Mary Jo Kreitzer PhD, RN, FAAN

Mary Jo Kreitzer PhD, RN, FAAN is the founder and director of the Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing at the University of Minnesota, where she also serves as a tenured professor in the School of Nursing. She has served as the principal investigator or co-principal investigator of numerous clinical trials focusing on mindfulness meditation with persons with chronic disease including studies focusing on solid organ transplant, cardiovascular disease, chronic insomnia, diabetes, and caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s disease. Current studies include the role of mindfulness in improving human brain-computer interface; the use of social technology to enhance healing and wellbeing; nursing leadership in integrative health and healing; and mindful movement for physical activity and wellbeing in older adults.

From 2004-2007, Dr. Kreitzer served as the vice-chair of the Consortium of Academic Health Centers for Integrative Medicine. In 2009, Dr. Kreitzer testified at a US Senate hearing titled “Integrative Health: Pathway to Health Reform” as well as the Institute of Medicine Summit titled “Integrative Medicine and the Health of the Public”. Dr. Kreitzer regularly presents to practitioner and public audiences as well as at academic and healthcare conferences. She has authored more than 150 publications, and is the co-editor of the text Integrative Nursing published in 2014 by Oxford University Press, with the second edition of Integrative Nursing  published in 2018.

PhD, University of Minnesota
Major: Health Services Research, Policy and Administration

MA, University of Iowa
Major: Nursing of Children

BA, Augustana College
Major: Nursing

• Mary Jo Kreitzer Endowed Chair for Health & Wellbeing Leadership, University of Minnesota Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing, 2022
• Distinguished Policy Fellow, National Academies of Practice, 2020
• Fellow Ad Eundem Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, 2020
• 100 Most Influential Health Care Leaders, Minnesota Physicians, 2020
• Health & Wellness Award, Women's Health Leadership Trust, 2016
• Bravewell Distinguished Service Award, Consortium of Academic Health Centers for Integrative Medicine, 2013
• Dean's Award, University of Minnesota School of Nursing, 2006
• Fellow, American Academy of Nursing, 2005

• Masonic Cancer Center
• Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality and Healing

Delaney, C., Kreitzer, M. J., Disch, J., Manthey, M. (2024). Igniting transformational change: The University of Minnesota School of Nursing journey. University of Minnesota School of Nursing.

Kreitzer, M. J., Delaney, C., Disch, J., & Manthey, M. (2024). Embarking on a cultural transformation within a school of nursing. Journal of Professional Nursing, 54, 39-44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2024.06.012 

Austin, R. R., Lu, S. C., Jantraporn, R., Park, S., Geiger-Simpson, E., Koithan, M., Kreitzer, M. J., & Delaney, C. W. (2023). Documentation of complementary and integrative health therapies in the electronic health record: A scoping review. Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine, 29(8), 483-491. https://doi.org/10.1089/jicm.2022.0748

Austin, R. R., Lu, S. C., Jantraporn, R., Park, S., Geiger-Simpson, E., Kreitzer, M. J., Koithan, M., & Delaney, C. W. (2023). An empirical analysis of complementary and integrative health therapy documentation. Journal of Informatics Nursing, 8(1).

Kreitzer, M. J. (2023). Inspiring, recruiting, and retaining the health-care workforce: What will it take? Creative Nursing, 29(1), 18-22. https://doi.org/10.1177/107845352202900107

Voss, M. E., Sandquist, L., Kreitzer, M. J., & Otremba, K. (2023). Integrative nursing: A framework for whole-person mental health care. Creative Nursing, 29(1), 23-41. https://doi.org/10.1177/10784535220290011

Kreitzer, M. J., Koithan, M., Sullivan, S., Nunez, M., & Voss, M. (2022). Integrative nursing and the ANA scope and standards of practice: Expanding the reach of nursing for families and society. Creative Nursing, 28(4), 228-233. https://doi.org/10.1891/CN-2022-0041

Telke S., Leininger, B., Hanson L., Kreitzer M. J. (2022). A randomized trial of 21 days of loving kindness meditation for stress reduction and emotional well-being within an online health community for patients, family, and friends experiencing a cancer health journey. Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine, 28(2), 158–167. https://doi.org/10.1089/jicm.2020.0512 

Austin, R. R., Lu, S. C., Geiger-Simpson, E., Ringdahl, D., Pruinelli, L., Lindquist, R., Koithan, K., Monsen, K. A., Kreitzer, M.J., Delaney, C. W. (2021). Evaluating systemized nomenclature of medicine clinical terms coverage of non-pharmacological treatment approaches used within integrative nursing, health and medicine. CIN, 39(12), 1000–1006. https://doi.org/10.1097/CIN.0000000000000764 

Brooks, A. J., Maizes, V., Billimek, J., Blair, J., Chen, M-K., Goldblatt, E., Kreitzer, M. J., Lebensohn, P. (2021). Professional development in integrative health through an interprofessional online course in clinical settings. Explore,17(6), 505–512. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.explore.2020.02.014 

Kreitzer, M. J. “Aligning Incentives and Systems with Whole Health," Academy of Integrative Health & Medicine Annual Whole Health Conference, San Diego, CA. (October 2024). Invited.

Kreitzer, M. J. “Why Integrative Health Matters," Lerner Holistic Integrative Health Nursing Fellowship Commencement Symposium, NYU Langone Health. (September 2024). Invited.

Kreitzer, M. J. "Advancing Interdisciplinary Initiatives Across the Campus,” Atlantic Technological University, Galway, Ireland. (June 2024). Invited.

Kreitzer, M. J. “Tearing Down Stigma & Building Resilience for a Healthy North Carolina," North Carolina Remodeling Public Health Fall Conference, Concord, NC. (September 2023). Invited.

Kreitzer, M. J. “Looking to the Future: Embracing a Wellbeing Perspective,” Sjonaukinn Conference, Akureyri, Iceland. (May 2023). Invited.

Kreitzer, M. J. “Reducing Stress & Cultivating Wellbeing in Our Lives," Cutting Edge in Transplant Conference, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN. (May 2023). Invited. 

Kreitzer, M. J. “Integrative Nursing Across Clinical Settings,” Holistic Health & Wellbeing 2023 CNE Conference, Rochester, MN. (September 2023). Invited. 

Kreitzer, M. J. “Harnessing the Wind: The Impact of Integrative Health & Medicine," Academic Consortium for Integrative Medicine & Health, Phoenix, AZ. (May 2022). Invited. 

Kreitzer, M. J. “An Empirical Analysis of Complementary and Integrative Health Therapy Documentation in the Electronic Health Record," International Integrative Nursing Symposium, Virtual. (April 2022). Invited. 

Kreitzer, M. J. "Exploring Grief, Loss, Hope & Healing During the COVID-19 Pandemic," Integrative Nursing Annual Conference, Boston, MA. (May 2021). Invited. 

Award: Enhancing Wellness and Resilience and Preventing Burnout Program
Principal Investigator: Blazar, Bruce
Sponsoring Organization: National Institutes of Health
Award Dates: 2023 - 2030

Award: Mindful Movement for Physical Activity and Wellbeing in Older Adults
Principal Investigator: Evans, Roni
Sponsoring Organization: National Institutes of Health
Award Dates: 2017 - 2023

Award: Mind-Body Awareness Training and Brain-Computer Interface
Principal Investigator: He, Bin
Sponsoring Organization: National Institutes of Health
Award Dates: 2016 - 2018

Award: Medical Cannabis Symposium and Research Roundtable
Principal Investigator: Kreitzer, Mary Jo
Sponsoring Organization: MN Department of Health
Award Dates: 2016 - 2017

Award: CAM Research Education Partnership Project
Principal Investigator: Evans, Roni
Sponsoring Organization: NIH National Center for Complementary
Award Dates: 2014 - 2016

Award: Medica Health Coaching
Principal Investigator: Kreitzer, Mary Jo
Sponsoring Organization: Medica Research Institute
Award Dates: 2011 - 2013