Jane Louise Holl
· ProfessorVerifiedUniversity of Chicago · Neurology
Active 1986–2026
About
Jane Louise Holl is a Professor at the University of Chicago in the Department of Neurology. Her research activities include a focus on healthcare engineering, stroke protocols, emergency evaluation, pediatric emergency transfers, and health systems interventions. She has been involved as a Co-Principal Investigator in multiple NIH-funded projects related to stroke management, pediatric recovery, and healthcare system improvements. Her work emphasizes user-centered design, safety, and system-based approaches to improve patient outcomes in emergency and pediatric care settings. Holl has contributed to studies on trauma systems, stroke diagnosis, hospitalizations, hypertension management, and the impact of microbiome alterations during treatments, among other areas. Her research aims to enhance clinical practices and healthcare delivery through innovative engineering and system interventions.
Research topics
- Medicine
- Internal medicine
- Family medicine
- Political Science
- Computer Science
- Machine Learning
- Environmental health
- Emergency medicine
- Demography
- Nursing
- Artificial Intelligence
- Sociology
- Physical therapy
- Pediatrics
- Immunology
- Medical education
- Medical emergency
- Psychology
- Statistics
- Surgery
- Law
Selected publications
Journal of Surgical Research · 2026-04-26
articleLaboratory Investigation · 2026-03-01
articleStroke · 2025-01-30
articleIntroduction: Stroke is a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality, and hemorrhagic strokes account for up to half of these cases. Prior studies in non-maternal populations demonstrated that 9% of strokes are missed at initial ED presentation. We hypothesized that pregnant or postpartum patients with acute hemorrhagic stroke would have higher odds of delayed or missed diagnosis at the time of their initial presentation, compared with those with thrombotic strokes (arterial ischemic stroke [AIS] or cerebral venous thrombosis [CVT]). Methods: We retrospectively identified female patients aged 18-50 years treated at 5 stroke centers between 1/1/2012 and 12/31/2021 with a confirmed diagnosis of AIS, intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) or CVT. Patients who were pregnant or within 1 year of delivery at the time of stroke underwent medical chart review by vascular neurologists at each center. Medical encounters leading up to the stroke diagnosis were evaluated using the Safer Stroke-Dx instrument, a validated chart review tool to identify encounters with a missed opportunity to diagnose stroke. Encounters were categorized as “diagnostic delay” or “no diagnostic delay.” Patients with insufficient data for a determination were categorized as “no diagnostic delay.” Results: A total of 121 patients were identified, of whom 48% had hemorrhagic stroke. Overall, 29% of patients experienced diagnostic delays. Age and vascular risk factors did not differ significantly between those with diagnostic delays and those without ( Table ). More patients in the group with diagnostic delays were Black (49% vs 31%) or Hispanic (23% vs 12%). The proportions of stroke subtype for diagnostic delays and no diagnostic delays are shown in the Figure . The odds of diagnostic delays were higher for individuals with hemorrhagic stroke compared to those with thrombotic strokes (OR 2.35, 95% CI 1.05-5.28). Adjusting for race and ethnicity did not change the effect. Conclusions: The odds of experiencing a diagnostic delay were more than doubled for pregnant and postpartum patients with hemorrhagic strokes compared to those with thrombotic strokes. More research is needed to identify contributing factors to diagnostic delays in maternal stroke, and to develop tailored stroke screening tools to aid clinicians in diagnosing hemorrhagic stroke in the maternal population.
Gene · 2025-11-20
articleOpen accessJournal of the American Geriatrics Society · 2025-10-13
articleOpen accessBACKGROUND: For older adults with critical illness, decisions about life-sustaining therapies can be challenging. A time-limited trial (TLT) is a collaborative care plan endorsed by experts in palliative and critical care to help navigate these challenges. TLTs entail trying life-sustaining therapy for a defined duration. Response to treatment then informs whether to continue recovery-directed care or shift focus exclusively to comfort. TLTs require collaboration among clinicians, patients, and/or surrogate decision makers, yet there is little practical guidance on how to accomplish this. Thus, we sought to design a collaborative TLT planning tool and characterize its valued characteristics. METHODS: In this qualitative study framed by human-centered Design Thinking, we conducted a series of semi-structured interviews (n = 25) and focus groups (n = 5) with 28 participants who were (1) older adults (age ≥ 65) with serious illness, (2) adults of any age with surrogate decision-making experience for an older adult, and/or (3) intensive care unit (ICU) physicians. We purposively sampled across a Midwestern state to achieve diverse representation and used the Rigorous and Accelerated Data Reduction (RADaR) technique for qualitative analysis. RESULTS: We used participants' input to design the ICU Care Plan, a paper-based tool consisting of a fillable template. The tool is designed to guide a collaborative TLT planning conversation among clinicians, patients, and surrogates and then serve as a visual summary of the care plan. Participants endorsed the tool as (1) creating a unified frame of reference for a complex process; (2) promoting transparency; and (3) setting and managing expectations. The tool exemplifies participants' design priorities of simplicity and flexibility. CONCLUSIONS: We used a human-centered design process to develop a tool for in-the-moment TLT planning that is endorsed by older adults, surrogates, and ICU physicians. Low technology, intentionally simple interventions are a promising approach to promote patient- and family-centered collaboration.
GO-SCAN: A Scoring System for Signs and Symptoms of Maternal Stroke (P11-13.009)
Neurology · 2025-04-07
articleTo develop a method to help clinicians differentiate stroke from preeclampsia with severe features (PSF) in pregnant and postpartum patients presenting with acute symptoms.
Application of Participatory Design to Co‐Design a Thoracic Surgery Prehabilitation Program
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society · 2025-09-30 · 1 citations
articleOpen accessThere is strong evidence that prehabilitation (prehab) before surgery in frail, older adult patients improves perioperative outcomes, yet only 10%–30% of eligible patients adhere to prehab programs [1-3]. We hypothesize that the lack of “end” user (e.g., patient, caregiver) engagement in the design of prehab programs contributes to poor adherence and describe the first application of user-centered, participatory, co-design [4, 5] principles to a prehab program for frail, older adult Thoracic Surgery patients. Patients/caregivers in the thoracic surgery clinic waiting room were invited to participate in a brief (5–10 min) interview to gather feedback on individual components of low-fidelity, early prototypes (e.g., hand-drawn pictures) of a prehab program. Three phases of interviews, with new participants at each phase, were conducted with continuous data analysis to inform the next iteration of the prototype (Table 1). For Phase 1, participants were shown an initial prototype of an Apple Watch (with daily exercise reminders and recording physical activity) and multiple formats (e.g., handout, cards, video) of physical activities (e.g., tai chi, walking, Zumba) for patients to perform. For Phase 2, the prototype consisted of the Apple Watch, a prescription for prehab, and a 13-page, single-sided, flipbook that was branded with the hospital name and included evidence of the benefits of the exercises from professional societies; a page for each exercise with step-by-step directions; a daily tracking log; and a brief guide on the use of the Apple Watch. For Phase 3, a near final prototype (Apple Watch, prescription, and flipbook with additional refinements to the exercise directions and a “Safety Tips” page) was reviewed by participants and the University of Chicago Health Literacy and Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion team. Participants were also asked about their receptivity to wearing the Apple Watch and receiving a daily exercise reminder. Finally, content and layout refinements were made by the study team in alignment with design criteria prioritized by patients and caregivers. The study was approved by the University of Chicago IRB22-1679. Exercise content (e.g., chair exercises, tai chi, walking Zumba) sourced from existing resources: Prototype formats included Apple Watch plus a handout, booklet, deck of cards and/or YouTube video channel. Physical flipbook for a “Daily prescription” of 3 exercises (marching in place, wall push-ups, chair squats), and 2 stretches (upper back and calf stretches) for a specific number of weeks, plus Apple Watch Included evidence-based information from ACS and ASA. Addition of “safety tips” page and refinement of exercises (names, directions, photography) and tracking logs for each exercise. For step-by-step exercise directions, offered participants choice between photography of real people or AI-generated (ChatGPT) image. A 15-page flipbook on stiff heavy-weight paper and plastic spiral binding to support tenting on a table. Flipbook includes: A total of 19 patients and 4 caregivers (n = 23) participated in the interviews (participation rate 96%, 23/24). Feedback from Phase 1 participants (n = 9) indicated a desire for (1) a “booklet” that is institutionally “branded” to convey quality and includes a limited number of exercises with evidence of patient benefit and is ordered by difficulty and (2) a “prescription” for prehab. Phase 2 participants (n = 3) endorsed the flipbook (booklet), found the exercise directions simple enough to complete at home, and requested more information about needed equipment. Phase 3 participants (n = 11) offered nuanced feedback about the content, order, and directions of the exercises (e.g., how to address poor balance or low strength; how to increase intensity), suggested adding walking as a physical activity, recommended modifying the log with a column for each exercise, expressed a preference for the photographs of directions to be of actual people rather than ChatGPT-generated images (Figure 1), and recommended using heavier paper to assure durability. All participants were receptive to wearing the Apple Watch; some requested an option for “customized” reminder times; and some wanted a weekly “check-in” by Thoracic Surgery staff by phone or text. The final review led to the use of a larger font, bolder formatting, larger page dimensions, and simplified text to improve readability and understandability. The study reveals that patients/caregivers can offer substantial design recommendations for a prehab program. The high participation rate suggests that participatory co-design is highly feasible, even with older frail adults. Patient/caregiver participants can offer unique, previously unrecognized modifications to address their needs, preferences, and values. The study is limited by gathering feedback from a limited number of participants at a single institution despite its highly diverse patient population and by a focus on exercise only, although prehab programs can include additional (e.g., nutrition, sleep) components. Evaluation of the prehab program on adherence and outcomes is underway. Study concept and design: M.L.L.M. and J.L.H. Acquisition of subjects and/or data: S.K. and A.A.G. Analysis and interpretation of data: M.L.L.M., J.L.H., S.K., A.A.G., and D.T. Preparation of manuscript: M.L.L.M., J.L.H., S.K., A.A.G., and D.T. The corresponding author affirms that everyone who contributed significantly to the work is listed as an author. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Journal of Surgical Research · 2025-12-09 · 2 citations
articleEvaluating Acute Stroke Diagnosis Using Simulation Scenarios
Annals of Emergency Medicine · 2025-04-08 · 1 citations
articleOpen accessThe Journal of Urology · 2025-04-08
article
Recent grants
NIH · $815k · 2012
Clinical Trial of ENhancing Recovery in CHildren Undergoing Surgery - ENRICH-US
NIH · $3.2M · 2019–2025
Northwestern University-University of Chicago HSR Postdoctoral Training Program
NIH · $7.7M · 1998–2020
NIH · $2.3M · 2006
Frequent coauthors
- 109 shared
Hassan Ghomrawi
Northwestern University
- 107 shared
Samuel Linton
Lurie Children's Hospital
- 106 shared
Angie Figueroa
- 105 shared
Christopher De Boer
Northwestern University
- 105 shared
Michela Carter
University of Cincinnati
- 103 shared
Ankush Gosain
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
- 102 shared
Aaron Lesher
Medical University of South Carolina
- 69 shared
Scott Mendelson
University of Chicago
Labs
Jane Holl LabPI
Education
- 2008
Ph.D., Neurology
University of Chicago
M.D., Neurology
University of Chicago
B.S., Neurology
University of Chicago
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