Ariana M. Chao, PhD, CRNP, RN

Dr. Ariana M. Chao, PhD, CRNP, RN is an Associate Professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing with a joint appointment in the School of Medicine. She serves as the Director of Research at the Healthful Eating, Activity and Weight Program at Johns Hopkins where she also practices clinically as an obesity medicine nurse practitioner. She is internationally recognized for her leadership in obesity treatment. Her program of research is focused on the development of innovative treatments for obesity and related eating behaviors that improve physical and mental health. This includes creating and evaluating novel treatments for obesity, using biobehavioral approaches and considering social determinants of health to improve treatment access and efficacy. She has published over 100 articles. Her work has been supported by the National Institutes of Health as well as foundation and industry sponsors. Dr. Chao received her Bachelor and Master of Science in Nursing from Boston College, earned her PhD in nursing science at Yale University, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania.