Jessica Wells, PhD, RN, WHNP-BC, FAAN (she/her/hers) is an Associate Professor with tenure at Emory University’s Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing and the Assistant Director of Community Outreach and Engagement at Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University. She received her undergraduate degree in nursing from Howard University in 2006. She earned a PhD in Nursing along with a graduate certificate in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from the Laney Graduate School of Emory University in 2012. Dr. Wells then completed a postdoctoral fellowship from Emory University in 2015 and a postgraduate certificate from the Women's Health Nurse Practitioner program in 2017.

Dr. Wells’ research contributions include promoting cancer prevention strategies in the vulnerable and at-risk HIV population. Her program of research is novel and is at the forefront of an emerging public health problem—an aging HIV population who is increasingly dying from HPV-related cancers. Dr. Wells has unique expertise in leading innovative research that integrates cancer science and HIV science. Her research has been funded by national and federal agencies including the National Institutes of Health, American Cancer Society, Woodruff Health Science Institute, and Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University to promote cancer prevention strategies among people living with HIV. Dr. Wells is currently the Principal Investigator on a NIH/NINR funded R01 study (R01NR020154) that aims to tailor and implement an evidence-based, multi-level intervention in HIV community clinics to promote HPV vaccination among people living with HIV.

Dr. Wells is the recipient of the 2021 Barbara Vicks Impact in HIV Research award presented by Emory University Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) Community Liaison Council and in 2022 the Research in Minority Health Award by the Southern Nurses Research Society (SNRS). In 2021, Dr. Wells was inducted as a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing. She is a member of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (ANAC) where she co-chairs the research committee for the national chapter. Dr. Wells is also a member of the Cancer Prevention and Control Research Program at Winship Cancer Institute, co-chair of the HIV and malignancies working group at Emory University CFAR, and member of the Advocacy and Campaign committee at the International Papillomavirus Society (IPVS). She serves on the Board of Directors for Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health (NPWH, 2022-2024) and is President-elect of the Board 2024-2026.

Wells, J., Holstad, M., Thomas, T., Bruner, D. (2014). An Integrative Review of Guidelines for Anal Cancer Screening in HIV-Infected Persons. AIDS Patient Care and STDs, 28(7), 350-7. Doi: 10.1089/apc.2013.0358.

Dr. Wells is building a robust program of research in adherence to cancer screening and prevention in vulnerable populations, such as high risk HIV infected individuals. Dr. Wells was a recipient of a pre-doctoral NRSA award (F31NR011414) which provided scientific knowledge and skills in research design, implementation and basic statistical methods related to cancer research. During her postdoctoral fellowship, Dr. Wells discovered the alarmingly high and disproportionate incidence of HPV related cancer in HIV infected individuals. Thus, she sought to examine the individual-level, interpersonal-level, and neighborhood-level factors that predict adherence to follow up after anal cancer screening in HIV infected men and women in a NIH funded Career Development Award (K01NR15733-01A1). During this Career Development Award, Dr. Wells received a supplement award (5U01AI103408) to examine knowledge and perception of risks for anal cancer in a sample of HIV infected women from the WIHS study. Additionally, an American Cancer Society Pilot Grant (IRG-14-188-01) to characterized the anal microbiome and explore associations between the anal microbiome and risk for anal cancer in HIV infected women. She was awarded a competitive Robert Woodruff Health Sciences Synergy Award as Co-PI for "Advancing Cancer Screening and Early Detection Among People Living with HIV/AIDS."

Recipient, NIH Loan Repayment Program

Top Poster, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing Students and Fellows Research Day

American Cancer Society Doctoral Scholarship

Jean Stone Megenity Research Award, Sigma Theta Tau

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