Joan Thoman first received her diploma in nursing at St. Vincent Charity Hospital School of Nursing in Toledo, Ohio. Later she earned both her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Akron, College of Nursing and a PhD in Nursing Research from Kent State University in 2009.  Her clinical experiences as a registered nurse includes hospital medical surgical units, charge nurse, public health, as a visiting home care nurse, and as a diabetes program coordinator. Joan has experience in staff development, informatics and management.  

    Joan is credited with implementing and maintaining the Diabetes Self Management Skills and Training Program at St. Vincent Charity Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio which achieved recognition from the American Diabetes Association in August 2002.  In 2003, Joan was selected by her nursing peers to receive the award of Outstanding Excellence in Clinical Nursing.

  She started a multidisciplinary Diabetes Resource Team to address both in-patient and out-patient needs. In collaboration with the hospital's community outreach department, she started a community health worker program for the diabetes center.

    In 2004, Joan was key in assisting the hospital  become an affiliate of the Joslin Diabetes Center which has a philosophy of an integrated team approach for the care of people with diabetes. Joan assisted in implementing a medical clinic portion to augment the education program based on the Joslin diabetes standards of care. In October 2004, St. Vincent Charity Hospital recognized Joan as "Caregiver of the Month" for her work with the Joslin Diabetes Center. In June, 2005, Joan was selected to receive the   Distinguished Women in Health Care award for clinical practice and was featured in Cleveland Magazine.  She has been a registered nurse for over 25 years. She continues her program of research and teaching at Cleveland State University School of Nursing.