Helen Parsons

Helen Parsons is a Professor at the Division of Health Policy & Management within the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota. She leads the Screening, Prevention, Etiology and Cancer Survivorship (SPECS) program at the Masonic Cancer Center. Her work focuses on cancer survivorship, health policy, and disparities in healthcare access and quality.

Education:

• PhD in Health Services Research, Policy, and Administration, University of Minnesota
• MPH in Public Health Administration and Policy, University of Minnesota
• AB in Government, Dartmouth College

Research Interests:
Dr. Parsons specializes in cancer survivorship, health equity, and the use of administrative/claims data to analyze healthcare outcomes. Her studies examine disparities in survival rates among adolescents and young adults with cancer, the impact of health insurance status, and the effects of policy changes like the Affordable Care Act on coverage for survivors.

Scientific Trends:
Her 15 most recent publications address topics including:

• Health equity in cancer care delivery
• Telehealth utilization during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Medicare/Medicaid policy impacts
• Barriers to medical care among cancer survivors
• Cancer prevention through nutritional interventions
• Legal and financial challenges in survivorship

Advising and Grants:
While no specific students are listed, her work has been supported by grants from institutions like the National Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society. She frequently collaborates with multi-institutional teams on cancer epidemiology and health services research.