Research Interests:

• Reproductive health after cancer treatment, including sexuality, fertility, and impact of these issues on quality of life
• Psychosocial aspects of inherited cancer syndromes, particularly influence of awareness of genetic risk on couple's reproductive choices (using prenatal diagnostic testing, preimplantation genetic diagnosis, or assisted reproductive technologies)

My research is focused on developing better assessment tools and interventions to improve reproductive health and health knowledge after cancer, particularly in the use of innovative techniques to overcome barriers to mental health care such as lack of insurance coverage, stigmatization, and lack of trained healthcare providers. Our current grant portfolio includes a randomized trial comparing face-to-face sexual counseling for couples after prostate cancer with a web-based version of the program; a national study of the effectiveness of peer counseling in improving the knowledge and symptoms of African-American breast cancer survivors in the areas of menopause symptoms, sexual problems, infertility, and concern about genetic issues; development and evaluation of a CD-ROM-based educational program for physicians and patients on banking sperm before cancer treatment; and a conference grant to hold a 3-day meeting in March, 2004 on Parenthood after Cancer.
A tutorial with my research group might involve designing a pilot study or collecting pilot data to prepare a proposal for a more extensive project in one of the areas above.


Publications