Professor Emeritus, College of Nursing
Professor of Medicine, Osteoporosis Research Center
Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska
ORCID: 0000-0002-5071-7654
Research Profile: Creighton University
Read Our Interview with Dr. Lappe Here
About Dr. Lappe
Dr. Joan M. Lappe is a distinguished researcher and educator recognized internationally for her contributions to bone health, osteoporosis prevention, and the role of vitamin D and calcium in disease prevention. She was the recipient of the 2018 Lawrence G. Raisz, MD Memorial Lecture Award and holds the Creighton University Criss/Beirne Endowed Chair in Nursing. She also has a secondary appointment as Professor of Medicine in the Creighton University Osteoporosis Research Center.
Dr. Lappe is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and has provided service to the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) in various capacities for nearly 20 years. She has served as a reviewer for the National Institutes of Health and numerous scientific journals, contributed as a member of the U.S. Bone and Joint Initiative Pediatric Working Group, and participated on the Osteoporosis Technical Advisory Panel of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.
Her achievements have been recognized with Creighton University’s Award for Outstanding Researcher (2009) and the Hinshaw Award from the Friends of the National Institute of Nursing (2010) for research that directly improves human health.
Key Contributions & Research
- Calcium, Vitamin D, and Cancer Prevention: Dr. Lappe has led two multi-year randomized clinical trials investigating the effects of calcium and vitamin D on cancer incidence in women aged 55 and older.
- GrassrootsHealth Collaboration: In April 2016, Dr. Lappe collaborated with leading vitamin D and cancer researchers and GrassrootsHealth to analyze vitamin D serum levels rather than intake amounts. By combining her 2007 trial data with the GrassrootsHealth cohort, she provided a larger sample size and broader vitamin D range. The analysis revealed that women with serum vitamin D levels ≥40 ng/ml had a 71% lower risk of cancer compared to those with levels <20 ng/ml.
- Osteoporosis and Bone Health: She has advanced understanding of osteoporosis prevention, particularly the importance of calcium, vitamin D, and weight-bearing exercise in postmenopausal women, and contributed to national guidelines and clinical recommendations.
Awards & Recognition
- 2018: Lawrence G. Raisz, MD Memorial Lecture Award, National Osteoporosis Foundation
- Fellow, American Academy of Nursing
- 2009: Creighton University Award for Outstanding Researcher
- 2010: Hinshaw Award, Friends of the National Institute of Nursing
- Reviewer for the National Institutes of Health and numerous scientific journals
- Served on the U.S. Bone and Joint Initiative Pediatric Working Group and the Osteoporosis Technical Advisory Panel, Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations
Top Publications
- Vitamin D and Calcium Supplementation Reduces Cancer Risk
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2007) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17556697/ - Calcium Plus Vitamin D Supplementation and Risk of Fractures
Osteoporosis International (2016) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26510847/ - Calcium and Vitamin D Supplementation Decreases Cancer Mortality
Journal of Bone and Mineral Research (2008) https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1359/jbmr.080102? - Effect of Vitamin D and Calcium Supplementation on Cancer Incidence
JAMA (2017) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28350929/ - Calcium-Rich Diets and Weight Gain in Adolescent Girls
Journal of Pediatrics (2004) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15354150/
