Faculty

Dr. Janet Lopez is an Assistant Professor in the College of Nursing at the University of Central Florida and a nurse scientist dedicated to promoting healthy aging and advancing health equity. Her work focuses on Hispanic/Latino older adults, caregivers, and veterans, with particular attention to rural and underserved communities. Dr. Lopez’s research centers on the cultural adaptation and implementation of scalable, Spanish-language interventions to address fall risk, frailty, mental health, and caregiving outcomes. Her scholarship integrates community-engaged approaches, gerontology, social determinants of health, and digital health technologies to support aging in place.

Dr. Lopez teaches across undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral nursing programs, with an emphasis on research methods and scholarly development. She is committed to mentoring students and actively contributes to professional and community service efforts that improve population health and reduce aging-related disparities. She is also dedicated to preparing the next generation of nurses to deliver culturally responsive care, while fostering their interest in research and encouraging pursuit of research opportunities.

Education

• PhD in Nursing Sciences, University of Florida
• MPH, University of Florida
• BSN, University of Florida

Selected Editorial Activities

• Guest Editor Assistant, MDPI Healthcare, Special Issue: Risk Factors, Prevention, and Intervention Strategies for Health in Older and Vulnerable Populations

Selected Awards & Honors

• CARE Scholar, 2026
• Jonas Veteran Healthcare Scholar, 2018
• Dell Scholar, 2012

Selected Professional Activities

• Member, National Hispanic Council on Aging
• Member and Abstract Reviewer, Gerontological Society of America
• Member and Abstract Reviewer, National Association of Hispanic Nurses
• Advisory Board Member, National Association of Hispanic Nurses Central Florida
• Member, Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society of Nursing
• Member, Southern Nursing Research Society; Chair of Health for All RIIG

Additional Language(s)

• Spanish