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Katrina R. Ellis

Associate Professor of Social Work, School of Social Work, Associate Professor of Health Behavior and Health Education, School of Public Health, and Faculty Associate, Research Center for Group Dynamics, Institute for Social Research

Katrina R. Ellis

Katrina R. Ellis is an associate professor at the School of Social Work. Her research interests include family health interventions, cancer survivorship, racial and ethnic disparities in health, and family management of chronic health conditions. An overarching goal of her research is to support the health of families facing multiple, coexisting illnesses, with a specific focus on African Americans. Dr. Ellis employs a range of qualitative and quantitative methodologies in her work with families, clinicians and community groups. Her published research includes examinations of the influence of co-occurring illnesses on the psychosocial and behavioral health and well-being of cancer survivors and their family caregivers using quantitative dyadic data analysis techniques. She has also published research investigating psychosocial factors that influence the health behaviors and well-being of African Americans. Dr. Ellis' future program of research includes the design and implementation of interventions to support the quality of life and healthy lifestyle and coping behaviors of cancer survivors, caregivers and family members.

She completed a postdoctoral fellowship with the Cancer Health Disparities Training Program (Department of Health Behavior, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health), the Center for Health Equity Research (Department of Social Medicine, School of Medicine) and Carolina Postdoctoral Program for Faculty Diversity at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. During her time as a postdoctoral fellow, she worked with community-based participatory research projects in Greensboro and Rocky Mount, North Carolina focused on reducing the disproportionate burden of cancer morbidity and mortality and cardiovascular disease risk among African Americans and on digital health projects to support the wellbeing of peer supporters and families after a cancer diagnosis. Dr. Ellis is also a former Peace Corps Volunteer, having served as a Health Promotion Officer with the Ministry of Health in Fiji.

Research Interests/Focus

African American family health interventions; cancer prevention and survivorship; self and family management of multiple chronic conditions; racial and ethnic disparities in health; digital health; community-based participatory research

Contact Information

PhoneEmailRoomAddress
(734) 615-3487[email protected]3849 SSWBUniversity of Michigan
School of Social Work
1080 S. University
Ann Arbor, MI 48109

Education

Year Degree   School
2015 PhD Public Health - Health Behavior & Health Education University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
2008 MSW Interpersonal Practice/Health University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
2008 MPH HBHE University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
2002 BA Secondary Education/Art Xavier University

News

Year Description
2025 Ellis, K.R. (January 2025). Roundtable presentation on “Dyadic healthresearch: promise, pitfalls, and emerging directions” to be presented at the Society forSocial Work Research (SSWR) Annual Conference in Seattle, Washington. Role:Presenter with T. Thompson (Organizer/Chair).
2025 Ellis, K.R. (January 2025). Symposium “Improving health & health equityamong middle aged-and older adults by targeting modifiable socio-contextual factors” to bepresented at the Society for Social Work Research (SSWR) Annual Conference inSeattle, Washington. Role: Organizer/Chair.
2024 Nguyen, A. & Ellis, K.R. (November, 2024). Symposium “Enhancing support systemsfor older adults' health and well-being: A health equity approach” to be presented at theGerontological Society of America (GSA) Annual Conference in Seattle, Washington.Role: Co-Chair with A. Nguyen (Chair).
2024 Ellis, K.R. & Woodard, A. (October, 2024). Managing research teams. Seminarpresentation for the Michigan Center for Urban African American Aging Research(MCUAAAR) Scholar Program.
2024 Smith, M., Ellis, K.R., Wayas, F.A, Contreras, A., Vincent, C., Perez, S., Resnicow,K. Stoffel, E. (September, 2024). Development of an ehealth intervention to promoteAfrican American family communication about and use of genetic testing for hereditarycancers. Michigan Momentum: Showcasing the Cutting Edge of Social Work Science.
2024 Ellis, K.R. (September, 2024). Panelist on “Career paths in the academy” panel for theUniversity of Michigan Institute for Social Research (ISR) CONNECT Early CareerCohort Panel.
2024 Ellis, K.R. & Smith, M. (May, 2024). Highlighting the critical role of family caregiving incancer care. Presentation for “Rethinking Cancer Care: A Symposium on Family Caregiving and Healthcare Delivery” at the University of Basel in Basel, Switzerland.
2024 Thompson, H. & Ellis, K.R. (February, 2024). Career development award. Seminarpresentation for the Michigan Center for Urban African American Aging Research(MCUAAAR) Scholar Program.
2024 3. Ellis, K.R. (January, 2024). Understanding and supporting African American adults withcancer and their families. Invited presentation to the Hematology/Oncology FellowsProgram at the University of Michigan.
2023 Ellis, K.R., Jones, C., Raji, D., Smith, F., Ellis, J., Langford, A., & Veenstra, C. (2023). Investigating post-treatment health needs of Black American families after a cancer diagnosis. Paper presentation at Society for Social Work Research (SSWR) Annual Conference.
2023 Ellis, K.R. (2023). Writing a K-Award with the reviewer in mind. Panel presentation to be presented at the Programs to Increase Diversity Among Individuals Engaged in Health Related Research (PRIDE) 2023 Annual Meeting.
2023 Ellis, K.R., Wayas, F., *Vincent, C., *Smith, M., *Contreras, A., & *Perez, S. (2023). Facing Forward research study: Update and next steps. Virtual community dinner and presentation to families participating in the Facing Forward Research Study at the University of Michigan.
2023 Ellis, K.R. (2023). Subject matter expert panel member for June 2023 American Cancer Society Health Equity & Caregiving Series: How social determinants of health impact caregiving.
2023 Ellis, K.R., *Smith, M., Wayas, F., *Contreras, A., *Vincent, C. *Perez, S., Resnicow, K., & Stoffel, E. (2023). Facilitators and barriers to communication about cancer genetic testing among African American families. Poster presentation at the NCI Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities (CRCHD) Professional Development Workshop.
2023 Ellis, K.R. (2023). Subject matter expert panel member for July 2023 American Cancer Society Health Equity & Caregiving Series: Medical mistrust (part 1) – historical examples and its relation to health equity.
2023 Ellis, K. R., Smith, M., Wayas, F., Contreras, A., Vincent, C. Perez, S., Resnicow, K., & Stoffel, E. (2023). Preliminary findings from a research study to support African American families in communicating about and engaging in cancer genetic testing. Oral presentation (flash talk) at the NCI Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities (CRCHD) Professional Development Workshop.
2023 Ellis, K.R. (2023). Subject matter expert panel member for August 2023 American Cancer Society Health Equity & Caregiving Series: Medical mistrust (part 2) – how to address it in your health system.
2023 Ellis, K.R. (2023). Subject matter expert panel member for September 2023 American Cancer Society Health Equity & Caregiving Series: Mental health and caregiving.
2022 Langford, A., Ellis, K.R., Eddens, K., Orellana, K., & Buderer, N. (2022). Correlates of having family and friends to talk with about health: an analysis of the Health Information National Trends Survey. Poster at the Society for Behavioral Medicine (SBM) 2022 Annual Meeting.
2022 Ellis, K.R., *Raji, D., *Jones, C., Veenstra, C., & Langford, A. (2022) Family disease management and health behaviors among early-stage Black American cancer survivors and family members. Poster presented at the Society for Behavioral Medicine (SBM) 2022 Annual Meeting.
2022 Ellis, K.R. (2022). Understanding and supporting the health of African American cancer survivors and their family caregivers. Completed works recorded presentation at the 2022 RCMAR Annual Conference.
2022 Koumoutzis, A., Ellis, K.R., Lewis, J.P., Lin, Z., Zhou, Y., Chopik, W., & Gonzalez, R. (2022). All hands on deck: Conceptualizing and operationalizing collaboration within care networks. Paper presentation at the Gerontological Society of American (GSA) Annual Conference.
2021 Ellis, K.R. & *Jones, C. (2021). Health literacy & engaged decision-making across the cancer care continuum. Panel presentation at the Health Literacy Annual Research Conference (HARC).
2021 Ellis. K.R. (2021). Cancer and caregiving among older Black Americans and families. Symposium paper presentation at the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) Annual Conference.
2021 Ellis, K.R. (2021). Cancer Treatment and Survivorship among Black Adults and Families. Leon and Josephine Winkelman Memorial Virtual Lecture – Part II (Panelist). University of Michigan, School of Social Work.
2021 Ellis, K.R. (2021). Obesity, health behaviors, and chronic disease among non-Hispanic Black caregivers and non-caregivers. Programs to Increase Diversity Among Individuals Engaged in Health Related Research (PRIDE) 2021 Annual Meeting.
2021 Ellis, K.R., Oh, S., Hecht, H., Northouse, L.N. (2021). Symptom Distress and Quality of Life Among Middle-Age and Older Black Americans with Cancer and Their Caregivers. Society for Social Work Research (SSWR) Annual Conference.
2020 Ellis, K.R. (2020, April). Similarities and differences in health behaviors among non-Hispanic Black caregivers and non-caregivers. Poster presentation at the Programs to Increase Diversity Among Individuals Engaged in Health Related Research (PRIDE) Annual Meeting, Virtual Meeting.
2020 Ellis, K.R., Hecht, H., Oh.S., Raji, D., Northouse, L. (2020, March; postponed due to coronavirus). Understanding and Supporting the Health of Black American Adults and Families after a Cancer Diagnosis. Poster presentation at the Resource Centers for Minority Aging Research (RCMAR) Annual Conference, Virtual Meeting.
2020 Ellis, K.R., Brewer, R., Janevic, M., Wilson, N. (2020, August). Beyond Four Walls: A Virtual Center for Seniors in Southeast Michigan, The Silver Center. Virtual presentation for community and academic stakeholders.
2019 Ellis, K.R. (2019, April). Family and Peer-Based Approaches to Promoting Healthy Behaviors & Quality of Life Among African American Cancer Survivors. Oral presentation for the Cancer Health Disparities Working Group, Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan.
2019 Ellis, K.R. (2019, June). “We” in Wellness: Community-Engaged Research with Families and Caregivers. Invited speaker at the Second Annual 2019 Wayne State University & Karmanos Cancer Institute Community Engaged Research (CEnR) Symposium, Detroit, MI.

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