Associate Professor of Nursing
Vice Chair, Department of Biobehavioral Health Sciences

Working as a nurse practitioner in a cardiac intensive care unit at the start of her career in the late 1990s, Lea Ann Matura noted that fatigue, shortness of breath, some chest pain and difficulty sleeping were major symptoms exhibited by patients with cardiopulmonary disorders.

Much of my work has been with people who have pulmonary arterial hypertension. This difficult-to-diagnose chronic disease, which primarily affects women, results in heart failure and increased mortality.  Dr. Matura began to wonder to what extent these and other symptoms interfered with the daily lives of her patients.

My primary research interest is testing symptom management strategies to improve the lives of people chronic illnesses.”

Education

  • PhD, Texas Woman’s University, 2005
  • MS , Texas Woman’s University, 1999
  • BS, Texas Woman’s University, 1995
  • AD, Blinn College, 1991
  • BS, Texas A&M University, 1989