Christine M. Gunn, PhD

Adjunct Assistant Professor, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

Biography

Dr. Gunn completed her PhD in Health Services Research in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Boston University School of Public Health. She is currently an Assistant Professor in the Women's Health Unit, Section of General Internal Medicine at the Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine. She holds a secondary appointment at the Boston University School of Public Health in the Department of Health Law, Policy and Management.

Dr. Gunn is a health services researcher focused on risk communication, decision-making, and the utilization of evidence-based care. She has conducted an array of research on how patients and providers negotiate the experience of being at risk for cancer and its impact on the utilization of health services. She is particularly interested studying how health literacy impacts health decision-making and behaviors. Dr. Gunn has extensive experience in qualitative research methods, surveys, and mixed methods approaches to studying risk and prevention behaviors.

Dr. Gunn has received funding from AcademyHealth through the New Investigator Small Grant Program to examine women’s perceptions of the Massachusetts breast density notification legislation and its influence on their intentions for future screening. She is the recipient of a K07 career development award from the National Cancer Institute. This award uses community-engaged methods to develop and test a breast cancer screening decision aid in partnership with women with low health literacy. She is also conducting work through the BU-BMC Cancer Center American Cancer Society pilot program that aims to develop patient education to help women understand breast density and has a CTSI pilot award expanding her risk communication work to explore gender and age based differences in risk communication about fentanyl use.

Areas of Interest:
Cancer, Decision-making, Risk communication, Screening and prevention, Breast density, Health services research, health literacy, health disparities

Publications

  • Published 10/1/2026

    Gunn CM, Gallagher LG, Angelo MS, Purvis LA, Sykes C, Kuhn ES. A mixed-methods study characterizing patient experiences with digital survivorship services and preferences for care at a rural cancer center. J Cancer Surviv. 2026 Oct 01. PMID: 42821236.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 9/17/2026

    Rubagumya F, Kwizera V, Mutetiwabo I, Adedemeji A, Chamberlin M, Ngowi NSN, Gyawali B, Gunn C, Schapira L, Mutesa L, Nyirazinyoye L. Decentralizing Post-Treatment Follow-Up for Cervical Cancer in Rwanda: Perspectives of Survivors and Clinicians. JCO Glob Oncol. 2026 Sep; 12(9):e2600131. PMID: 42753200.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 9/10/2026

    Plaitano EG, Powell JR, Gage CB, Panchal AR, Frumkin MR, Marsch LA, Gunn CM. Greater perceived stress and lower self-regulation associated with substance use behaviors in a national sample of United States emergency medical service clinicians. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2026 Sep 10; 288:113360. PMID: 42731275.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 8/26/2026

    Maaneb de Macedo KA, Huang J, Geary AD, Woods AP, Danford J, Cassidy M, Gunn CM, Drake FT. A qualitative analysis of the impact of English proficiency on clinician-patient communication related to immediate breast reconstruction following mastectomy. Surgery. 2026 Aug 26; 201:110561. PMID: 42887411.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 8/17/2026

    Alas-Pineda C, Tewari Kodali A, Gunn CM, Molinero K, Zaldívar SR, Emond JA, Kennedy LS. Effectiveness of a community-based intervention to improve adolescent reproductive health knowledge and social risk outcomes in rural Honduras: a mixed-methods pre-post evaluation. Sex Health. 2026 Aug 17; 23(4). PMID: 42472701.

    Read at: PubMed

View All 86 Publications:   View Full Profile in BUMC

Other Positions

  • Adjunct Assistant Professor, Health Law, Policy & Management
    Boston University School of Public Health
  • Member, BU-BMC Cancer Center
    Boston University
  • Member, Center for Excellence in Women’s Health
    Boston University
  • Faculty, Medicine
    Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

Websites

Education

  • Boston University, PhD
  • University of Western Ontario, MA
  • University of Western Ontario, BSc

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