Dr. Joanne Iennaco

Biography

Joanne DeSanto Iennaco is a Professor at Yale School of Nursing, where she also serves as Director of the Clinical Doctor of Nursing Practice program. She holds a PhD in chronic disease epidemiology from Yale University’s School of Public Health. Her research primarily focuses on the effects of aggression exposure on workers in inpatient psychiatric hospital settings. Professor Iennaco is the lead investigator of the PERoPA-Study, an international study examining perceptions of patient visitor aggression in healthcare organizations across multiple countries, including Australia, Canada, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Additionally, she collaborates in clinical trials such as the Heart Sleep Study, exploring the impact of psychosocial factors on workplace health. She is a dual-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner and has received multiple awards for her contributions to nursing, including the Nightingale Award for Excellence in Nursing in 2016. Professor Iennaco is actively involved in professional organizations, currently serving as President of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association New England Chapter and contributing to various research groups. Her clinical practice focuses on young adults and adults with complex mental health needs, and she has held management roles in various psychiatric settings.

Research Interests

Awards