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Guadalupe R. Palos, DrPH, LMSW, RN

Present Title & Affiliation

Primary Appointment

Assistant Professor, Department of Symptom Research, Division of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Bio Statement

Dr. Palos has more than twenty years of experience in oncology nursing as a clinician, educator, administrator, and most recently as a researcher. In addition to being a health service researcher, Dr. Palos is licensed as a masters-prepared social worker and as a registered nurse. She completed her doctoral dissertation on the use of clinical decision-making methods in pain and symptom management. She has extensive experience in conducting qualitative cross-cultural research, such as conducting focus groups to study the impact of diversity on cancer pain management and culturally competent health care.  Dr. Palos led in the development and implementation of two studies investigating the preferences of community members and cancer patients toward cancer pain health outcomes. She is currently examining the effect of symptom burden on minority and underserved cancer patients and their caregivers.

As a consultant with the DHHS Centers for Disease Control, the Oncology Nursing Society, the World Health Organization, and the Pan American Health Organization, Dr. Palos develops curriculum and continuing education courses for Latin American health care professionals.

Office Address

The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
Department of Symptom Research
1400 Pressler
Unit Number: 1450
Houston, TX 77030
Room Number: FCT11.6004
Phone: (713) 745-3592
Fax: (713) 745-3475
Email: gpalos@mdanderson.org

Education & Training

Degree-Granting Education

2001 The University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston, TX, DrPH, Health Service Research
1980 The University of Houston, Houston, TX, MSW, Program Planning and Administration
1977 The University of Houston, Houston, TX, BS, General Psychology
1973 San Jacinto Junior College, Pasadena, TX, ASc, Nursing

Selected Publications

Peer-Reviewed Original Research Articles
1. Palos G. Cultural heritage: cancer screening and early detection. Semin Oncol Nurs 10(2):104-13, 5/1994. PMID: 8059108.
2. Anderson KO, Mendoza TR, Valero V, Richman SP, Russell C, Hurley J, DeLeon C, Washington P, Palos G, Payne R, Cleeland CS. Minority cancer patients and their providers: pain management attitudes and practice. Cancer 88(8):1929-38, 4/2000. PMID: 10760771.
3. Cohen MZ, Palos G. Culturally competent care. Semin Oncol Nurs 17(3):153-8, 8/2001. PMID: 11523481.
4. Cohen MZ, Phillips JM, Palos G. Qualitative research with diverse populations. Semin Oncol Nurs 17(3):190-6, 8/2001. PMID: 11523485.
5. Anderson KO, Richman SP, Hurley J, Palos G, Valero V, Mendoza TR, Gning I, Cleeland CS. Cancer pain management among underserved minority outpatients: perceived needs and barriers to optimal control. Cancer 94(8):2295-304, 4/15/2002. PMID: 12001130.
6. McNeill JA, Sherwood G, Starck P, Disnard G, Rodriguez T, Palos G. Design strategies in pain management research with Hispanics. Hispanic Health Care International 2(2):73-80, 2003.
7. Anderson KO, Mendoza TR, Payne R, Valero V, Palos GR, Nazario A, Richman SP, Hurley J, Gning I, Lynch GR, Kalish D, Cleeland CS. Pain education for underserved minority cancer patients: a randomized controlled trial. J Clin Oncol 22(24):4918-25, 12/15/2004. PMID: 15611506.
8. Rhiner M, Palos G, Termini M. Managing breakthrough pain: a clinical review with three case studies using oral transmucosal fentanyl citrate. Clin J Oncol Nurs 8(5):507-12, 10/2004. PMID: 15515284.
9. Palos GR, Mendoza TR, Cantor SB, Aday LA, Cleeland CS. Perceptions of analgesic use and side effects: what the public values in pain management. J Pain Symptom Manage 28(5):460-73, 11/2004. PMID: 15504623.
10. Palos GR, Mendoza TR, Mobley GM, Cantor SB, Cleeland CS. Asking the community about cutpoints used to describe mild, moderate, and severe pain. J Pain 7(1):49-56, 1/2006. PMID: 16414555.
11. Palos GR, Cantor SB, Aday LA, Mendoza TR, Mobley GM, Cleeland CS. An urban community's preferences for hypothetical outcomes of analgesic pain treatment. J Pain Symptom Manage 32(5):470-7, 11/2006. PMID: 17085273.
12. Fineberg IC, Grant M, Aziz NM, Payne R, Kagawa-Singer M, Dunn GP, Kinzbrunner BM, Palos G, Shinagawa SM, Krouse RS. Prospective integration of cultural consideration in biomedical research for patients with advanced cancer: recommendations from an international conference on malignant bowel obstruction in palliative care. J Pain Symptom Manage 34(1 Suppl):S28-39, 7/2007. e-Pub 5/25/2007. PMCID: PMC2063453.
13. Palos GR, Ashing-Giwa KT. The importance of community and culture in the comprehensive management of pain. The Pain Practitioner 17(2):10-9, 8/2007.
14. Herrera AP, Lee J, Palos GR, Torres-Vigil I. Cultural influences in the patterns of long-term care use among Mexican-American family caregivers. J Appl Gerontol 27(2):141-65, 4/2008.
15. Palos GR. Opioids and cancer survivors: issues in side-effect management. Oncol Nurs Forum 35(Suppl):13-9, 11/2008. PMID: 18980935.
16. Wang XS, Williams LA, Eng C, Mendoza TR, Shah NA, Kirkendoll KJ, Shah PK, Trask PC, Palos GR, Cleeland CS. Validation and application of a module of the M. D. Anderson Symptom Inventory for measuring multiple symptoms in patients with gastrointestinal cancer (MDASI-GI). Cancer. In Press.

Grant & Contract Support

Title: Identification and Treatment of Depression in Underserved African American and Latino Patients with Cancer
Funding Source: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Role: Co-Principal Investigator
Principal Investigator: Karen O. Anderson
Duration: 5/1/2008 - 4/30/2010

Last updated: 9/25/2009