Joann has a PhD, MPH from the University of MN, and MS in Psychology from Queens University Belfast, NI. She began her career as an LPH in NICU, then an infant teacher in birth to five, special education program where one of her jobs was to do Gesell development assessments. After becoming a Parent-Infant Specialist in a High-Risk perinatal center with nurse colleagues, Lynnda Parker and Clare Thorwick, she integrated Gesell’s developmental assessment into the prenatal period alongside the medical model of care. Her research focuses on how perinatal loss and the pregnancy that follows impact families, including children and extended family members.

Endorsed as a Level IV research mentor in Infant Mental Health she was 2018 Fulbright Specialist at University College Cork, working alongside Dr. Margaret Murphy. She has been a member of APPPAH for over 40 years, authored over 40 articles, three books on this topic, has spoken nationally and internationally and continues to facilitate groups for families who are in a pregnancy and parenting following loss.