Harvard Catalyst Profiles

Karen Emmons is a Professor of Social and Behavioral Science at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. She is behavioral scientist with a strong track record of funded research in community-based approaches to cancer prevention in a variety of settings that serve under-resourced communities, including low income housing and community health centers. Her work targets a range of cancer risk factors, including nutrition, physical activity, sun exposure, tobacco and second-hand smoke exposure, and cancer screening. Her research teams have included interdisciplinary perspectives on cancer risk reduction and health disparities, with a focus on multiple cancer risk behaviors. Dr. Emmons has a strong track record as a mentor, and is a past recipient of a mid-career K award focused on dissemination an implementation research to reduce cancer disparities. Her current work and writing focuses heavily on implementation science, particularly in community health settings, and she has been actively involved in national efforts to develop implementation research and training programs. She currently serves as the Faculty Director of the Community Engagement Program for Harvard's Clinical Translational Science Award. Dr. Emmons is Past-President of the Society of Behavioral Medicine, and a member of the National Academy of Medicine.