, PhD, APRN, AGNP-C is an Assistant Professor at the University of Texas Houston Health Science Center (UTHealth) Cizik School of Nursing in the Department of Research. She is also coordinator of the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner MSN Program. Her research experience is in the area of cognitive decline from acquired brain injury, such as stroke and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Her clinical experience as a nurse practitioner working with patients who suffered from mild TBI/ concussion lead to her interest in examining clinical and demographic factors that lead to cognitive recovery in TBI and stroke. Dr. Aggarwal’s research interests include examining risk factors associated with poor cognitive outcomes using biomarkers and diffusion tensor imaging. In addition, she is interested in finding innovative ways to remotely manage stroke patients who have cognitive impairment and do not have access to healthcare due to prohibitive costs, geographic location, or immobility.

Dr. Aggarwal’s has presented her research at the American College of Sports Medicine and American Association of Neuroscience Nurses and published her research in Applied Neuropsychology: Child and Brain Injury. Dr. Aggarwal was a Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Scholar of UTHealth’s philanthropically supported Accelerated PhD program. She earned her doctorate and master’s degree at UTHealth Cizik School of Nursing, following her 2007 cum laude graduation with the BSN from Texas Woman’s University in Houston. Dr. Aggarwal also holds a BS in Biology from New Jersey’s Monmouth University. She has received recognition for her outstanding teaching in the graduate program at Cizik School of Nursing and is a recent recipient of the Houston Chronicle’s Salute to Nurses Award.