Jane Montealegre
Department of Behavioral Science, Division of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences
Present Title & Affiliation
Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment
Associate Professor, Behavioral Science, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2011 | The University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston, Texas, US, Epidemiology, Ph.D |
| 2005 | Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, US, Tropical Medicine, MSPH |
| 2004 | Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, US, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, BS |
Postgraduate Training
| 2019-2019 | Traineeship, Training Institute in Dissemination and Implementation Science in Cancer, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland |
| 2011-2013 | Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, Cancer Prevention, The University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston, Texas |
Experience & Service
Faculty Academic Appointments
Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics-Hematology/Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 2017 - 2023
Instructor, Department of Pediatrics-Hematology/Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 2014 - 2017
Administrative Appointments/Responsibilities
Interim Associate Director, Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 2022 - 2023
Assistant Director, Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 2019 - 2023
Deputy Director, Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 2018 - 2023
Senior Associate for Community Programs in Disparities, Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 2014 - 2018
Other Professional Positions
Consultant, Global AIDS Program, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-Guatemala, Guatemala City, Guatemala Department, 2010 - 2011
Program Leader, Certification of Elimination of Oncocerciasis in the Santa Rosa Region, Guatemala, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Medical Entomology Training Unit-G, Guatemala City, Guatemala Department, 2005 - Present
Extramural Institutional Committee Activities
Inaugural Vice Chair, National HPV Cancers Roundtable American Cancer Society, National HPV Cancers Roundtable American Cancer Society, 2026 - Present
Member, American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention Award Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2026 - 2028
Advisory Board, Texas Lone Star Cervical Cancer Elimination Plan Cancer Alliance of Texas, Texas Lone Star Cervical Cancer Elimination Plan Cancer Alliance of Texas, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2025 - Present
Member, Cervical Cancer Elimination Advisory Board National Roundtable on Cervical Cancer American Cancer Society, National Roundtable on Cervical Cancer American Cancer Society, 2025 - Present
Co-Chair, Transition Advisory Team,National Roundtable on Cervical Cancer and National HPV Roundtable, National Roundtable on Cervical Cancer and National HPV Roundtable, 2025 - Present
Member, Practice, Implementation, and Equity Workgroup, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2025 - Present
Member, Population Science Working Group, American Association for Cancer Research, 2025 - Present
Member, National Roundtable on Cervical Cancer Steering Committee American Cancer Society, American Cancer Society, 2025 - Present
Member, CONNECT Texas Colorectal Cancer Screening Coordinating Center Steering Committee, The University of Texas-Austin, 2023 - Present
Member, Self-Collection Workgroup, American Cancer Society, 2023 - Present
Member, Cervical Cancer Screening Priority Area Workgroup, Cancer Alliance of Texas, 2020 - Present
Chair, Commission on Cancer Standard 8.1 Workgroup: Addressing Barriers to Care, Harris Health System, 2016 - Present
Editorial Activities
Special Issue Guest Editor: Innovative and Impactful Strategies to Increase HPV Vaccine Delivery and Uptake, Vaccines, 2022 - 2023
Honors & Awards
| 2026 - Present | American Cancer Society National Roundtable on Cervical Cancer Above and Beyond Award |
| 2026 - Present | Andrew Sabin Family Fellowship Award |
| 2025 - Present | Faculty Excellence in Community Outreach, MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2025 | 2026 Faculty Scholar Award, MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2024 - Present | Women’s Health Award, Su Clinica, Brownsville, Texas |
| 2024 | Leading Mentor Award, MD Anderson Division of Cancer Prevention |
| 2023 | Invited panelist to the White House Gender Policy Council on Cervical Cancer Prevention, The White House Cancer Moonshot |
| 2022 | HPV Vaccine Champion Award, American Cancer Society-Texas |
| 2022 | Global Health Scholar, Baylor College of Medicine |
| 2021 | Young Investigator Award, Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics |
| 2017 | Hearst Health Prize for Excellence in Population Health, The Hearst Foundation |
| 2009 | Student Field Activities Award, The University of Texas School of Public Health |
| 2009 | Dissertation Research Grant, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |
| 2007 - 2009 | Public Health Traineeship, The University of Texas School of Public Health |
| 2004 - 2005 | Dean's Grant, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine |
| 2004 | Summa cum laude, Tulane University |
| 2004 | Fred P. Kagle Award for Outstanding Research in Biology, Tulane University |
| 2004 | Phi Kappa Phi, National Honors Society |
Professional Memberships
Selected Presentations & Talks
Regional Presentations
- 2026. Cervical Cancer Screening Updates. Invited. Texas Association of Family Physicians Frank C. Webber Lectureship and Interim Session. Round Rock, Texas, US.
- 2026. Integrating HPV Self-Collection into Clinical Practice. Panelist. California Association of Public Health and American Cancer Society Cervical Cancer Screening Webinar. Virtual Meeting.
- 2025. Innovative Strategies to Increase Cancer Screening: Self-Collection for HPV Testing. Invited. Texas Association of Community Health Centers Annual Meeting. The Woodlands, Texas, US.
- 2025. Accelerating the Elimination of Cervical Cancer as a Public Health Problem. Invited. Grand Rounds, US.
- 2024. The Power of Elimination: Aligning Efforts to Achieve a Future Free of HPV Cancers in Texas (Keynote Presentation). Invited. Texas Human Papillomavirus Coalition Annual Meeting. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2022. Implementation of a Multi-Level Intervention to Increase Colorectal Cancer Screening and Follow-Up among the Medically Underserved. Invited. Southeastern Colorectal Cancer Consortium Annual Meeting. Irving, TX, US.
- 2022. A Multi-Level Intervention to Increase HPV Vaccination in a Safety Net Health System. Invited. Texas Immunization Conference, US.
- 2022. Communities in Action: HPV Vaccine Equity. Invited. American Cancer Society HPV Forum. Houston, TX, US.
- 2022. It Doesn’t Have to be so Hard: Cervical Cancer Screening in Underserved Populations. Invited. Prevention Grand Rounds. Houston, TX, US.
- 2021. Reasons for HPV Vaccine Missed Opportunities in a Safety Net Health System. Conference. National HPV Conference. Dallas, TX, US.
- 2013. HPV and Cervical Cancer Screening. Invited. Annual Cervical Cancer Summit, US.
National Presentations
- 2026. The Urgency and Opportunity of Scaling Up Screening in Safety Net Health Systems. Invited. American Cancer Society Joint National Roundtables (Cervical Cancer and HPV) Meeting. Dallas, Texas, US.
- 2026. Updates in Cervical Cancer Screening: Expanding Options in the US through Self-Collection. Invited. American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Washington, D.C, District of Columbia, US.
- 2026. Implementation Science and Practice: Fundamentals for Clinicians. Panelist. American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology Annual Scientific Meeting. Orlando, Florida, US.
- 2026. HPV Self-Sampling in Safety Net and Low Resource Settings. Invited. American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting. San Diego, California, US.
- 2026. Reactions to a Positive HPV Test Following At-Home Self-Collection Among Underscreened Women in a U.S. Safety Net Health Setting: A qualitative Analysis. Conference. Eurogin World Congress. Vienna, Vienna, AT.
- 2026. Understanding Contextual Barriers and Facilitators to Future Implementation of a Novel Point-of-Care HPV DNA Test in Mozambique. Conference. Eurogin World Congress. Vienna, AT.
- 2025. Mailed Self-Collection for Cervical Cancer Screening Among Asian/Asian American Women in a Safety Net Setting. Conference. International Papillomavirus Conference. Bangkok, Bangkok, TH.
- 2025. Using Implementation Science to Accelerate Equity and the Elimination of Cervical Cancer. Invited. American Association for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology Scientific Meeting. San Diego, CA, US.
- 2025. The Power of Connection. Panelist. Cervical Cancer Summit. Washington, DC, US.
- 2025. Elimination of HPV Cancers Beginning with Cervical: Perspectives from Texas. Invited. 2025 Virtual Annual Meeting of the HPV Vaccination Roundtable of the Southeast, US.
- 2025. HPV Self-Collection Testing for Cervical Cancer Screening. Invited. Delaware Cancer Consortium Meeting, Delaware, US.
- 2024. The Prospective Evaluation of Self-Testing to Increase Screening (PRESTIS) Trial: Rationale, Design, and Preliminary Results. Invited. Medical University of South Carolina Hollings Cancer Institute, US.
- 2024. A Nuestro Alcance: Toward the elimination of cervical cacncer disparities among latinas. Invited. Latino Cancer Institute Seminar Series: Talking about cancer won't kill us, the silence will. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2024. Vacunacion Sin Barreras: School-Based HPV Vaccination in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Invited. Empowering and Strengthening Community, Culture and Connection to Prevent HPV Cancers, US.
- 2024. Integrating Self-Collection in Safety Net Settings. Invited. National Roundtable on Cervical Cancer Annual Meeting. Atlanta, Georgia, US.
- 2024. Control and Elimination of HPV-Associated Cancers:A Future Within Our Reach. Invited. Rural HPV Vaccination Learning Community, US.
- 2024. Mailed at-home self-sampling for HPV testing increases screening participation among under-screened patients in a U.S. safety net health system: Results of the PRESTIS trial. Conference. American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting. San Diego, California, US.
- 2023. The Prospective Evaluation of Self-Testing to Increase Screening (PRESTIS) Trial: Rationale, Design, and Preliminary Results. Invited. Tampa General Hospital Cancer Institute. Tampa, Florida, US.
- 2022. Self-Collection of HPV Testing to Expand Access to Cervical Cancer Screening. Invited. National Cancer Policy Panel: Advancing Progress in Cancer Prevention and Risk Reduction. Washington, DC, US.
- 2022. Using Self-Sample HPV Testing to Increase Cervical Cancer Screening in Safety Net Health Systems. Invited. American College of Epidemiology, ACE in Action Series, US.
- 2021. Adoption and Implementation of School-Based HPV Vaccination in the Lower Rio Grande Valley (RGV) of Texas, USA. Conference. American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology Scientific Meeting on Anogenital and HPV-Related Diseases, US.
- 2021. Using Every Chance You Get: Cancer Screening and Primary Prevention among Medically Underserved Populations. Invited. Georgetown University. Washington, DC, US.
- 2012. Respondent Driven Sampling for HIV Behavioral Surveillance among Immigrant Populations. Invited. University of Cincinnati. Cincinnati, OH, US.
International Presentations
- 2026. Eurogin International Congress. Conference. Vienna, AT.
- 2025. International Papillomavirus Conference. Conference. International Papillomavirus Conference. Bangkok, TH.
- 2025. Barriers to cervical cancer screening and experiences with mailed self-collection kits for HPV testing among Asian/Asian American women in a U.S. safety net health system. Conference. Eurogin International Congress. Porto, PT.
- 2024. Predictors of Cervical Cancer Screening Uptake by Modality among Participants in the PRESTIS Trial to Assess Effectiveness of At-Home Self-Collection Kits for HPV Testing. Conference. International Papillomavirus Conference. Edinburgh, GB.
- 2023. Acceptability of Self-Sample HPV Testing among Underscreened Women in a Safety Net Health System. Conference. International Papillomavirus Conference. Washington, US.
- 2023. Perceived barriers to clinic-based cervical cancer screening and motivators for HPV self-sampling during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conference. Eurogin International Congress. Bilbao, ES.
- 2022. Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Participation in a Self-Sample HPV Testing Randomized Trial. Conference. Eurogin International Congress. Dusseldorf, DE.
- 2022. Mailed, At-Home Self-Collection Kits to Increase Cervical Cancer Screening among Underscreened Patients in a Safety Net Health System: Results of the PRESTIS Trial. Conference. Eurogin International Congress. Stockholm, SE.
- 2022. Effectiveness-Implementation Research to Improve Cervical Cancer Screening (Estudio de efectividad- implementacion para mejorar tamizaje de cancer cervical). Invited. Mexican National Public Health Institute 100 Year Anniversary Series, US.
- 2021. HPV Vaccination In a Safety Net Health System During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Conference. Eurogin International Congress, US.
- 2021. Self-Sample HPV Testing to Increase Cervical Cancer Screening Participation. Invited. Preinvasive Disease Program, US.
- 2020. Self-Sample HPV Testing for Cervical Cancer Screening in Latin America and the Caribbean (La Auto-Toma de Muestras del VPH para el Tamizaje del Cáncer Cervico-Uterino en Latinoamérica y el Caribe). Invited. ECHO-Latin America (ELA) Program, US.
- 2011. Respondent Driven Sampling among Undocumented Central American Immigrant Women in Houston, Texas. Invited. Oslo, NO.
Formal Peers
- 2025. Implementation Science.
- 2025. Introduction to Implementation Science and the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2024. Qualitative Research Methods. Lusaka, ZM.
- 2024. Fundamentos de la Autotoma(Fundamentals of Self-Collection). Visiting. Santiago, CL.
- 2023. Survey Research Methods. Lusaka, ZM.
- 2022. Faculty, Extension for Community Health Outcomes (ECHO)-Elimination of Cervical Cancer in Latin America (ECHO-ELA). Houston, Texas, US.
- 2022. Effectiveness-Implementation Research to Improve Cervical Cancer Screening (Estudio de efectividad- implementacion para mejorar tamizaje de cancer cervical). Invited. Mexico City, MX.
- 2021. Self-Sample HPV Testing to Increase Cervical Cancer Screening Participation. Invited, US.
- 2020. Self-Sample HPV Testing for Cervical Cancer Screening in Latin America and the Caribbean (La Auto-Toma de Muestras del VPH para el Tamizaje del Cáncer Cervico-Uterino en Latinoamérica y el Caribe). Invited, US.
- 2020. Self-Sample HPV Testing to Increase Cervical Cancer Screening Participation in Vulnerable Populations. Invited, US.
- 2011. Respondent Driven Sampling among Undocumented Central American Immigrant Women in Houston, Texas. Invited. Oslo, NO.
Grant & Contract Support
| Date: | 2026 - 2031 |
| Title: | Multidisciplinary Evaluation of Anal Cancer Screening in Women: MACS-W |
| Funding Source: | Medical University of South Carolina |
| Role: | Co-PI |
| ID: | FP00026597_Res1 |
| Date: | 2026 - 2029 |
| Title: | Disseminating a Multicomponent Intervention to Improve Cervical Cancer Screening and Follow-up |
| Funding Source: | The University of Texas at Austin/CANCER PREVENTION RESEARCH INST OF TX (CPRIT) |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | FP00030389 |
| Date: | 2026 - 2029 |
| Title: | CATALYST: An Implementation Support Program to Increase Cervical Cancer Screening in Federally Qualified Health Centers |
| Funding Source: | CANCER PREVENTION RESEARCH INST OF TX |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | PP270036 |
| Date: | 2026 - 2031 |
| Title: | Multidisciplinary Evaluation of Anal Cancer Screening in Women: MACS-W |
| Funding Source: | Medical University of Sourth Carolina, NIH |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | R01CA313848 |
| Date: | 2026 - 2030 |
| Title: | Modeling Approaches to Improve Breast, Cervical, and Colorectal Cancer Screening Among Age-Eligible Women in the United States |
| Funding Source: | University of Texas at Austin |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | FP00026709_Res2 |
| Date: | 2026 - 2031 |
| Title: | Evaluating a Multi-Specimen Random Access Point-of-Care Device for the Detection of HR-HPV: Diagnostic Performance and Impact on the Cervical Cancer Screening Cascade |
| Funding Source: | National Cancer Institute |
| Role: | Co-PI |
| ID: | 1R01CA318401-01 |
| Date: | 2026 - 2028 |
| Title: | Co-Creating an Implementation Support Program to Accelerate the Adoption and Implementation of HPV Self-Collection for Cervical Cancer Screening in Safety Net Community Health Centers |
| Funding Source: | Andrew Sabin Family Fellows Program |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | N/A |
| Date: | 2026 - 2031 |
| Title: | Multidisciplinary Evaluation of Anal Cancer Screening in Women: MACS-W |
| Funding Source: | Medical University of South Carolina |
| Role: | Co-PI |
| ID: | FP00026597 |
| Date: | 2026 - 2028 |
| Title: | Primary HPV and HPV Self-Collection: ECHO-HPV-Screening, ECHO Scholars Program – 2026 Pilot Cohort |
| Funding Source: | The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2025 - 2028 |
| Title: | Self-collection, Capacity Building, and Resources to Enhance Cervical Cancer Screening and Navigation to Care for the Unhoused Population |
| Funding Source: | Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas |
| Role: | Co-PI |
| ID: | PP260042 |
| Date: | 2025 - 2028 |
| Title: | Expanding Access to Cervical Cancer Screening through Primary HR-HPV Testing and Self-Sampling: A Multicomponent Intervention for Safety Net Health Systems |
| Funding Source: | BD Biosciences |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | FP00027162 |
| Date: | 2025 - 2030 |
| Title: | UPR/MDACC: Partnership for Excellence in Cancer Research (Linked Application 1 of 2) |
| Funding Source: | NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | 2U54CA096300-21A1 |
| Date: | 2024 - 2029 |
| Title: | Implementing HPV Vaccination in HIV Treatment Settings (INVITE) For Young Women Living with HIV in Eswatini |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2024 - 2029 |
| Title: | Sample-to-answer HPV DNA nucleic acid test for cervical cancer screening in Mozambique |
| Funding Source: | National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute |
| Role: | Co-PI |
| ID: | 1U01CA292741-01 |
| Date: | 2024 - 2029 |
| Title: | Family Eats 2: Hybrid 1 Effectiveness-Implementation Trial |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Co-PI |
| Date: | 2024 - 2029 |
| Title: | Implementing HPV Vaccination in HIV Treatment Settings (INVITE) for Young Women and Girls Living with HIV in Eswatini |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | 1U01CA294753-01 |
| Date: | 2024 - 2025 |
| Title: | Understanding the impact of heterogeneity in psychosocial factors and social determinants of health on cancer treatment receipt among Zambia women diagnosed with cervical cancer |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | 3R01CA28463-01 |
| Date: | 2024 - 2029 |
| Title: | Expanding Access to Cervical Cancer Screening through Primary HR-HPV Testing and Self-Sampling: A Multi-Component Intervention for Safety Net Health Systems |
| Funding Source: | Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | PP240017 |
| Date: | 2024 - 2028 |
| Title: | Initiative for Innovation and Translation of Point-of-Care Technologies for Equitable Cancer Care in Texas (ITEX)- HPV POC |
| Funding Source: | William Marsh Rice University |
| Role: | Co-PI |
| Date: | 2023 - 2028 |
| Title: | Family Eats 2: Hybrid 1 Effectiveness-Implementation Trial |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Co-PI |
| Date: | 2023 - 2024 |
| Title: | Prevención en sus Manos: Feasibility of a Novel Community-Based Strategy to Improve Access to Cervical Cancer Screening in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas |
| Funding Source: | MD Anderson COE FUT |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2022 - 2024 |
| Title: | Expanding a pragmatic randomized trial to assess mailed self-sample HPV testing to increase cervical cancer screening participation among Asian immigrant women in a safety net health system |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NIMH |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | 3R01MD013715-04S2 |
| Date: | 2022 - 2023 |
| Title: | Enhancing Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Data Collection across the Duncan Cancer Center - Administrative Supplement |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | P30 CA125123-16S1 |
| Date: | 2022 - 2027 |
| Title: | Advancing the Implementation of Evidence-Based Strategies for Tobacco Prevention and HPV Vaccination in Pediatric Safety Net Settings |
| Funding Source: | Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | PP220038 |
| Date: | 2022 - 2024 |
| Title: | The Baylor College of Medicine-MD Anderson-Harris Health Cancer Patient Navigation (CANTO) Collaborative |
| Funding Source: | American Cancer Society |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2022 - 2027 |
| Title: | MD Anderson-Baylor College of Medicine-BU Research Base Consortium (MBRACE) toward Elimination of Cervical Cancer in Women Living with HIV |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Co-PI |
| Date: | 2022 - 2024 |
| Title: | Examining Racial/Ethnic Differences and Determinants of Self-Sample HPV Testing and Usual Care Cervical Cancer Screening Uptake in a Safety Net Health System - Diversity Supplement to NIH/NIMHD |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NIMH |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | 3R01MD013715-04S1 |
| Date: | 2021 - 2026 |
| Title: | Strengthening Safety Net Health Systems to Improve Cervical and Colorectal Screening and Follow-Up among the Medically Underserved |
| Funding Source: | Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas |
| Role: | Co-PI |
| ID: | PP210007 |
| Date: | 2020 - 2022 |
| Title: | Modifying the Home Environment to Promote and Support Child Obesity Prevention- Administrative Supplement to NCI P30 Cancer Center Support Grants to Support Community Outreach and Engagement (COE) Activities across the Translational Research Continuum |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | P30 CA125123-14S5 |
| Date: | 2019 - 2022 |
| Title: | Expanding a Community Network for Cancer Prevention to Increase HPV Vaccine Uptake and Tobacco Prevention in a Medically Underserved Pediatric Population |
| Funding Source: | Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | PP190051 |
| Date: | 2019 - 2026 |
| Title: | A Randomized Controlled Trial of Mail-Self Stamped HPV Testing to Increase Cervical Cancer Screening Participation Among Minority/Underserved Women in an Integrated Safety Net Healthcare System |
| Funding Source: | National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Mental Health |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | R01MD013715 |
| Date: | 2017 - 2022 |
| Title: | Expanding a Community Network for Cancer Prevention to Improve Cervical and Colorectal Screening and Follow-up Among an Urban Medically Underserved Population |
| Funding Source: | Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | PP170094 |
| Date: | 2016 - 2022 |
| Title: | Leveraging a Community Network for Cancer Prevention to Increase HPV Vaccine Uptake and Completion among Pediatric Patients in a Safety Net Healthcare Setting |
| Funding Source: | Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | P160079 |
| Date: | 2009 - 2011 |
| Title: | Sexual HIV Risk-Related Behaviors among Undocumented Central American Immigrant Women in Houston, Texas (Dissertation Research Grant) |
| Funding Source: | Centers for Disease Control (CDC) |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | R36 PS001440-01 |
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Nogueras Gonzalez, G, Amboree, TL, Parker, SL, Bulsara, S, Deshmukh, AA, Daheri, ME, Hilsenbeck, SG, Adsul, P, Schmeler, KM, Scheurer, ME, Chiao, EY, Montealegre, JR. Barriers to cervical cancer screening and experiences using mailed at-home HPV self-collection kits among US and foreign-born Hispanic women in a safety net health system. Gynecologic oncology 211:238-245, 2026. e-Pub 2026. PMID: 42468446.
- Spencer, JC, Montealegre, JR, Calderon-Mora, J, Pignone, M. Breast, Cervical, and Colorectal Cancer Screening Rates in Women Aged 45 to 64 Years. JAMA Network Open 9(5), 2026. e-Pub 2026. PMID: 42138919.
- Amboree, TL, Adsul, P, Damgacioglu, H, Schmeler, KM, Chiao, EY, Cruz, R, Sonawane, K, Deshmukh, AA, Montealegre, JR. National Outcomes of Increasing Cervical Cancer Screening in Federally Qualified Health Centers. JAMA Network Open 8(10), 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 41123893.
- Tranh V, Spezia-Lindner N, Bilal M, Liu Y, Montealegre JR, Gould-Suarez M. Epidemiology of Early-onset Colorectal Cancer in a Safety-net Hospital System in Texas. J Clin Gastroenterol 59(9):869-869, 2025. e-Pub 2025.
- Montealegre JR, Hilsenbeck SG, Bulsara S, Parker SL, Amboree TL, Anderson ML, Daheri ML, Jibaja-Weiss ML, Schmeler KM, Deshmukh AA, Chiao EY, Scheurer ME. Self-Collection for Cervical Cancer Screening in a Safety-Net Setting: The PRESTIS Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Intern Med 185(9):1119-1127, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 40478588.
- Amboree TR, Montealegre JR, Damgacioglu H, Orr B, Wrangle J, Sonawane K, Deshmukh AA. County-level cervical cancer screening coverage and differences in incidence and mortality. JAMA Netw Open 8(8):e2526709, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 40802187.
- Parker, SL, Ayala-Ramirez, M, Montealegre, JR, Scheurer, ME. Implementing a stakeholder-informed approach for standardized collection of sexual orientation and gender identity data. Journal of the National Cancer Institute - Monographs 2025(69):134-138, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 40671548.
- Amboree TL, Damgacioglu H, Chiao EY, Schmeler KM, Sonawane K, Deshmukh AA, Montealegre JR. Rural-Urban Disparities in Cervical Cancer Incidence and Mortality Among US Women. JAMA Netw Open, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 40029664.
- Sokale, IO, Kuo, DC, Hoppenot, C, Reitzel, LR, Juarez, LH, Hernandez, KJ, Parker, SL, Amos, CI, Daheri, ME, Keene, KR, Montealegre, JR, Thrift, AP. Self-Collection for Primary HPV Testing: Acceptability in a Large Urban Emergency Department. Annals of emergency medicine 85(3):249-257, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 39545880.
- Sokale, IO, Montealegre, JR, Amuta, A, Oluyomi, AO, Thrift, AP. Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Among US-Born and Foreign-Born Adults Aged 18 to 26 Years in the United States. Vaccines 13(2), 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 40006645.
- Amboree TL, Adsul P, Damgacioglu H, Schmeler KM, Chiao EY, Cruz R, Sonawane K, Deshmukh AA, Montealegre JR. National Outcomes of Increasing Cervical Cancer Screening in Federally Qualified Health Centers. JAMA Netw Open, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 41123893.
- Alvarez VHA, Amboree TL, Mitchell P, Badr HJ, Montealegre JR. Nativity Disparities in Colorectal Cancer Screening Among Hispanics in the United States. J Immigr Minor Health 26(4):632-640, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38635108.
- Amboree, TL, Montealegre, JR, Parker, SL, Garg, A, Damgacioglu, H, Schmeler, KM, Chiao, EY, Hill, EG, Sonawane, K, Deshmukh, AA, Adsul, P. National Breast, Cervical, and Colorectal Cancer Screening Use in Federally Qualified Health Centers. JAMA Internal Medicine 184(6):671-679, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38683574.
- Hutcheson KA, Aldridge EF, Warneke CL, Buoy SN, Tang X, Macdonald C, Alvarez CP, Barringer DA, Barbon CE, Ebersole BM, McMillan H, Montealegre JR. Clinical Implementation of DIGEST as an Evidence- Based Practice Tool for Videofluoroscopy in Oncology: A Six- Year Single Institution Implementation Evaluation. Dysphagia 40(1):220-230, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38935170.
- Amboree, TL, Damgacioglu, H, Sonawane, K, Adsul, P, Montealegre, JR, Deshmukh, AA. Recent trends in cervical cancer incidence, stage at diagnosis, and mortality according to county-level income in the United States, 2000–2019. International Journal of Cancer 154(9):1549-1555, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38270521.
- Parker SL, Amboree TL, Bulsara S, Daheri M, Anderson ML, Hilsenbeck SG, Jibaja-Weiss ML, Zare M, Schmeler KM, Deshmukh AA, Chiao EY, Scheurer ME, Montealegre JR. Self-Sampling for Human Papillomavirus Testing: Acceptability in a U.S. Safety Net Health System. Am J Prev Med 66(3):540-547, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 37935320.
- Thompson, DI, Callender, C, Dave, JM, Jibaja-Weiss, M, Montealegre, JR. Health equity in action: Using community-engaged research to update an intervention promoting a healthy home food environment to Black/African American families. Cancer Causes and Control 35(2):311-321, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 37736870.
- Parker S, Deshmukh AA, Chen B, Lairson DR, Daheri M, Vernon SW, Montealegre JR. Perceived barriers to cervical cancer screening and motivators for at-home human papillomavirus self-sampling during the COVID-19 pandemic: Results from a telephone survey. Elife 12, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37232493.
- Amboree TL, Sonawane K, Deshmukh AA, Montealegre JR. Regular Healthcare Provider Status Does Not Moderate Racial/Ethnic Differences in Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and HPV Vaccine Knowledge. Vaccines (Basel) 9(7), 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34358219.
- Spezia-Lindner, NJ, Montealegre, JR, Daheri, ME, Harris, SL, Muldrew, KL, Suarez, MG. Use of fecal immunochemical testing in acute patient care in a safety net hospital system. Journal of Clinical Outcomes Management 28(2):82-89, 2021. e-Pub 2021.
- McGee LU, Ressler KS, Boom JA, Bulsara S, Sangi-Haghpeykar H, Jibaja-Weiss ML, Montealegre JR. Incomplete Records as a Leading Cause of Missed Opportunity for Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Initiation in a Safety Net Health System. Acad Pediatr 21(7):1118-1125, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 33359360.
- Montealegre JR, Anderson ML, Hilsenbeck SG, Chiao EY, Cantor SB, Parker SL, Daheri M, Bulsara S, Escobar B, Deshmukh AA, Jibaja-Weiss ML, Zare M, Scheurer ME. Mailed self-sample HPV testing kits to improve cervical cancer screening in a safety net health system: protocol for a hybrid effectiveness-implementation randomized controlled trial. Trials 21(1):872, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 33087164.
- Suk R, Montealegre JR, Nemutlu GS, Nyitray AG, Schmeler KM, Sonawane K, Deshmukh AA. Public Knowledge of Human Papillomavirus and Receipt of Vaccination Recommendations. JAMA Pediatr 173(11):1099-1102, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31524931.
- Ho LH, JR M, Al-Arabi S, Jibaja-Weiss ML, Suarez MG. Impact of Colonoscopy Preparation Video on Boston Bowel Preparation Scale Score. Gastroenterol Nurs 42(3):251-258, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31145249.
- Montealegre JR, Peckham-Gregory EC, Marquez-Do D, Dillon L, Guillaud M, Adler-Storthz K, Follen M, Scheurer ME. Racial/ethnic differences in HPV 16/18 genotypes and integration status among women with a history of cytological abnormalities. Gynecol Oncol 148(2):357-362, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29276057.
- Kline KN, Montealegre JR, Rustveld LO, Glover TL, Chauca G, Reed BC, Jibaja-Weiss ML. Incorporating Cultural Sensitivity into Interactive Entertainment-Education for Diabetes Self-Management Designed for Hispanic Audiences. J Health Commun 21(6):658-68, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27166651.
- Montealegre JR, Landgren RM, Anderson ML, Hoxhaj S, Williams S, Robinson DJ, Scheurer ME, Ramondetta LM. Acceptability of self-sample human papillomavirus testing among medically underserved women visiting the emergency department. Gynecol Oncol 138(2):317-22, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 26026733.
- Montealegre JR, Mullen PD, L Jibaja-Weiss M, Vargas Mendez MM, Scheurer ME. Feasibility of Cervical Cancer Screening Utilizing Self-sample Human Papillomavirus Testing Among Mexican Immigrant Women in Harris County, Texas: A Pilot Study. J Immigr Minor Health 17(3):704-12, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 25358741.
- Montealegre JR, Gossey JT, Anderson ML, Chenier RS, Chauca G, Rustveld LO, Jibaja-Weiss ML. Implementing targeted cervical cancer screening videos at the point of care. Patient Educ Couns 97(3):426-9, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 25269411.
- Zhou R, JR M, Amirian ES, Scheurer ME. Reply to limitations in the imputation strategy to handle missing nativity data in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program. Cancer 120(20):3262-3, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 24962422.
- Montealegre JR, Selwyn BJ. Healthcare coverage and use among undocumented Central American immigrant women in Houston, Texas. J Immigr Minor Health 16(2):204-10, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 23224739.
- Risser JM, Montealegre JR. Comparison of surveillance sample demographics over two cycles of the National HIV Behavioral Surveillance Project, Houston, Texas. AIDS Behav 18 Suppl 3:382-90, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 23907399.
- Whitehouse KC, Montealegre JR, Follen M, Scheurer ME, Aagaard K. Sociodemographic factors associated with pap test adherence and cervical dysplasia in surgically sterilized women. J Reprod Infertil 15(2):94-104, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 24918082.
- Montealegre JR, Zhou R, Amirian ES, Scheurer ME. Uncovering nativity disparities in cancer patterns: Multiple imputation strategy to handle missing nativity data in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results data file. Cancer 120(8):1203-11, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 24436157.
- Montealegre JR, Zhou R, Amirian ES, Follen M, Scheurer ME. Nativity disparities in late-stage diagnosis and cause-specific survival among Hispanic women with invasive cervical cancer: an analysis of Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results data. Cancer Causes Control 24(11):1985-94, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 23934001.
- Montealegre JR, Johnston LG, Murrill C, Monterroso E. Respondent driven sampling for HIV biological and behavioral surveillance in Latin America and the Caribbean. AIDS Behav 17(7):2313-40, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 23568227.
- Montealegre JR, Follen M, Scheurer ME. Nativity differences in behaviors associated with high-risk HPV infection among Hispanic women in Houston, Texas, USA. J Immigr Minor Health 15(4):836-41, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 23300005.
- Montealegre JR, Risser JM, Selwyn BJ, McCurdy SA, Sabin K. Effectiveness of respondent driven sampling to recruit undocumented Central American immigrant women in Houston, Texas for an HIV behavioral survey. AIDS Behav 17(2):719-27, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 22961500.
- Montealegre JR, Risser JM, Selwyn BJ, McCurdy SA, Sabin K. Prevalence of HIV risk behaviors among undocumented Central American immigrant women in Houston, Texas. AIDS Behav 16(6):1641-8, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 22249955.
- Montealegre JR, Risser JM, Selwyn BJ, Sabin K, McCurdy SA. HIV testing behaviors among undocumented Central American immigrant women in Houston, Texas. J Immigr Minor Health 14(1):116-23, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 21964937.
- Montealegre JR, Koers EM, Bryson RS, Murray KO. An innovative public health preparedness training program for graduate students. Public Health Rep 126(3):441-6, 2011. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 21553674.
- Koers EM, Montealegre JR, Bryson RS, Murray KO. Experiences of the Student Epidemic Intelligence Society in strengthening public health response and epidemiologic capacity. Public Health Rep 125(6):922-8, 2010. e-Pub 2010. PMID: 21121239.
- Richards JE, Risser JM, Padgett PM, Rehman HU, Wolverton ML, Arafat RR. Condom use among high-risk heterosexual women with concurrent sexual partnerships, Houston, Texas, USA. Int J STD AIDS 19(11):768-71, 2008. e-Pub 2008. PMID: 18931271.
Review Articles
- Spencer JC, Montealegre JR, Calderón-Mora J. Breast, Cervical, and Colorectal Cancer Screening Rates in Women Aged 45 to 64 Years. JAMA Netw Open 9(5), 2026. e-Pub 2026.
Abstracts
- Nogueras Gonzalez GM, Amboree TL, Parker S, Bulsara S, Deshmukh A, Daheri M, Hilsenbeck S, Adsul P, Schmeler KM, Scheurer ME, Chiao E, Montealegre J. Barriers to cervical cancer screening and experiences using mailed at-home HPV self-collection kits among US and foreign-born Hispanic women in a safety net health system 211(August 2026):238-245, 2026. e-Pub 2026.
Letters to the Editor
- Fallah, PN, Montealegre, JR, Schmeler, KM, Salcedo, MP, Williams-Brown, Y. In Reply:. Obstetrics and gynecology 147: e39-e40, 2026.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified September 16, 2026