Shine Chang, Ph.D.
Department of Health Disparities Research, Division of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences
About Dr. Chang
I am a University of Texas System Distinguished Teaching Professor, a full professor within the Department of Epidemiology (term-tenured), and director of the Cancer Prevention Research Training Program (CPRTP), a large, federally funded training program at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. The CPRTP is a multidisciplinary research training program that recruits and prepares undergraduates to postdoctoral fellows for careers in cancer prevention and control. Using funds from donors and three NIH R25 awards that I lead as PI, the CPRTP annually supports more than 50 trainees in multi-year appointments and short-term cancer prevention research experiences.
I am deeply committed to strengthening the biomedical workforce in cancer research, in its diversity and in the career skills needed for success. My team and I publish and disseminate innovative training methods, tested, evaluated and used in our training program, in order to expand the evidence for training interventions that lighten the work of mentors and their trainees in their learning partnerships. At MD Anderson, for the last five years, our two oldest training programs have had more than 25% of trainees from under-represented minority groups, achieved through our purposeful recruitment efforts. Those whom I have mentored directly, including multiple individuals from underrepresented minority groups, have won awards for their published research with me, and now hold tenure-track faculty positions leading cancer prevention research at institutions across the nation.
I have more than two decades of experience as a published cancer epidemiologist, leading multidisciplinary research on bio-behavioral determinants of obesity. I lead an ancillary study using data from the Observational Study of the Women’s Health Initiative with collaborators from seven centers outside MD Anderson. This project focuses on genetic, hormonal and behavioral determinants of obesity as a cancer risk factor. Previous work has incorporated nutritional epidemiology approaches and now, we have evaluated the role of adipocytokines in weight gain and obesity, and are currently organizing genotype data for combined analyses.
My skills and experience have led me to leadership opportunities at my home institution and within professional societies. Such roles provide me with access to leaders well-positioned to help me in my efforts locally and nationally. Broader goals include creating innovative career development programs for early career scientists and junior faculty, including establishing in 1999 the American Society for Preventive Oncology Early Career members group that organizes activities at the annual meetings attended by nearly one-third of meeting participants. I have taught annually since 2005 for the AAMC's Group on Women in Medicine (GWIM) Programs, on grantsmanship, scientific writing, research mentoring, and mostly recently on burnout prevention and resilience. I was PI for an NIH R01 project subaward evaluating the impact of intensive career development programs, including the AAMC GWIM and Drexel University Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine program, on the career trajectories of women faculty in academic health science centers. I also co-lead NIH R01-funded research on factors that influence retention of junior scientists in research careers, particularly factors related to mentoring and scientific communication skill development.
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Professor, Department of Epidemiology, Division of OVP, Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Special Advisor, Mexican American Cohort Mano a Mano Study, Department of Epidemiology, Division of OVP, Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Research Interests
obesity and cancer risk health scientist training and education cancer prevention and education career development and scientific writing
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 1995 | University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA, PhD, Epidemiology |
| 1992 | University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA, MSPH, Epidemiology |
| 1991 | Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA, Fellow, Epidemiology |
| 1986 | Brown University, Providence, RI, USA, BS, Biology |
Postgraduate Training
| 2011-2011 | Advanced Professional Training, Workshop for Women Professors (led by Janet Bickel), Women's Faculty Programs, MD Anderson Cancer Center Women Faculty Programs, Houston, TX |
| 1995-1997 | Cancer Prevention Postdoctoral Fellowship (NCI R25T), Epidemiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX |
Experience & Service
Administrative Appointments/Responsibilities
Leader PI, Mexican American Cohort Mano a Mano Study, Department of Epidemiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2018 - 2020
Institutional Committee Activities
Educational Sub-Committee Member, Institutional Ad Hoc Expense Analysis Steering Committee, 2011 - 2011
Member, Post-Doctoral Fellows Advisory Committee, Office of Trainee and Alumni Affairs, 2009 - 2012
Honors & Awards
| 2011 | Member, The University of Texas Academy of Health Science Education |
| 2008 | Community Outreach Award "Everything's Bigger in Texas: Biggest Loser Competition", Student Government Association, Houston Community College, Houston, TX |
| 2004 | Mentor of Merit, Outstanding Mentor Award, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Rockville, MD |
| 2004 | NIH MERIT Award, Office of Preventive Oncology, Division of Cancer Prevention, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Rockville, MD |
| 2001 | Faculty Development Academic Programs Award for Service, Office of Faculty Development, Division of Faculty Affairs, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX |
Professional Memberships
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Heredia NI*, Dong Q, Chang S, McNeill LH (*indicates trainee). Association of alcohol use and physical activity on Body Mass Index in Mexican-origin adults. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 9(3):812-819, 2022. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 33721292.
- Maldonado JA, Fu S, Chen YS, Acquati C, Yabroff KR, Banegas MP, Chang S, Conti RM, Checka CM, Peterson SK, Advani P, Ku K, Jagsi R, Giordano SH, Volk RJ, Shih YCT, Smith GL. Sensitivity of Psychosocial Distress Screening to Identify Cancer Patients at Risk for Financial Hardship During Care Delivery. JCO Oncology Practice 17(21):e1856-e1865, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34043452.
- Wu IHC*, Heredia N*, Dong Q, McNeil LH, Balachandran B, Lu Q, Chang S (*indicates trainee). Sleep Duration and Type 2 Diabetes Risk: A Prospective Study in a Population-based Mexican American Cohort. Sleep Health 7(2):168-176, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 33582048.
- Zhang X, Hoffman KL, Wei P, Gbito KYE, Joseph R, Li F, Scheet P, Chang S, Petrosino JR, Daniel CR. Baseline oral microbiome and all-cancer incidence in a cohort of non-smoking Mexican American women. Cancer Prev Res, 2021. PMID: 33277317.
- Ford CN*, Chang S, Wood A, Manson J, Garcia D, Laroche H, Bird C,Vitolins MZ (*indicates trainee). On the joint role of non-Hispanic Black race/ethnicity and weight status in predicting postmenopausal weight gain. PLOS ONE 1(6):3, 2021. PMID: 33647066.
- Chang S, Anderson CB*, Lee HY, Baldwin CD (*indicates co-first authors). Mentoring barriers, expected outcomes, and practices in scientific communication: Scale development and validation. Journal of Career Development, 2020.
- Tami-Maury I, Brown L, Lapham H,Chang, S. Community based participatory research through virtual communities. Journal of Communication in Healthcare 10(3):188-194, 2017.
- Chang S, Morahan PS, Magrane D, Helitzer D, Lee HY, Newbill S, Peng HL, Guindani M, Cardinali G. Retaining Faculty in Academic Medicine: The Impact of Career Development Programs for Women. J Womens Health (Larchmt) 25(7). e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27058451.
- Helitzer DL, Newbill SL, Cardinali G, Morahan PS, Chang S, Magrane D. Narratives of Participants in National Career Development Programs for Women in Academic Medicine: Identifying the Opportunities for Strategic Investment. J Womens Health (Larchmt) 25(4):1-11. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 26982007.
- Frazier-Wood AC+, Kim J*+, Davis J*, Jung SY*, & Chang S (+indicates co-first author), (*indicates trainee). In men, but not women dietary quality is associated with cardiovascular disease risk factors, but this relationship is mediated by body mass index (BMI). British Journal of Nutrition 113(8):1244-53, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 25812570.
- Anderson CB, Mâsse LC, Zhang H*, Coleman KJ, Chang S (*indicates trainee). Ethnic, Gender, and BMI Differences in Athletic Identity in Children and Adolescents. J Phys Act Health 8(2):200-209, 2011. PMID: 21415447.
- Anderson CB, Mâsse LC, Zhang H*, Coleman KJ, Chang S (* indicates trainee). Contribution of Athletic Identity to Child and Adolescent Physical Activity. Am J Prev Med 37(3):220-6, 2009. PMID: 19595559.
- Chang S, Mâsse LC, Moser RP, Dodd KW, Arganaraz F*, Fuemmler BF*, Jemal A (* indicates trainee). State Ranks of Incident Cancer Burden due to Overweight and Obesity in the United States, 2003. Obesity (Silver Spring) 16(7):1636-1650, 2008. e-Pub 2008. PMID: 18421271.
- Chang S, Hughes DC*, Chamberlain RM (* indicates trainee). Works-In-Progress: Guiding Junior Scientists Through Career Development Applications. J Cancer Educ 23(3):142-148, 2008. e-Pub 2008. PMID: 18709584.
- Buist DS, Kanetsky PA, Studts JL, Li L, Terry MB, Trentham-Dietz A, Chang S, American Society of Preventive Oncology Junior Members Interest Group. Recruiting and training leadership through professional societies: a report from the American Society of Preventive Oncology Junior Members Interest Group. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 15(7):1422-4, 2006. PMID: 16835350.
- Dores GM, Chang S, Berger VW, Perkins SN, Hursting SD, Weed DL. Evaluating Research Training Outcomes: Experience from the Cancer Prevention Fellowship Program at the National Cancer Institute. Acad Med 81(6):535-541, 2006. PMID: 16728801.
- Chang S, Hursting SD, Perkins SN, Dores GM, Weed DL. Adapting postdoctoral training to interdisciplinary science in the 21st century: The Cancer Prevention Fellowship Program at the National Cancer Institute. Acad Med 80(3):261-5, 2005. PMID: 15734808.
- Chang S, Buist DS, Reid M, Terry MB, Trentham-Dietz A. The characteristics and training of professionals in cancer prevention and control: a survey of the American Society for Preventive Oncology. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 13(7):1094-8, 2004. PMID: 15247118.
- Chang S, Wu X, Yu H, Spitz MR. Plasma concentrations of insulin-like growth factors among healthy adult men and postmenopausal women: associations with body composition, lifestyle, and reproductive factors. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 11(8):758-66, 2002. PMID: 12163330.
- Chang S, Hursting SD, Contois JH, Strom SS, Yamamura Y, Babaian RJ, Troncoso P, Scardino PS, Wheeler TM, Amos CI, Spitz MR. Leptin and prostate cancer. Prostate 46(1):62-67, 2001. PMID: 11170133.
- Chang S, Alderfer J, Asmar L, Buzdar A. Inflammatory breast cancer survival: the role of obesity and menopausal status at diagnosis. Breast Cancer Res Treat 64(2):157-163, 2000.
- Chang S, Buzdar AU, Hursting SD. Inflammatory breast cancer and body mass index. J Clin Oncol 16(12):3731-5, 1998. PMID: 9850015.
- Chang S, Parker SL, Pham T, Buzdar AU, Hursting SD. Inflammatory breast carcinoma incidence and survival: the surveillance, epidemiology, and end results program of the National Cancer Institute, 1975-1992. Cancer 82(12):2366-72, 1998. PMID: 9635529.
Abstracts
- Kamrudin S*, Clague J, Wilkinson A, Chang S, Vernon S W, Bondy M (* indicates trainee). Are there differences in lifestyle factors between Mexican American women with and without a family history of breast cancer?. ASPO 2012, Washington DC, 2012.
Grant & Contract Support
| Title: | Cancer Prevention Education: Student Research Experiences |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | University of Texas MD Anderson Education Programs in Cancer Prevention |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Retention in Research Careers: Mentoring in Scientific Communications Skills |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NIGMS |
| Role: | Multiple Principal Investigator |
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified August 30, 2024