Jason Hodges, PhD, MA is a social and behavioral health scientist whose work bridges public health, clinical research, and health equity. He currently serves as Director of Research and Clinical Studies in the Department of Hematology at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, where he focuses on integrating social determinants of health (SDoH) into research on pediatric hematologic diseases, particularly sickle cell disease.
Hodges earned his PhD in Social and Behavioral Sciences from the University of Memphis School of Public Health, along with a graduate certificate in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in health. With a foundation in anthropology and qualitative research methods, he brings a multidisciplinary lens to understanding how place, policy, and lived experience shape patient outcomes. His research has explored diverse topics ranging from treatment adherence and pain management to health-related quality of life and neurocognitive outcomes, with over a dozen peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals including Blood Advances, JMIR Mhealth Uhealth, Pediatric Blood & Cancer, and Neuro-Oncology.
Hodges is particularly interested in the use of spatial and qualitative data to illuminate inequities and inform intervention design. By leveraging tools like GIS and applying behavioral theory, his work seeks to provide a more holistic view of how patients experience disease, clinical care, and research participation.
Through the Master’s in Clinical Investigations program at the St. Jude Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hodges aims to deepen his analytical skillset and further refine his ability to lead rigorous, equity-centered clinical research. His long-term goal is to become an independent investigator whose work advances both scientific understanding and health justice for children and families affected by serious illness.
Hometown: Memphis, TN
Education:
2016 - PhD, Social & Behavioral Sciences in Public Health – University of Memphis School of Public Health
2014 _ GIS in Health – University of Memphis
2007 -MA, Anthropology – University of Memphis
2005 - BA, Anthropology – University of Memphis
Awards/Honors/Scholarships:
2006 - Graduate Research Assistantship, University of Memphis
Publications:
Klosky JL, Foster RH, Hodges J, Peasant C, Gamble H, McDermott MJ, Rao P. Human papillomavirus vaccination and the primary prevention of cancer: implications for survivors of childhood cancer. Stud Health Technol Inform. 2012;172:33-42.
Klosky JL, Russell KM, Canavera KE, Gammel HL, Hodges JR, Foster RH, Parra GR, Simmons JL, Green DM, Hudson MM. Risk factors for non-initiation of the human papillomavirus vaccine among adolescent survivors of childhood cancer. Cancer Prev Res (Phila). 2013;6(10):1101-1110. doi:10.1158/1940-6207.CAPR-13-0127.
Klosky JL, Simmons JL, Russell KM, Foster RH, Sabbatini GM, Canavera KE, Hodges JR, Schover LR, McDermott MJ. Fertility as a priority among at-risk adolescent males newly diagnosed with cancer and their parents. Support Care Cancer. 2015;23(2):333-341. doi:10.1007/s00520-014-2366-1.
Alberts NM, Badawy SM, Hodges J, Estepp JH, Nwosu C, Khan H, Smeltzer MP, Homayouni R, Norell S, Klesges L, Porter JS, Hankins JS. Development of the InCharge Health Mobile App to Improve Adherence to Hydroxyurea in Patients With Sickle Cell Disease: User-Centered Design Approach. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2020;8(5):e14884. doi:10.2196/14884.
Hodges JR, Phillips SM, Norell S, Nwosu C, Khan H, Luo L, Badawy SM, King A, Tanabe P, Treadwell M, Rojas Smith L, Calhoun C, Hankins JS, Porter J. Intentional and unintentional nonadherence to hydroxyurea among people with sickle cell disease: a qualitative study. Blood Adv. 2020;4(18):4463-4473. doi:10.1182/bloodadvances.2020001701.
Howell CR, Wilson CL, Yasui Y, Srivastava DK, Lu W, Bjornard KL, Ehrhardt MJ, Brinkman TM, Chemaitilly W, Hodges JR, Lanctot JQ, Robison LL, Hudson MM, Ness KK. Neighborhood effect and obesity in adult survivors of pediatric cancer: A report from the St. Jude lifetime cohort study. Int J Cancer. 2020;147(2):338-349. doi:10.1002/ijc.32725.
Partanen M, Kang G, Wang WC, Krull K, King AA, Schreiber JE, Porter JS, Hodges J, Hankins JS, Jacola LM. Association between hydroxycarbamide exposure and neurocognitive function in adolescents with sickle cell disease. Br J Haematol. 2020;189(6):1192-1203. doi:10.1111/bjh.16519.
Saulsberry AC, Hodges JR, Cole A, Porter JS, Hankins J. Web-Based Technology to Improve Disease Knowledge Among Adolescents With Sickle Cell Disease: Pilot Study. JMIR Pediatr Parent. 2020;3(1):e15093. doi:10.2196/15093.
Alberts NM, Kang G, Li C, Richardson PA, Hodges J, Hankins JS, Klosky JL. Pain in Youth With Sickle Cell Disease: A Report From the Sickle Cell Clinical Research and Intervention Program. Clin J Pain. 2021;37(1):43-50. doi:10.1097/AJP.0000000000000889.
Howell KE, Saulsberry-Abate AC, Mathias JG, Porter JS, Hodges JR, Ataga KI, Anderson S, Nolan V, Hankins JS. Transition care continuity promotes long-term retention in adult care among young adults with sickle cell disease. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2021;68(10):e29209. doi:10.1002/pbc.29209.
Keenan ME, Loew M, Berlin KS, Hodges J, Alberts NM, Hankins JS, Porter JS. Empirically Derived Profiles of Health-Related Quality of Life in Youth and Young Adults with Sickle Cell Disease. J Pediatr Psychol. 2021;46(3):293-303. doi:10.1093/jpepsy/jsaa104.
Rampersaud E, Kang G, Palmer LE, Rashkin SR, Wang S, Bi W, Alberts NM, Anghelescu D, Barton M, Birch K, Boulos N, Brandow AM, Brooke RJ, Chang TC, Chen W, Cheng Y, Ding J, Easton J, Hodges JR, Weiss MJ. A polygenic score for acute vaso-occlusive pain in pediatric sickle cell disease. Blood Adv. 2021;5(14):2839-2851. doi:10.1182/bloodadvances.2021004634.
Saulsberry-Abate AC, Partanen M, Porter JS, Podila PSB, Hodges JR, King AA, Wang WC, Schreiber JE, Zhao X, Kang G, Jacola LM, Hankins JS. Cognitive performance as a predictor of healthcare transition in sickle cell disease. Br J Haematol. 2021;192(6):1082-1091. doi:10.1111/bjh.17351.
Boggs JE, Pullen A, Molnar AE Jr, Hodges J, Reiss UM. Screening for inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity in children with haemophilia: A quality improvement intervention. Haemophilia. 2023;29(1):210-218. doi:10.1111/hae.14656.
Contesse MG, Hodges J, Staunton H, Lowes LP, Elmankabadi B, Elder SJ, Ormazabal MG, Dalle Pazze L, Leffler MG. Home-based video assessment of ease of movement for patients with Duchenne: Interviews with physical therapists to select movement tasks. Physiother Res Int. 2023;e1993. doi:10.1002/pri.1993.
Mule TN, Hodges J, Wu S, Li Y, Ashford JM, Merchant TE, Conklin HM. Social determinants of cognitive outcomes in survivors of pediatric brain tumors treated with conformal radiation therapy. Neuro Oncol. 2023;25(10):1842-1851. doi:10.1093/neuonc/noad080.
Khan H, Kang G, Porter JS, Ding J, Wang WC, Estepp JH, Gurney JG, Davis R, Hankins JS, Hodges JR. Social determinants of health affect disease severity among preschool children with sickle cell disease. Blood Adv. 2024;8(23):6088-6096. doi:10.1182/bloodadvances.2023012379.