Jill N. Peltzer

Jill N. Peltzer, PhD, RN serves as Associate Professor, Associate Dean for Graduate Programs, and Chair of the Department of Acute, Chronic, and Continuing Care at the University of Kansas School of Nursing. Her clinical expertise spans advanced practice nursing in pain management, internal medicine, neurology (epilepsy/dementias), and hematology/oncology, complemented by Peace Corps service in South Africa focusing on HIV/substance abuse prevention.

Education:

• PhD, University of Kansas-Medical Center, Kansas City, KS
• MSN, University of Kansas-Medical Center, Kansas City, KS
• BSN, University of Kansas-Medical Center

As a health equity researcher, Dr. Peltzer specializes in structural racism, stress pathways, and health outcomes among Black and African American families using qualitative participatory methods grounded in shared power and decision-making. Her current work addresses breast cancer inequities through collaboration with survivors and researchers, while her broader research portfolio spans HIV, dementia care, and community-engaged approaches to health disparities. This dual focus on methodological rigor and community partnership defines her innovative approach to reducing healthcare inequities.

Analysis of Dr. Peltzer's 2022-2025 publications reveals consistent thematic priorities: cancer survivorship (particularly breast cancer lymphedema and sleep quality), dementia care in minority communities during the pandemic, and structural competency training. Her work demonstrates strong methodological diversity—integrating qualitative, mixed-methods, and community-based participatory frameworks—while maintaining a critical lens on racism's impact on health outcomes across African American and Latino populations.

Scientific Awards:

• No specific awards mentioned in source materials

Dr. Peltzer serves as Principal Investigator for the Oncology Nursing Foundation-funded "Breast Cancer Inequities among Black Americans: A Concept Mapping Study." As Associate Dean for Graduate Programs, she oversees nursing education while mentoring through community-engaged research. Her grant portfolio reflects strategic focus on patient-centered interventions for marginalized populations, particularly through partnerships with breast cancer survivors.

Her research operates at the intersection of academic medicine and community action, exemplified by collaborations with breast cancer survivors to co-design interventions addressing systemic barriers. This participatory model extends to dementia research through initiatives like MyAlliance for Brain Health, demonstrating her commitment to dismantling structural barriers through shared knowledge creation.