She is one of the nation's foremost health promotion researchers in the field of HIV/AIDS prevention. Dr. Jemmott possesses an incredibly consistent track record of evidence-based HIV risk-reduction interventions and has received over $150 million in federal funding to support this work. Aimed at increasing safer sex behaviors, the impact of these studies have not only demonstrated remarkable success in reducing HIV/STI risk-associated behaviors but have also reduced the incidence of sexually transmitted infections.  

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Dr. Jemmott, a community engagement specialist, focuses her work on promoting health and health equity in impoverished West Philadelphia neighborhoods. After retiring from a successful 20-year tenure at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, she joined Drexel as Vice President for Health Equity in the Office of the President and Professor in the College of Nursing and Health Professions. She led Drexel’s community/civic engagement initiative, “We’re Here Because We Care: Building Healthy Communities Together.” In this initiative she used the “Jemmott Community Engagement Model”, a qualitative, community-engaged, deep-dive approach to determine their health concerns within the ten West Philadelphia Promise Zone neighborhoods and partnered with community leaders to create community-driven, sustainable, health promotion programs based on the voices of the community. Her work led to the creation of Drexel’s Community Wellness HUB, which is a place-based, community-driven, health promotion partnership between Drexel University and the residents of Mantua and Powelton Village. The HUB looks to heal the community through preventative care, unite the community around better health, and bridge the community to health services and programming. The HUB offers free health and wellness programming and disease prevention education, which includes screening, counseling, and referral services. Additionally, Dr. Jemmott developed Drexel’s Lazarex Cancer Wellness HUB, designed to reduce cancer health disparities among West Philadelphia community residents experiencing poverty or who are medically underserved. Dr. Jemmott’s health equity and social justice work gives voice to the voiceless and hope to the hopeless, and meets people where they are. 

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Dr. Jemmott is an outstanding translational researcher, who has had a global impact. She has partnered with community-based organizations, including churches, clinics, barbershops, and schools to transform her National Institute of Health funded evidenced-based research outcomes for use in real-world settings. Nine of her evidenced-based HIV/STD and pregnancy prevention curricula have been designated by the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Adolescent Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for national and international dissemination. To date, over 45 states across the country (including Alaska, the Virgin Islands and Hawaii) are incorporating them in their schools, clinics, churches, or community-based agency programs.

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Dr. Jemmott’s research has changed public policy as it relates to the use of theory-driven, culturally appropriate, evidence-based HIV/STI risk reduction interventions in community and clinical settings. Dr. Jemmot earned her PhD and MSN from the University of Pennsylvania and her BSN from Hampton University. She was inducted as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing in 1992 and has numerous prestigious honors, including the U.S. Congressional Merit Award, election to membership in the National Academy of Medicine, and membership in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.