Skip Navigation

Cheryl R. Dennison Himmelfarb, PhD, RN, ANP

FAAN, FAHA, FPCNA
Professor
Vice Dean Research, Office for Science and Innovation
Sarah E. Allison Professor for Research and Self-Care
Cheryl Dennison Himmelfarb
443-287-4174
View Full CV

Specialties and Expertise

  • Business
  • Cardiovascular
  • Care Coordination
  • Chronic Care
  • Disabilities
  • Disparities
  • Equity
  • Health Behavior
  • Interprofessional
  • Palliative Care
  • Primary Care
  • Quality Improvement
  • Safety
  • Social Determinants of Health
  • Transition of Care

Overview

Cheryl Dennison Himmelfarb’s sustained passion and commitment to reducing health disparities and improving the quality of care and outcomes for cardiovascular and critical care patients is seen as a consistent thread throughout her progressive program of research, professional practice, and teaching. Her research has led to the development of effective and transferrable health system and interdisciplinary team-based strategies to improve the quality of cardiovascular care. Dr. Himmelfarb’s scholarship has contributed to a greater understanding of social and cultural determinants of cardiovascular risk, particularly among Black and resource-limited populations. Additionally, as a deputy director of the Johns Hopkins Institute for Clinical and Translation Research, she leads the Research Participant and Community Partnership Core, a program that has enhanced research participant experience and promoted best practices for research participant recruitment and retention and community engaged research at Johns Hopkins. Dr. Himmelfarb has served on numerous National Institutes of Health and American Heart Association expert panels that have generated scientific statements and national clinical guidelines to reduce health disparities and improve the quality of cardiovascular care. Dr. Himmelfarb has been prolific in her efforts to translate and disseminate this research to both scientific and clinical audiences, thus she has informed future research and policy efforts while driving improvements in current clinical practice and patient outcomes. Dr. Himmelfarb provides leadership for research strategy and related initiatives for the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. Her responsibilities broadly include monitoring and expanding the school's research portfolio and enhancing faculty competitiveness for research funding, while ensuring regulatory compliance and responsible, reproducible conduct of research. She is a professor of Nursing, Medicine, and Public Health.

Additional Resources

Below are selected resources. For more information, please see full CV.

  • Videos
     
       
  • Publications/Research

    Himmelfarb, C.R., Commodore-Mensah, Y., Hill, M.N. (2016). "Expanding the role of nurses to improve hypertension care and control globally." Annals of Global Health, 82(2):243-253.

    Havranek, E. P., Mujahid, M. S., Barr, D. A., Blair, I. V., Cohen, M. S., Cruz-Flores, S., Davey-Smith, G., Dennison Himmelfarb, C. R., Lauer, M. S., Lockwood, D. W., Rosal, M., Yancy, C. W. (2015). American Heart Association Council on Quality of Care and Outcomes Research, Council on Epidemiology and Prevention, Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing, Council on Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health, and Stroke Council. "Social Determinants of Risk and Outcomes for Cardiovascular Disease: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association." Circulation, 132(9), 873-98.

    Wright, J. T., Fine, L. J., Lackland, D. T., Ogedegbe, G., Dennison Himmelfarb, C. R. (2014). "Evidence supporting a systolic blood pressure goal of < 150 mmHg in patients = 60 years: The minority view." Annals of Internal Medicine, 160(7), 499-503.

    James, P. A., Oparil, S., Carter, B. L., Cushman, W. C., Dennison Himmelfarb, C., Handler, J., Lackland, D. T., LeFevre, M. L., MacKenzie, T. D., Ogedegbe, O., Smith, S. C., Svetkey, L. P, Taler, S. J., Townsend, R. R., Wright, J. T., Narva, A. S., Ortiz, E. (2014). "An evidence-based guideline for the management of high blood pressure in adults: report from the Eighth Joint National Committee (JNC 8)." Journal of the American Medical Association, 311(5), 507-520. doi: 10.1001/jama.2013.284427.
    Samuel, L. S., Commodore-Mensah, Y., Himmelfarb, C. R. (2014). Developing behavioral theory with the systematic integration of community social capital concepts. Health Education & Behavior, 41(4), 359-75.

  • Awards/Honors

    2017 Sigma Theta Tau International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame

    2015 Health Education & Behavior Lawrence W. Green Paper of the Year Award (for “Developing Behavioral Theory with the Systematic Integration of Community Social Capital Concepts” with Drs. Laura Samuel and Yvonne Commodore-Mensah)

    2014 Teaching Innovation Award (for The Helene Fuld Leadership Program for the Advancement of Patient Care Quality and Safety, Program Director, C. Dennison Himmelfarb), Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing

    2010 VIP List: Very Important Professionals Successful By 40, The Daily Record

    2010 Fellow, American Academy of Nursing

    2010 Fellow, Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association

    2010 Clinical Innovation Award (First Place for “A telemanagement system to facilitate self-care among African American heart failure patients”), American Association of Heart Failure Nurses

    2008-2010 Claire M. Fagin Fellow, John A. Hartford Foundation

    2007 Fellow, American Heart Association, Council on Cardiovascular Nursing

    2007 Shirley Sohmer Award for Evidence-Based Practice Research, Johns Hopkins Hospital (“Heart Failure Care Coordinator Pilot Program” with E. Caslin, K. Davis, C. Foley, J. Ioannou, S. Russell)

    2005 NIH Roadmap Johns Hopkins Clinical Research Scholar (K12 Award)

    2003 Best Abstract Award, Council on Cardiovascular Nursing, American Heart Association 76th Scientific Sessions