Jessica D. Austin, Ph.D.

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SUMMARY

The research of Jessica D. Austin, Ph.D., M.P.H., is broadly focused on evidence-based cancer prevention and control innovations that are aimed at reducing cancer health disparities. Specifically, she is interested in understanding multilevel factors that hinder or facilitate implementation or de-implementation efforts. This information is then used to develop and adapt appropriate strategies. The goal of her research is to improve equitable and patient-centered cancer care.

Dr. Austin's current research focuses on implementation of cancer prevention and control innovations across different populations and settings. She is particularly interested in using community outreach and engagement principles to advance the science of implementation in low-resourced and community settings of historically underserved populations. Dr. Austin is also interested in methods for advancing implementation of multilevel or complex interventions to facilitate adaptation, sustainability and scale-up.

Focus areas

• Assessing multilevel factors that contribute to disparities and inequities in cancer care delivery
• Adapting and tailoring strategies and innovations to fit the needs and preferences of historically underserved populations
• Exploring why and how cancer care delivery efforts succeed or fail in different populations and settings
• Developing or adapting personalized and sustainable approaches to cancer care delivery
• Creating methods to track the core functions and forms of evidence-based programs to facilitate adaptation and scale-up

Significance to patient care

There are significant gaps in translating the evidence of cancer care deliver into practice. Dr. Austin's research aims to reduce this gap by collaborating in multidisciplinary teams at Mayo Clinic and with community partners to improve access and use of cancer prevention and control innovations across diverse settings and population.