Catherine Wilsnack, PhD, is a Cancer Prevention Fellow in the Tobacco Control Research Branch.
Dr. Wilsnack’s research has focused on various underserved populations in oncology, such as hereditary cancer syndromes, Adolescents and Young Adults (AYAs), and cancer survivors impacted by substance use. Most recently, Dr. Wilsnack is interested in understanding how substance use may impact individuals across the cancer control continuum, as well as examining risk and protective factors for this population. Moreover, she is also interested in exploring interventions to address concurrent substance use and cancer-related needs during pre-diagnosis, active treatment, and survivorship.
Dr. Wilsnack earned her PhD in Social Work from the University of Texas at Austin. For her dissertation, she conducted a mixed methods study that examined psychosocial health factors for cancer survivors who developed an addiction after being diagnosed with cancer. Prior to her PhD, Dr. Wilsnack earned her Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Pennsylvania where she clinically trained to work with individuals and families facing serious illness. From 2019-2021, she also completed a CRTA Fellowship in the Clinical Genetics Branch (CGB) in DCEG where she conducted psychosocial research for hereditary cancer syndromes, primarily Li-Fraumeni Syndrome and Telomere Biology Disorders.
Scientific interests
- Substance use across the cancer control continuum
- Psychosocial needs for cancer survivors
- Mental health interventions
- Community engaged research
Publications
- Wilsnack, C., & Cubbin, C. (2024). The relationship between race/ethnicity and age on medical financial hardship for cancer survivors in the United States. Journal of Cancer Survivorship. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-024-01707-y
- Wilsnack, C., Rising, C. J. (co-first author), Hutson, S. P., Thompson, A., Forbes Shepherd, R., Werner-Lin, A., & Savage, S. A. (2024). Needs assessment of adults and family caregivers of individuals with Telomere Biology Disorders: A mixed methods approach. European Journal of Human Genetics. DOI: 10.1038/s41431-024-01697-6
- Wilsnack, C., Young, J., Merrill, S., Hutson, S., Groner, V., Bremer, R, C., Greene, M., Khincha, P.P., & Werner-Lin, A. (2024). Reproductive beliefs among families with Li-Fraumeni Syndrome: Generations of cancer risk. Journal of the Society for Social Work and Research, 15(2), 281–302.