Karen Maria Emmons

Karen Maria Emmons is a Professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. She serves as Interim Co-Chair of the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences and Faculty Director of Harvard's Clinical Translational Science Award Community Engagement Program. A member of the National Academy of Medicine and Past-President of the Society of Behavioral Medicine, her work spans

• Implementation science
• Community-based cancer prevention
• Health disparities reduction
• Tobacco control
• Nutrition and physical activity promotion

Her recent research focuses on implementation science in community health settings, particularly examining

• Health equity in Massachusetts community health centers
• Equitable mentorship networks in implementation research
• Effectiveness of digital communication in public health
• Patient-centered healthcare innovations

Dr. Emmons has received the NIH mid-career K award for dissemination and implementation research. Current funding includes

• R01CA293501: Mobile messaging to increase CRC screening
• U48DP006873: Massachusetts Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network
• U19CA291431: Mass Partnership for Cancer Control Equity

Her work emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration and real-world impact, with recent publications addressing topics from rural health disparities to ethical frameworks for Federally Qualified Health Centers during public health crises.