Jennifer Peterson

Jennifer Peterson is an Assistant Professor and CNS Track Coordinator at Johns Hopkins University, specializing in pediatric cardiovascular nursing for infants, children, and young adults with heart disease. She is affiliated with the JHU Center for Equity in Child and Youth Health and Wellbeing and serves as chair of the American Heart Association's Pediatric Cardiovascular Nursing Committee.

Dr. Peterson holds a PhD, Master of Science, and Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), with board certifications including RN, APRN-CNS, CCNS, and CNE. Her clinical background spans bedside ICU nursing, clinical education, population-based CNS roles, RN first assistance, and program direction.

Her research centers on biobehavioral, neurodevelopmental, and psychosocial health outcomes in pediatric cardiac populations, emphasizing family-centered developmental care and genetic condition impacts. She actively investigates interventions addressing social determinants of health, health disparities, and resilience in congenital heart disease management across acute/critical care, newborn, and school health settings.

Dr. Peterson's recent publications (2021-2023) establish her leadership in developmental care pathways for infants with congenital heart disease, health equity frameworks, and genetic condition outcomes. Her work features prominently in American Heart Association science advisories and focuses on collaborative neuroprotective models and lifespan disparity mitigation.

Notable recognitions include:

• New Nursing Faculty Fellowship from Maryland Higher Education Commission (2020-2025)
• Fellow of the American Heart Association (FAHA) designation (2020)
• Martha N. Hill Early Career Investigator award finalist (2019)

As CNS Track Coordinator, she mentors nursing students and leads curriculum development for clinical nurse specialists. Her grant activities include the Nurse Support Program II fellowship and collaborative projects with the Cardiac Neurodevelopmental Outcomes Collaborative.

Dr. Peterson chairs the AHA's Pediatric Cardiovascular Nursing Committee and actively participates in the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists, Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Society, and Consortium of Congenital Cardiac Care-Measurement of Nursing Practice (C4-MNP), driving national standards in congenital cardiac nursing practice.