Download Research Biographical Sketch - Case Western Reserve University

Program Director/Principal Investigator (Step, Mary, M.):
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Provide the following information for the Senior/key personnel and other significant contributors in the order listed on Form Page 2.
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NAME
POSITION TITLE
Mary M. Step
Assistant Professor
eRA COMMONS USER NAME (credential, e.g., agency login)
MaryStep
EDUCATION/TRAINING (Begin with baccalaureate or other initial professional education, such as nursing, include postdoctoral training and
residency training if applicable.)
DEGREE
INSTITUTION AND LOCATION
MM/YY
FIELD OF STUDY
(if applicable)
Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH
Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH
Kent State University, Kent, OH
Case Western Reserve University
BA
MA
PhD
Postdoc.
1990
1992
1998
2008
Communication Studies
Communication Studies
Communication Studies
Cancer Control
A. Personal Statement
Dr. Step is well qualified to conduct investigations of human communication behavior in cancer contexts. She
received her undergraduate and graduate training in the discipline of Communication Studies, focused mainly
on communication message effects in social contexts. During this time she facilitated a wide variety of focus
groups and decision workshops with local community groups. She next applied her training in communication
theory to a post doctoral fellowship in cancer control at the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr. Step’s
main interests surround how physicians and patients use communication to build therapeutic relationships and
facilitate care outcomes. She has also conducted research on aging and decision making following surgery for
early stage breast cancer. Dr. Step is trained in both quantitative and qualitative methods and is currently
conducting qualitative interviews with recurrent cancer patients regarding prognostic communication and
support. She recently received a Mentored Research Scholar award from the American Cancer Society to
support this work.
Positions and Employment
2010-present Asst. Professor, Dept. of Family Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
2008-2009
Instructor, Dept. of Family Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
2005-2008
Instructor/Trainee, Dept. of Family Medicine, PREP Training Program (R-25), Case Western
Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
1996-2004
Instructor, Dept. of Communication Science, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
Honors
2010
American Psychosocial Oncology Fellow
C. Selected Peer-reviewed Publications (selected among 12 peer-reviewed publications)
Most relevant to the current application
Step, M.M. & Ray, E. B. Patient perceptions of oncologist-patient communication about prognosis:
Changes from initial diagnosis to cancer recurrence. Health Communication, 26: 48-58, 2011.
Step, MM, Rose, JH, Albert, JM, Cheruvu, VK, & Siminoff, LA, Modeling patient centered communication:
Oncologists relational communication and patient communication involvement in breast cancer adjuvant
therapy decision-making. Patient Education & Counseling, 77: 369-378, 2009.
PHS 398/2590 (Rev. 06/09)
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Biographical Sketch Format Page
Program Director/Principal Investigator (Step, Mary, M.):
Step, MM, Siminoff, LA, & Rose, JH, Differences in oncologist communication across age groups and
contributions to adjuvant decision outcomes. Journal of the American Geriatric Society, 57: S279-S282,
2009.
Siminoff, LA, Step, MM. A communication model of shared decision-making: Accounting for cancer treatment
decisions. Health Psychology 24, S99-105, 2005.
Step, MM Finucane, MO. Interpersonal communication motives in everyday interactions. Communication
Quarterly 50:93-109, 2002.
Additional recent publications of importance to the field (in chronological order)
Flocke, S.A., Antognoli, E., Step, M.M., Marsh, S., Parran, T., and Mason, M.J. A teachable moment
communication process for smoking cessation talk: description of a group randomized clinician-focused
intervention. BMC Health Services Research,12: 109, 2012
Siminoff, LA & Step MM A comprehensive observational coding scheme for analyzing
instrumental, affective and relational communication in healthcare contexts. Journal of Health
Communication, 16: 178-197, 2011
O’Toole, E., Step, M.M., Engelhardt, K., & Rose, J.H., (2009) The role of primary care physicians in advanced
cancer care: Perspectives of older patients and their oncologists, Journal of the American Geriatric Society,
57, S265-S268.
D.
Research Support (Selected)
Ongoing
MRSG10-00901CPPB
Step (PI)
1/1/2010 - 12/31/2015
ACS / Mentored Research Scholar Grant
Oncologist-Patient Communication Involvement at Cancer Recurrence
This mentored project involves an observational research study of oncologist-patient communication at three
and six months after diagnosis. The study aims to link features of oncologist communication to patient
communication involvement and subsequent quality of life and decision outcomes.
Role: Primary Investigator
P30 CA43703
Step(PI)
12/1/2009 – 12/31/2010
ACS / Case Comprehensive Cancer Center
Comparison of Recurrent and Non-recurrent Cancer Patients’ Needs and Wellbeing
Comparison of patient reported psychosocial and communication outcomes at multiple time points across the
first six months following an advanced cancer diagnosis. Includes mediation analysis of oncologist-patient
concordant on care goals and survival on outcomes.
Role: Principal investigator
R01 CA105292-05
Flocke (PI)
7/1/2009 – 6/30/2014
NIH / NCI
Using Illness Visits to Provide Health Behavior Advice.
Communication skills intervention for maximizing the effects of teachable moments for health behavior change
in primary care settings.
Role: Co-Investigator
PHS 398/2590 (Rev. 06/09)
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