University Professorships are honorary titles awarded by the University upon the recommendation of the President, to recognize exceptional achievements made by select members of the senior faculty.
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University Distinguished Professorship
School of Nursing
Center on Health Disparities Research
Held by Fannie Gaston-Johansson
FANNIE GASTON-JOHANSSON is the first African American female at the university to have both tenure and full professorship. She served as director of international and extramural affairs at the School of Nursing from 1995-2005. Her specific research expertise and interests include symptom management with a special focus on pain, coping strategies for pain, management of other symptoms (fatigue, psychological distress, nausea) at end of life, and quality of life. Her work has included pain management for cardiovascular diseases, postoperative care, breast cancer and other cancer diagnoses.
Dr. Gaston-Johansson was the principal investigator and center director for the Center on Health Disparities Research. She was also the principal investigator and program director for the Minority Global Health Disparities Research Training Program.
Dr. Gaston-Johansson was the chief marshal for The Johns Hopkins University’s 136th commencement. She received Hopkins’ 2005 Diversity Recognition Award, a Links INC International Trends and Service Award, the National Black Nurses Association’s “Trailblazer Award,” and a citation from the U.S. Congress for her international and research endeavors.
In 1993, Dr. Gaston-Johansson was named the Elsie M. Lawler Endowed Professor and in 2012 was given the title of University Distinguished Professor. Dr. Gaston-Johansson retired in 2014 and holds the honorary title Professor Emerita.