Janna  Lesser, PhD, RN, FAAN

Community-Academic Partnership Research

 - I have been conducting community-partnered exploratory and intervention studies with individuals and communities living with a myriad of health and social inequities for over twenty years. A commitment grounded in principles of patient-centered outcomes research, health equity, and social justice guides all of my community-engaged research. Examples of target populations I have studied include; but are not limited to, inner-city dwelling adolescent mothers and fathers, disenfranchised youth (including youth in the juvenile justice system), families living in predominantly Latino, impoverished communities, and individuals and groups living with chronic and severe mental illness. Areas in which I have made scientific contributions to research include the following three interconnected areas of work: 1) Community-Based Participatory Research HIV and Violence Intervention Development and Scientific Evaluation among at-risk Latino youth. I have collaboratively led three prevention intervention research grants that were funded by NIH, two of which were CBPR grants. The community-academic research partnership based in San Antonio, Texas, Familias en Accion, has been sustained by Federal and State funding for over 10 years. Further exemplifying the impact of this research on a national level, I have published a number of manuscripts based on my CBPR prevention research, including those that led the way to our of our HIV Prevention Program for Latino Adolescent Mothers and Fathers (Respeto/Proteger) being cited as one of the teen fatherhood programs in Elements of Promising Practice in Teen Fatherhood Programs: Evidence-Based and Evidence-Informed Research Findings on What Works (Bronte-Tinkew, Burkhauser, & Metz, 2008) and the listing in April 2012 by the Office of Adolescent Health (USDHHS) as an evidence-based model that reduces risk for sexually-transmitted infections. 2) Using Qualitative Inquiry, Participatory Action Research, and Life Course Theory to better understand at-risk Latino youth. Traditionally, many health-related programs being provided to populations experiencing health disparities were developed from existing bodies of scientific knowledge, without the benefit of formative research that focused attention to the specific needs and resources of the target community and population. In particular, this method of intervention development lacked attention to cultural and contextual factors that might either facilitate or seriously inhibit the effectiveness of any intervention. It has been my contention that a useful way to understand the life experiences of marginalized populations within the social and political context of their communities is by including a life course perspective and that both qualitative inquiry and participatory research approaches (PRAs), are consistent with a life course perspective. 3) Community Empowerment and Sustainability among Medically Underserved and Marginalized populations.

• Professional Background

  Education

  • 1997 - Doctor in Philosophy - Nursing - University of California, Los Angeles
  • 1988 - Master of Science In Nursing - Nursing - University of California, Los Angeles
  • 1981 - Bachelor of Science in Nursing - Nursing - Columbia University
  • 1977 - Bachelor of Arts - English - University of California, Berkeley
  • Postdoctoral Fellowship - Nursing, Health Risks of Vulnerable Populations - University of California, Los Angeles

  Highlights

  Licensure and Certifications

  • Registered Nurse (Texas)

  Honors and Awards

  • 2019, A Visionary Leader of UT Heath School of Nursing Award 
  • 2017, Community Engagement Hero Award for Community Health Improvement Project: Awarded by IIMS, UT Health San Antonio 
  • 2015, UT Health Science Center Academy of Master Teachers 
  • 2015, Columbia University SON Distinguished Alumni Award in Teaching Excellence   

  Appointments

  • 2017 - present - Director, Center for South Texas Programs - UTHSA, Center for South Texas Programs
  • 2017 - present - Director, South Texas AHEC Program - UTHSA, Center for South Texas Programs
  • 2016 - present - Co-Director, South Texas AHEC Program - UT Health Science Center San Antonio
  • 2016 - present - Professor with Tenure - UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
  • 2009 - present - Director - UTHSCSA School of Nursing Center of Excellence for Community-Based Health Promotion in Women and Children, Family and Community Health Systems, San Antonio
  • 8/2004 - Graduate Faculty - University of Texas Health Science Center at San AntonioSan Antonio

• Instruction & Training

  • 2017, NURS 7381 Nursing: Synthesis and Application of Clinical Research, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
  • 2016, NURS 7377, Mixed Methods for Clinical Nurse Scientists, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
  • 2016, NURS 7380, Qualitative Inquiry for Clinical Nursing Research, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
  • 2016, NURS 7373 Nursing: Quantitative Research Methods II, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
  • 2016, NURS 7381 Nursing: Synthesis and Application of Clinical Research, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
  • 2011 - present, N3205/Mental Health Theory, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
  • 2011 - present, N3206/Mental Health Clinical, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
  • 2004 - present, NURE3013 Mentored Res Prac:Children/Family, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing

• Research & Grants

  Grants

  Currently Funded:  

  • 2018 - 2019, Funding Agency: HRSA AHEC Supplemental Award. Title: Compassionate Care: Increasing Opioid Addiction, Harm Reduction, & Recovery Services Knowledge and Training among Promotoras/CHWs working with individuals and communities living with Substance Use Disorder in rural and other medically underserved areas. Status: Active. Role: Principal Investigator. Total Costs: $124,012.00 
  • 2017 - 2022, Project #: U77HP03049. Funding Agency: HRSA. Title: Model State-Supported Area Health Education Centers. Status: Active. Role: Principal Investigator. Total Costs: $2,575,000.00 
  • 2016 - 2017, Funding Agency: IIMS. Title: Reaching an Underserved and Hard to Reach Population in a Rural County at Risk for Type 2 Diabetes.Status: Active. Role: Principal Investigator. Total Costs: $50,000.00 

  Completed Research/Projects: 

  • 2014 - 2019, Title: Healthy Adolescent Initiative: Violence Prevention. Status: Active. Role: Principal Investigator. % Effort: 5 
  • 2014 - 2015, Funding Agency: Center for Humanities and Ethics CSL Award. Title: Healthy Snacking, Healthy Kids. Status: Complete. Total Costs: $2,000.00
  • 2014 - 2015, Project #: R01GM088781. Funding Agency: NIH NIGMS. Title: Training Academics and Community Members to Provide the “XINACHTLI” Curriculum to At-risk Latina Youth: A CBPR Partnership Project. Status: Complete. Role: Principal Investigator. Total Costs: $20,000.00 
  • 2013 - 2015, Funding Agency: NICHD. Title: Reducing and Preventing Violence and Racial Disparities for Latino Youth : An Academic-Community Partnership Project. Status: Complete. Role: Consultant 
  • 2010 - 2015, Project #: R01GM088781. Funding Agency: NIH NIGMS. Title: Mechanisms for Enhancing Scholarly Achievements (MESA). Status: Complete.Role: Co-Principal Investigator % Effort: 20 

• Service

  School

  Student Mentees/Trainees

  • Current, Ana Vera, Marisol Breton Leija, UT Health San Antonio, Membership on Supervising Committee 
  • 2010 – 2011,  Doctoral Dissertation, Antonieta Pelias Alteza, Membership on Supervising Committee, UT Health San Antonio. Title: Diabetes Beliefs and Diabetes Self-Management in Mexican American Adolescents with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

  Institutional

  2016 –  UT Health San Antonio Community Engagement Core, IIMS,  

  Present  Member 

    

  • 2014 – Present,  UT Health San Antonio, VPR Search Committee, Member 
  • 2010 – Present. UT Health San Antonio, Faculty Council (FC), Member 
  • 2008 – Present, UT Health San Antonio, SON, Undergraduate APG Committee, Member 

  Service to the Profession

  • 2016 - Present, National Upcoming special edition of Issues in Mental Health Nursing on Refugee Mental Health Guest Editor 
  • 2016 - Present, International Special edition of Journal of Research in Nursing, Using Mixed Methods to conduct Patient-Centered Research Guest Editor 
  • 2016 - Present, National Cultural Competence Column in Issues in Mental Health Nursing Co-Editor. Co-edit column (with Jackie Flaskerud) 
  • 2015 - Present, International Journal of Research in Nursing, Appointed as an International Associated Board Member 
  • 2011 - Present, National Progress in Community Health Partnerships Journal Reviewer 
  • 2007 - Present, National Western Journal of Nursing Research Journal Reviewer

  Professional Affiliations 

  • 2008-Present, Society for Adolescent Medicine 
  • 2006-Present, Community-Campus Partnerships for Health (CCPH) 
  • 2006-Present, Texas Regional Chapter Society for Adolescent Medicine 
  • 2005-Present, Sigma Theta Tau International 
  • 2005-Present, Southern Nursing Research Society 
  • 2005-Present, Western Institute of Nursing 

  Community Service

  • 2007 - Present, Las Mujeres Nobles de Harlandale/Mujeres Westside, Organizing Committee Member 
  • 2005 - Present, Prosumers Group, Sponsor 
  • 2005 - Present, Familias En Accion Community Collaborative Council, Organizing Committee Member 
  • 2005 - Present, American Indians in Texas - Spanish Colonial Missions and MESA Center for Health Disparities Community-Academic Partnership, Organizing Committee Member 

• Publications

  Peer-reviewed Articles (*indicates data-based) 

  • Lesser J. From Childhood Maltreatment to Motherhood: An Exploration of the Triad of Childhood Abuse, Depresseion, and Maternal Role Attainment in Adolescent Mothers 1997. 128 p. 

  Non-Peer-reviewed Articles (i. e. editorials, news articles, etc.) 

  • Monney MK. Edited by Flaskerud JH & Lesser,J. Resilience among spouses of United States service members during deployment Issues in Mental Health Nursing 2019;40(4):362-364 
  • Flaskerud, JH, Lesser, J. The current socio-political climate and psychological distress among transgender people Issues in Mental Health Nursing 2018;39(1):93-96 
  • Oscos-Sanchez MA, Lesser J, Oscos-Flores, LD. Using Community Based Participatory Action Research to Define Positive Youth Development Program Goal Priorities with a Latino Community Issues in Mental Health Nursing 2016 Oct:1-4 
  • Lesser J, Paleo J. Teaching Nursing Students the Value of Person-Centered, Recovery-Oriented Relationships Issues in Mental Health Nursing 2016 Jan;37(C):436-439 

  Abstracts 

  • Oscos-Sanchez MA, Lesser J, Oscos-Flores LD. Sustaining non-violence among adolescents and young adults in a Latino community 2019. (Journal of Adolescent Health; vol. 64, no. 23). 
  • Oscos-Sanchez, M. Lesser J. Oscos-Flores, D. Pineda, D. Decreasing Violence Among High-Risk Latino Youth 2011 Feb. p. S80. (Journal of Adolescent Health; vol. 48, no. 2) 
  • Oscos-Sanchez, M. Lesser, J. Oscos-Flores, D. Pineda, D. El Joven Noble Reduces Substance Use Among High-Risk Latino Youth 2011 Feb. p. S76. (Journal of Adolescent Health; vol. 48, no. 2) 
  • Oscos-Sanchez, M. Lesser, J. Oscos-Flores, D. Pineda, D. Defining Positive Youth Development Priorities With A Latino Community 2011 Feb. p. S78-S79. (Journal of Adolescent Health; vol. 48, no. 2) 

  Invited Podium Presentations (i. e. keynotes presentations)  

   

  • 2018, Familias En Acción: Sustaining a Community Academic Partnership for 13 Years, IIMS Community Engagement Symposium: Community-Campus Partnership to Improve Equity, UTHSA IIMS, San Antonio, TX (Co-Presenter). Details: Oscos-Sanchez, Lesser et al. Invited speakers 
  • 2014, Improving the Science of Community-Based Participatory Research Using a Transformation Mixed Methods Aproach, MMIRA Inaugural Conference 2014, Boston, MA (Invited Speaker). Details: Invited Panel Presentation 
  • 2012, Community-Based Participatory Research as a Strategy for Decreasing Health Inequities and Promoting Social Justice, 2012 Western Institute of Nursing Conference, Portland, OR (Invited Speaker).Details: Western Academy of Nursing Panel 

  Peer Reviewed Podium Presentations  

  • 2014, A Randomized Controlled Evaluation of the Effects of the Familias en Acción Scholarship Program on Adolescent Violence, Substance Use, and Unsafe Driving, 2014 SAHM Annual Meeting, Austin, TX (Co-Presenter). Details: Accepted for presentation 
  • 2014, An Evaluation of the Effects of Participation in El Joven Noble on Youth Violence, 2014 SAHM Annual Meeting, Austin, TX (Co-Presenter). Details: Accepted for Presentation 
  • 2013, Building Collaborative Relationships Via Community Partnership Model Action Phases, 2012 Western Institute of Nursing Conference, Anaheim, CA (Co-Presenter). Details: Symposium Presentation 
  • 2013, The Utility of the Life Course Perspective to Inform Interventions, 2013 Western Institute of Nursing Conference, Anaheim, CA (Co-Presenter). Details: Symposium Presentation