FANNIE G. GASTON-JOHANSSON, PhD, RN, FAAN
Professor and Elsie M. Lawler Chair
Chair, Department of Acute and Chronic Care
"Over the years, I have found that knowing what to do is not enough. Creativity, innovation, wisdom, good judgment, and leadership are also necessary for one to be successful in bringing about sustainable changes that will truly improve health care for all people."
The first African-American woman to be a tenured full professor at Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Fannie Gaston-Johansson is an internationally renowned nurse educator, researcher, and clinical practitioner. In 2007, she was named the first chair of the School of Nursing Department of Acute and Chronic Care. Dr. Gaston-Johansson directs the Center on Health Disparities Research - which works to advance understanding of health disparities across the lifespan - and leads the international and interdisciplinary Minority Global Health Disparities Research Training Program. She also is co-director of a post-doctoral training program in breast cancer research for underserved and minority women. Her research focuses on end-of-life issues with an emphasis on strategies to manage pain and other symptoms in patients with cancer and terminal or chronic illnesses. Dr. Gaston-Johansson holds a joint appointment in the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Department of Oncology. She was named to the Maryland Task Force on Health Care Access and Reimbursement by Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley, is the recipient of the National Black Nurses Association's Trailblazer Award, and has received citations from the U.S. Congress and the government of Sweden for her international and domestic research endeavors.
