Shenkman Receives UF Research Foundation Professorship Award

Betsy Shenkman, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Health Outcomes & Policy, was selected to receive a University of Florida Research Foundation (UFRF) Professorship, which recognizes faculty who have established a distinguished record of research and scholarship.

Shenkman was specifically commended for her key role in the university’s research enterprise and growing emphasis on graduate education, as stated in a letter announcing the award from David P. Norton, Ph.D., UF’s vice president for research, and Michael L. Good, M.D., dean of the College of Medicine.

“My main goal has always been to employ rigorous scientific methodology to promote health, improve health outcomes, deliver quality care, and inform health policy decisions related to vulnerable populations, especially children and youth,” said Shenkman, who also serves as the director of the Institute for Child Health Policy.

As part of the three-year professorship, Shenkman will receive a one-time $3,000 allocation to support her research projects. She currently serves as the principal investigator on several projects, including the Wellness Incentives and Navigation (WIN) study, which is designed to examine the effectiveness of health navigators, motivational interviewing, and a flexible wellness account on cardiovascular disease risk reduction among individuals in Medicaid, and a three-year James and Esther King Biomedical Research grant to form the OneFlorida Cancer Control Alliance, which aims to create an infrastructure throughout Florida for the conduct of  implementation science studies and pragmatic clinical trials. The studies will focus on preventing tobacco-related cardiovascular disease and cancers as well as improving the quality and outcomes of care for those who have already developed chronic conditions.

“My research would not be possible without the multidisciplinary research team of physicians, economists, psychologists, health outcomes researchers, and patients I work with,” said Shenkman. “I look forward to continuing to make progress in the fields of implementation science and comparative effectiveness research together as we build on our momentum as a growing department and thriving institute.”