Leanne L. Lefler, PhD, ACNS-BS, APRN, FAHA,FAAN
Associate Dean for Research
About Leanne Lefler
Dr. Leanne Lefler is a Professor and the Associate Dean for Research and holds the
William A. and Ruth F. Loewenberg Endowed Chair of Excellence. Dr. Lefler obtained
her PhD in Nursing Science from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and
postdoctoral training in cardiovascular gerontology from the John A Hartford Foundation.
Prior to that, she worked for 17 years in clinical practice caring for adults with
cardiovascular disease. She is a board-certified Advanced Practice Nurse and Adult
Clinical Nurse Specialist.
Dr. Lefler is nationally recognized for her research work in cardiovascular disease
health promotion and heart failure self-management using technological advances. She
has been the recipient of many awards as well as funding for her work in reducing
cardiovascular risk, improving physical activity, and heart failure self-management.
She holds Fellowships in the American Academy of Nursing and the American Heart Association
where she served on the committee for the Care of Older Adults with Cardiovascular
Disease and currently serves on the National Heart Failure Systems of Care Advisory
Group. She also serves on the Healthcare Industry Council of the Federal Reserve Bank
of St. Louis. Dr. Lefler has been awarded more than $7 million in combined grant funding
from the NIH, PCORI, the Hartford Foundation, and others.
She is a member of the American Academy of Nursing, the American Heart Association, the American Nurses Association, the Gerontological Society of America, Sigma International, and the Southern Nursing Research Society, formerly serving on their Board.