Josephine Granner

Josie Granner, PhD, BSN, RN (VA Scholar) recently completed her PhD at the University of Michigan School of Nursing. Dr. Granner’s current research focuses on the transition to fatherhood for men who experienced child maltreatment trauma. She is working towards developing interventions to support new fathers’ mental health and parenting as an approach to interrupt intergenerational transmission of trauma. Her current projects explore the development of a video gaming intervention for new fathers with the Play2Prevent Lab, which would leverage simulation, peer-to-peer support, and be uniquely engaging and scalable.

Dr. Granner’s earlier career included research in community-based approaches to supporting women in their reproductive life planning. She then moved on to study the childbearing year for women who are survivors of interpersonal trauma. Her work in this area involves implementation of a front-line intervention for pregnant and postpartum women who experienced trauma, called Survivor Moms’ Companion. She is currently collaborating with the VA to implement this program throughout New England. Dr. Granner also served as a trauma-informed birth and postpartum doula, working with many new parents who experienced child maltreatment themselves. Her background in women’s health led her to her current work with fathers, who are often a key but under-supported part of women’s reproductive health, childbearing, and crucial early parenting of children.