Jennifer L. Hay, PhD

Through the health behavior change and cancer risk reduction laboratory at our Center’s Behavioral Sciences Service, I focus on two areas in particular: the science of risk perception, and cancer genomics and behavior. I work to optimize the translation of novel basic science, genomic, and epidemiological findings in cancer to health decision making among individuals across diverse populations and settings.

This work involves understanding cancer risk perceptions in the adoption of cancer prevention strategies, and psychological and behavioral approaches to melanoma prevention, control, and therapeutics. Psychological aspects of cancer genomics also play a role. I have been funded by the National Institutes of Health to address these issues since 2001.

I also serve as a member of Memorial Sloan-Kettering’s Institutional Review Board, which meets regularly to review our hospital’s ongoing and proposed clinical research trials. On a national level, I serve as core teaching faculty for the trans-NIH Advanced Training Institute on Health Behavior Theory.

I am also a member of the Psychosocial Workgroup within the Clinical Cancer Genetics Board for the National Cancer Institute’s Physician Data Query comprehensive database, and the Society of Behavioral Medicine’s Health Decision Making Special Interest Group.