Samantha R. Jones, PhD

Assistant Professor, Family and Community Medicine
Assistant Professor, Georgia Prevention Institute
Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University

Research Summary:

Dr. Samantha Jones is a PhD-trained cancer biologist and pharmacologist with extensive experience in Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) focused on cancer prevention and control in minority and underserved populations. Dr. Jones serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine with a secondary appointment in the Georgia Prevention Institute, both at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University. Dr. Jones’ research identifies opportunities for improving quality health care among disadvantaged communities and addresses barriers to cancer care, education and resources. Her current research interests include assessing need and feasibility for increasing genetic testing to identify hereditary cancers among African American populations, as well as understanding the role of mental health in the initiation and persistence of poor health behaviors associated with increased risk of cancer in disadvantaged populations. Dr. Jones’ long-term goals include increasing community-engaged research approaches in the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) and nationally that will eliminate barriers to proper health care and reduce cancer burden in minority and underserved populations, as well as increasing minority representation in health science research, with the ultimate goal of eliminating health disparities.

Research Projects & Interests: Racial and Socioeconomic Disparities in Cancer Incidence and Mortality

Dr. Jones has focused on addressing cancer risk-increasing factors including socioeconomic (income level, lack of transportation, lack of access to adequate health care), education about or understanding of cancer risks and symptoms, and cultural practices and beliefs related to health care and cancer care which drive the large disparities in cancer incidence and mortality experienced by disadvantaged populations. Differences in certain lifestyle behaviors (diet, exercise, and cultural acceptability of smoking and alcohol use) can have a heavier impact on minority and rural populations concerning the top cancers in the US (ie. breast, colorectal, lung, prostate) when coupled with social determinants of health. Further, co-morbidities associated with cancer, such as diabetes and heart disease, are more prevalent in minority and rural populations, indicating the need to address population-specific barriers to achievement of general health.

Selected Publications:

Moore JX, Andrzejak SE, Bevel MS, Jones SR, Tingen MS. Exploring Racial Disparities on the Association Between Allostatic Load and Cancer Mortality: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis of NHANES, 1988 Through 2019. SSM – Population Health. 2022:101185

Derella CC, Tingen MS, Blanks A, Sojourner SJ, Tucker MA, Thomas J, Harris RA. Smoking Cessation Reduces Systemic Inflammation and Circulating Endothelin-1. Scientific Reports. 2021 Dec 16;11(1):24122. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-03476-5

Whitmore A, Freeny D, Sojourner SJ, Miles JS, Graham WM, Flores-Rozas H. Evaluation of the Role of Human DNAJAs in the Response to Cytotoxic Chemotherapeutic Agents in a Yeast Model System. Biomed Res Int. 2020;2020:9097638. PMID: 32149145

Miles JS, Sojourner SJ, Jaafar L, Whitmore A, Darling-Reed S, Flores-Rozas H. The Role of Protein Chaperones in the Survival from Anthracycline-Induced Oxidative Stress In Saccharomyces Cerevisiae. Int J Adv Res (Indore). 2018 Mar;6(3):144-152. PMID: 29657945

Sojourner SJ, Graham WM, Whitmore AM, Miles JS, Freeny D, Flores-Rozas H. The Role of HSP40 Conserved Motifs in the Response to Cytotoxic Stress. J Nat Sci. 2018;4(4). PMID: 29682607

Full bibliography

 

 Media Mentions

 

Georgia Cancer Center researcher launches health disparity study on breast cancer in Georgia’s Black community     Georgia Cancer Center connects with doctors in Africa