Renata Sledge

Renata Sledge, PhD, LCSW, is an assistant professor of social work and a faculty affiliate in the Gender Studies Program at the University of Missouri–St. Louis. She studies the ethics of care to understand how social workers navigate the moral and relational complexities of practice. Dr. Sledge’s work challenges the dominant biomedical model in healthcare and advances care as a shared, interdependent process shaped by identity, family, history, and social environments. Publications in journals such as Kidney Medicine, Health & Social Work, and Families, Systems, & Health reflect the interprofessional nature of her scholarship. She is the recipient of the Gerald and Deanne Gitner Excellence in Teaching Award (2025), the Council of Nephrology Social Work Merit Award (2012), the Raphael J. Becvar Award for outstanding clinical, research, and scholarly achievement (2021), and the National Kidney Foundation Outstanding Poster Award (2021 & 2025). Dr. Sledge received her PhD from the Saint Louis University School of Medicine.

Courses Taught

SOC WK 6150 Theory and Practice with Families

SOC WK 5450 Social Work Research and Analysis

Education

PhD, Medical Family Therapy, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO, 2021

Certificate in Health Care Ethics, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO, 2008

MSW, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, 2004

BS, Music Therapy, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, St. Mary-of-the-Woods, IN, 2001

Publications

See Dr. Sledge’s CV for a complete list of publications

Book Chapters

1. 1. Sledge, R. (2025). Belonging, trauma, and resilience: Creating a school environment that celebrates human connection using a multisystemic approach. In J. Fish and J. Doronkin (Eds.) Beginning Within: Marking a New Journey toward Equity in Trauma-Informed Education Practices: Myers Education Press.
2. Sledge, R., Barnes, J., Knight, J., Meyer, D. (2024). Screening, Assessment, and Diagnosis in Addictions. In C. Williams (Ed). Addictions: Mind, Body, and Spirit. S and Diego, CA: Cognella Academic
3. Meyer, , Sledge, R., & Amick, M. (2022). Psychopharmacology. In R. Fulmer (Ed.). Counseling Theories. San Diego, CA: Cognella Academic Publishing.

Peer Reviewed Publications

1. Heiden-Rootes, , Meyer, D., Sledge, R., Davis, B., Drallmeier, T., Linsenmeyer, W., Levine, S., Dalton, M. (2023). Seeking gender-affirming medical care: A phenomenological inquiry on skillful coping with transgender and non-binary adults in the United States Midwest. Qualitative Research in Medicine & Healthcare, 7(11485). doi:10.4081/qrmh.2023.11485
2. Sledge, , Concepcion, B., Witten, B., Klicko, K. & Schatell, D. (2023). Kidney failure patients’ perceptions and definitions of health: A qualitative study. Kidney Medicine, 5(4). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xkme.2023.100603
3. Meyer, , Heiden-Rootes, K., Sledge, R., & Salas, J. (2022). The role of couple dynamics in contraception decision-making. Couple and Family Psychology: Research and Practice. https://doi.org/10.1037/cfp0000226
4. Meyer, , Sledge, R., Streb, M., Knight, J., Buchanan, T. (2023). Menses and positive partner interactions increase mate guarding behaviors in established romantic couples. Psychoneuroendocrinology 153(Supplement). https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PSYNEUEN.2023.106218
5. Sledge, , Meyer, D., Heiden-Rootes, K., Zubatsky, M., Browne, T., & Philipneri, M. (2022). Dyadic shared decision-making in dialysis: An interpretive phenomenological inquiry. Families, Systems, & Health. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/fsh0000718
6. Sledge, R., Meyer, D., Zubatsky, M., Heiden-Rootes, K., Philipneri, M., & Browne, T. (2022). A systematic literature review of relational autonomy in dialysis decision Health & Social Work, 47(1), 53- 61.
7. Sledge, , Meyer, D., Heiden-Rootes, K., Zubatsyky, M., Philipner, M. & Browne, T. (2022). Application of the Family Resilience Framework to dyadic shared decision-making in dialysis: An interpretive phenomenological inquiry. Journal of Nephrology Social Work, 45(2), 19-30.
8. Meyer, , & Sledge, R. (2022). The relationship between conflict topics and romantic relationship dynamics. Journal of Family Issues, 43(2), 306-313. doi:10.1177/0192513X21993856
9. Meyer, , Sledge, R., Manning, D. (2021). Gender dysphoria and transgender concerns in school counseling: Advocating for students. Journal of LGBTQ Issues in Counseling, 15(4), 406-425. doi: 10.1080/15538605.2021.1938334
10. Meyer, , & Sledge, R. (2021). Changes in couple dynamics between ovulation and menses. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 119(2020), 104978. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.104978
11. Meyer, , & Sledge, R. (2020). The potential role of cortisol as a biomarker of physiological interdependence in romantic couples: A systematic review. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 121(July), 104834. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.104834

Research Interests

From an ethics of care perspective, Dr. Sledge interrogates autonomy and self-determination, while exploring the impact of interprofessional priorities and management context on practice decisions. Because ethical practice is competent practice, it is necessary to identify the everyday habits and activities of medical social workers to train emerging clinicians to work in the modern medical environment.