Betsy Shenkman, Ph.D., received the 2016 Basic Science Research Award from the College of Medicine’s Office of Research Affairs. The Basic Science Research Award, one of two annual commendations presented to faculty by the office for outstanding achievement, productivity and research discovery, recognizes faculty for research that contributes to a better understanding of the fundamental underlying principles of biology and medicine.
Shenkman, chair of the Department of Health Outcomes & Policy in the College of Medicine and director of UF’s Institute for Child Health Policy, is a health outcomes researcher whose work is designed to achieve two goals: (1) determine which combinations of health care delivery, community, and patient factors influence quality and outcomes of care; and (2) develop corresponding evidence-based health care delivery system and patient-centric interventions to improve outcomes of care. A substantial portion of Dr. Shenkman’s work in these two areas focuses on reducing cancer-related health disparities for adults and children through the implementation of evidence-based best practices for risk detection and treatment in a range of health care settings.
“I am honored to have been selected for this award and appreciate the strong collaborations throughout the College of Medicine, UF, and nationally that made my research and this award possible,” Shenkman said.