Fannie Gaston-Johansson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fannie Gaston-Johansson
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| Born | 1938 (age 86–87) Hickory, North Carolina, U.S.
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| Education | Winston-Salem State University (BSN) University of California, San Francisco (MSN) University of Gothenburg (PhD) |
| Relatives | Christian S. Johansson (son) |
| Medical career | |
| Institutions | University of Nebraska Medical Center University of Gothenburg Johns Hopkins University |
| Research | Health disparities, pain management, coping strategies |
Dr. Fannie Jean Gaston-Johansson (born 1938, died 2023) was an amazing American professor. She taught nursing at Johns Hopkins University. She studied how different groups of people have different health problems. She also helped people manage pain and learn ways to cope with serious illnesses like breast cancer.
Dr. Gaston-Johansson made history! She was the first African-American woman to become a full professor with tenure at Johns Hopkins. Tenure means she had a permanent teaching position. Before that, she was a dean and professor at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden. She also taught at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. In 1995, she was honored as a "Living Legend" by the American Academy of Nursing.
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Early Life and Learning
Fannie Gaston-Johansson was born in 1938 in Hickory, North Carolina. She loved learning and helping people. In 1959, she earned her first degree, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), from Winston-Salem State University. This degree taught her the basics of nursing.
Later, in 1963, she earned a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). She got this advanced degree from the University of California, San Francisco. It focused on medical, surgical, and mental health nursing. She continued her studies and earned her Ph.D. (a very high-level degree) in nursing in 1985 from the University of Gothenburg in Sweden.
Her Amazing Career
Dr. Gaston-Johansson started her nursing career in 1959. She worked as a nurse in Veterans Administration hospitals in different states. These included New York, Texas, and California.
In 1964, she began teaching at San Francisco State University. She helped create the school's nursing lessons. She even took time off to study more at Uppsala University in Sweden. In 1967, she returned to Winston-Salem State University as an assistant professor.
Dr. Gaston-Johansson also worked as a nurse in Sweden. From 1970 to 1973, she worked at Sahlgrenska University Hospital. She cared for patients recovering from heart and lung surgeries. She later became a clinical instructor there. In 1979, she returned to the University of Gothenburg to lead nursing studies.
Teaching and Research
In 1985, Dr. Gaston-Johansson joined the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC). She quickly became an associate professor. She also visited the University of Gothenburg as a professor in 1988. From 1987 to 1989, she directed nursing research at UNMC. She helped get a grant to create new ways to care for patients.
In 1993, Dr. Gaston-Johansson moved to the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. She became an associate professor there. She also led a program for nurses who wanted to become nurse practitioners. In 1995, she became the director of international academic programs. She also taught as a visiting professor at the University of Washington.
In 1997, she started working with the oncology department at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Oncology is the study and treatment of cancer. In 1998, she became a full professor at Johns Hopkins. This was a huge step! 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, Dr. Gaston-Johansson kept working with the University of Gothenburg. She became a full professor there in 2000. She helped start a new doctoral nursing program in Sweden. She also served as a dean from 2001 to 2005.
In 2007, she became the first leader of the acute and chronic care department at Johns Hopkins. She led a program that studied health differences among minority groups worldwide. She researched health issues that affect people as they get older. She also studied how patients with long-term illnesses manage their pain. She helped women with breast cancer find ways to cope with their illness. Dr. Gaston-Johansson retired in June 2014. She became a professor emerita, meaning she kept her title after retirement.
Awards and Special Honors
Dr. Gaston-Johansson received many awards for her important work. She was a member of the American Academy of Nursing. She was also part of the American Academy of Pain Management. In 1995, she was honored as a "Living Legend" by the American Academy of Nursing.
Both the United States Congress and the Government of Sweden recognized her for her international research. In 2011, she was added to the International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame by Sigma Theta Tau. This honor celebrates top nursing researchers from around the world.
Family Life
Dr. Gaston-Johansson was married to Sonny Johansson, a pathologist. Their son, Christian S. Johansson, grew up in Sweden and Omaha, Nebraska. He later became a government official.
See also
