NOVI, MI, September 03, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Nwamaka Chioma Nwaiwu, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC, MEDSURG-BC, has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Dr. Nwaiwu's recent professional journey is distinguished by her role as founder of MercyWay Behavioral Wellness LLC, established in January 2026. As the sole clinician at this fully telehealth practice, she provides psychiatric evaluations, medication management and psychotherapy to individuals facing a range of mental health and behavioral concerns. Her services include cognitive behavioral therapy, talk therapy, counseling, crisis intervention and de-escalation support. Dr. Nwaiwu manages all aspects of patient intake, beginning with brief complimentary consultation calls to assess needs and determine whether cases fall within her scope of practice or require referral to another provider. She coordinates appointments through HIPAA-compliant scheduling portals and collaborates with a physician as required under Michigan law for her scope of practice. Patients are referred through platforms like Headway and Growth Therapy as well as directly through MercyWay. Dr. Nwaiwu considers the establishment of MercyWay a significant achievement, reflecting her commitment to advancing evidence-based, patient-centered mental health care, expanding access to quality behavioral health services, and promoting compassionate, holistic approaches to mental wellness. It also represents her dedication to authentic nursing leadership, healthcare innovation, and making a meaningful and lasting impact on the individuals and communities she serves.

In addition to leading MercyWay, Dr. Nwaiwu continues to serve as a clinical registered nurse at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs hospital in Michigan, a position she has held since 2023. In this capacity, she delivers direct care to veterans while also engaging in quality improvement initiatives and supporting colleagues' professional development. Her dedication was recognized when she was nominated for the DAISY Award in 2025, an honor that acknowledges excellence in nursing.

From 2021 to 2023, Dr. Nwaiwu worked as a registered nurse at Corewell Health (formerly Beaumont Hospital) in Michigan. There, she provided diagnostic and therapeutic services to acutely ill patients across surgical and non-surgical specialties and served as a preceptor for new staff members. Her tenure was marked by active involvement in quality improvement work, including identifying patient safety trends and leading projects aimed at enhancing clinician well-being—most notably spearheading an initiative to bring chair massage equipment directly to nurses' stations in intensive care and medical-surgical units at Beaumont Hospital Taylor with the goal to meet the nurses where they were, and to provide a few minutes of respite and relief. This project was recognized during the hospital's Magnet status assessment for its innovative approach to addressing clinician wellness.

During her time at Beaumont, Dr. Nwaiwu contributed significantly to institutional governance and research efforts. She served on the Council for Evidence-Based Research and Quality for two years, helping integrate evidence-based practices into daily nursing routines. She was also a member of the Nurse Residency Advisory Board, shaping residency curriculum and fostering collaboration between the hospital and academic programs.

Earlier in her career, Dr. Nwaiwu worked as a banking relations expert with First Bank of Nigeria Ltd. from 2007 to 2015, where she developed expertise in customer service and credit writing before transitioning into healthcare after relocating to the United States.

Educationally, Dr. Nwaiwu's background has been foundational to her achievements in nursing and mental health care. She earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice as a psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner from the University of Michigan-Flint in 2026 after completing a Master of Science in Nursing with a focus on psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner at the same institution in 2025. She previously received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, in December 2020.

Dr. Nwaiwu's professional credentials include board certification as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner through the American Nurses Credentialing Center, medical-surgical nursing certification from the same organization, advanced practice registered nurse designation and licensure as a registered nurse by the Michigan Board of Nursing. In June 2026, she expanded her contributions by participating in data annotation projects aimed at improving artificial intelligence systems used by healthcare professionals—an effort intended to enhance accuracy and reliability for clinicians relying on AI-generated content.

Reflecting on her career, Dr. Nwaiwu attributes her drive and resilience to family values instilled by her late parents—particularly her father, Pastor John Maduike's emphasis on forward thinking. Losing her mother, Deaconess Catherine Maduike to a terminal illness as a teenager further inspired her to pursue a career in health care, though circumstances in Nigeria initially led her into banking before she ultimately returned to healthcare after immigrating to the United States.

Beyond her clinical roles, Dr. Nwaiwu is an active member of the National Association of Nigerian Nurse Practitioners Michigan Chapter, where she mentors immigrant nurses entering the field and seeks opportunities to enhance nursing education both locally and abroad. She recently completed service as co-chair of the Nursing Shared Governance Council at the VA hospital, supporting colleagues engaged in quality improvement projects.

Dr. Nwaiwu's commitment to excellence has been recognized through numerous professional and academic honors. In 2022, she was named a finalist in two categories—New Knowledge and Improvement Nurse, and Nurse Rookie of the Year—for Beaumont Hospital's Nursing Excellence Award and received the organization's Eagle Eye Award for preventing serious adverse events. Throughout her academic career, she also earned numerous scholarships, including the Undergraduate Dean's Nursing Scholarship Award and the Mary Free Bed Guild Minority Scholarship Award, among others. Additionally, she was selected as a speaker at Wayne State University School of Nursing's scholarship reception and was named a semifinalist for the Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship Award.

Outside her professional commitments, Dr. Nwaiwu enjoys dancing, knitting, sewing, traveling and making strategic connections within her community. Married to Zeph Nwaiwu since 2008 with three children: Onyechi, Somtochi and Ndudinachi— she values family life alongside her career pursuits.

Looking ahead, Dr. Nwaiwu intends to continue serving in supervisory capacities within healthcare by leading change initiatives that improve outcomes for patients and providers alike while embracing lifelong learning and storytelling within the field—demonstrating that leadership is defined not by title but by impact across settings both formal and informal. Advocacy remains at the center of her mission for her patients and fellow nurses, and she believes that her nursing career is one with profound meaning, "The urge to constantly achieve against all odds; the pursuit for knowledge and continuous improvement; the commitment to people, are intrinsic motivators for me."

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