Robert R. Bennett, Ph.D.

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SUMMARY

The research of Robert R. Bennett, Ph.D., develops novel and accessible digital interventions to provide psychosocial support and palliative care for adolescents and young adults (AYAs). Dr. Bennett's research focuses on improving mental health outcomes for AYAs during cancer survivorship.

Dr. Bennett uses virtual methods to increase research participation and digital intervention accessibility to AYAs outside of the clinical setting.

Focus areas

• Digital art as a form of storytelling. Dr. Bennett performs research studies among AYAs living with advanced cancer and AYA cancer survivors using digital art to articulate and process their experiences with cancer treatment.
• Addressing cancer survivorship quality disparities. Dr. Bennett leads a study that explores the relationship between participants' social determinants of health variables and mental health outcomes in AYA cancer survivors from diverse groups.
• Confronting the youth mental health crisis using digital technology. Dr. Bennett designs psychosocial interventions as an accessible adjunctive therapy for AYA cancer survivors. These virtual research methods accommodate the mobile lifestyle of AYA participants. This allows participation from a home environment and promotes robust nationwide sample recruitment.

Significance to patient care

Mental health outcomes in AYA cancer survivors have been insufficiently examined. Exploring AYA mental health outcomes during cancer survivorship requires an understanding of the unmet psychosocial needs of AYAs.

Dr. Bennett's research discovers digital avenues for AYAs to articulate these unmet needs and resolve psychosocial distress. Understanding factors that contribute to disparities in cancer survivorship quality in AYAs is imperative to reduce these disparities and advance health equity.

Professional highlights

• Co-chair, Hospice and Palliative Nurse's Association Emerging Scholar SIG, 2023-present.
• Graduate certificate in palliative care, University of Colorado, 2021-2022.
• Dean's Early Scholar Award in Caring Science, University of Colorado Denver College of Nursing, 2018.
• Nurse of the year finalist, Advanced practice nurse category, March of Dimes, 2013.