Emily Tonorezos, MD, MPH

My research interests span the breadth of survivorship research; however, I am particularly interested in exploring questions concerning health behaviors and healthcare delivery. Cancer survivors are at risk of chronic disease and shortened lifespan related to the diagnosis and treatment, underlying risk, health behaviors, access to healthcare, and the environment where they live; helping survivors live long and healthy lives is crucial.

In a study conducted through the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS), my colleagues and I examined an online diet and exercise intervention for adult survivors of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia. While the intervention had success within the general population, it did not produce the same weight-loss results among survivors. This finding was important because it showed that interventions designed for the general population may not adequately meet survivors’ needs and this population may require more support and targeted interventions to help them make sustainable lifestyle changes.

For dietary studies, it is important that we adopt measurement approaches that provide a more complete picture than merely having study participants answer questions about food intake or maintaining food journals. Photographs and biological measurements from blood and breath are valuable tools to understanding what is happening nutritionally. Additionally, we should also consider the broader effects of diet, including how food can promote well-being, social connection, community and culture. We are learning that where one eats, when and with whom can matter just as much as what one eats. 

In addition to my interest in health behaviors and measurement methodology, I am also interested in how the environment shapes the survivorship experience, particularly access to primary care. Understanding the challenges of delivering high-quality primary care access requires us to explore two questions: What support do survivors need to find quality primary care, and how can we better equip primary care clinicians to care for the survivor population? As an extension of this work, I am also interested in capturing how the survivor population has changed, how it is expected to grow, and what services are needed to further support it. Generally speaking, all of my research requires collaborators and a multidisciplinary approach — which I really enjoy. I partner especially closely with my colleagues in the Division of Cancer Survivorship and the Department of Epidemiology and Cancer Control.