Overview
Dr. Marchak is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Emory University School of Medicine and a behavioral scientist at Aflac Cancer & Blood Disorders Center at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. She has built a clinical research program focusing on healthcare self-management, healthy lifestyle behaviors, and psychosocial functioning. Her research also seeks to improve patients’ access to evidence-based supportive care programming by leveraging technology and implementation science methods.
In addition to her work with the Aflac Cancer & Blood Disorders Center, her national and international involvement includes:
- Cancer Prevention and Control Research Program at the Winship Cancer Institute
- Co-chair of the Mental Health working groups for the International Late Effects of Childhood Cancer Guideline Harmonization Group (IGHG)
- Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS) Psychology Steering Committee
- Children’s Oncology Group’s Behavioral Science, Outcomes & Survivorship, Cancer Care Delivery Research, and Supportive Care Committees
Electronic Psychosocial Screening in Pediatric Oncology
Despite well-documented risks and evidence-based guideline recommendations, most pediatric oncology sites do not have programming to provide evidence-based distress screening. Dr. Marchak's team has developed a systematic screening program that uses technological solutions integrated with the electronic health record (EHR) to promote evidence-based psychosocial assessment within pediatric oncology. The e-screening program launched in September 2018 and has been able to administer, document, and communicate the results of over 40,000 Pediatric Distress Thermometers. The Dyadic Electronic STRESS Screening in Pediatric Oncology (DE-STRESSS) study (PI: Marchak) used EHR reporting tools to characterize the reach and fidelity of electronic distress screening among N>3800 patients aged 2.0-21.9 years presenting at point of care in outpatient oncology clinics. Overall, results indicate that leveraging EHR technology can successfully and equitably reach pediatric oncology patients for psychosocial screening and effectively link patients to timely mental health supports.
Dr. Marchak is currently leading “Supporting Electronic Evaluation of Symptoms for Anxiety and Depression After Childhood Cancer Treatment” (SEE-SAD-ACT) an implementation study to leverage EHR technology to implement evidence-based screening for depression and anxiety among pediatric cancer survivors using the PROMIS® (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System) measures during survivorship appointments (Pfizer-PROTEUS Consortium Award; PI: Marchak).
Evaluating Educational Tools to Support Pediatric Cancer Survivor Care Across the Lifespan
Dr. Marchak and her team are working to facilitate survivors’ engagement in care by using novel patient-centered technological educational tools.
Cancer SurvivorLink allows survivors to upload, store, and share key health documents related to their survivor care in an electronic personal health record (ePHR). SurvivorLink also has an educational section, which currently houses static educational resources (e.g. pdf files) for patients and providers.
Dr. Marchak is currently leading efforts to identify the optimal delivery of electronic educational media to increase knowledge about survivorship care plans and motivation for survivor care among young adult aged survivors (Evaluating Education Tools to Support Pediatric Cancer Survivor Care Across the Lifespan; NCT04257058; PI: Marchak). By developing effective AYA long-term follow-up educational materials, we will be able to optimize the content, format, and delivery of electronic educational media to increase knowledge about and motivation for long-term follow-up care among AYA survivors of childhood cancer.
Rebecca Lewis, MPH
Education: BS (Biochemistry), University of Virginia; MPH, Emory University
Current projects: Electronic Psychosocial Screening in Pediatric Oncology, Validating Electronic Distress Screening in Pediatric Oncology, Evaluating Patient Engagement in Survivor-focused Healthcare After Childhood Cancer Treatment, Predicting Childhood Cancer Survivors’ Transition Readiness & Transfer Outcomes
Fun Fact: I believe you should have at least one piece of chocolate a day.
Email: rebecca.lewis@choa.org
Ebonee Harris, MPH, BS
Education: BS (Biology), Kennesaw State University; MPH, New York Medical College
Current projects: Evaluating Education Tools to Support Pediatric Cancer Survivor Care Across the Lifespan, Supporting Electronic Evaluation of Symptoms for Anxiety and Depression After Childhood Cancer Treatment
Fun Fact: Loves dogs and all genres of music.
Email: ebonee.harris@choa.org
Johannil Napoleon, PsyD, LPC
Education: BA (Art and Art History), Berea College; MA (Art Therapy), Art Institute of Chicago; PsyD, Adler University
Current projects: Wellness Empowerment After Childhood Cancer (WE-ACT) Study
Fun Fact: Love art, the beach, and everything Caribbean
Email: johannil.napoleon@emory.edu
Emory Masters of Public Health Students
Chris Bodine, MBA, (2019-2020), Program Director, Winship Cancer Institute
Lillian Boyer, MPH, (2019-2020), Epidemiologist, MITRE
Samantha Stacks, BSN, MPH, (2018-2019), Nurse Practitioner, Fourth Street Clinic, Homeless Healthcare, Salt Lake City, UT
Kristen Howell, PhD, MPH, (2017-2019), Clinical Research Scientist, St Jude Children's Research Hospital
Heather Emery, MPH, (2016-2019), Project Manager, Emory University
Clinical Psychology PhD Graduate Students
Lauren Quast, PhD, BS (2017-2020), Assistant Professor, Emory University
Jensi Gise, PhD, BS (2017-2019), Postdoctoral Fellow, Emory University
Ana Gutierrez-Colina, PhD, MS, (2014-2015), Research Scientist/Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Colorado State University
Jennifer Lee, PhD, (2012-2013), Adjunct Assistant Professor, Emory University Department of Pediatrics- Hematology/Oncology; Director of Clinical Research, Lyra Health
Bonney Reed-Knight, PhD, (2011-2012), Associate Professor, Emory University
Emory Health Service Psychology Post-doctoral Fellows
Courtney Lynn, PhD, (2018-2019), Assistant Professor, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Child & Adolescent Psychology
Kaitlin Proctor, PhD, (2017-2018), Assistant Professor, Emory University
Jennifer Lee, PhD, (2015-2017), Adjunct Assistant Professor, Emory University Department of Pediatrics- Hematology/Oncology; Director of Clinical Research, Lyra Health
Alison Manikowski, PsyD, (2020–2021), Assistant Professor, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Marchak JG, Sadak KT, Effinger KE, Haardörfer R, Escoffery C, Kinahan KE, Freyer DR, Chow EJ, Mertens A. Transition practices for survivors of childhood cancer: a report from the Children's Oncology Group. J Cancer Surviv. 2023 Apr;17(2):342-350. doi: 10.1007/s11764-023-01351-y. Epub 2023 Mar 4. PubMed PMID: 36870037; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC9984742.
Parsons SK, Beauchemin MP, Dupuis L, Sugalski A, Wolfson JA, Santacroce SJ, Marchak JG, Sung L, Roth ME. Children's Oncology Group 2023 blueprint for research: Cancer care delivery research. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2023 Sep;70 Suppl 6(Suppl 6):e30579. doi: 10.1002/pbc.30579. Epub 2023 Jul 19. PubMed PMID: 37469004; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10686255.
Embry L, Bingen K, Conklin HM, Hardy S, Jacola LM, Marchak JG, Paltin I, Pelletier W, Devine KA. Children's Oncology Group's 2023 blueprint for research: Behavioral science. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2023 Sep;70 Suppl 6(Suppl 6):e30557. doi: 10.1002/pbc.30557. Epub 2023 Jul 10. PubMed PMID: 37430416; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10528542.
Ilic A, Haardoerfer R, Michel G, Escoffery C, Mertens AC, Marchak JG. Understanding caregivers' decision to vaccinate childhood cancer survivors against COVID-19. Cancer Med. 2023 Dec;12(23):21354-21363. doi: 10.1002/cam4.6675. Epub 2023 Nov 8. PubMed PMID: 37937725; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10726781.
*Marchak JG, *Christen S, Mulder RL, Baust K, Blom JMC, Brinkman TM, Elens I, Harju E, Kadan-Lottick NS, Khor JWT, Lemiere J, Recklitis CJ, Wakefield CE, Wiener L, Constine LS, Hudson MM, Kremer LCM, Skinner R, Vetsch J, *Lee JL, *Michel G. Recommendations for the surveillance of mental health problems in childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer survivors: a report from the International Late Effects of Childhood Cancer Guideline Harmonization Group. Lancet Oncol. 2022 Apr;23(4):e184-e196. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(21)00750-6. Review. PubMed PMID: 35358467; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC9639707.
Marchak JG, Kegler MC, Meacham LR, Mertens AC, Effinger KE. Cancer-Related Barriers to Health Behaviors Among Adolescent and Young Adult Survivors of Pediatric Cancer and Their Families. J Adolesc Young Adult Oncol. 2023 Feb;12(1):118-122. doi: 10.1089/jayao.2021.0169. Epub 2022 Mar 21. PubMed PMID: 35325580.
Manikowski A, Williamson Lewis R, Bennett T, Miller H, Mertens A, Wasilewski-Masker K, Escoffery C, Gilleland Marchak J. Implementation of Electronic Psychosocial Screening Among Caregivers in Pediatric Oncology. JCO Oncol Pract. 2022 Jul;18(7):e1198-e1208. doi: 10.1200/OP.21.00836. Epub 2022 Apr 20. PubMed PMID: 35442722.
Gilleland Marchak J, Devine KA, Hudson MM, Jacobson LA, Michel G, Peterson SR, Schulte F, Wakefield CE, Sands SA. Systematic Review of Educational Supports of Pediatric Cancer Survivors: Current Approaches and Future Directions. J Clin Oncol. 2021 Jun 1;39(16):1813-1823. doi: 10.1200/JCO.20.02471. Epub 2021 Apr 22. PubMed PMID: 33886350.
5R01CA240319-02 (Stern)
NOURISH-T+: A Randomized Control Trial Targeting Parents in Promoting Healthy Eating and Exercise Behaviors in Pediatric Cancer Survivors with Overweight/Obesity
07/01/2021 - 11/30/2025 Role: Site PI Source: NIH-NCI
Multi-site randomized control trial to test the efficacy of NOURISH-T+ to decrease BMI among obese survivors of childhood cancer through parental modeling of healthy dietary and physical activity behaviors.
Woodruff Health Science Center Synergy Award (Gilleland Marchak / Effinger / Kegler)
Developing a Wellness Intervention for Adolescent Childhood Cancer Survivors
10/01/2021 – 09/30/2024 Role: MPI Source: Emory University
Determine adaptions needed to modify Healthy Homes/Healthy Families (HH/HF) telehealth coaching program to help adolescent survivors of childhood cancer and their caregivers improve physical activity, sleep quality, and nutrition.
Pfizer-PROTEUS Consortium Award (Marchak)
Supporting Electronic Evaluation of Symptoms for Anxiety and Depression After Childhood Cancer Treatment (SEE-SAD-ACT)
03/2023 – 02/2025 Role: PI Source: Pfizer, Inc.
Adapt electronic health records (EHR) and clinical workflows to support electronic patient-reported outcomes (ePRO) and assess the implementation of ePRO mental health screening in the pediatric cancer survivorship setting.