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Loretta A. Williams, PhD, RN, MSN, BSN, BA

Present Title & Affiliation

Primary Appointment

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

Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment

Adjunct Assistant Professor, The University of Texas School of Nursing, Houston, TX

Bio Statement

Dr. Lori Williams is an Instructor in the Department of Symptom Research at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center and an Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse. She has worked in oncology nursing for more than 27 years, 20 of which have been in blood and marrow transplantation (BMT). She is especially interested in the measurement of symptoms, the biological mechanisms of symptom production, the effects of genetics on symptoms, the effects of symptoms on family caregivers of cancer patients, and ethical issues in research. She has studied the effects of serum cytokine levels on symptoms in patients with acute myelogenous leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome undergoing allogeneic BMT and in patients with lung and gastrointestinal tract cancers undergoing concurrent chemoradiation. With funding from the Oncology Nursing Society Foundation, she currently is developing a symptom assessment tool for patients with chronic graft-versus-host disease. She is also studying the experience of cancer-related fatigue with a grant from Cephalon, Inc.

Dr. Williams is actively involved in leadership with the national Oncology Nursing Society (ONS). She is a current member of the ONS Multi-site Research Advisory Panel and was the team leader of the Multi-site Data Sharing Project Team in 2006. She is on the Planning Team for the 2007 ONS Leadership Development Institute. She is a 2006-2007 member of the ONS Foundation Small Grant Review Team and is a regular reviewer for ONS Foundation awards and scholarships. She recently completed a three-year term as an associate editor for the Oncology Nursing Forum and was the chairperson of the 2004 ONS Annual Congress. She is the chairperson of the Scientific Advisory Board for the Patient Advocate Foundation. She was an NIH fellow in 2002 at the National Institute of Nursing Research Summer Genetics Institute. She was the recipient of an American Cancer Society Scholarship for doctoral study in oncology nursing.

Office Address

The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
Department of Symptom Research
1515 Holcombe Boulevard
Unit Number: 1450
Houston, TX 77030
Room Number: FCT11.5086
Phone: (713) 745-0844
Fax: (713) 745-3475

Education & Training

Degree-Granting Education

2005 The University of Texas School of Nursing, Houston, TX, PhD, Nursing
1988 The University of Texas School of Nursing, Houston, TX, MSN, Oncology Nursing CNS
1980 St. Mary of the Plains College, Dodge City, KS, BSN, Nursing
1970 University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, BA, Psychology

Board Certifications

1996 Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse

Honors and Awards

1969 Phi Beta Kappa, Alpha of Kentucky Chapter

Professional Memberships

American Nurses' Association
Member, 1997-present
American Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation
Member, 1995-present
American Society of Clinical Oncology
Member, 2000-present
American Society of Hematology
Member, 2000-present
European Hematology Association
Member, Working Group on Quality of Life and Symptoms, 2006-present
Oncology Nursing Society
Member, 1982-present
Patient Advocate Foundation, Newport News, VA
Member, Scientific Advisory Board, 2003-present
Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society
Member, 1988-present

Selected Publications

Peer-Reviewed Original Research Articles
1. Wang XS, Shi Q, Williams LA, Cleeland CS, Mobley GM, Reuben JM, Lee BN, Giralt SA. Serum interleukin-6 predicts the development of multiple symptoms at nadir of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Cancer 113(8):2102-9, 10/2008. PMCID: PMC2633777.
2. Krimmel T, Williams LA. Hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Oncol Nurs Forum 35(1):37-9, 1/2008. PMID: 18192151.
3. Williams LA. Whatever it takes: informal caregiving dynamics in blood and marrow transplantation. Oncol Nurs Forum 34(2):379-87, 3/2007. PMID: 17573302.
4. Cohen MZ, Williams L, Knight P, Snider J, Hanzik K, Fisch MJ. Symptom masquerade: understanding the meaning of symptoms. Support Care Cancer 12(3):184-90, 3/2004. e-Pub 1/2004. PMID: 14735337.
5. Williams LA. Informal caregiving dynamics with a case study in blood and marrow transplantation. Oncol Nurs Forum 30(4):679-86, Jul-Aug, 7/2003. PMID: 12861327.
6. Weiss RB, Rifkin RM, Stewart FM, Theriault RL, Williams LA, Herman AA, Beveridge RA. High-dose chemotherapy for high-risk primary breast cancer: an on-site review of the Bezwoda study. Lancet 355(9208):999-1003, 3/2000. PMID: 10768448.

Invited Articles
1. Williams LA. Clinical management of symptom clusters. Semin Oncol Nurs 23(2):113-20, 5/2007. PMID: 17512438.
2. Galbizo E, Williams LA. Chronic graft-versus-host disease. Oncol Nurs Forum 33(5):881-3, 9/2006. PMID: 16986223.
3. Williams L, Ostwald SK. Family caregivers: a vital resource. Nurse Investigator 6(30):56-65, 2005.

Abstracts
1. Williams LA, Giralt SA, Mendoza TR, Anderson KO, Gary M Mobley GM, Saliba RM, Qazilbash MH, Campagnaro EL, Cleeland CS. Larger stem cell dose is associated with decreased symptom severity after autologous stem cell transplantation for multiple myeloma. European Hematology Association 13th Congress, Copenhagen, Denmark. Haematologica 93(S1):317-318, 7/2008.
2. Wang XS, Shi Q, Williams LA, Mobley GM, Reuben JM, Lee BN, Cleeland CC, Giralt SA. The role of serum cytokines in the development of acute-GVHD–related symptom burden after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. European Hematology Association 13th Congress, Copenhagen, Denmark. Haematologica 93(S1) (#1372), 6/2008.

Book Chapters
1. Williams LA, Syrjala KL. Psychosocial issues in chronic graft versus host disease. In: Chronic Graft Versus Host Disease: Interdisciplinary Management. Ed(s) Vogelsang GB, Paveletic SZ. Cambridge University Press: New York, 314-25, 2009. PMID: 978-0-521-88423-5.
2. Williams L. The theory of caregiving dynamics. In: Middle Range Theory for Nursing, 2nd. Ed(s) MJ Smith, PR Liehr. Springer Publishing Company: New York, 261-76, 2008. PMID: 9780826119162.
3. McCarthy P, Williams L, Holmes M. Stem cell transplantation: past, present, and future. In: Stem Cell Transplantation: A Clinical Textbook. Ed(s) PC Buchsel, PM Kapustay. Oncology Nursing Press, Inc. Pittsburgh PA, 1.1-1.20, 2000. PMID: 1890504157.

Grant & Contract Support

Title: Mechanisms of Symptoms of Multiple Myeloma and Its Therapy
Funding Source: NIH/NCI
Role: Investigator
Principal Investigator: Charles S. Cleeland
Duration: 7/1/2008 - present
 
Title: The Experience of Fatigue for Patients with Cancer
Funding Source: Cephalon, Inc.
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 2/2007 - 12/2008
 
Title: Development of a Chronic Graft-vs-Host Disease Symptom Inventory
Funding Source: Oncology Nursing Society Foundation
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 12/2005 - 6/2009

Last updated: 7/28/2009