About
Dr. Vernon’s interdisciplinary training in epidemiology and behavioral sciences has led to a research focus on translating epidemiologic principles and methods to the design and evaluation of behavioral interventions to encourage the adoption of evidence-based cancer screening and other health behaviors. In 2 NCI-funded intervention trials she applied epidemiologic methods to increase the external validity of behavioral interventions by using population-based registries to draw representative samples and trace participants throughout the study. Her recent work has been funded by the Cancer Prevention Institute of Texas and focuses on promoting HPV vaccination through a large network of pediatric clinics in Houston, Texas. Working closely with clinic leadership, her team used a multi-level approach that targets system, physician, and patient factors. Dr. Vernon also has conducted research to improve measures of self-reported behavioral outcomes and psychosocial determinants in cancer research. Dr. Vernon has served on numerous national and international advisory boards and journal editorial boards including: the National Cancer Institute Clinical Sciences and Epidemiology Board of Scientific Counselors, Cancer Research UK Population Research Committee, ACS Council for Extramural Grants, the National Cancer Institute of Canada Advisory Committee on Research, the Executive Committee for the VA’s Colorectal Cancer Group QUERI Initiative and the editorial boards of the JNCI, Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, Preventive Medicine Translational Behavioral Medicine, and Cancer Causes and Control. She has mentored many post-doctoral trainees and junior faculty members through various career-development mechanisms; in 2002, she received the UTHealth President’s Award for Mentoring Women. Dr. Vernon has published over 250 scientific articles and book chapters, many of which include her mentees and students as first or co-authors.
Center Affiliation
Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research
Research Interests
- Adolescent Health
- Cancer
- Health Education/Behavioral Sciences
- Social Determinants of Health