Grantee: Smita C. Banerjee, PhD

Smita C. Banerjee, PhD

Organization:

• Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Current Title
Associate Attending Behavioral Scientist

Describe your scientific identity.
I am a behavioral scientist in cancer prevention and control with special emphasis on the role of communication between oncology care providers and patients and message framing for cancer risk prevention.

What are your research interests?
My current research interests are primarily contextualized in the areas of communication skills training to (a) reduce stigma experienced by patients with lung cancer who smoke(d), (b) improve sexual and gender minority (SGM) sensitivity for oncology care providers, and (c) encourage oncology care providers to discuss sexual health concerns of cisgender female patients with cancer.

What is the significance of your current research project?
I have learned that healthcare providers themselves can unintentionally perpetuate lung cancer stigma when conducting assessments of tobacco use during consultations with their patients. Empathic patient-provider communication is at the heart of providing compassionate and supportive cancer care, and our Empathic Communication Skills (ECS) Training Intervention is developed to improve this.

What motivated you to work in health communication research?
My interest in health communication began at Rutgers University, and under the guidance of Dr. Kathryn Greene. It started with an interest in development of mediated and persuasive health behavior change messages for cancer risk reduction. Joining Memorial Sloan Kettering in 2010 as a faculty member introduced me to the innumerable opportunities in provider-patient communication that could be improved upon to provide better, patient-centered, and more equitable, cancer care. My interests and motivation were further fueled by excellent mentorship from Dr. Jamie Ostroff (who is also Co-PI on the R01 grant) and Dr. Carma Bylund (who taught me the ropes of communication skills training).

Describe something that had a profound influence on your program of research or scientific interests (an "ah-ha!" moment).
The "ah-ha" moment that has had a significant impact on my work is the realization that words matter. Well-intentioned health campaigns, health messages, and even health promoting conversations between providers and patients can have unintended effects, such as stigma. Empathic communication between health care providers and patients is at the core of connecting with and providing compassionate cancer care.

Selected training, awards, and honors:

• Rutgers School of Communication Alumni Association's Distinguished Alumni Award (2021)
• Early Career Minority Women Faculty Professional Development Award, American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) (2011)

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