Stephanie Gilbertson-White, PhD

Associate Professor
Program
Nursing
Research project title

Multimorbidity and Cancer Symptom Science: Using data-science and AI to develop symptom management interventions for people in rural areas

Research description

Dr. Stephanie Gilbertson-White is an Associate Professor with tenure in Nursing with a program of research in cancer symptom science. Her long-term goal is to better understand the 1) trajectories and impact of cancer symptoms, 2) the associated biological and psychological mechanisms, and 3) to provide tailored symptom management support to underserved patients with advanced cancer. She has over 23 years of clinical experience and 19 years of research experience on multidisciplinary teams working with patients with chronic and life-limiting diseases.

Dr. Gilbertson-White's research experience includes both patient-reported measures and biomarkers of immunoreactivity. Her current research focus on identifying the psychological and biological factors associated with increased risk of developing distressing symptoms in patients with cancer and multiple chronic conditions, and developing and testing a symptom self-management interventions for patients with cancer living in rural areas entitled OASIS. These broad areas of research cross several unique domains of science: rural, advanced cancer, palliative care, psychological factors, and inflammatory response. In addition, Dr. Gilbertson-White maintains an active clinical practice as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse in the Palliative Care Clinic in the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics.

Undergraduate minimum qualifications

Health science interest preferred (such ass nursing, social work, pre-med, public health, psychology, biomedical engineering, health informatics)

Undergraduate role

Undergraduates participate in all stages of the research process from reviewing the literature and forming research questions, to consenting participants, collecting data, analyzing survey results, interviewing and coding qualitative data, data-mining the medical record, and helping with dissemination in the form of posters and manuscripts.