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Jessica Williams, PhD, MPH, PHNA-BC

Assistant Professor

919.966.3629
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
School of Nursing
Carrington Hall, CB #7460
Office: 5004
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7460

Jessica Williams, PhD, MPH, PHNA-BC is an Assistant Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, School of Nursing. She is a board-certified advanced public health nurse with clinical training in both hospital and community settings. Her research focuses on improving the role of the healthcare system in addressing syndemic health outcomes (e.g., chronic pain, HIV, opioid misuse) of interpersonal and gender-based violence and is facilitated through the application of community engagement methodology and dissemination and implementation science. Her research demonstrates how trauma impacts patient-provider communication and access to effective health services. This work highlights the unique difficulties survivors face managing chronic health conditions and how internal resources affect these challenges both positively and negatively. Her most recent research focuses on understanding the contribution of interpersonal violence to chronic pain opioid misuse and factors that promote resiliency among survivors.

Dr. Williams teaches courses in qualitative research methodology and evidence-based practice. She also provides training for health providers focused on screening and responding to interpersonal and gender-based violence within healthcare settings based on current evidence-based practice guidelines. She earned her PhD in 2008 from Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing.

Specialties