Jada G. Hamilton, PhD, MPH

Assistant Attending Psychologist, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences

Jada Hamilton

Office Phone

646-888-0049

Email

hamiltoj@mskcc.org

I am a social and health psychologist whose program of behavioral research examines psychosocial aspects of cancer prevention and control. Specifically, my research aims to translate advances in genetics and genomics into improvements in patient care and public health. I am interested in understanding how people perceive, adapt to, and make decisions regarding uncertain health risk information, such as the information that people can receive through genetic and genomic testing. I am currently leading studies to assess how patients and their families respond to inherited risk information that is revealed as part of tumor sequencing (e.g., the MSK-IMPACT™ test), to evaluate alternative models for offering genetic counseling and testing to patients with cancer, and to examine the effects of novel breast cancer genetic risk feedback on patients’ decision-making, psychological, and behavioral outcomes.

I co-lead the Genomics, Risk & Health Decision Making Laboratory in Memorial Sloan Kettering’s Behavioral Sciences Service. The mission of this laboratory is to optimize the translation of novel discoveries regarding cancer risk and genomics, through research concerning cancer risk perceptions and health decision-making in patients, families, healthcare providers, and members of the general public across diverse populations and settings. Our laboratory also provides training and mentorship to students, fellows, and junior faculty involved in this research.  In addition, I have a secondary appointment in the Clinical Genetics Service of the Department of Medicine, where I am affiliated with the clinical genetics laboratory of Dr. Kenneth Offit.

I am a member of various scientific societies including the American Society of Human Genetics, American Society of Preventive Oncology, Society of Behavioral Medicine, and Society for Health Psychology. I am also a member of the Survivorship, Outcomes and Risk Program at Memorial Sloan Kettering.

Education: PhD, Stony Brook University; MPH, Columbia University

Fellowships: National Cancer Institute

Department & Service: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Behavioral Sciences Service; Department of Medicine, Division of Solid Tumor Oncology, Clinical Genetics Service

Publications

Hamilton, J. G., Shuk, E., Genoff, M. C., Rodriguez, V. M., Hay, J. L., Offit, K., & Robson, M. E. (2017). Interest and attitudes of patients with advanced cancer with regard to secondary germline findings from tumor genomic profiling. Journal of Oncology Practice, 13(7):e590-e601.

Hamilton, J. G., Genoff, M. C., Salerno, M., Amoroso, K., Boyar, S. R., Sheehan, M., Harlan Fleischut, M., Siegel, B., Arnold, A. G., Salo-Mullen, E. E., Hay, J. L., Offit, K., & Robson, M. E. (2017). Psychosocial factors associated with the uptake of contralateral prophylactic mastectomy among BRCA1/2 mutation noncarriers with newly-diagnosed breast cancer. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, 162(2), 297-306.

Hamilton, J. G., Lillie, S. E., Alden, D. L., Scherer, L., Oser, M., Rini, C., Tanaka, M., Baleix, J., Brewster, M., Craddock Lee, S., Goldstein, M. K., Jacobson, R. M., Myers, R. E.., Zikmund-Fisher, B. J., & Waters, E. A. (2017). What is a good medical decision? A research agenda guided by perspectives from multiple stakeholders. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 40(1), 52-68.

Hamilton, J. G., Hutson, S. P., Moser, R. P., Kobrin, S. C., Frohnmayer, A., Alter, B. P., & Han, P. K. J. (2013). Sources of uncertainty and their association with medical decision making: Exploring mechanisms in Fanconi anemia. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 46(2), 204-216.

Hamilton, J. G., Lobel, M., & Moyer, A. (2009). Emotional distress following genetic testing for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer: A meta-analytic review. Health Psychology, 28(4), 510-518.

View a full listing of Jada G. Hamilton’s journal articles.

Related topics:

Pictured: Megan Harlan Fleischut & Kenneth Offit Hereditary Cancer & Genetics
Ken Offit Population Sciences Research Program