Tamara Somers
Overview:
Tamara J. Somers, PhD, is a Clinical Psychologist and Faculty Member in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Dr. Somers conducts research developing, testing, and implementing behavioral interventions for pain and other symptoms in patients with chronic disease (e.g., cancer, arthritis). She is particularly interested in developing behavioral interventions that are personalized to the needs of individual patients and using innovative delivery methods (mobile health) to deliver the interventions. Grant awards from the NIH, American Cancer Society, and other funding agencies support her research. Dr. Somers also co-directs a clinical psychology training program at the Duke Cancer Institute (DCI) that trains graduate students, clinical psychology interns, and post-doctoral fellows in psychosocial and behavioral symptom management interventions. She is the Director of Research for the Duke Cancer Patient Support Program at DCI. Dr. Somers maintains a small clinical practice at the Duke Faculty Practice at Erwin Square.
Positions:
Associate Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Member of the Duke Cancer Institute
Education:
Ph.D. 2007
Grants:
Coping Skills for Colorectal Cancer Survivors with Pain and Distress
Behavioral Weight and Symptom Management for Breast Cancer Survivors and Partners
Optimizing Delivery of a Behavioral Cancer Pain Intervention Using a SMART
Palliative Care Research Cooperative Group (PCRC) Refinement and Expansion
Pain Coping Skills Training for African Americans with Osteoarthritis
Publications:
mHealth Coping Skills Training for Symptom Management (mCOPE) for colorectal cancer patients in early to mid-adulthood: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.
Behavioral cancer pain intervention dosing: results of a Sequential Multiple Assignment Randomized Trial.
Effect of Pain Coping Skills Training on Pain and Pain Medication Use for Women With Breast Cancer.
Managing Chronic Pain in Cancer Survivorship: Communication Challenges and Opportunities as Described by Cancer Survivors.
Co-occurring Fatigue and Lymphatic Pain Incrementally Aggravate Their Negative Effects on Activities of Daily Living, Emotional Distress, and Overall Health of Breast Cancer Patients.
