Catherine M. Bender

PhD, RN, FAAN
Professor
Endowed Oncology Chair
Health & Community Systems

Profile

My two areas of research interest include the neuropsychological sequellae of cancer and cancer treatment and the physiological mechanisms underlying these problems and adherence to cancer therapy. More specifically, my research focuses on the changes in cognitive function and mood that occur in patients with cancer. I also examine whether the changes in reproductive hormones that occur as a consequence of cancer therapy are related to changes in cognitive function experienced by women with cancer and we are investigating candidate genes for correlations with cognitive function in patients with cancer. I also study adherence to therapy in patients with cancer and other chronic conditions and predictors of nonadherence to therapy.

Teaching

I am  the Program Director of a National Institute of Nursing Research funded T32 grant titled, Interdisciplinary Training of Nurse Scientists in Cancer Survivorship Research  I teach two doctoral courses, NUR 3016 Theoretical Foundations of Research and NUR 3044 Research Emphasis Seminar in Cancer Survivorship.

Service

My service focuses on oncology. I have dedicated most of my service efforts to the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) and have held many national leadership positions with that organization. I was selected to present the State of the Science Lecture at the 7th National Conference on Cancer Nursing Research of the American Cancer Society and the Oncology Nursing Society. I was Research Project Team Director for Biotherapy Research Initiatives and Nausea and Vomiting Research Initiatives where we set research agendas and established grant mechanisms for funding. In 2006 I was elected as Coordinator of the ONS Advanced Nursing Research Special Interest Group during which we established a partnership system for mentoring of junior oncology nurse researchers by senior scientists across the nation. I was also appointed to lead their Foundation Major Core Grant Review Team and the Planning Committee for the 11th Biennial Cancer Nursing Research Conference.