Dr. Christine Jovanovic

Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois Cancer Research Center and faculty member at the Institute of Minority Health Research

Dr. Christine Jovanovic is an Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois Cancer Research Center in Chicago, specializing in public health with a focus on the impact of diet on cancer. Holding a PhD and an MPH, Dr. Jovanovic is an accomplished public health professional known for her extensive work in project management, publishing, teaching, and lecturing, particularly on the subject of whole food plant-based diets.

As a faculty member at the Institute of Minority Health Research, Dr. Jovanovic dedicates her efforts to addressing health inequities in prostate cancer, specifically the disproportionate impacts on Black men. Her work involves developing and testing behavioral approaches that empower communities to take an active role in their health management. Her current project involves a pioneering study on the benefits of a whole food plant-based diet for men diagnosed with prostate cancer, aiming to develop an intervention tailored specifically toward Black men.

Dr. Jovanovic earned her Master’s Degree and PhD in Public Health, Health Promotion, and Behavioral Sciences from the University of Texas Health Center in Houston, Texas. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the National Cancer Institute through the NIH at Northwestern University.

Her upcoming research study seeks to evaluate whether a whole foods plant-based diet can provide viable and effective benefits for men with localized prostate cancer. Dr. Jovanovic’s commitment to her field and her passion for reducing health disparities through dietary interventions make her a leading voice in cancer research and public health advocacy.