Jessica D. Austin, PhD, MPH is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Promotion Sciences at the University of Oklahoma Hudson College of Public Health. She completed her PhD and tenure as a National Cancer Institute predoctoral fellow at the University of Texas Health Science Center, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at Columbia University Medical Center and Mailman School of Public Health. Dr. Austin is an NIH-funded investigator with expertise in implementation science, health behavior, and health disparities. Her research uses mixed-methods and participatory approaches to develop, adapt, implement, and evaluate innovative strategies to promote uptake of cancer care innovations across diverse settings and populations. She is particularly interested in implementation of precision, risk-based approaches and the use of digitally-enabled strategies. Dr. Austin has served as co-principal investigator and co-investigator on grants from the National Cancer Institute and National Institute of Minority Health Disparities. She also has experience leading implementation science and community outreach and engagement efforts for Centers for Translational Science and NCI-designated Cancer Centers.
Education:
Degree-Granting Institutions
BS, Neuroscience, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX 2012
MPH, Community & Behavioral Health, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX 2015
PhD, Health Promotion Behavioral Sciences (Minor Health Services Research), University of Texas Health Science Center, Dallas, TX 2019
Postgraduate Training
National Cancer Institute Predoctoral Fellow, University of Texas Health Science Center, Dallas, TX 2018-2019
Postdoctoral Fellowship, Columbia University Medical Center, Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY 2020-2021
Funding:
Achieving Safe, Comprehensive, Digitally-Enabled Cancer Pain managemeNT” (ASCENT) Clinical Trial. Funded by National Cancer Institute R33CA278594. Role: MPI(Cheville, Austin)
Enhancing cognitive function in breast cancer survivors through community-based aerobic exercise training. Funded by National Cancer Institute. (R37 CA252060). PI: Ehlers. Role: Co-I
Select Publications:
Austin JD, Nelson IA, Tilburt JC, Ellinghysen ER, Yee C, Quillen J, Dougan BM, Presutti JR, Hurt RT, Samadder NJ, Ghosh K, Ressler SW. Primary Care Clinician Preferences and Perspectives on Multi-Cancer Detection Testing Across an Integrated Healthcare System. J Pers Med. 2025 Sep 28;15(10). doi: 10.3390/jpm15100452. PubMed PMID: 41149814; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC12565203.
Austin JD, Jenkins SM, Suman VJ, Ridgeway JL, Patel BK, Ghosh K, Rhodes DJ, Borah BJ, Norman AD, Ramos EP, Jewett M, Gonzalez CR, Hernandez V, Singh D, Radecki Breitkopf C, Vachon CM. Effectiveness of Breast Density Educational Interventions on Mammography Screening Adherence Among Underserved Latinas: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2025 Apr;34(4):491-503. doi: 10.1089/jwh.2024.0273. Epub 2025 Feb 19. PubMed PMID: 39969957; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC12408887.
Austin JD, Finney Rutten LJ, Fischer K, Ridgeway J, Minteer S, Griffin JM, Pachman DR, Ruddy KJ, Cheville A. Advancing Care Team Adoption of Electronic Health Record Systems for Cancer Symptom Management: Findings From a Hybrid Type II, Cluster-Randomized, Stepped-Wedge Trial. JCO Oncol Pract. 2025 Feb;21(2):209-217. doi: 10.1200/OP.24.00280. Epub 2024 Aug 6. PubMed PMID: 39106420; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC11799349.
Finney Rutten LJ, Griffin JM, St Sauver JL, MacLaughlin K, Austin JD, Jenkins G, Herrin J, Jacobson RM. Multilevel Implementation Strategies for Adolescent Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Uptake: A Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Pediatr. 2024 Jan 1;178(1):29-36. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2023.4932. PubMed PMID: 37983062; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10957109.
Adsul P, Austin JD, Chebli P, Dias EM, Hirschey R, Ravi P, Seaman AT, Vogel R. From study plans to capacity building: a journey towards health equity in cancer survivorship. Cancer Causes Control. 2023 Dec;34(Suppl 1):7-13. doi: 10.1007/s10552-023-01808-6. Epub 2023 Oct 18. PubMed PMID: 37851185; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10689513.
Austin JD, Tehranifar P, Rodriguez CB, Brotzman L, Agovino M, Ziazadeh D, Moise N, Shelton RC. A mixed-methods study of multi-level factors influencing mammography overuse among an older ethnically diverse screening population: implications for de-implementation. Implement Sci Commun. 2021 Sep 26;2(1):110. doi: 10.1186/s43058-021-00217-7. PubMed PMID: 34565481; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8474751.
Austin JD, Agovino M, Rodriguez CB, Terry MB, Shelton RC, Wei Y, Desperito E, Schmitt KM, Kukafka R, Tehranifar P. Breast Density Awareness and Knowledge in a Mammography Screening Cohort of Predominantly Hispanic Women: Does Breast Density Notification Matter?. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2021 Oct;30(10):1913-1920. doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-21-0172. Epub 2021 Aug 4. PubMed PMID: 34348958; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8492494.
Cheville AL, Herrin J, Pachman DR, Grzegorczyk V, Kroenke K, Ridgeway JL, Minteer SA, Austin JD, Griffin JM, Chlan L, Tofthagen C, Mitchell SA, Smith A, Ruddy KJ. Electronic health record-facilitated symptom surveillance and collaborative care intervention in oncology (E2C2): a cluster-randomised, population-level, stepped-wedge, pragmatic trial. Lancet Oncol. 2026 Jan;27(1):125-136. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(25)00526-1. Epub 2025 Dec 1. PubMed PMID: 41344348.
Lohr AM, Griffin JM, Raygoza JP, Frick MR, Minteer SA, Tilburt JC, Cheville AL, Austin JD. The role of community health workers in a collaborative care management intervention for cancer pain management: a feasibility study for a randomized controlled trial. Ann Palliat Med. 2025 Jan;14(1):13-28. doi: 10.21037/apm-24-125. PubMed PMID: 39963755; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC12248872.
Austin JD, James E, Perez RL, Mazza GL, Kling JM, Fraker J, Mina L, Banerjee I, Sharpe R, Patel BK. Factors influencing U.S. women's interest and preferences for breast cancer risk communication: a cross-sectional study from a large tertiary care breast imaging center. BMC Womens Health. 2024 Jun 21;24(1):359. doi: 10.1186/s12905-024-03197-7. PubMed PMID: 38907193; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC11191185.
Austin JD, Jenkins SM, Suman VJ, Raygoza JP, Ridgeway JL, Norman A, Gonzalez C, Hernandez V, Ghosh K, Patel BK, Vachon CM. Breast Cancer Risk Perceptions Among Underserved, Hispanic Women: Implications for Risk-Based Approaches to Screening. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities. 2025 Apr;12(2):1150-1158. doi: 10.1007/s40615-024-01949-7. Epub 2024 Feb 21. PubMed PMID: 38383839; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC11336027.
Smith JD, Norton WE, Mitchell SA, Cronin C, Hassett MJ, Ridgeway JL, Garcia SF, Osarogiagbon RU, Dizon DS, Austin JD, Battestilli W, Richardson JE, Tesch NK, Cella D, Cheville AL, DiMartino LD. The Longitudinal Implementation Strategy Tracking System (LISTS): feasibility, usability, and pilot testing of a novel method. Implement Sci Commun. 2023 Nov 28;4(1):153. doi: 10.1186/s43058-023-00529-w. PubMed PMID: 38017582; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10683230.