Jessica Chubak, PhD

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“My research focuses on improving cancer control by finding effective ways to get screened for cancer and to navigate treatment and survivorship.”

Jessica Chubak, PhD

Senior Investigator, Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute

Biography

Jessica Chubak, PhD, is an epidemiologist who works to improve cancer diagnosis, treatment, control, and survivorship. She contributes to several national collaborations that are finding practical, efficient, effective ways to screen for cancer, especially colorectal cancer. She also studies how common medications affect cancer risk and recurrence. Intrigued by how pets positively affect health, Dr. Chubak is studying animal-assisted activities in clinics and hospitals where children get treated for cancer. Dr. Chubak’s methodological research focuses on the use of administrative and electronic health record data in epidemiologic and health services studies.

Dr. Chubak joined KPWHRI in 2007, bringing expertise in epidemiologic methods, pharmacoepidemiology, and cancer. Awarded a Fulbright graduate student grant, Dr. Chubak pursued her master's degree in bioethics and health law in New Zealand before completing her PhD in Epidemiology at the University of Washington (UW). Dr. Chubak is an affiliate associate professor in the Department of Epidemiology at the UW School of Public Health, where she enjoys guest-lecturing and getting to work with students.

Research interests and experience

 

Recent publications

Hawkins V, Foster-Schubert K, Chubak J, Sorensen B, Ulrich CM, Stancyzk FZ, Plymate S, Stanford J, White E, Potter JD, McTiernan A. Effect of exercise on serum sex hormones in men: a 12-month randomized clinical trial. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2008;40(2):223-233. PubMed

Chubak J, Buist DS, Boudreau DM, Rossing MA, Lumley T, Weiss NS. Breast cancer recurrence risk in relation to antidepressant use after diagnosis. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment. 2008;112(1):123-32. Epub 2007 Dec 6. PubMed

Ulrich CM, Chubak J, McTiernan A. Re: Exercise, vitamins and respiratory tract infections. American Journal of Medicine. 2007 Dec;120(12):e19. PubMed

Chubak J, Doherty JA, Cushing-Haugen KL, Voigt LF, Saltzman BS, Hill DA, Beresford SAA, Weiss NS. Endometrial cancer risk in estrogen users after switching to estrogen-progestin therapy. Cancer Causes Control. 2007 Nov;18(9):1001-1007. PubMed

Chubak J, Tuzzio L, Hsu C, Alfano CM, Rabin B, Hornbrook MC, Spegman A, Von Worley A, Williams A, Nehklyudov L. Providing care for cancer survivors in integrated health care delivery systems: practices, challenges, and research opportunities. J Oncol Pract. 2012 May;8(3):184-9. doi: 10.1200/JOP.2011.000312. Epub 2012 Jan 24. PubMed

Chubak J. What can epidemiology contribute to comparative effectiveness research? J Epidemiol Community Health. 2013;67:3 206-7. doi:10.1136/jech-2012-201682. Epub 2012 Nov 23. PubMed

 

Research

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Study sheds light on needs of young people with cancer

Understanding emergency department use among adolescent and young adult cancer survivors can help address care gaps.

Research

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Improving cancer prevention and early detection

How KPWHRI is contributing to better cancer screening and better outcomes for patients.

Research

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How did the pandemic impact hospital visits with animals?

Top pediatric oncology hospitals reported lasting changes to programs involving visits with animals.