Christie A. Befort

Christie A. Befort is a Professor in the Department of Population Health at the University of Kansas Medical Center and holds a faculty appointment in the Department of Psychology at KU Lawrence. She serves as Associate Director of Cancer Prevention and Control for KU Cancer Center and has been conducting community-based research for over 15 years, focusing on behavioral weight loss intervention and cancer prevention and survivorship.

Dr. Befort's educational background includes:

• BS in Exercise Science / Kinesiology from University of Texas at Austin
• MS in Counseling Psychology from Arizona State University
• PhD in Counseling Psychology from Colorado State University
• Internship in Behavioral Medicine Track at VA Palo Alto Health System
• Post Doctoral Fellowship at KUMC / Department of Preventive Medicine & Public Health

Dr. Befort specializes in behavioral science research focusing on obesity treatment and lifestyle interventions, particularly among underserved rural populations. Her work centers on cancer prevention and survivorship through weight management and physical activity programs. She has developed and led multiple behavioral randomized clinical trials examining weight loss interventions tailored to cancer survivors and primary care settings. A significant portion of her research targets rural communities, where she has pioneered weight loss programs for breast cancer survivors and implemented obesity treatment in rural primary care across multiple states. Dr. Befort actively engages Patient Advisory Boards and collaborates with numerous healthcare systems throughout the Midwestern region.

Dr. Befort's recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on weight management interventions for cancer survivors and rural populations, with emphasis on practical implementation in real-world settings. Her research consistently addresses the challenges of delivering effective behavioral interventions in rural healthcare contexts, exploring both in-person and telehealth delivery models. The studies often involve multi-site collaborations and emphasize patient-centered approaches to obesity treatment and cancer prevention.

Dr. Befort's professional recognition includes:

• Past President of KUMC Women in Medicine and Science

As an active mentor and advocate for diversity with a focus on gender, Dr. Befort supervises health psychology students conducting clinical research and offers Graduate Research Assistant positions at KUMC. Her research program has been supported by significant funding from the National Institutes of Health, American Cancer Society, and Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute, enabling her to lead multiple large-scale clinical trials investigating weight loss interventions in rural communities.

Dr. Befort has developed a pragmatic trial infrastructure for conducting implementation research in rural primary care settings. Her collaborative work spans multiple disciplines including medicine, population health, psychology, nutrition, rehabilitation science, and biostatistics. She works closely with healthcare systems and community stakeholders throughout the Midwestern region to address lifestyle factors in rural communities through various initiatives including Cooperative Extension services.