Thoracic Oncology – Echo

The goal of our research is to improve quality, equity, and patient-centeredness of care for patients across the spectrum of lung cancer care from prevention through survivorship. We have particular expertise in tobacco treatment, lung cancer screening, and evaluation of potentially malignant pulmonary nodules. We draw on approaches from health services research and implementation science in or science, and apply mixed methods including large database analysis, survey research, qualitative methods, and prospective clinical trials to assess clinically relevant questions in the field from multiple angles.

Director

Renda Wiener MD, MPH

Dr. Wiener is a Professor of Medicine at Boston University School of Medicine and Associate Director of the VA HSR&D Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research at the VA Boston Healthcare System. Dr. Wiener’s portfolio of research and policy work focuses on implementation of lung cancer screening and pulmonary nodule evaluation, including promoting patient-centered approaches such as shared-decision making, and de-implementation of low-value, potentially harmful practices. Dr. Wiener has served as Chair or co-author on several guidelines and policy statements related to lung cancer screening for professional societies and the Veterans Health Administration. She is the Deputy Chief Consultant for the VA’s National Center for Lung Cancer Screening; the Chair of the Lung Cancer Screening Council for VA New England; the Chair of the Behavioral Sciences and Health Services Research for the American Thoracic Society; and the Vice Chair of the Shared Decision Making Task Force for the National Lung Cancer Round Table. Her research has been funded by NIH, PCORI, VA HSR&D, VA QUERI, and several foundations. Dr. Wiener is deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of scientists.

Publications

View full list of 165 publications.

Associate Director

Hasmeena Kathuria, MD

Dr. Kathuria is an Associate Professor at Boston University School of Medicine and is a practicing physician in Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep physician at Boston Medical Center. Her clinical and research expertise is in developing and directing patient-centered programs in safety-net settings. She developed and directs the Tobacco Treatment Center at Boston Medical Center, a program that brings together a team of health professionals who specialize in helping individuals with tobacco dependence stop smoking.  She is member of the American Cancer Society Tobacco Cessation Task Group (National Lung Cancer Round Table) to improve implementation of tobacco treatment in lung cancer screening programs and is Vice-Chair of the American Thoracic Society (ATS) Tobacco Action Committee. She is the Section Editor for UpToDate, Tobacco Treatment section. She currently serves and the Planning Chair for the ATS Thoracic Oncology Assembly, and co-chairs the ATS Tobacco Task Force. Her current research, advocacy, and clinical efforts are focused on clinical care and policy surrounding tobacco dependence in underserved populations.

Publications

View Full List of 42 publications.

Fellows

Eduardo Nunez
Caitlin Butler
Lauren Kearney