Jason Mendoza

Jason Mendoza, MD, MPH, is Professor and Associate Program Head of the Cancer Prevention Program in the Public Health Sciences Division at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. He serves as Director of the Office of Community Outreach and Engagement (OCOE) and Associate Director of Community Outreach and Engagement for the Fred Hutch/University of Washington/Seattle Children's Cancer Consortium. Additional appointments include Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Washington School of Medicine, Investigator at Seattle Children's Research Institute, and Adjunct Professor of Health Services at the University of Washington School of Public Health.

His educational background:

• BA in Biological Sciences, University of Chicago (1996)
• MD, Rush Medical College of Rush University (2001)
• MPH, University of Washington (2006)

Dr. Mendoza's research centers on eliminating health disparities in physical activity and nutrition among youth and young adults, with emphasis on racial/ethnic minorities, low socioeconomic populations, and cancer survivors. He develops community-based behavioral interventions including Walking School Bus, Bike Train, and mobile health programs using wearable activity trackers. His work addresses food insecurity, screen time management, and cancer prevention through real-world implementation in schools, communities, and clinics.

Funded by NIH, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and St. Baldrick’s Foundation, his projects include Safe Routes to School initiatives and studies on food insecurity in diabetic youth. As OCOE Director, he leads community health educators and patient navigators in partnership with Black, Latino, Indigenous, and underserved communities. During the pandemic, his team pivoted to virtual outreach via Zoom and social media. Clinically, he practices pediatric primary care at Harborview Medical Center, emphasizing prevention and structural equity.