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Susan K. Peterson, Ph.D., M.P.H.

Present Title & Affiliation

Primary Appointment

Associate Professor, Department of Behavioral Science, Division of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment

Member, The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX
Adjunct Associate Professor, Division of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, Houston, TX

Education & Training

Degree-Granting Education

2001 The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, Houston, TX, PHD, Behavioral Sciences
1986 The University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, MPH, Health Behavior and Health Education
1984 The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, BS, Anthropology and Zoology

Selected Publications

Peer-Reviewed Original Research Articles
1. Litton JK, Westin SK, Ready K, Sun CC, Peterson S, Meric-Bernstam F, Gonzalez-Angulo AM, Bodurka DC, Lu K, Hortobagyi GN, Arun BK. Perception of screening and risk-reduction surgeries in patients tested for a BRCA deleterious mutation. Cancer. In Press.
2. Manne S, Coups E, Markowitz A, Meropol N, Haller D, Jacobsen P, Jandorf L, Peterson S, Lesko S, Pilipshen S, Winkel G. A randomized trial of generic versus tailored interventions to increase colorectal cancer screening among intermediate risk siblings. Annals of Behavioral Medicine 37:207–217, 5/2009.
3. Kwon JS, Sun CC, Peterson SK, White KG, Daniels MS, Boyd-Rogers SG, Lu KH. Cost-effectiveness analysis of prevention strategies for gynecologic cancers in Lynch syndrome. Cancer 113(2):326-35, 2008.
4. Peterson SK, Pentz RD, Marani SK, Ward PA, Blanco A, Vogel K, Solomon T, LaRue D, Strong LC. Psychological functioning in persons considering genetic counseling and testing for Li-Fraumeni Syndrome. Psycho-Oncology 17(8):783-9, 2008.
5. Lewis MJ, Peterson SK. Perceptions of genetic testing for cancer predisposition among Ashkenazi Jewish women. Community Genetics 10(2):72-81, 2007.
6. Uyei A, Peterson SK, Erlichman J, Broglio K, Yekell S, Schmeler K, Lu K, Meric-Bernstam F, Amos C, Strong L, Arun B. Association between clinical characteristics and risk-reduction interventions in women who underwent BRCA1 and BRCA2 testing: A single-institution study. Cancer 107:2745-51, 2006.
7. Peterson SK, Pentz RD, Blanco AM, Ward PA, Watts BG, Marani SK, James LC, Strong LC. Evaluation of a decision aid for families considering p53 genetic counseling and testing. Genetics in Medicine 8(4):226-33, 2006.
8. Schmeler KM, Sun CC, Bodurka DC, White KG, Soliman PT, Uyei AR, Erlichman JL, Arun BK, Daniels MS, Rimes SA, Peterson SK, Slomovitz BM, Milam MR, Gershenson DM, Lu KH. Prophylactic bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy compared with surveillance in women with BRCA mutations. Obstetrics and Gynecology 108(3 Pt 1):515-20, 2006.
9. Pentz RD, Peterson SK, Watts B, Vernon SW, Lynch PM, Koehly LM, Gritz ER. Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer family members' perceptions about the duty to inform and health professionals' role in disseminating genetic information. Genetic Testing 9(3):261-8, 2005.
10. Gritz ER, Peterson SK, Vernon SW, Marani SK, Baile WF, Watts BG, Amos CI, Frazier ML, Lynch PM. Psychological impact of genetic testing for hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer. Journal of Clinical Oncology 23(9):1902-10, 2005.
11. Peterson SK. The role of the family in genetic testing: Theoretical perspectives, current knowledge, and future directions. Health Education & Behavior 32(5):627-39, 2005.
12. Green MJ, Peterson SK, Baker MW, Friedman LC, Harper GR, Rubinstein WS, Peters JA, Mauger DT. Use of an educational computer program before genetic counseling for breast cancer susceptibility: Effects on duration and content of counseling sessions. Genetics in Medicine 7(4):221-9, 2005.
13. Byrd TL, Peterson SK, Chavez R, Heckert A. Cervical cancer screening beliefs among young Hispanic women. Preventive Medicine 38(2):192-7, 2004.
14. Green MJ, Peterson SK, Baker MW, Harper GR, Friedman LC, Rubinstein WS, Mauger DT. Effect of a computer-based decision aid on knowledge, perceptions, and intentions about genetic testing for breast cancer susceptibility: A randomized controlled trial. JAMA 292(4):442-52, 2004.
15. Koehly LM, Peterson SK, Watts BG, Kempf KK, Vernon SW, Gritz ER. A social network analysis of communication about hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer genetic testing and family functioning. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention 12:304-13, 2003.
16. Peterson SK, Watts BG, Koehly LM, Vernon SW, Baile WF, Kohlmann WK, Gritz ER. How families communicate about HNPCC genetic testing: Findings from a qualitative study. American Journal of Medical Genetics 119C(1):78-86, 2003.

Last updated: 9/10/2009