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Alexi A. Wright, MD, MPH


Medical Oncology

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Alexi A. Wright, MD, MPH

Physician

  • Director, Gynecologic Oncology Outcomes Research
  • Physician
  • Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School

Centers/Programs

Clinical Interests

  • Cervical cancer
  • End-of-life care
  • Gynecologic cancers
  • Ovarian cancer
  • Quality of life

Contact Information

  • Appointments617-632-2175
  • Office Phone Number617-632-2334
  • Fax617-632-3479

Bio

Dr. Wright is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and  Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.  She received her Medical Degree from University of Pennsylvania and completed a residency in Internal Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and a Medical Oncology fellowship at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.   She also obtained a Masters in Public Health at the Harvard School of Public Health. In 2009 she joined the faculty of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, where she is a practicing medical oncologist who specializes in gynecologic oncology and health outcomes research. 

Board Certification:

  • Internal Medicine, 2006
  • Medical Oncology, 2009

Fellowship:

  • Dana-Farber/Partners CancerCare, Medical Oncology

Residency:

  • Brigham and Women's Hospital, Internal Medicine

Medical School:

  • University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

Recent Awards:

  • American Society for Clinical Oncology Career Development Award  2010
  • National Palliative Care Research Center Career Development Award 2010
  • American Cancer Society Mentored Research Scholar Grant 2013
  • National Cancer Institute K07 Career Development Award 2013
  • American Society of Clinical Oncology Young Investigator Award 2009
  • Wellness Community "Outstanding Caregiver Award" 2007
  • Brigham and Women's Hospital's Award for "Distinguished Resident Mentor" 2006
  • Brigham and Women's Hospital's "Dunne Award for Compassionate Clinical Care" 2003

Research

Health services, comparative effectiveness, intervention research, genomics

My research examines the ways that communication between physicians and patients shape advanced cancer patients' understanding of their disease, treatment decisions, and medical outcomes. I am developing interventions to improve patient-physician communication, ensure that patients' care is congruent with their values, and improves patients' quality of life. I also have a specific interest in cervical cancer and examining how genomic alterations influence patient outcomes at a population-level.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Opioid Access and Urine Drug Screening Among Older Patients With Poor-Prognosis Cancer Near the End of Life. J Clin Oncol. 2023 Jan 10; JCO2201413.
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Health-related quality of life, patient-centred communication and self-efficacy in ovarian cancer: a mediation analysis. BMJ Support Palliat Care. 2022 Nov 14.
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Racial and ethnic disparities in cancer caregiver burden and potential sociocultural mediators. Support Care Cancer. 2022 Nov; 30(11):9625-9633.
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Cancer Caregivers' Prognostic and End-of-Life Communication Needs and Experiences and their Impact. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2023 01; 65(1):16-25.
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A Phase II, Two-Stage Study of Letrozole and Abemaciclib in Estrogen Receptor-Positive Recurrent Endometrial Cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2023 Jan 20; 41(3):599-608.
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Evaluation of Treatment With Talazoparib and Avelumab in Patients With Recurrent Mismatch Repair Proficient Endometrial Cancer. JAMA Oncol. 2022 09 01; 8(9):1317-1322.
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How does patient-centered communication in ovarian cancer care enhance patient well-being? A mixed methods study. Gynecol Oncol. 2022 Aug 31.
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The SHARE Study: Pilot Study of a Communication Intervention Designed to Elicit Advanced-Stage Cancer Patients' Preferences and Goals. J Palliat Med. 2022 11; 25(11):1646-1654.
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Developing and Field Testing BOLSTER: A Nurse-Led Care Management Intervention to Support Patients and Caregivers following Hospitalization for Gynecologic Cancer-Associated Peritoneal Carcinomatosis. J Palliat Med. 2022 09; 25(9):1367-1375.
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Comparing adult-child and spousal caregiver burden and potential contributors. Cancer. 2022 05 15; 128(10):2015-2024.
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Use of Germline BRCA Testing in Patients With Ovarian Cancer and Commercial Insurance. JAMA Netw Open. 2022 01 04; 5(1):e2142703.
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Combined PARP and HSP90 inhibition: preclinical and Phase 1 evaluation in patients with advanced solid tumours. Br J Cancer. 2022 04; 126(7):1027-1036.
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Reply to W. E. Rosa et al and T. N. Townsend et al. J Clin Oncol. 2022 01 20; 40(3):312-314.
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Yoga for chronic chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy pain: a pilot, randomized controlled trial. J Cancer Surviv. 2022 08; 16(4):882-891.
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Effectiveness of shoulder injury prevention programs in an overhead athletic population: A systematic review. Phys Ther Sport. 2021 Nov; 52:189-193.
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Perceived patient-centered communication, quality of life, and symptom burden in individuals with ovarian cancer. Gynecol Oncol. 2021 11; 163(2):408-418.
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US Trends in Opioid Access Among Patients With Poor Prognosis Cancer Near the End-of-Life. J Clin Oncol. 2021 09 10; 39(26):2948-2958.
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Assessment of Patient Attribution to Care From Medical Oncologists, Surgeons, or Radiation Oncologists After Newly Diagnosed Cancer. JAMA Netw Open. 2021 05 03; 4(5):e218055.
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Association of Medicaid expansion and insurance status, cancer stage, treatment and mortality among patients with cervical cancer. Cancer Rep (Hoboken). 2021 12; 4(6):e1407.
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Diagnostic Accuracy of Patient History in the Diagnosis of Hip-Related Pain: A Systematic Review. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2021 12; 102(12):2454-2463.e1.
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Leveraging mobile health technology and research methodology to optimize patient education and self-management support for advanced cancer pain. Support Care Cancer. 2021 Oct; 29(10):5741-5751.
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Phase II Study of the WEE1 Inhibitor Adavosertib in Recurrent Uterine Serous Carcinoma. J Clin Oncol. 2021 05 10; 39(14):1531-1539.
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Evaluation of Reliability and Correlations of Quality Measures in Cancer Care. JAMA Netw Open. 2021 03 01; 4(3):e212474.
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Reduced Opioid Prescribing by Oncologists: Progress Made, or Ground Lost? J Natl Cancer Inst. 2021 03 01; 113(3):225-226.
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Stepping into survivorship pilot study: Harnessing mobile health and principles of behavioral economics to increase physical activity in ovarian cancer survivors. Gynecol Oncol. 2021 05; 161(2):581-586.
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Do currently prescribed exercises reflect contributing pathomechanics associated with femoroacetabular impingement syndrome? A scoping review. Phys Ther Sport. 2021 Jan; 47:127-133.
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Embedding a genetic counselor into oncology clinics improves testing rates and timeliness for women with ovarian cancer. Gynecol Oncol. 2021 02; 160(2):457-463.
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Lived experiences of women reporting fatigue during PARP inhibitor maintenance treatment for advanced ovarian cancer: A qualitative study. Gynecol Oncol. 2021 01; 160(1):227-233.
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Surveillance in Older Women With Incidental Ovarian Cysts: Maximal Projected Benefits by Age and Comorbidity Level. J Am Coll Radiol. 2021 Jan; 18(1 Pt A):10-18.
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Threats of Bots and Other Bad Actors to Data Quality Following Research Participant Recruitment Through Social Media: Cross-Sectional Questionnaire. J Med Internet Res. 2020 10 07; 22(10):e23021.
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Cancer patients' experiences with medicinal cannabis-related care. Cancer. 2021 01 01; 127(1):67-73.
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Combined pembrolizumab and pegylated liposomal doxorubicin in platinum resistant ovarian cancer: A phase 2 clinical trial. Gynecol Oncol. 2020 10; 159(1):72-78.
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Patterns and predictors of cancer-related fatigue in ovarian and endometrial cancers: 1-year longitudinal study. Cancer. 2020 08 01; 126(15):3526-3533.
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Oncologists' perspectives on medical marijuana use by older adults. J Geriatr Oncol. 2020 07; 11(6):1034-1037.
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Natural Language Processing to Assess Palliative Care and End-of-Life Process Measures in Patients With Breast Cancer With Leptomeningeal Disease. Am J Hosp Palliat Care. 2020 May; 37(5):371-376.
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Multimodality cancer care and implications for episode-based payments in cancer. Am J Manag Care. 2019 11; 25(11):537-538.
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Potential survival benefits from optimized chemotherapy implementation in advanced ovarian cancer: Projections from a microsimulation model. PLoS One. 2019; 14(9):e0222828.
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Phase II Study of Avelumab in Patients With Mismatch Repair Deficient and Mismatch Repair Proficient Recurrent/Persistent Endometrial Cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2019 10 20; 37(30):2786-2794.
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Documentation of Palliative and End-of-Life Care Process Measures Among Young Adults Who Died of Cancer: A Natural Language Processing Approach. J Adolesc Young Adult Oncol. 2020 02; 9(1):100-104.
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Results of an abbreviated Phase Ib study of the HDAC6 inhibitor ricolinostat and paclitaxel in recurrent ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer. Gynecol Oncol Rep. 2019 Aug; 29:118-122.
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Outcomes of secondary cytoreductive surgery for patients with platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2019 12; 221(6):625.e1-625.e14.
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How does a single session group intervention improve sexual function in ovarian cancer survivors? A secondary analysis of effects of self-efficacy, knowledge and emotional distress. Psychol Health Med. 2020 01; 25(1):110-120.
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Results from a single arm, single stage phase II trial of trametinib and GSK2141795 in persistent or recurrent cervical cancer. Gynecol Oncol. 2019 07; 154(1):95-101.
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Medical Oncologists' Views on the Utility of Medical Marijuana Across the Cancer Trajectory. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2019 06; 57(6):e1-e4.
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Differential patterns of circadian rhythmicity in women with malignant versus benign gynecologic tumors. Psychooncology. 2019 03; 28(3):643-646.
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The HOPE Pilot Study: Harnessing Patient-Reported Outcomes and Biometric Data to Enhance Cancer Care. JCO Clin Cancer Inform. 2018 12; 2:1-12.
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Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in elderly women with ovarian cancer: Rates of use and effectiveness. Gynecol Oncol. 2018 09; 150(3):451-459.
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Insurance status and cancer treatment mediate the association between race/ethnicity and cervical cancer survival. PLoS One. 2018; 13(2):e0193047.
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Beyond Burnout - Redesigning Care to Restore Meaning and Sanity for Physicians. N Engl J Med. 2018 Jan 25; 378(4):309-311.
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Effect of adoption of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for advanced ovarian cancer on all cause mortality: quasi-experimental study. BMJ. 2018 01 03; 360:j5463.
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Patient Reported Outcomes: Recent Successes and Future Opportunities. Gynecol Oncol. 2018 01; 148(1):1-2.
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Benefits and Threats to Using Social Media for Presenting and Implementing Evidence. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2018 01; 48(1):3-7.
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The Relationship of Obesity to Hospice Use and Expenditures. Ann Intern Med. 2017 10 17; 167(8):605.
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Improvement in sexual function after ovarian cancer: Effects of sexual therapy and rehabilitation after treatment for ovarian cancer. Cancer. 2018 Jan 01; 124(1):176-182.
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The Affordable Care Act and End-of-Life Care for Patients With Cancer. Cancer J. 2017 May/Jun; 23(3):190-193.
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Scientific Drought, Golden Eggs, and Global Leadership - Why Trump's NIH Funding Cuts Would Be a Disaster. N Engl J Med. 2017 05 04; 376(18):1701-1704.
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The Relationship of Obesity to Hospice Use and Expenditures: A Cohort Study. Ann Intern Med. 2017 Mar 21; 166(6):381-389.
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Reply to M.S. Copur et al. J Clin Oncol. 2017 03; 35(7):803.
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Reply to D. Luvero et al. J Clin Oncol. 2017 03; 35(7):802.
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Family Perspectives on Hospice Care Experiences of Patients with Cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2017 Feb; 35(4):432-439.
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Use and Effectiveness of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Treatment of Ovarian Cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2016 11 10; 34(32):3854-3863.
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Subacute effects of cervicothoracic spinal thrust/non-thrust in addition to shoulder manual therapy plus exercise intervention in individuals with subacromial impingement syndrome: a prospective, randomized controlled clinical trial pilot study. J Man Manip Ther. 2017 Sep; 25(4):190-200.
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Use of CA-125 Tests and Computed Tomographic Scans for Surveillance in Ovarian Cancer. JAMA Oncol. 2016 Nov 01; 2(11):1427-1433.
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Time trade-offs in advanced ovarian cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2016 Oct 09; 34(26_suppl):20.
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Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Newly Diagnosed Advanced Ovarian Cancer: Society of Gynecologic Oncology and ASCO Clinical Practice Guideline Summary. J Oncol Pract. 2016 Dec; 12(12):1254-1257.
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Insurance status and disparities in disease presentation, treatment, and outcomes for men with germ cell tumors. Cancer. 2016 Oct 15; 122(20):3127-3135.
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Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Newly Diagnosed, Advanced Ovarian Cancer: Society of Gynecologic Oncology and American Society of Clinical Oncology Clinical Practice Guideline. J Clin Oncol. 2016 10 01; 34(28):3460-73.
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Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for newly diagnosed, advanced ovarian cancer: Society of Gynecologic Oncology and American Society of Clinical Oncology Clinical Practice Guideline. Gynecol Oncol. 2016 10; 143(1):3-15.
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Cervical Abnormalities in South African Women Living With HIV With High Screening and Referral Rates. J Glob Oncol. 2016 Dec; 2(6):375-380.
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Family Perspectives on Aggressive Cancer Care Near the End of Life. JAMA. 2016 Jan 19; 315(3):284-92.
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Reply to G.B. Holt. J Clin Oncol. 2016 Mar 20; 34(9):1016-7.
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Non-operative management of femoroacetabular impingement: A prospective, randomized controlled clinical trial pilot study. J Sci Med Sport. 2016 Sep; 19(9):716-21.
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Postoperative Radiation Therapy for Endometrial Cancer: American Society of Clinical Oncology Clinical Practice Guideline Endorsement of the American Society for Radiation Oncology Evidence-Based Guideline. J Oncol Pract. 2016 Feb; 12(2):182-5.
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Use and Effectiveness of Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy for Treatment of Ovarian Cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2015 Sep 10; 33(26):2841-7.
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Trends in Advance Care Planning in Patients With Cancer: Results From a National Longitudinal Survey. JAMA Oncol. 2015 Aug; 1(5):601-8.
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Consensus in controversy: The modified Delphi method applied to Gynecologic Oncology practice. Gynecol Oncol. 2015 Sep; 138(3):712-6.
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Postoperative Radiation Therapy for Endometrial Cancer: American Society of Clinical Oncology Clinical Practice Guideline Endorsement of the American Society for Radiation Oncology Evidence-Based Guideline. J Clin Oncol. 2015 Sep 10; 33(26):2908-13.
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Impact of obesity on chemotherapy management and outcomes in women with gynecologic malignancies. Gynecol Oncol. 2015 Jul; 138(1):201-6.
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Understanding treatment refusal among adults presenting for HIV-testing in Soweto, South Africa: a qualitative study. AIDS Behav. 2015 Apr; 19(4):704-14.
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Processes of discontinuing chemotherapy for metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer at the end of life. J Oncol Pract. 2015 May; 11(3):e405-12.
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Processes of discontinuing chemotherapy for metastatic non-small cell lung cancer at the end of life. J Clin Oncol. 2014 Nov; 32(31_suppl):96.
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Quality of end-of-life care: Are blood cancers different? J Clin Oncol. 2014 Oct 20; 32(30_suppl):195.
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End-of-life care for blood cancers: a series of focus groups with hematologic oncologists. J Oncol Pract. 2014 Nov; 10(6):e396-403.
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End-of-life care for older patients with ovarian cancer is intensive despite high rates of hospice use. J Clin Oncol. 2014 Nov 01; 32(31):3534-9.
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Associations between palliative chemotherapy and adult cancer patients' end of life care and place of death: prospective cohort study. BMJ. 2014 Mar 04; 348:g1219.
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Landscape of genomic alterations in cervical carcinomas. Nature. 2014 Feb 20; 506(7488):371-5.
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PEPFAR in transition--implications for HIV care in South Africa. N Engl J Med. 2013 Oct 10; 369(15):1385-7.
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Predicting life expectancy in patients with metastatic cancer receiving palliative radiotherapy: the TEACHH model. Cancer. 2014 Jan 01; 120(1):134-41.
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A qualitative analysis of factors influencing HPV vaccine uptake in Soweto, South Africa among adolescents and their caregivers. PLoS One. 2013; 8(8):e72094.
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Oncogenic mutations in cervical cancer: genomic differences between adenocarcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas of the cervix. Cancer. 2013 Nov 01; 119(21):3776-83.
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Pushing the bar in treatment of cervical cancer: what can comprehensive cancer centers do on their own? Gynecol Oncol. 2013 Nov; 131(2):464-6.
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Predicting life expectancy in patients with advanced incurable cancer: a review. J Support Oncol. 2013 Jun; 11(2):68-74.
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United states acculturation and cancer patients' end-of-life care. PLoS One. 2013; 8(3):e58663.
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Multiple synchronous primary gynecologic malignancies in an MSH2 mutation carrier with endometriosis. J Clin Oncol. 2013 Jan 20; 31(3):e33-6.
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Minor cognitive impairments in cancer patients magnify the effect of caregiver preferences on end-of-life care. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2013 Apr; 45(4):650-9.
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Religious coping and behavioral disengagement: opposing influences on advance care planning and receipt of intensive care near death. Psychooncology. 2012 Jul; 21(7):714-23.
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Predictors of response to physical therapy intervention in patients with primary hip osteoarthritis. Phys Ther. 2011 Apr; 91(4):510-24.
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Influence of patients' preferences and treatment site on cancer patients' end-of-life care. Cancer. 2010 Oct 01; 116(19):4656-63.
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Place of death: correlations with quality of life of patients with cancer and predictors of bereaved caregivers' mental health. J Clin Oncol. 2010 Oct 10; 28(29):4457-64.
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"If God wanted me yesterday, I wouldn't be here today": religious and spiritual themes in patients' experiences of advanced cancer. J Palliat Med. 2010 May; 13(5):581-8.
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End-of-life discussions, goal attainment, and distress at the end of life: predictors and outcomes of receipt of care consistent with preferences. J Clin Oncol. 2010 Mar 01; 28(7):1203-8.
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Provision of spiritual care to patients with advanced cancer: associations with medical care and quality of life near death. J Clin Oncol. 2010 Jan 20; 28(3):445-52.
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Racial differences in predictors of intensive end-of-life care in patients with advanced cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2009 Nov 20; 27(33):5559-64.
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Religious coping and use of intensive life-prolonging care near death in patients with advanced cancer. JAMA. 2009 Mar 18; 301(11):1140-7.
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Health care costs in the last week of life: associations with end-of-life conversations. Arch Intern Med. 2009 Mar 09; 169(5):480-8.
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Mental health, treatment preferences, advance care planning, location, and quality of death in advanced cancer patients with dependent children. Cancer. 2009 Jan 15; 115(2):399-409.
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Circumcision--a surgical strategy for HIV prevention in Africa. N Engl J Med. 2008 Dec 04; 359(23):2412-5.
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Associations between end-of-life discussions, patient mental health, medical care near death, and caregiver bereavement adjustment. JAMA. 2008 Oct 08; 300(14):1665-73.
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Letting go of the rope--aggressive treatment, hospice care, and open access. N Engl J Med. 2007 Jul 26; 357(4):324-7.
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Tobacco tightrope--balancing disease prevention and economic development in China. N Engl J Med. 2007 Apr 12; 356(15):1493-6.
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Roe versus reality--abortion and women's health. N Engl J Med. 2006 Jul 06; 355(1):1-9.
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Preventing cervical cancer in the developing world. N Engl J Med. 2006 Mar 16; 354(11):1110.
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Home testing for HIV. N Engl J Med. 2006 Feb 02; 354(5):437-40.
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Bar coding for patient safety. N Engl J Med. 2005 Jul 28; 353(4):329-31.
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Collateral damage--Médecins sans Frontières leaves Afghanistan and Iraq. N Engl J Med. 2004 Dec 16; 351(25):2571-3.
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Match point? N Engl J Med. 2004 Sep 16; 351(12):1165-7.
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