Stephanie Staras, Ph.D.
Professor And Associate Chair Of Faculty Development
About Stephanie Staras
Stephanie A. S. Staras, M.S.P.H., Ph.D., is a professor and Associate Chair for Faculty Development in the Department of Health Outcomes and Biomedical Informatics. She is also the Associate Director of the Institute for Child Health Policy and co-lead for the UFHealth Cancer Center’s Cancer Control and Population Science Program.
Dr. Staras is an expert in rigorous and impactful research in prevention of human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cancers and using implementation science methods to increase health equity. She focuses on improving the clinical recommendations for, parent receptiveness to, and access to HPV vaccines among adolescents within Florida. She has served as Principal Investigator on investigator-initiated National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Cancer Institute (NCI) funded and foundation grants with total PI funding of over $11 million. Her large, high-enrolling projects contributed critically to the UF Cancer Center NCI designation by demonstrating the necessary impact in the catchment area and comprising 40% of UF’s clinical trial accruals in the past three years.
Dr. Staras is a recognized expert in implementation science research methods. Having graduated from the NCI-sponsored training program entitled “Mentored Training in Dissemination and Implementation Research in Cancer,” she applies her expertise to a broad range of research aimed to improve health equity. She has led and co-led implementation in a variety of areas: uptake of Meningitis B vaccination among high school and college students, developing an acceptable decision support tool to aid primary care physicians in preventing opioid overdose, increased enrollment of underrepresented populations in cancer clinical trials, understanding the role of dental practitioners in health risk assessments, and improving hypertension treatment with precision-based solutions.
Accomplishments
University of Florida Term Professorship
2018-2019
·
University of Florida
University of Florida Exemplary Teaching Award
2018
·
University of Florida
Fellow in the National Cancer Institute’s Mentored Training for Dissemination and Implementation Research in Cancer
2016-2018
·
Washington University in St. Louis
Health Disparities Research Loan Repayment Program Recipient. Research project entitled: “Development of an Alcohol-Related HIV preventive intervention among African American and Hispanic adolescent women.”
2012-2014
·
National Institutes of Health
18th Annual Summer Course: Principles of STD / HIV Research Scholarship
2010
·
University of Washington Center for AIDS and STD’s
Travel Grant Recipient
2007
·
promising new investigators to the 17th International Society of Sexually Transmitted Diseases Research Meeting
Co-recipient of the Award for Excellence in International Health
2001
·
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
Best Epidemiologist in the Workforce of Tomorrow Award
2000
·
Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologist
1999 Charles C. Shepard Award for Excellence in Research-– presented to the graduating student who is deemed by the faculty to have prepared the most scholarly research thesis.
1999
·
Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University
Teaching Profile
Courses Taught
2013-2014,2016-2024
GMS6885 Translational Health Research Design
2015
GMS7093 Introduction to Clinical and Translational Research
2009-2012
GMS6826 Adv Des Meth Ctl Stds
2009
GMS6892 Sm1:Epid-Pst,Prst,Ftr
2008
GMS6882 Directed Readings Epi
Research Profile
Open Researcher and Contributor ID (ORCID)
0000-0002-0726-1524
Publications
2024
Acceptability of HPV self-collection: A qualitative study of Black women living with type II diabetes and social vulnerability.
Journal of clinical & translational endocrinology.
35
[DOI] 10.1016/j.jcte.2024.100331.
[PMID] 38444842.
2024
Educating Hematology-Oncology Fellows About How to Communicate with Patients About Clinical Trials: A Needs Assessment.
Journal of medical education and curricular development.
11
[DOI] 10.1177/23821205241269376.
[PMID] 39104855.
2024
Identifying locally actionable strategies to increase participant acceptability and feasibility to participate in Phase I cancer clinical trials
Health Expectations.
27(1)
[DOI] 10.1111/hex.13920.
[PMID] 38041447.
2024
Promoting Rural-Residing Parents’ Receptivity to HPV Vaccination: Targeting Messages and Mobile Clinic Implementation.
Vaccines.
12(7)
[DOI] 10.3390/vaccines12070712.
[PMID] 39066350.
2024
Usability of a Web-Based App for Increasing Adolescent Vaccination in Primary Care Settings: Think-Aloud and Survey Assessment
JMIR Formative Research.
8
[DOI] 10.2196/56559.
[PMID] 39298761.
2023
A Pilot Test of a Workshop for Pediatric Clinicians About Communicating with Parents About the HPV Vaccine Using the C-LEAR Approach
Journal of Cancer Education.
38(3):798-804
[DOI] 10.1007/s13187-022-02188-2.
[PMID] 35941410.
2023
Association of Suppressive Myeloid Cell Enrichment with Aggressive Oropharynx Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Cancers.
15(8)
[DOI] 10.3390/cancers15082346.
[PMID] 37190274.
2023
Community-Based Interventions for HPV Vaccination
Cancer Health Disparities.
147-181
[DOI] 10.1007/978-3-031-37638-2_10.
2023
County-Level Factors Associated With HPV Vaccine Coverage Among 11-Year-Olds to 12-Year-Olds Living in Florida in 2019.
The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine.
72(1):130-137
[DOI] 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2022.09.005.
[PMID] 36244897.
2023
Does the Intersectionality of Race/Ethnicity and Type 2 Diabetes Increase the Odds of a Cervical Cancer Diagnosis? A Nested Case-Control Study of a Florida Statewide Multisite EHR Database.
Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland).
11(13)
[DOI] 10.3390/healthcare11131863.
[PMID] 37444697.
2023
Extending an Antiracism Lens to the Implementation of Precision Public Health Interventions.
American journal of public health.
113(11):1210-1218
[DOI] 10.2105/AJPH.2023.307386.
[PMID] 37651661.
2023
North-Central Florida Clinicians’ Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Recommendation Priorities and Practices for 11- to 12-Year-Olds: A Discrete Choice Experiment.
The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine.
73(1):172-180
[DOI] 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2023.02.006.
[PMID] 37029049.
2023
Patients’ comfort with and receipt of health risk assessments during routine dental visits: Results from the South Atlantic region of the US National Dental Practice-Based Research Network.
Community dentistry and oral epidemiology.
51(5):854-863
[DOI] 10.1111/cdoe.12773.
[PMID] 35851866.
2023
Screening for cervical cancer among women with behavioral health conditions-A systematic review.
Preventive medicine reports.
34
[DOI] 10.1016/j.pmedr.2023.102238.
[PMID] 37273521.
2022
A novel method for evaluating physician communication: A pilot study testing the feasibility of parent-assisted audio recordings via Zoom.
PEC innovation.
1
[DOI] 10.1016/j.pecinn.2022.100020.
[PMID] 36212508.
2022
Clinicians’ perceptions of barriers to cervical cancer screening for women living with behavioral health conditions: a focus group study.
BMC cancer.
22(1)
[DOI] 10.1186/s12885-022-09350-5.
[PMID] 35264120.
2022
Differences in stakeholder-reported barriers and implementation strategies between counties with high, middle, and low HPV vaccine initiation rates: a mixed methods study
Implementation Science Communications.
3(1)
[DOI] 10.1186/s43058-022-00341-y.
[PMID] 36068605.
2022
Implementation strategies for integrating tobacco cessation treatment in cancer care: A qualitative study.
Implementation research and practice.
3
[DOI] 10.1177/26334895221112153.
[PMID] 36909717.
2022
Messaging preferences among Florida caregivers participating in focus groups who had not yet accepted the HPV vaccine for their 11- to 12-year-old child.
BMC public health.
22(1)
[DOI] 10.1186/s12889-022-14852-9.
[PMID] 36550434.
2021
A feasibility trial of parent HPV vaccine reminders and phone-based motivational interviewing
BMC Public Health.
21(1)
[DOI] 10.1186/s12889-020-10132-6.
[PMID] 33422047.
2021
Dental practitioners’ use of health risk assessments for a variety of health conditions
The Journal of the American Dental Association.
152(1):36-45
[DOI] 10.1016/j.adaj.2020.09.003.
[PMID] 33276954.
2021
Human Papillomavirus Vaccination and Human Papillomavirus-Associated Cancer Rates Within Florida Counties.
American journal of preventive medicine.
61(6):812-820
[DOI] 10.1016/j.amepre.2021.05.016.
[PMID] 34384654.
2021
Increasing awareness and uptake of the MenB vaccine on a large university campus.
Human vaccines & immunotherapeutics.
17(9):3239-3246
[DOI] 10.1080/21645515.2021.1923347.
[PMID] 34076556.
2021
Perceptions and Knowledge About the MenB Vaccine Among Parents of High School Students.
Journal of community health.
46(4):808-816
[DOI] 10.1007/s10900-020-00954-1.
[PMID] 33389475.
2021
Primary Care Physician Perspectives on Recommending E-cigarettes to Smokers: a Best-Worst Discrete Choice Experiment.
Journal of general internal medicine.
36(11):3353-3360
[DOI] 10.1007/s11606-021-06615-w.
[PMID] 33523343.
2021
Using a Clinical Workflow Analysis to Enhance eHealth Implementation Planning: Tutorial and Case Study
JMIR mHealth and uHealth.
9(3)
[DOI] 10.2196/18534.
[PMID] 33626016.
2020
“I can be the Judge of What’s Serious”: A Qualitative Pilot Study of Parents’ Responses to Messaging About Side Effects of the HPV Vaccine.
Maternal and child health journal.
24(4):456-461
[DOI] 10.1007/s10995-019-02856-8.
[PMID] 31893386.
2020
An Implementation Trial to Improve Tobacco Treatment for Cancer Patients: Patient Preferences, Treatment Acceptability and Effectiveness.
International journal of environmental research and public health.
17(7)
[DOI] 10.3390/ijerph17072280.
[PMID] 32231062.
2020
Postcard reminders for HPV vaccination mainly primed parents for providers’ recommendations.
Preventive medicine reports.
20
[DOI] 10.1016/j.pmedr.2020.101188.
[PMID] 32953426.
2019
Increasing adolescent girls’ ability to identify STI-risk characteristics of sexual partners: a pilot study within an alternative disciplinary school.
Sexually transmitted infections.
95(8):580-583
[DOI] 10.1136/sextrans-2018-053674.
[PMID] 30733423.
2018
Disclosure of HIV serostatus and condomless sex among men living with HIV/AIDS in Florida.
PloS one.
13(12)
[DOI] 10.1371/journal.pone.0207838.
[PMID] 30557362.
2016
Authors’ Response to Letter Regarding Alcohol Sales Tax and Sexually Transmitted Infections.
American journal of preventive medicine.
50(5)
[DOI] 10.1016/j.amepre.2016.01.020.
[PMID] 27102644.
2016
Increased Partner Risk Characteristic Among Adolescents Using Alcohol In the Moment.
Sexually transmitted diseases.
43(9):537-41
[DOI] 10.1097/OLQ.0000000000000481.
[PMID] 27513378.
2016
Maryland Alcohol Sales Tax and Sexually Transmitted Infections: A Natural Experiment.
American journal of preventive medicine.
50(3):e73-e80
[DOI] 10.1016/j.amepre.2015.09.025.
[PMID] 26683415.
2015
Effects of a 2009 Illinois Alcohol Tax Increase on Fatal Motor Vehicle Crashes.
American journal of public health.
105(9):1880-5
[DOI] 10.2105/AJPH.2014.302428.
[PMID] 25790414.
2015
Increasing human papillomavirus vaccine initiation among publicly insured Florida adolescents.
The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine.
56(5 Suppl):S40-6
[DOI] 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2014.11.024.
[PMID] 25863554.
2014
A Health Information Technology Intervention Increases Hpv Vaccine Series Initiation Among Florida Medicaid and Chip Adolescents
Sexually Transmitted Diseases.
41(1):S9-S10
2014
Factors associated With Medicaid providers’ recommendation of the HPV vaccine to low-income adolescent girls.
The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine.
54(2):190-6
[DOI] 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2013.08.006.
[PMID] 24064282.
2014
Heterogeneous population effects of an alcohol excise tax increase on sexually transmitted infections morbidity.
Addiction (Abingdon, England).
109(6):904-12
[DOI] 10.1111/add.12493.
[PMID] 24450730.
2014
Human papillomavirus vaccine administration among Medicaid providers who consistently recommended vaccination.
Sexually transmitted diseases.
41(1):24-8
[DOI] 10.1097/OLQ.0000000000000064.
[PMID] 24335743.
2014
Parent perceptions important for HPV vaccine initiation among low income adolescent girls.
Vaccine.
32(46):6163-9
[DOI] 10.1016/j.vaccine.2014.08.054.
[PMID] 25180815.
2013
Alcohol Policy Interventions Reduce Std Cases: the 2009 Illinois Alcohol Excise Tax Increase
Alcoholism-Clinical and Experimental Research.
37
2013
Do Florida Medicaid providers’ barriers to HPV vaccination vary based on VFC program participation?
Maternal and child health journal.
17(4):609-15
[DOI] 10.1007/s10995-012-1036-5.
[PMID] 22569945.
2013
Perceived racial/ethnic discrimination, problem behaviors, and mental health among minority urban youth.
Ethnicity & health.
18(4):337-49
[DOI] 10.1080/13557858.2012.730609.
[PMID] 23043428.
2013
Provider factors associated with disparities in human papillomavirus vaccination among low-income 9- to 17-year-old girls.
Cancer.
119(3):621-8
[DOI] 10.1002/cncr.27735.
[PMID] 23341308.
2013
The influence of sexual partner on condom use among urban adolescents.
The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine.
53(6):742-8
[DOI] 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2013.06.020.
[PMID] 23932008.
2013
Urban Adolescent Girls’ Acceptability of Peer-Networks in Reducing Alcohol-Related Hiv Risk
Alcoholism-Clinical and Experimental Research.
37
2012
Association between perinatal medical expenses and a waiver to increase Florida healthy start services within Florida medicaid programs: 1998 to 2006.
Maternal and child health journal.
16(8):1567-75
[DOI] 10.1007/s10995-011-0811-z.
[PMID] 21559775.
2012
Association between sex partner meeting venues and sexual risk taking among urban adolescents.
The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine.
51(6):566-71
[DOI] 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2012.03.015.
[PMID] 23174466.
2012
Substance Use as a Risk Factor for Intimate Partner Violence Overlap: Generational Differences Among Hispanic Young Adults.
International criminal justice review.
22(2):139-152
[PMID] 25125930.
2012
The relationship between marijuana use and intimate partner violence in a nationally representative, longitudinal sample.
Journal of interpersonal violence.
27(8):1562-78
[DOI] 10.1177/0886260511425787.
[PMID] 22080574.
2011
National prevalence estimates for cytomegalovirus IgM and IgG avidity and association between high IgM antibody titer and low IgG avidity.
Clinical and vaccine immunology : CVI.
18(11):1895-9
[DOI] 10.1128/CVI.05228-11.
[PMID] 21918114.
2011
Riskier sexual partners contribute to the increased rate of sexually transmitted diseases among youth with substance use disorders.
Sexually transmitted diseases.
38(5):413-8
[DOI] 10.1097/OLQ.0b013e31820279a7.
[PMID] 21139514.
2010
Disparities in human papillomavirus vaccine series initiation among adolescent girls enrolled in Florida Medicaid programs, 2006-2008.
The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine.
47(4):381-8
[DOI] 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2010.07.028.
[PMID] 20864008.
2009
Low Hpv Vaccination Rates Among Florida and Texas Medicaid
American Journal of Epidemiology.
169
2009
Sexual partner characteristics and sexually transmitted diseases among adolescents and young adults.
Sexually transmitted diseases.
36(4):232-8
[DOI] 10.1097/OLQ.0b013e3181901e32.
[PMID] 19265739.
2008
Cytomegalovirus seroprevalence and childhood sources of infection: A population-based study among pre-adolescents in the United States.
Journal of clinical virology : the official publication of the Pan American Society for Clinical Virology.
43(3):266-71
[DOI] 10.1016/j.jcv.2008.07.012.
[PMID] 18778968.
2008
Do Sexual Partner Characteristics Explain the Racial Disparity in Sexually Transmitted Infections?
American Journal of Epidemiology.
167
2008
Influence of sexual activity on cytomegalovirus seroprevalence in the United States, 1988-1994.
Sexually transmitted diseases.
35(5):472-9
[DOI] 10.1097/OLQ.0b013e3181644b70.
[PMID] 18354346.
2007
Incidence of cytomegalovirus infection among the general population and pregnant women in the United States.
BMC infectious diseases.
7
[PMID] 17605813.
2006
Knowledge and awareness of congenital cytomegalovirus among women.
Infectious diseases in obstetrics and gynecology.
2006
[PMID] 17485810.
2006
Seroprevalence of cytomegalovirus infection in the United States, 1988-1994.
Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America.
43(9):1143-51
[PMID] 17029132.
Grants
Sep 2024
ACTIVE
Preventing Cervical Cancer through HPV Self-collection and Patient Navigation among Women Living with Chronic Conditions and Social Vulnerability
Role: Other
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NCI
Jul 2024
ACTIVE
Enhancing Connection and Communication with Community-Based Oncology Practices to Improve Cancer Clinical Trial Recruitment: The ECCO Study
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOC
Jul 2024
ACTIVE
Text and Talk: A multi-level intervention to increase provider HPV vaccine recommendation effectiveness
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NCI
Aug 2023
ACTIVE
Implementation of a Cancer Clinical Trials (CCT) Communication Skills Education Program for Medical Oncology Fellows
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding: LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOC
Aug 2023
ACTIVE
Incentive funds for Graduate Medical Education Trainees
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding: LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOC
Jul 2023
ACTIVE
Together: Transforming and Translating Discovery to Improve Health
Role: Project Manager
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NCATS
Jun 2023
ACTIVE
UF Health Cancer Center Support Grant
Role: Other
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NCI
Feb 2023
– Jun 2024
Clinical Trials Education in GME: A Needs Assessment
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding: LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOC
Sep 2022
ACTIVE
ReMARk: A multi-level strategy to address disparities in rural HPV-related cancer prevention
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NCI
Sep 2021
ACTIVE
Multi-Stakeholder Engagement for Interdisciplinary Telehealth in Lewy Body Dementia
Role: Other
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NIA
Jul 2021
– May 2024
Together: Transforming and Translating Discovery to Improve Health
Role: Other
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NCATS
Jul 2021
– Oct 2023
Developing and Evaluating a Machine-Learning Opioid Prediction & Risk-Stratification E-Platform (DEMONSTRATE)
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NIDA
Jul 2019
– Jun 2024
Text and Talk: A multi-level intervention to increase provider HPV vaccine recommendation effectiveness
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NCI
Apr 2018
– Oct 2018
Stakeholder Engagement and Multi-Risk Assessment in Dental Care Settings
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding: UNIV OF ALABAMA BIRMINGHAM
via NATL INST OF HLTH NIDCR
Apr 2017
– Mar 2018
The National Dental PBRN FY18
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding: UNIV OF ALABAMA BIRMINGHAM
via NATL INST OF HLTH NIDCR
Dec 2016
– Jul 2019
Establishing and Evaluating a School and University Campus-Based Approach to Implementing Serogroup B Meningococcal (MenB) Disease Recommendations in Older Adolescents and Young Adults.
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding: PFIZER INC
Feb 2016
– Jan 2020
Maximizing HPV vaccination: Real-time Reminders, Guidance, and Recommendations
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NCI
Dec 2015
– Oct 2016
Staras HPV R01 Pilot – Miscellaneous Donors
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: MISCELLANEOUS DONORS
Jul 2015
– Jun 2024
Florida Academic Cancer Center Alliance Seed Grants
Role: Project Manager
Funding: UF HEALTH SHANDS HOSPITAL
Feb 2015
– Oct 2023
UF Health Cancer Center Pilot Project Grants funded through the Florida Consortium of National Cancer Institute Centers Program
Role: Project Manager
Funding: UF HEALTH SHANDS HOSPITAL
Jun 2014
– Dec 2017
OneFlorida Cancer Control Network
Role: Project Manager
Funding: FL DEPT OF HLTH BIOMED RES PGM/J&E KING
Jul 2006
– Dec 2020
21st Century Research & Economic Development Investment Program (REDIP)
Role: Project Manager
Funding: STATE UNIV SYS OF FL BOARD OF GOVERNORS
Education
Mentored Training for Dissemination and Implementation Research in Cancer Fellowship
2016-2018
·
Washington University, St. Louis
Doctor of Philosophy, Department of Epidemiology
2006
·
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Emory University
Master of Science of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology
2000
·
Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University
Bachelor of Science , Department of Mathematics
1998
·
Bucknell University
Bachelor of Science, Department of Biology
1998
·
Bucknell University
Contact Details
Phones:
- Business:
- (352) 294-8299
Emails:
- Business:
- sstaras@mail.ufl.edu
Addresses:
- Business Mailing:
-
PO Box 100147
GAINESVILLE FL 32610 - Business Street:
-
1889 MUSEUM RD STE 7000 FL 7
GAINESVILLE FL 32611