Jana L. Hammer

Jana L. Hammer, 53, of Taneytown, died Wednesday, May 15, 2013,  at St. Joseph Medical Center in Baltimore of organ failure.

She was born July 28, 1959, in Long Island, N.Y. She was divorced and in a long-term relationship with Stephen J. Hammer, of Taneytown.

She graduated from Virginia Tech with a double major in biology and psychology, a master's degree in psychology from William and Mary and a doctorate in behavioral medicine from the University of Virginia. She maintained a 3.0 GPA and paid for her education by teaching.

After acquiring her doctorate, she did her post-doctoral work at John Hopkins, where she became the Director of Mental Health for the Center of Addiction and Pregnancy. She was also an ad hoc professor at the School of Medicine Johns Hopkins, Division of Psychiatrics.

Her career included being one of the most published women in the field of behavioral medicine with more than 300 articles in various journals. At the time of death, she was teaching at Stevenson University in Baltimore, while being an editor and contributor to the book and screenplay for the "Sanctuary Papers," which has a publication date of 2014.

She was also a class A equine rider and participated in the Mason Dixon circuit, where she was a featured jumper.

Surviving, in addition to her long-term partner, are father Carl Herman, of La Hoya Beach, Calif., and son Tyler.

A memorial Mass will be held at noon July 7 at the Grotto of Lourdes, 16300 Old Emmitsburg Road, Emmitsburg.

Sign this guest book online at www.carrollcountytimes.com.