Director, Office of Cancer Health Disparities Research
Division of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences

Deborah Erwin, PhD, was named the Director of the Office of Health Disparities Research, Division of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences at Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) in August 2006.

Dr. Erwin came to RPCI from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences where she served in various capacities for 21 years including Professor, Department of Surgery; Professor, Department of Health Behavior and Health Education; and Director of Education, Arkansas Cancer Research Center. At RPCI, Dr. Erwin is advancing community-based research directed toward reducing, eliminating and preventing health disparities; as well as developing and maintaining peer-reviewed funded programs.

Dr. Erwin earned her doctoral degree in medical anthropology from Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX. Her research interests include access and screening for minority and underserved populations. She is co-founder of the Witness Project, a breast cancer education and screening intervention for African American women. The Witness Project, developed in rural Arkansas, has been replicated nationally at more than 30 program sites in 22 states. Since 2001, Dr. Erwin’s ethnographic research has expanded to include the growing Latino/Hispanic population in the US. She is currently funded to investigate the efficacy of the intervention, Esperanza y Vida (Hope & Life) to increase breast and cervical cancer screening in Latinas/Hispanics in Arkansas and New York. Dr. Erwin’s research is funded by the American Cancer Society, National Cancer Institute, Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the US Department of Defense.

Dr. Erwin has authored or co-authored more than 30 journal articles and book chapters. She serves as a reviewer of Lancet, and the Journal of Cancer Education.

Dr. Erwin is a member of Society for Applied Anthropology, American Public Health Association, American Cancer Society, the Society for Medical Anthropology and the American Anthropological Association. She is immediate Past President of the American Association for Cancer Education.