Melinda Stolley

Dr. Melinda Stolley is a Professor of Medicine in the Hematology/Oncology Division at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW), where she also serves as the Associate Director of Population Sciences for the Cancer Center. With over 25 years of academic experience, she has held faculty positions at Northwestern University and the University of Illinois Chicago before joining MCW in 2015. Dr. Stolley's work focuses on addressing cancer disparities through community-engaged research, particularly with African American and Latino communities in Milwaukee.

Dr. Stolley's research interests center on health behaviors and lifestyle interventions for cancer survivors, with a specific focus on minority and underserved populations. Her work examines how diet, physical activity, and social determinants of health impact cancer outcomes, particularly for breast and prostate cancer survivors. She has developed and tested several culturally tailored interventions including 'Men Moving Forward' for African American prostate cancer survivors and 'Everyday Counts' for women with metastatic breast cancer. Her approach emphasizes community partnership and cultural relevance to ensure interventions are acceptable and effective for the populations they serve.

Dr. Stolley's recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on addressing cancer disparities through innovative community-engaged approaches. Her work spans multiple cancer types but maintains a consistent theme of adapting evidence-based interventions to meet the specific needs of minority populations. This includes examining social determinants of health, developing culturally appropriate educational materials, and creating sustainable community partnerships to improve cancer outcomes.

Dr. Stolley has received several prestigious awards recognizing her contributions to research and mentorship:

• 2024 President's Community Engagement Award, Medical College of Wisconsin
• 2023 Society of Research Excellence, Medical College of Wisconsin
• 2020 Michael J. Dunn Award for Research Excellence
• 2020 President's Diversity and Inclusion Award
• 2019 Ann E. Heil Endowed Professorship in Cancer Research
• 2018 Magnanimous Mentor Award

As an active researcher, Dr. Stolley has secured significant funding from the National Cancer Institute, American Heart Association, and other sources to support her work addressing cancer disparities. Her current major grants include 'Men Moving Forward' (R01CA229546), 'Everyday Counts' (R01CA258759), and the 'Biobehavioral Oncology Training Program' (T32CA269115). She has mentored numerous students and post-doctoral fellows, many of whom have gone on to successful academic careers. Her work bridges the gap between academic research and community needs, creating meaningful impact in reducing cancer disparities in Wisconsin and beyond.