By Eliza Dysart
Naomi Parker, Ph.D., an assistant scientist in the University of Florida’s Department of Health Outcomes and Biomedical Informatics, never expected her path from rural Southeast Georgia to lead to cancer communication research.
An undergraduate elective in health communication gave her language for the challenges she had seen growing up, including how geography, socioeconomic status and messaging affect access to care. Guided by mentorship from UF faculty, Parker now studies how to make cancer clinical trials more accessible.
“When I decided to pursue a Ph.D., I kept coming back to the biographies and publications of faculty in the College of Journalism and Communications, particularly those studying cancer and health communication,” Parker said. “Their work sparked an interest I did not know I had.”
Parker completed both her Ph.D. and postdoctoral training at UF, a natural progression that allowed her to deepen her focus on health communication across the cancer continuum, especially in clinical trials.
“It has been incredible to work with mentors and collaborators who challenge me every day to be a better scholar,” she said.
Originally from South Georgia, Parker also jokes that her journey might have been partly motivated by discounted football tickets for her husband, a longtime Gators fan.
Her research centers on improving accessibility to high-quality cancer care through communication. Parker studies how patients understand their options, who they trust for information and how conversations with clinicians can empower their decision-making.
“At the end of the day, it is about using communication as a tool to make cancer care more accessible for everyone,” she said.
Parker has already made strides in her work. She recently earned a grant from Blood Cancer United, formerly the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, to continue a skills education program training hematology and oncology fellows across the country.
“It is really gratifying to see actionable, evidence-based strategies help patients have better experiences,” she said.
Outside of the lab, Parker stays grounded in her local community of Valdosta, Georgia. She serves on boards including Historic Valdosta and the Valdosta State University Alumni Association, cheers on the Valdosta State Blazers and tends to her garden, particularly heirloom tomatoes. More recently, she discovered the joy of playing Mahjong.
Carma Bylund, Ph.D., Parker’s mentor and a professor and associate chair of education in the Department of Health Outcomes and Biomedical Informatics, described Parker as a talented and motivated researcher. Parker’s passion for cancer clinical trials communication and improving outcomes for rural patients makes her an invaluable member of the UF Health Cancer Institute team, Bylund said.
Bylund and Parker have collaborated on developing and implementing educational interventions for oncology and primary care trainees, scaling these efforts from small studies to nationwide implementations.
“Naomi has brought a great deal of experience to our work together,” said Bylund, a member of the Cancer Institute’s Cancer Control and Population Sciences research program. “She is an excellent collaborator and has terrific ideas on improving clinical trial recruitment.”
Reflecting on her growth, Parker emphasizes the importance of mentorship. Programs like the Cancer Institute’s STRONGER program for undergraduate students have given her the opportunity to mentor the next generation of cancer researchers. Events such as the institute’s annual Research Showcase have allowed her to share her research and gain valuable feedback from her peers.
“The UF Health Cancer Institute has provided resources and a collaborative community that have positioned me for success as I continue to grow my own research program,” Parker said.
“The UF Health Cancer Institute has provided resources and a collaborative community that have positioned me for success as I continue to grow my own research program.” — Naomi Parker
