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Kathy J. Helzlsouer, M.D., M.H.S.FIELD: Epidemiology and Medical Oncology: Cancer risk assessment and prevention, Women's Preventive Health POSITION: Director, The Prevention and Research Center at Mercy BACKGROUND: Dr. Helzlsouer is a medical oncologist and clinical epidemiologist who previously served as Director of Prevention Programs at The Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center and is adjunct Professor of Epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health. Dr. Helzlsouer has numerous clinical publications and presentations to her credit and is internationally recognized for particular expertise in clinical epidemiology, cancer epidemiology and cancer prevention. Dr. Helzlsouer joined Mercy in 2004 to spearhead Mercy's efforts in clinical research and to expand clinical programs in cancer risk assessment and cancer survivorship. Dr. Helzlsouer currently serves as the Chair, Cancer Control Council for the state of Maryland, Interim Chair of the Maryland Cancer Registry Advisory Committee, Chair, Molecular Epidemiology Group of the American Association for Cancer Research, member of the PDQ Cancer Screening and Prevention Committee of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), and as member of an Institute of Medicine Committee on Environment and Breast Cancer. Click here to view Dr. Helzlsouer's publications. Get to know the staff: Susan Appling, MS, CRNP
Susan Appling, M.S., C.R.N.P.FIELD: Women’s Health and Wellness, Nursing Education POSITION: Nurse Practitioner, The Prevention and Research Center at Mercy Ms. Appling provides clinical care to women at increased risk for cancer and manages the long-term health promotion and disease prevention needs of cancer survivors. As the coordinator for both a clinical program and a research study for breast cancer survivors, Ms. Appling has helped to develop an innovative holistic mind-body medicine program to treat persistent fatigue in women who have been successfully treated for breast cancer. BACKGROUND: For the past twenty years, Ms. Appling has been an Assistant Professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing teaching both baccalaureate and graduate students. She has also maintained a part-time joint appointment as a primary care nurse practitioner in a variety of community and outpatient settings throughout Baltimore City. For the past decade her practice has focused on women with breast-related concerns. As part of a multidisciplinary team at Johns Hopkins Medical Center, she has evaluated and treated women in the high-risk Breast and Ovarian Surveillance Service as well as the Breast Evaluation Program, a service for women with benign breast problems. Ms. Appling has been a co-investigator on several research studies focusing on women’s health issues and is currently a doctoral candidate at University of Maryland. She has spoken and written widely on a variety of topics including women’s health, breast cancer prevention and genetic testing, primary care, nursing education and teaching effectiveness, and health policy issues. Ms. Appling plays an important role in women’s health research. Click here to view Ms. Appling's publications.
Jenny Bernstein, M.P.H.POSITION: Clinical Research Associate, The Prevention and Research Center at Mercy BACKGROUND: Ms. Bernstein received her Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology and Sociology from St. Mary’s College of Maryland in 1999 and her Master of Public Health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in 2007. Ms. Bernstein has nine years of research experience working on WHO- and U.S. government-funded studies. Ms. Bernstein joins the staff at Mercy Medical Center as a Clinical Research Associate. She is responsible for overseeing regulatory compliance of clinical research trials.
Carla Calhoun, MSW, LGSW, MBAPOSITION: Study Coordinator, The Prevention and Research Center at Mercy BACKGROUND: Ms. Calhoun is a licensed social worker. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Howard University, her Masters of Business Administration from Pepperdine University, and her Masters of Social Work from The Catholic University of America. Ms. Calhoun was a 2010-2011 recipient of the Eugene and Agnes Ford Fellowship at The Catholic University of America. Ms. Calhoun has experience assessing the needs and providing clinical support to individuals impacted by cancer and mental health challenges. She has volunteered as a bereavement facilitator and caregiver with Hospice Caring in Montgomery County. Ms. Calhoun is the Study Coordinator for the Aromatase Inhibitor Cardiovascular Health Evaluation (ACE) Study, funded by Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation.
Michelle Fransen, MPHPOSITION: Study Coordinator, The Prevention and Research Center at Mercy BACKGROUND: Ms. Fransen earned her Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from Old Dominion University, a Master’s Degree in Leadership Education and Development from the University of Maryland, College Park and a Master of Public Health in Environmental Health Science from the University of Maryland School of Public Health. She joins Mercy Medical Centers after completing 10 year of active duty service in the United States Navy. Ms. Fransen is the study coordinator for the trial “Diagnostic Yield of Narrow Band Imaging (NBI) and standard visible white light laparoscopy for the detection of endometriosis” funded by Olympus America, Inc.
Carrie Buppert Frasure, MAPOSITION: Study Coordinator, The Prevention and Research Center at Mercy BACKGROUND: Ms. Frasure received her Bachelor of Science degree from University of Maryland and a Master of Arts in teaching from the College of Notre Dame of Maryland. Ms. Frasure is the coordinator for the CDC funded Colorectal Cancer Control Program through which under- and un-insured city residents may obtain colorectal screening with colonoscopy.
Lisa Gallicchio, Ph.D.FIELD: Women's Health and Wellness, Cancer Prevention and Survivorship Issues POSITION: Epidemiologist, The Prevention and Research Center at Mercy Dr. Gallicchio is the epidemiologist in the Prevention and Research Center at Mercy Medical Center. Dr. Gallicchio is primarily involved in the conduct of studies aimed at better understanding issues of cancer survivors and clarifying factors that underlie the conditions affecting the health of midlife women. BACKGROUND: Dr. Gallicchio graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and received her doctorate in epidemiology from the University of Maryland Medical School Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine. Subsequently, she completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health where she was involved primarily in research aimed at understanding factors related to the progression of benign breast disease to breast cancer. During her post-doctoral fellowship, Dr. Gallicchio was also an integral part of a study team that examined issues such as hot flashes and depression affecting women undergoing the menopausal transition. Dr. Gallicchio has received several grants to pursue her research in women’s health, including a women's research group grant from the University of Maryland and a women's health dissertation grant from the Woodrow Wilson-Johnson & Johnson Foundation. In 2003, Dr. Gallicchio was awarded the Trudy Bush Memorial Award for Research in Women's Health. In 2006, she was awarded the Brigid G. Leventhal Scholar Award from the American Association for Cancer Research. Dr. Gallicchio has a strong track record of publications related to women’s health and cancer in peer-reviewed journals. Click here to view Dr. Gallicchio's publications.
Laura Hutchins, MGC, CGCFIELD: Genetic Counseling, Hereditary Cancer Risk Assessment POSITION: Certified Genetic Counselor, The Prevention and Research Center & The Center for Advanced Fetal Care at Mercy BACKGROUND: Ms. Hutchins received her interdepartmental Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology and biology with a focus on neuroscience from the University of Delaware in 2007. She received a Master’s in Genetic Counseling in 2010 from the University of Maryland, School of Medicine. She is certified by the American Board of Genetic Counseling. At the Prevention and Research Center at Mercy, Ms. Hutchins provides genetic counseling and hereditary cancer risk assessment for individuals with personal or family histories suggestive of inherited causes for cancer. She works with Dr. Helzlsouer to discuss genetic testing options, results, and screening/risk reduction options based on genetic testing results and family history.
Ryan MacDonald, Ph.D.POSITION: Biostatistician, The Prevention and Research Center at Mercy BACKGROUND: Dr. MacDonald received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from the University of Texas and his doctorate in Sociology from Florida State University. Dr. MacDonald recently completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the NIMH Psychiatric Epidemiology Training (PET) program at Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health. Dr. MacDonald’s research interests encompass a variety of substantive areas including: alcohol abuse and dependence, anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, psychosocial characteristics, and social stress. Dr. MacDonald has published in peer-reviewed journals and recently published a book entitled: Social Context and Mental Health: The Role of Neighborhood and Family available here.
Lisa A. McConnell, R.N., B.S.N., O.C.N.POSITION: Oncology Research Nurse, The Prevention and Research Center at Mercy BACKGROUND: Ms. McConnell has been a clinical oncology nurse for the past 20 years providing all aspects of patient care from patient and family education to mixing and administering chemotherapeutic agents. She has managed and directed community based oncology outreach programs, as well as, developed policies and procedures for outpatient oncology units. At Mercy Medical Center, Ms. McConnell is one of the Oncology Research Nurse Coordinators responsible for government and pharmaceutical clinical trials involving supportive care and chemotherapy treatments. Her role includes screening, enrollment, recruitment, retention, maintaining protocol compliance and protection of human participants while being treated on the clinical trials MMC participates in.
Ashley Price, BSPOSITION: Study Coordinator, The Prevention and Research Center At Mercy BACKGROUND: Ms. Price earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise and Sports Science at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She is currently completing a Master of Science in Community Health Education at Towson University. Ms. Price is the study coordinator for the Technology-Enhanced Nurse Navigation (TENN) study funded by Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation. She is also coordinator for the Kick County Project funded by First Candle.
Susan A. Scarvalone, MSW, LCSW-CFIELD: Cognitive Therapy POSITION: Clinical Research Therapist, The Prevention and Research Center at Mercy BACKGROUND: Ms. Scarvalone is a licensed clinical social worker with many years experience working with cancer patients and their families. Ms. Scarvalone has completed training in Mind-Body Medicine at Harvard as well as Motivational Interviewing training at Loyola College in Baltimore. Before joining Mercy, she worked at Johns Hopkins Hospital as a clinical social worker in pediatric oncology, counseling children with cancer and their families. Prior to joining the staff full time, she was a consultant for the fatigue intervention research and programs conducted by the Prevention and Research Center. In addition, she counsels bereaved children through a grant at Hospice of the Chesapeake. Ms. Scarvalone has presented at multiple national and international conferences and is co-author of a chapter on survivorship issues for pediatric oncology patients in a recently published book: Children with Complex Medical Issues in Schools: Neuropsychological Descriptions and Interventions, edited by Christine Castillo.
Cheryl A. Young, RN, BSNPOSITION: Oncology Research Nurse, The Prevention and Research Center at Mercy BACKGROUND: Ms. Young received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from University of Maryland at Baltimore. For the past decade, she has worked as a nurse in the hospital setting (critical care unit), community health setting, and clinical research. Prior to working here at Mercy, she was a clinical research nurse coordinator focusing on Phase I and II clinical drug trials for a contract research organization. She is a certified clinical research professional and an active member of the Society of Clinical Research Associates (SOCRA). Ms. Young is an oncology research nurse for cancer treatment trials at Mercy.
For more information about our ongoing research studies, please click here. Please call for an appointment.
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