Carol P. Somkin, PhD

Carol P. Somkin PhD, an Investigator and Sociologist at the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research (DOR) in Northern California since 1991. Dr. Somkin received her PhD in sociology from Columbia University. Her research has focussed on the area of cancer, currently cancer screening and participation in clinical trials. She also has a special interest in intervention studies in multiethnic populations and the effect of socioeconomic status and race/ethnicity on health and health services use. Her work has addressed a variety of topics including the effectiveness of reminders to increase mammogram and Pap smear screening, the impact of sociodemographic and attitudinal barriers on various methods of cancer screening, and the effectiveness of a peer support program for women newly diagnosed with breast cancer.

Dr. Somkin is a member of the Breast and Cervical Cancer Advisory Council of the California Department of Health Services and Chair of the Advisory Council’s Public Education/Outreach Subcommittee.

Current Positions:

Scientist, Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California

Primary Research Interests:

	Breast cancer and cancer screening
	Clinical trials
	Sociodemographic factors and health
	Multiethnic interventions
	Health services research

Current Projects:

	Cancer Research Network Project 2 (DETECT): Towards Reducing Cervical and Late Stage Breast Cancer: Organizational Analysis, Patient and Provider Surveys
	Cancer Research Network: Development and Evaluation of a Notification System to Increase Participation in Cancer Clinical Trials
	Cancer Screening, Managed Care and the Underserved
	Study of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene (STAR)
	Cross Cultural Communication and Colorectal Screening
	Young Breast Cancer Survivors: A Population Based Cohort

Completed Research Projects (partial listing):

	Income Inequality, Work, and Health of Californians
	Evaluation of a Peer Support Program to Improve Quality of Life for Women with Breast Cancer
	The Effect of Patient and Provider Reminders on Mammogram and Pap Smear Screening in a Large Health Maintenance Organization.

Selected Publications:

	Dorsay RH, Cuneo WD, Somkin CP, Tekawa IS. Breast self-examination: Improving competence and frequency in a classroom setting. AJPH 1988;78:520-2.
	Dorsay RH, Cuneo WD, Somkin CP, Tekawa IS. Breast self-examination: Improving competence and frequency in a classroom setting (Abstract). In Young RC, et al eds The Yearbook of Oncology 1989:30-1.
	Coleman CC, Somkin CP, Sung ML (eds). Special Touch Breast Health Trainer's Guide. American Cancer Society, California Division, Jan. 1989, revised August 1990.
	Somkin CP. Improving the effectiveness of breast self-examination in the early detection of breast cancer: A selective review of the literature. Nurse Practitioner Forum 1993;4:76-84.
	Somkin CP, Hiatt RA, Hurley LB, Gruskin E, Ackerson L, Larson P. The effect of patient and provider reminders on mammogram and Pap smear screening in a large health maintenance organization. Arch Intern Med 1997;157:1658-64.
	Fireman BH, Quesenberry CP Jr, Somkin CP, Jacobson AS, Baer D, West D, Potosky AL, Brown ML. Cost of care for cancer in a health maintenance organization. Health Care Financing Review 1997;18:51-76.
	Somkin CP, Hiatt RA. Screening mammography in an integrated health care system: the Kaiser Permanente experience. Breast Disease 1998;10(3,4)45-53.
	Fireman BH, Quesenberry CP Jr, Somkin CP, Jacobson AS, Baer D, West D, Potosky AL, Brown ML. Cost of care for cancer in a health maintenance organization. Health Care Financing Review 1997;18:51-76.
	Somkin CP, Hiatt RA. Screening mammography in an integrated health care system: the Kaiser Permanente experience. Breast Disease 1998;10(3,4)45-53.
	Valdez A, Banerjee K, Ackerson L, Fernandez M, Otero-Sabogal R, Somkin CP. Correlates of breast cancer screening among low-income, low-education Latinas. Prev Med 2001 Nov;33(5):495-502.
	Puleo E, Zapka J, White MJ, Mouchawar J, Somkin C, Taplin S. Caffeine, cajoling, and other strategies to maximize clinician survey response rates. Eval Health Prof. 2002 Jun;25(2):169-84.
	Mouchawar J, Valentine Goins K, Somkin C, Puleo E, Hensley Alford S, Geiger AM, Taplin S, Gilbert J, Weinmann S, Zapka J. Guidelines for breast and ovarian cancer genetic counseling referral: Adoption and Implementation in HMOs. Genet Med. 2003 Nov-Dec;5(6):444-450.
	Somkin CP, McPhee SJ, Nguyen T, Stewart S, Shema SJ, Nguyen B, Pasick R. The Effect of Access and Satisfaction on Regular Mammogram and Papanicolaou Test Screening in a Multiethnic Population. Med Care. 2004 Sep;42(9):914-926.
	Altschuler A, Somkin CP, Adler NE. Local services and amenities, neighborhood social capital, and health. Soc Sci Med. 2004 Sep;59(6):1219-29.
	Somkin CP, Altschuler A, Ackerson L, Geiger AM, Greene SM, Mouchawar J, Holup J, Fehrenbacher L, Nelson A, Glass A, Polikoff J, Tishler S, Schmidt C, Field T, Wagner E. Organizational barriers to physician participation in cancer clinical trials. Am J Manag Care. 2005 Jul;11(7):413-21.
	Puleo E, Zapka JG, Goins KV, Yood MU, Mouchawar J, Manos M, Somkin C, Taplin S. Recommendations for care related to follow-up of abnormal cancer screening tests: accuracy of patient report. Eval Health Prof. 2005 Sep;28(3):310-27.
	Iribarren C, Tolstykh I, Somkin CP, Ackerson LM, Brown TT, Scheffler R, Syme L,Kawachi I. Sex and racial/ethnic disparities in outcomes after acute myocardial infarction: a cohort study among members of a large integrated health care delivery system in northern California. Arch Intern Med. 2005 Oct 10;165(18):2105-13.
	Altschuler A, Somkin CP. Women's Decision Making About Whether or Not to Use Breast Cancer Chemoprevention. Women Health. 2005;41(2):81-95.
	Dignam JJ, Wieand K, Johnson KA, Raich P, Anderson SJ, Somkin C, Wickerham DL. Effects of obesity and race on prognosis in lymph node-negative, estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2005 [Epub ahead of print].
	Nguyen TT, Somkin CP Ma Y. Participation of Asian-American women in cancer chemoprevention research: physician perspectives. Cancer 2005;104:3006-14.
	Nguyen TT, Somkin CP, Ma Y, Fung LC, Nguyen T. Participation of Asian-American women in cancer treatment research: a pilot study. J Natl Cancer Inst Monogr 2005;(35):102-5.
	Zapka JG, Puleo E, Taplin S, Solberg LI, Mouchawar J, Somkin C, Geiger AM, Ulcickas Yood MU. Breast and cervical cancer screening: clinicians' views on health plan guidelines and implementation efforts. J Natl Cancer Inst Monogr 2005;(35):46-54.
	Iribarren C, Tolstykh I, Somkin CP, Ackerson LM, Brown TT, Scheffler R, Syme L, Kawachi I. Sex and racial/ethnic disparities in outcomes after acute myocardial infarction: a cohort study among members of a large integrated health care delivery system in Northern California. Arch Intern Med 2005;165:2105-13.
	Altschuler A, Somkin CP. Women's decision making about whether or not to use breast cancer chemoprevention. Women Health 2005;41:81-95. Funding Source: Kaiser Permenente Community Benefits Program.
	Kaplan CP, Haas JS, Perez-Stable EJ, Gregorich SE, Somkin C, Des Jarlais G, Kerlikowske K. Breast Cancer Risk Reduction Options: Awareness, Discussion, and Use among Women from Four Ethnic Groups. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2006 Jan;15(1):162-6.
	Saba GW, Wong ST, Schillinger D, Fernandez A, Somkin CP, Wilson CC, Grumbach K. Shared decision making and the experience of partnership in primary care. Ann Fam Med. 2006 Jan-Feb;4(1):54-62.