Jowanna Harman-Stever was born in Penzance, Cornwall, England. She began her health care career in 1972 working as a nursing assistant at her local hospital. She completed her nursing training at St. George's hospital in London and became a Staff Nurse there. In 1977 she began her Oncology Nursing training at the Royal Marsden Hospital and later went on to work as a Relief Sister at the London Hospital and a Ward Sister (Head Nurse) at Oldchurch Hospital in Essex. In 1980 Jowanna moved to the United States to take a Senior Clinical Nurse position at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. While working with cancer patients there she became interested in complementary medicine and graduated from the Potomac Myotherapy Institute as a Certified Massage Therapist. In 1990 she graduated with distinction from the University of New Mexico and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. Jowanna worked extensively with patients with cardiovascular diseases and diabetes while living in New Mexico. In 1991 Jowanna began her full-time studies in Traditional Chinese Medicine. She graduated from the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine with a Master of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine degree. In 1995 she passed the National Council for the Certification of Acupuncturists Exam and is a Diplomate in Acupuncture and in Chinese Herbal medicine.