Fannie Gaston-Johansson facts for kids

Fannie Jean Gaston-Johansson (1938–2023) was an amazing American professor. She taught nursing at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Gaston-Johansson studied how health differences affect people. She also researched how to manage pain and help women with breast cancer cope. She made history as the first African-American woman to become a full professor with tenure at Johns Hopkins. Before this, she was a dean and professor at the University of Gothenburg. She also worked as a professor at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. In 1995, she was honored as a Living Legend of the American Academy of Nursing.

Early Life and Education

Fannie Gaston-Johansson was born in 1938. Her hometown was Hickory, North Carolina. She loved learning and helping others. In 1959, she earned her first degree in nursing. This was a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Winston-Salem State University.

Advanced Studies

She continued her education to become an expert nurse. In 1963, she earned a Master of Science in Nursing. She studied medical, surgical, and psychiatric nursing at the University of California, San Francisco. Later, in 1985, she earned her highest degree. This was a Ph.D. in nursing from the University of Gothenburg in Sweden.

Her Career Journey

Dr. Gaston-Johansson started her career in 1959. She worked as a staff nurse in hospitals. These hospitals were in New York, Texas, and California. She gained a lot of experience helping patients.

Teaching and Leadership

In 1964, she began teaching at San Francisco State University. She was an instructor and led the curriculum committee. This meant she helped decide what students would learn. She took a break in 1966 to study more at Uppsala University. In 1967, she became an assistant professor at Winston-Salem State University. She also chaired their curriculum committee.

Working in Hospitals Abroad

From 1970 to 1973, Dr. Gaston-Johansson worked in Sweden. She was a staff nurse at Sahlgrenska University Hospital. She worked in units for heart surgery and general medicine. In 1975, she became a clinical instructor there. She helped train new nurses.

Return to Academia

In 1974, she became an assistant professor at Quinsigamond Community College. By 1977, she was a faculty member and head teacher. This was at the Vardskolan Annedal School of Nursing. She returned to the University of Gothenburg in 1979. There, she became a study leader in the nursing department.

Research and Innovation

In 1985, Dr. Gaston-Johansson joined the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC). She started as an assistant professor. A year later, she became an associate professor. She also visited the University of Gothenburg as a professor in 1988.

Leading Research Programs

From 1987 to 1989, she directed nursing research at UNMC. She helped improve patient care. In 1990, she led a special project. It received a $50,000 grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. This money helped create new ways to care for patients. By 1991, she was directing nursing research and quality improvement.

Making History at Johns Hopkins

In 1993, Dr. Gaston-Johansson joined the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. She became an associate professor. She also held a special research chair. She directed a program for advanced nurse practitioners. In 1995, she was promoted. She became the director of international academic programs. She also visited the University of Washington as a professor.

In 1997, she started working with the oncology department. This was at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Oncology is the study of cancer. In 1998, she became a full professor at the nursing school. This was a huge achievement! She was the first African-American woman to become a full professor with tenure at Johns Hopkins University.

Global Impact and Retirement

Even while at Johns Hopkins, she continued her work in Sweden. She was a visiting professor at the University of Gothenburg in 1999. In 2000, she became a full professor there. She helped start a doctoral nursing program. She also served as a dean from 2001 to 2005.

In 2007, she became the first chair of a new department at Johns Hopkins. This was the acute and chronic care department. She led a program that studied health differences around the world. She researched health issues in older adults. She also studied pain management for people with long-term illnesses. Dr. Gaston-Johansson also looked into how women with breast cancer cope. She retired in June 2014. After retiring, she became a professor emerita.

Awards and Honors

Dr. Gaston-Johansson received many awards for her work. She was a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing. She was also a fellow of the American Academy of Pain Management.

Special Recognition

In 1995, she was named a Living Legend of the American Academy of Nursing. This is a very high honor. Both the United States Congress and the Government of Sweden recognized her. They gave her awards for her international research. In 2011, she was inducted into the International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame. This was by Sigma Theta Tau, a nursing honor society.

Personal Life

Dr. Gaston-Johansson was married to Sonny Johansson. He was a pathologist. Their son, Christian S. Johansson, grew up in Sweden and Nebraska. He later became a government official.

See also

• Women in nursing
• List of African-American firsts
• List of American women's firsts
• Timeline of women in science