Q&A with Dr. Yuling Chen: Optimizing Heart Health Through a Pharmacist-Led Digital Program
June 16, 2026Dr. Yuling Chen of Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing is developing and testing a digital program that connects patients with pharmacists to guide better decisions to improve their heart health.
Dr. Yuling Chen began her career as a nurse caring for patients hospitalized with heart conditions. She saw her patients struggle to understand what caused their heart disease — and how to make the lifestyle changes needed to avoid a return hospital visit. “I felt like I could not empower those patients to prevent heart disease using my current nursing skills,” Chen said. That’s when she started pursuing research opportunities.
Today, Chen is a research associate faculty member at the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing and a recipient of the PhRMA Foundation 2026 Faculty Starter Grant in Value Assessment and Health Outcomes Research. Her funded research project focuses on developing and testing a digital program that connects patients with pharmacists to guide better decisions to improve their heart health.
Through an easy-to-use online tool, patients will receive support in managing medications and making long-term lifestyle changes like eating better, being active, getting enough sleep, and not smoking. Chen will evaluate whether this approach leads to better heart health outcomes compared to usual care.
Watch this video to learn more about Chen and research.
