Skip to Content

'
Carlos A. Mazas, Ph.D.

Present Title & Affiliation

Primary Appointment

Instructor, Department of Health Disparities Research, Division of OVP, Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Bio Statement

Carlos A. Mazas, Ph.D. is an Instructor with the Department of Health Disparities Research.   Dr. Mazas is currently funded by NCI to study the mechanisms underlying smoking cessation and relapse among Spanish-speaking Latino smokers.  The proposed mechanisms include urges, negative affects, expectancies, depression, social network, social support, self-efficacy and the role of acculturation, education and social norms on those mechanisms; he is a co-investigator on several projects.  CUIDATE is a randomized clinical trial among Puerto Rican smokers who use alcohol.  The aim of this study is to reduce the risks of several cancers through a combined treatment for tobacco and alcohol use.  Another study is an OUTREACH cancer control program for Puerto Ricans; smoking, breast and cervical cancer are the three top preventable causes of death among this population.  The purpose of this program is to modify and sustain healthy behavior through the development of comprehensive, sustainable partnerships with community, health care and government organizations for cancer control outreach, education, research and training in Puerto Rico.  Outcomes of the program are to decrease tobacco use, increase Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination, and, increase breast and cervical cancer screening.  In addition, Dr. Mazas participates in a study that aims to increase healthy behaviors among a cohort of Mexican-Americans.

Dr. Mazas was supported by a National Cancer Institute (NCI) funded postdoctoral fellowship in cancer prevention.  Additionally, he has received several awards including a pre-doctoral fellowship from the National Institute of Mental Health, a Minority Supplement from the NCI, initial and several NIH Loan Repayment Program (LRP) contract renewals plus a Young Investigator Travel Award from the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco.

Dr. Mazas earned his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Indiana University and completed his internship at the South Texas Veterans Health Care System (VA) in San Antonio, TX.

Research Interests

Dr. Mazas’ research interests focus on theoretical models of addictive and cancer risk behaviors among minority populations, with an emphasis on Hispanic/Latino populations.  Specifically, his research examines cognitive, affective and behavioral determinants of tobacco and alcohol use motivation and relapse.  Knowledge of the correlates of smoking and drinking is the first step towards successful development of cancer prevention interventions. 

Education & Training

Degree-Granting Education

2001 Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, PHD, Clinical Psychology

Selected Publications

Peer-Reviewed Original Research Articles
1. Reitzel LR, Mazas CA, Cofta-Woerpel L, Vidrine JI, Businelle MS, Kendzor DE, Li Y, Cao Y, Wetter DW. Acculturative and neighborhood influences on subjective social status among Spanish-Speaking Latino immigrant smokers. Soc Sci Med 70(5):677-683, 3/2010. e-Pub 1/13/2010. PMID: 20044186.
2. Businelle MS, Kendzor DE, Costello T, Cofta-Woerpel L, Li L, Mazas MA, Irvin Vidrine J, Reitzel LR. Light versus heavy smoking among African American men and women. Addictive Behaviors 34:197-203, 2009. PMCID: PMCPMC2614080.
3. Reitzel LR, Costello TJ, Mazas CA, Irvin Vidrine J, Businelle MS, Kendzor DE, Li Y, Cofta-Woerpel L, Wetter DW. Low-Level Smoking Among Spanish-Speaking Latino Smokers:. Nicotine and Tobacco Research 11:178-184, 2009. PMCID: PMCPMC2658909.
4. Kendzor DE, Costello TJ, Li Y, Irvin Vidrine J, Mazas CA, Reitzel LR, Cinciripini PM, Cofta-Woerpel LM, Businelle MS, Wetter DW. Race/ethnicity and multiple cancer risk factors among individuals seeking smoking cessation treatment. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers, & Prevention 17:2937-2945, 11/2008. PMID: 18990734.
5. Kendzor DE, Cofta-Woerpel LM, Mazas CA, Li Y, Irvin Vidrine J, Reitzel LR, Costello TJ, Businelle MS, Ahluwalia JS, Cinciripini PM, Wetter DW. Socioeconomic status, negative affect, and modifiable cancer risk factors in African American smokers. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers, & Prevention 17:2546-2554, 10/2008. PMCID: PMCPMC2602870.
6. Ortiz AP, Díaz EC, Calo WC, Correa V, Cases A, Santos MC, Mazas CA, Mejía LM, Wetter DW. Characteristics of smokers accessing the Puerto Rico Quitline. Puerto Rico Health Science Journal 27:213-219, 2008. PMCID: PMCPMC2763363.
7. Rowan PJ, Cofta-Woerpel L, Mazas CA, Vidrine JI, Reitzel LR, Cinciripini PR, Wetter DW. Evaluating Reactivity to Ecological Momentary Assessment During Smoking Cessation. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology 15:382-389, 2007.
8. Wetter DW, Mazas CA, Nguyen L, Fouladi R, Li Y, Cofta-Woerpel L. Reaching and Treating Spanish Speaking Smokers through the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Cancer 109(2), 2007.

Grant & Contract Support

Title: Cancer Risks Reduction through Combined Treating for Tobacco and Alcohol Use
Funding Source: NIH/NCI
Role: Co-Investigator
Principal Investigator: Wetter, D.W.
Duration: 8/30/2008 - 7/31/2011
 
Title: Puerto Rico Community Cancer Control Outreach Program
Funding Source: NIH/NCI
Role: Co-Investigator
Duration: 7/31/2008 - 6/30/2013
 
Title: Ecological Momentary Assessment of Smoking Cessation Among Spanish-Speaking Smokers
Funding Source: NIH/NCI
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 4/1/2008 - 5/31/2013
 
Title: Project EXPORT - A Center of Excellence (PEACE)
Funding Source: NIH/NCI
Role: Co-Investigator
Principal Investigator: Lovell Jones
Duration: 9/1/2007 - 8/31/2012

Last updated: 12/11/2012