Scientist Profiles

Sharon Watkins Davis, MPA Associate Director for Community Partnership Associate Member, Division of Epidemiology, Dept. of Health Research & Policy, Stanford University School of Medicine

2201 Walnut Avenue
Fremont, California 94538
E-mail: sdavis@nccc.org
Phone: 510-608-5200
Fax: 510-745-0394

Research Interests:
Most of Ms. Davis' research has been focused on how to improve the way that we communicate with people about cancer prevention, early detection, treatment and survivorship. She is particularly interested in improving health communications to underserved populations.

Underserved cancer patients: Ms. Davis is currently collaborating with UCSF on two studies designed to enhance services for underserved cancer patients.  One study, with Dr. Rena Pasick, is looking at whether the Cancer Detection Programs: Every Woman Counts consumer toll-free (800) number can be used to identify California women who are at high risk for breast or ovarian cancer or for chronic hepatitis B in order to connect them with appropriate research or prevention services. The other study, with Dr. Celia Kaplan, is testing the feasibility of having the CIS make calls proactively to Spanish-speaking cancer patients.

Community Partnership: Ms. Davis serves as the Associate Director for the Community Partnership in the joint Stanford/NCCC Cancer Education and Community Partnership Department.  She was the Director of the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information for California from April 1993 to January 2010 and the State of California's Cancer Detection Programs: Every Woman Counts Consumer 800 Number from 1995 - January 2010. She has served as Chair of the National CIS Evaluation Task Force, and the CIS Research Consortium Members Council. In 1996, she was the recipient of the Marion Morra award in recognition of her exceptional dedication to the CIS.

Selected Research Projects:

Maibach E, Davis SW, Ter Maat J, Rivera N. Promoting Cancer Prevention and Screening: Impact of the Cancer Information Service, Part 7.  Journal of Health Communication  1998; 3(suppl):97-108.

Davis, S. Will Asian Women Call a Telephone Health Information Service?  California Journal of Health Promotion 2003 March; 1(1):103-108.

Davis S, Stewart S, Bloom J. Increasing the accuracy of perceived breast cancer risk: results from a randomized trial with Cancer Information Service callers. Preventive Medicine 2004; 39:64-73.

Fleisher, L, Kornfeld, J, Davis, S, Morra, ME, Squires, L. NCIs Cancer Information Service's research continuum framework: integrating research into cancer education practice (1999-2004).  J Cancer Educ  2007; 22(Suppl):S41-S48.

Davis SW, Talosig Garcia M, Diaz Mendez M.  Barriers to seeking cancer information among Spanish-speaking cancer survivors in the United States.  J Cancer Educ 2009; 24:167-171. 

All publications (20)


Education: