Communication, Health Equity & Engagement Research (CHEER)
Areas of Interest
Health Communication • Health Equity • Cancer Survivors & Caregivers
Central to my training and research has been the drive to understand key factors that influence how people communicate about cancer and the actions that result from this communication with a focus on eliminating the influence that health disparities have in shaping and limiting decision options. My program of research focuses on promoting informed and shared decision making through effective communication and measuring and evaluating sociocultural and health disparities that influence patient information needs, knowledge, attitudes and behaviors.
Current Studies
Research Updates
Latest News
CONGRATULATIONS to our lab members:
Lillian Cai has accepted a spot in the UNC Charlotte graduate studies program in the Department of Psychology!
Alexa Williams graduated with her MPH from VCU!
Contact Information
e-mail: maria.thomson@vcuhealth.org830 East Main Street, 4th FloorRichmond, VA 23219
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New Pubs in Addressing Rural Cancer and Chronic Illness
Wright MS, Brewer AE, Wells M, Preston MA, Thomson MD, Sheppard VB. Community Recommendations for Enhanced Regional Survivorship Outcomes: A Case for Social and Structural Determinants of Health from a U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI) Designated Cancer Center. Journal of Health Research. 2022
New Pubs in Cancer Family Caregivers
Thomson MD, Van Houtven CH, Xu R, Siminoff LA. The many “costs” of transportation: Examining what cancer caregivers experience as transportation obstacles. Cancer Medicine. 2023. In press.
Thomson MD, Genderson MW, Siminoff LA. Cancer patient and Caregiver Communication about Economic Concerns and the Effect on Patient and Caregiver Partners’ Perceptions of Family Functioning. Journal of Cancer Survivorship. In Press.