Brief Bio

Dr. Sophia Smith came to the Duke University School of Nursing faculty from the Duke Clinical Research Institute, where she was a Research Scientist in the Cancer Care Research Program (DCCRP) and Center of Learning Health Care (CLHC). Dr. Smith earned her PhD and MSW degrees at the University of North Carolina School of Social Work. Her clinical background includes social work internships at the Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and the Hospice of Alamance County. Dr. Smith earned a BS degree (in business administration with an information systems concentration) at State University of New York at Albany, and was a senior manager at IBM and led an organization of computer application programmers and systems analysts before beginning her career in oncology social work.

Dr. Smith’s program of research has focused on innovative mHealth and psychosocial care solutions to improve health outcomes for cancer survivors. Her work has helped to define the longitudinal quality of life and patient experience of survivors of adult non-Hodgkin lymphoma, with a particular focus on posttraumatic stress disorder, the impact of cancer, and implementation of evidence-based supportive care services. As a senior scientist member of DCCRP, CLHC, and the Duke Oncology Nursing Center of Excellence, Dr. Smith has also contributed to a research ecosystem that conducts patient-centered clinical trials, analyses and policy studies, all of which simultaneously utilize and further the development of an integrated data system. This system coordinates diverse datasets, leverages novel information technology for patient-reporting of symptoms and other concerns, informs future studies, and facilitates patient education and patient-provider communication.

Academic Program Affiliations

Education

Research Interests

Awards and Honors

• 2011 • Selected as participant in Mobile Health Summer Institute, NIH Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research

• 2007 ICARUS Award for Best Multidisciplinary Presentation, University of North Carolina Interdisciplinary Center for Aging Research, Annual Aging Exchange Conference

• 1992 Supplier Excellence Award, IBM

• 1990 Executive Resource Program Appointment, IBM

• 1990 Management Leadershio Award, IBM

• 1981 Bachelor of Science, Cum Laude, State University of New York at Albany

Areas of Expertise

• Health Disparities
• Oncology
• Palliative Care
• Psychiatric / Behavioral Health
• Research Methods

Representative Publications

• 2015 -- Pubmed # 26465328 Smith, S. K., Selig, W., Harker, M., Roberts, J. N., Hesterlee, S., Leventhal, D., Klein, R., Patrick-Lake, B., Abernethy, A. P. Patient Engagement Practices in Clinical Research among Patient Groups, Industry, and Academia in the United States: A Survey. PLoS One. October 14, 2015; 10(10); e0140232

• 2015 -- Pubmed # 26036473 Spector, D. J., Noonan, D., Mayer, D. K., Benecha, H., Zimmerman, S., Smith, S. K. Are lifestyle behavioral factors associated with health-related quality of life in long-term survivors of non-Hodgkin lymphoma? Cancer. September 15, 2015; 121(18); 3343-51

• 2015 -- Pubmed # 25644773 Smith, S. K., O'Donnell, J. D., Abernethy, A. P., MacDermott, K., Staley, T., Samsa, G. P. Evaluation of Pillars4life: a virtual coping skills program for cancer survivors. Psychooncology. January, 2015 Epub ahead of print;

• 2015 -- Pubmed # 25751114 Bryant, A. L., Smith, S. K., Zimmer, C., Crandell, J., Jenerette, C. M., Bailey Jr, D. E., Zimmerman, S., Mayer, D. K. An exploratory path model of the relationships between positive and negative adaptation to cancer on quality of life among non-Hodgkin lymphoma survivors. J Psychosoc Oncol. December 1, 2015; 33(3); 310-31

• 2014 -- Pubmed # 24865219 Smith, S. K., Nicolla, J., Zafar, S. Y. Bridging the gap between financial distress and available resources for patients with cancer: a qualitative study. J Oncol Pract. September, 2014; 10(5); e368-72

• 2014 -- Pubmed # 24123368 Smith, S. K., Samsa, G., Ganz, P. A., Zimmerman, S. Is there a relationship between posttraumatic stress and growth after a lymphoma diagnosis? Psychooncology. March, 2014; 23(3); 315-21

• 2014 -- Pubmed # 24128592 Smith, S. K., Rowe, K., Abernethy, A. P. Use of an electronic patient-reported outcome measurement system to improve distress management in oncology. Palliat Support Care. February 1, 2014; 12(1); 69-73

• 2013 -- Pubmed # 22833503 Oerlemans, S., Smith, S. K., Crespi, C. M., Zimmerman, S., van de Poll-Franse, L. V., Ganz, P. A. Assessing the impact of cancer among Dutch non-Hodgkin lymphoma survivors compared with their American counterparts: a cross-national study. Psychooncology. June 1, 2013; 22(6); 1258-65

• 2013 -- Pubmed # 23448740 Leak, A., Smith, S. K., Crandell, J., Jenerette, C., Bailey, D. E., Zimmerman, S., Mayer, D. K. Demographic and disease characteristics associated with non-hodgkin lymphoma survivors' quality of life: does age matter? Oncol Nurs Forum. March 1, 2013; 40(2); 157-62

• 2013 -- Pubmed # 22302619 Crespi, C. M., Ganz, P. A., Petersen, L., Smith, S. K. A procedure for obtaining impact of cancer version 2 scores using version 1 responses. Qual Life Res. February 1, 2013; 22(1); 103-9

• 2013 -- Pubmed # 23213093 Smith, S. K., Mayer, D. K., Zimmerman, S., Williams, C. S., Benecha, H., Ganz, P. A., Edwards, L. J., Abernethy, A. P. Quality of life among long-term survivors of non-Hodgkin lymphoma: a follow-up study. J Clin Oncol. January 10, 2013; 31(2); 272-9

• 2012 -- Pubmed # 23181005 Mayer, D. K., Gerstel, A., Leak, A. N., Smith, S. K. Patient and provider preferences for survivorship care plans. J Oncol Pract. July 1, 2012; 8(4); e80-6

• 2011 -- Pubmed # 21990412 Smith, S. K., Zimmerman, S., Williams, C. S., Benecha, H., Abernethy, A. P., Mayer, D. K., Edwards, L. J., Ganz, P. A. Post-traumatic stress symptoms in long-term non-Hodgkin's lymphoma survivors: does time heal? J Clin Oncol. December 1, 2011; 29(34); 4526-33

• 2011 -- Pubmed # 21534866 Leak, A., Mayer, D. K., Smith, S. Quality of life domains among non-Hodgkin lymphoma survivors: an integrative literature review. Leuk Lymphoma. June, 2011; 52(6); 972-85 PMCID: PMC3160823

• 2011 -- Pubmed # 20878862 Smith, S. K., Herndon, J. E., Lyerly, H. K., Coan, A., Wheeler, J. L., Staley, T., Abernethy, A. P. Correlates of quality of life-related outcomes in breast cancer patients participating in the Pathfinders pilot study. Psychooncology. May 1, 2011; 20(5); 559-64

• 2011 -- Pubmed # 21240723 Smith, S. K., Williams, C. S., Zimmer, C. R., Zimmerman, S. An exploratory model of the relationships between cancer-related trauma outcomes on quality of life in non-Hodgkin lymphoma survivors. J Psychosoc Oncol. December 1, 2011; 29(1); 19-34

• 2010 -- Pubmed # 20099255 Smith, S. K., Crespi, C. M., Petersen, L., Zimmerman, S., Ganz, P. A. The impact of cancer and quality of life for post-treatment non-Hodgkin lymphoma survivors. Psychooncology. December 1, 2010; 19(12); 1259-67

• 2010 -- Pubmed # 20143102 Abernethy, A. P., Herndon 2nd, J. E., Coan, A., Staley, T., Wheeler, J. L., Rowe, K., Smith, S. K., Shaw, H., Lyerly, H. K. Phase 2 pilot study of Pathfinders: a psychosocial intervention for cancer patients. Support Care Cancer. July 1, 2010; 18(7); 893-8

• 2010 -- Pubmed # 20575038 Friedman, D. R., Coan, A. D., Smith, S. K., Herndon 2nd, J. E., Abernethy, A. P. Informational needs assessment of non-Hodgkin lymphoma survivors and their physicians. Am J Hematol. July, 2010; 85(7); 528-32 PMCID: PMC3160829

• 2010 -- Pubmed # 19967410 Crespi, C. M., Smith, S. K., Petersen, L., Zimmerman, S., Ganz, P. A. Measuring the impact of cancer: a comparison of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and breast cancer survivors. J Cancer Surviv. March 1, 2010; 4(1); 45-58

• 2009 -- Pubmed # 19452546 Smith, S. K., Zimmerman, S., Williams, C. S., Zebrack, B. J. Health status and quality of life among non-Hodgkin lymphoma survivors. Cancer. July 15, 2009; 115(14); 3312-23

• 2008 -- Pubmed # 18281667 Smith, S. K., Zimmerman, S., Williams, C. S., Preisser, J. S., Clipp, E. C. Post-traumatic stress outcomes in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma survivors. J Clin Oncol. February, 2008; 26(6); 934-41 PMCID: PMC3025533

Grant Funding (selected)

• Pillars4Life: An Online Self-Management Curriculum for Cancer Survivors  
  Pfizer, Inc.
  16218019
  12/2014-11/2015
  Project Goal: The Pillars4Life curriculum teaches coping skills to cancer patients in a virtual group setting; it was recently implemented and studied at 17 hospitals. The goal of the project is to broaden the horizons of the program and demonstrate that chronic pain management can be improved through Pillars4Life. More specifically, the aims are to demonstrate the impact of Pillars4Life, distributed via live video conferencing technology, on: 1) a reduction in cancer-related pain and associated outcomes; and 2) optimized health care utilization and patient-provider communication.

• Leveraging a mHealth Solution for Cancer Survivors  
  Duke Cancer Institute
  01/2014-12/2014
  Role: PI
  Project Goal: Determine if lymphoma and breast cancer survivors will use a mobile app, PTSD Cancer Coach, and find it a valid and acceptable tool to manage their symptoms; and conduct a limited test to determine initial estimates of efficacy in managing PTSD symptoms and related outcomes.

• Institutional Comparative Effectiveness Research Mentored Career Development Award  
  NIH / National Cancer Institute
  KM1-CA156687
  03/2012-08/2013
  Role: Mentored postdoctoral researcher
  Project Goal: Pillars4Life Study - Evaluate the impact of participation in the LiveStrong-funded Pillars4Life program on key psychosocial outcomes across 17 sites in the US.

• Cancer Care Quality Training Program (CCQTP)  
  NIH / National Cancer Institute
  R25-CA116339
  05/2009-04/2011
  Role: Postdoctoral Research Fellow
  Project goal: This fellowship supports research in cancer survivorship. Overall objective of Cancer Care Quality Training Program (CCQTP) is to train clinician and non-clinician scientists to work collaboratively in multidisciplinary research teams to improve cancer care quality.

• Quality of life in non-Hodgkin lymphoma survivors: A follow-up study  
  University of North Carolina Translational and Clinical Sciences Institute
  10KR71019
  08/2008-10/2010
  Role: Principal Investigator
  Project Goal: To describe post-treatment healthcare use, health behaviors and perceived need for and interest in receiving support services among 566 lymphoma survivors; examine change over time in quality of life outcomes; and identify demographic, psychosocial, and disease-related correlates (i.e., cross-sectional data) and predictors (i.e., longitudinal data) of healthcare use, health behaviors, and perceived need for and interest in receiving support services, as well as of different trajectories of change in quality of life.

• National Research Service Award  
  National Institutes of Health
  T32-HS000032
  12/2007-11/2008
  Role: NRSA Postdoctoral Research Fellow
  Project Goal: Fellowship to support research in cancer survivorship.

• Quality of Life of Older Long-Term Lymphoma Survivors  
  NIH / National Cancer Institute
  R03-CA101492
  09/2004-08/2006
  Role: Principal Investigator
  Project Goal: To identify and evaluate the wellbeing of 886 long-term survivors of adult lymphoma as evidenced through reported quality of life with particular emphasis on post-traumatic stress disorder.

• ACS Doctoral Trainnig Grant: Quality of Life of Older Long-Term Lymphoma Survivors  
  American Cancer Society
  DSW-03-213-01-SW
  09/2003-08/2006
  Role: Pre-doctoral Training Fellow
  Project goal: American Cancer Society Doctoral Training Grant in Clinical Oncology Social Work supported PI's doctoral education.

• Long-term Cancer Survivor Needs Assessment  
  University of North Carolina Research Council
  01/2000-12/2001
  Role: Co-Principal Investigator