Rate My Professor Janna Stephens

Janna Stephens, PhD, RN, FAHA, is Department Head and Associate Professor in the Department of Population Health Nursing Science at the University of Illinois Chicago College of Nursing, where she also holds the title of Nursing Collegiate Professor. Appointed department head in 2023, she leads scholarship on multilevel determinants of health to improve outcomes for individuals, families, communities, organizations, and populations. Prior to joining UIC, Stephens served as Assistant Professor at The Ohio State University College of Nursing in the Martha S. Pitzer Center for Women, Children and Youth. Her doctoral training occurred at Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, where she was affiliated during early research on technology-assisted interventions.

Stephens' research centers on cardiovascular disease prevention in underserved populations, emphasizing mobile health technologies to enhance physical activity, dietary behaviors, weight management, and overall cardiovascular health. As principal investigator, she received a $1.6 million NIH R01 grant from the National Institute of Nursing Research to develop and test interventions reducing cardiovascular risk factors in Black young adults. Notable publications include "Mobile phone interventions to increase physical activity and reduce weight: a systematic review" (Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 2013), "Current science on consumer use of mobile health for cardiovascular disease prevention: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association" (Circulation, 2023), "Cardiovascular Health in the Transition from Adolescence to Young Adulthood: A Scientific Statement from the American Heart Association" (Journal of the American Heart Association, 2025), and a book chapter "Behavior and Lifestyle Risk Factors" in Preventive Cardiovascular Nursing (2024). Her scholarship has garnered recognition through election as a Fellow of the American Heart Association (FAHA, 2025) for scientific accomplishments, volunteer leadership, and service; selection as a Friends of the National Institute of Nursing Research Ambassador (2024) to advocate for nursing research funding; the Nursing Collegiate Professor award (2024) for excellence in research, scholarship, and teaching; and prior honors at Ohio State including the FAME program and an Innovation Fellowship from the Center for Healthcare Innovation Leadership. Stephens contributes to advancing health equity through preventive nursing science and professional leadership.