معرفی
Jessica Thompson is an Assistant Professor of Health Policy and Administration at Pennsylvania State University and Social Science Research Institute co-funded faculty member. Her research program addresses health disparities through community-engaged approaches, particularly focusing on cancer and cardiovascular disease prevention in rural Appalachian communities. She holds a PhD in Behavioral and Community Health Sciences from the University of Pittsburgh and an MEd in Community Development from Vanderbilt University.
Her research examines:
- Community-engaged intervention design for chronic disease prevention
- Cancer health disparities in underserved populations
- Mixed-methods approaches to health needs assessment
- Social determinants of Appalachian health outcomes
Thompson's publications demonstrate consistent focus on participatory research methodologies and health equity. Recent work examines lung cancer prevention in Appalachian women, community-based mentorship models, and pandemic adaptations of immersive learning. Her articles frequently employ mixed-methods designs including concept mapping, focus groups, and spatial analysis.
Honors include:
- NIH Health Disparities Research Loan Repayment Award (2022-2024)
- First Place Postdoctoral Award - Markey Cancer Center Research Day (2022)
- Amy Roberts Health Promotion Research Award (2020)
- American Public Health Association Student Award (2019, 2020)
Thompson mentors students through programs like SPARK (Students Participating as Ambassadors for Research in Kentucky) and serves on the Kentucky Cancer Consortium. She leads projects funded by NIH including a K99/R00 pathway award for community-engaged lung cancer prevention research.
