Christine Sheffer, PhD
Christine Sheffer, PhD
Associate Professor of Oncology
Department of Health Behavior
Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center
Executive Director
Council for Tobacco Treatment Training Programs
Areas of Expertise:
The treatment of tobacco dependence
Health behavior change
Training health care provider in the evidence-based treatment of tobacco dependence
Methods to decrease delay discounting
Special Interests:
Improve the efficacy and uptake of empirically-supported treatments for tobacco use, particularly for groups that experience tobacco-related cancer health disparities
Investigate neurocognitive processes associated with risky and addictive health behaviors
Investigate effective methods to train health care providers in the treatment of tobacco dependence
Biography
Risky health behaviors have a tremendous impact on cancer incidence and mortality and cancer health disparities as well as the progression of cancer diagnoses. Improving health behaviors can improve the quality of life and the overall health of many individuals, including cancer survivors. My research focuses on the examination of bio-behavioral mechanisms involved with health behaviors, particularly tobacco dependence and other addictive behaviors. My long-term goal is to contribute to incremental increases in the efficacy and uptake of brief, minimal, and intensive evidence-based treatments for tobacco dependence and other risky behaviors, providing the help people need to achieve and maintain good health.
Background
Education and Training:
PhD - Clinical Psychology, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS
MA - Psychology, University of West Florida
BA - Psychology, University of West Florida
BA - Linguistics, Binghamton University
Residency:
Psychology Internship Consortium - Southern Mississippi
- Sheffer CE, MacKillop J, Fernando A*, Christenson D, Bickel W, Johnson M, Panissidi L, Pittman J, Franck C, Williams J*, Mathew M.* Initial examination of priming tasks to decrease delay discounting. Behavioural Processes 2016; 128:144-152. Sheffer C, Brackman S, Lercera C*, Cottoms N, Olson M, Panissidi L, Pittman J*, Stayna H. When free isn’t for me: Confronting the barriers to use of free quitline telephone counseling. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2015; 13 (1). Pii E15 doi: 10.3390/ijerph13010015 PMC4730406
- Evans, S*, Sheffer C, Bickel, WK, Cottoms N, Olson M, Panissidi L, Austin T, Stayna H, Sanborn V. The process of adapting the evidence-based treatment for tobacco dependence for smokers of lower socioeconomic status. Journal of Addiction Research and Therapy 2015 6:1 PMC4592131
- Sheffer C, Payne T, Ostroff J, Jolicoeur D, Steinberg M, Czabafy S, Foulds J, Bars M, Wassum K, Perry B: Training Issues Committee of the Association for the Treatment of Tobacco Use and Dependence. Increasing the quality and availability of evidence-based treatment for tobacco dependence through unified certification of Tobacco Treatment Specialists. Journal of Smoking Cessation 2015; 1-7
- Sheffer C, Mennemeier M, Landes R, Bickel W, Brackman S, Dornhoffer J, Kimbrell T, Brown G. Neuromodulation of delay discounting, the reflection effect, and cigarette consumption. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment 2013; 45(2):206-14. PMC3690153 Sheffer C, Stitzer M, Landes R, Brackman S, Munn T, Moore P. Socioeconomic disparities in community-based treatment of tobacco dependence. American Journal of Public Health. 2012; 102(3):e8-16. PMC3487677