Rachel Jones Biography

About

Rachel Jones, PhD, RN, FAAN, is Principal Investigator of an ongoing clinical trial funded by the National Institute for Nursing Research (NINR) (R01NR014632) to test the effect of Love, Sex, & Choices, a 12-episode soap opera video web series, on lowering risk behavior and increasing HIV testing. The LSC was created to promote sexual health messaging by identifying with the characters and relatable stories. The LSC web series was created by content analysis of focus groups and guided by a framework of Sex Script Theory and the Theory of Power as Knowing Participation in Change. Love, Sex, & Choices was a key  HIV prevention component in the SAMHSA funded comprehensive wellness grant at the Bureau of Addictions Prevention, Treatment & Recovery Support Services (BAPTRSS), at the Boston Public Health Commission (Lincoln, PI). Jones served as interventionist on that project. The LSC was also found to be highly accepted among Latinas in a SAMHSA funded study in Florida. Communicating HIV prevention through a web video series that can be accessed on smartphones has potential for wide-reach.

Dr Jones is an Associate Professor at Northeastern School of Nursing. She is a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing, and a former recipient of the Nurse Educator of the New York Times Tribute to Nurses award.  Dr. Jones was recently appointed to the Advisory Committee of the Office of Research on Women’s Health (ORWH) at the National Institute of Health. She has served as an Ad Hoc Reviewer for the NIH Special Emphasis Panel (HIV Prevention) Scientific Review Group.

Dr. Jones has worked with technical teams to accomplish mobile platform development, including securing on-line surveys and video streaming to smartphones and computers. She has worked with teams to utilize social media platforms, such as Instagram and Facebook to recruit young adult urban women into clinical trials. From her earliest work forward, these projects have been conducted in inner city environments with high HIV incidence.

Dr. Jones holds a PhD from New York University; a Masters in Family Primary Care from Pace University; and a BSN from Case Western Reserve University.  Previously in clinical practice as a family nurse practitioner, a large proportion of her caseload was people with, or at risk, for HIV/AIDS.

The Love, Sex, & Choices is available for use by the public at lovesexandchoices.org