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Erika L.Thompson

Contact

thompsone1@uthscsa.edu

Departments & Divisions

Erika L. Thompson, PhD, MPH, CPH, FAAHB

Associate Professor

Dr. Thompson earned her MPH in Epidemiology from the University of Florida and her PhD in Public Health from the University of South Florida. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship focused on women's reproductive health at the University of South Florida. More recently, Dr. Thompson was an Associate Professor with tenure in the School of Public Health at the University of North Texas Health Science Center.

Dr. Thompson's research is centered on human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and prevention. HPV prevention is critical for reducing cancer morbidity and mortality, specifically cervical, anogenital, and oropharyngeal cancers. Using mixed-methods approaches, she has examined HPV vaccine decision-making, school-entry policies, and alternative health care providers and settings for HPV prevention. Additionally, her research has focused on reproductive health issues, such as contraceptive needs and access among women experiencing homelessness. Finally, her work involves examining social determinants for maternal and child health issues in our community, such as housing insecurity, early childhood education, and violence.

Dr. Thompson is a Fellow of the American Academy of Health Behavior and currently serves on the Board of Directors as the Secretary. She is also active in the American Public Health Association, Cancer Alliance of Texas, Texas HPV Coalition, and the Delta Omega Honor Society in Public Health. Finally, she is on the advisory board for the Texas Cancer Registry. 

  • Professional Background

    Education

    • 2015 - PhD - Public Health - Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
    • 2013 - CPH - Certified in Public Health - National Board of Public Health Examiners
    • 2011 - MPH - Epidemiology Concentration - Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health and Health Professions University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida

    Highlights

    Awards

    • 2023, Faculty Achievement Award - University of North Texas Health Science Center
    • 2022, Outstanding Faculty Research Award - Public Health Student Government Association, University of North Texas Health Science Center
    • 2021, HOPE Award - Center for Transforming Lives, Fort Worth, TX

  • Research & Grants

    Grants

    Active Projects

    • 2022-2024, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, HPV Vaccination Request for Collaborators, Principal Investigator: Stacey Griner, Increasing HPV Vaccination through Interprofessional Partnerships with Dental Hygienists, Role: Co-Investigator
    • 2022-2024, Merck Investigator Initiated Studies Program (#100257), Principal Investigator: Erika Thompson,Patient Decision Aid Tool for HPV Vaccination among Adults ages 27-45 Years Old
    • 2021-2024, National Institutes of Health (1OT2OD032581-01), Principal Investigators: Jamboor K. Vishwanatha, Toufeeq Ahmed, Paul Avillach, Bettina Beech, Evelinn Borrayo, Legand Burge, Alex Carlisle, Alejandra Casillas, Harlan Jones, Bradley Malin, Spero Manson, Keith Norris, Jon Puro, Usha Sambamoorthi, Anil Shanker, Herman Taylor, Roland Thorpe. AIM-AHEAD Coordinating Center, Role: Co-Investigator
    • 2021-2024, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, HPV Vaccination Request for Collaborators, Principal Investigator: Erika Thompson, Increasing HPV Vaccination in Tarrant County in Community and Clinic Settings
    • 2021-2024 (NCE), Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT), Principal Investigators: Paula Cuccaro, Sally Vernon, Expanding “All for Them”: A comprehensive school-based approach to increase HPV vaccination through public schools, Role: Sub-Award Principal Investigator; Co-Investigator
    • 2021-2024, National Institute of General Medical Sciences (1UC2GM141592), Principal Investigator: Anika Bissahoyo, Guy-Alain Amoussou, Bowie State University SPAD Program, Role: Collaborator
    • 2020-2023, National Institutes of Health (1OT2HL156812), Sub-Principal Investigators: Jamboor K. Vishwanatha, Erika L. Thompson, Texas CEAL Consortium, Role: Multiple Principal Investigator
    • 2020-2024, National Institute of General Medical Sciences, U24 (5U24GM132217), Principal Investigator: Jamboor K. Vishwanatha, NRMNET: A National Resource for Mentorship and Networking to Enhance Diversity, Role: Co-Investigator

     Completed Projects 

    • 2021 -2023, National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities, U54 Texas Center for Health Disparities Pilot Projects (5U54 MD006882-08), Project Principal Investigator: Erika Thompson; Principal Investigator: Jamboor K. Vishwanatha, Adapting an Efficacious Alcohol and Sex Intervention for Young Adults to Disseminate in Communities, 
    • 2021-2023, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, HPV Vaccination Request for Collaborators, Principal Investigator: Paula Cuccaro, “All for Them” Crowley, Role: Sub-Award Principal Investigator; Co-Investigator
    • 2019-2022, Office on Women’s Health, Principal Investigator: Emily Spence, TESSA HIV-IPV Expansion, Role: Co-Investigator
    • 2022-2022, Center for Transforming Lives, Principal Investigator: Erika Thompson, Examining Poverty and Trauma among Women and Children
    • 2019-2022, NCE, National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities, U54 Texas Center for Health Disparities Pilot Projects (5U54 MD006882), Project Principal Investigator: Erika Thompson; Principal Investigator: Jamboor K. Vishwanatha, Addressing Contraceptive Disparities among Women Experiencing Homelessness
    • 2021-2022, Cook Children’s Health Care System, Principal Investigator: Erika Thompson, Community Health Needs Assessment
    • 2021-2022, Cook Children’s Health Plan, Principal Investigator: Erika Thompson, Cook Children’s Medicaid Health Plan Assessment

  • Service

    Service to the Profession

    • 2022-Present, Merck Pharmaceuticals, Ad Hoc Advisory Board & Speaker’s Bureau
    • 2022-Present, Editorial Board, Health Behavior Research
    • 2020-Present, Senior Associate Editor, Behavioral Medicine
    • 2018, Guest Academic Editor, PLOS One
    • 2016-Present, Fellow, American Academy of Health Behavior
    • 2016-Present,  Abstract Reviewer
    • 2014-Present, Association of Teachers of Maternal and Child Health
    • 2014-Present, Member
    • 2013-Present, Member, American Public Health Association, Maternal and Child Health Section; Public Health and Health Education Section; Women’s Caucus

    Community

    • 2022-Present, Member, Advisory Committee to the Texas Cancer Registry
    • 2021-Present, Member, Cervical Cancer Screening Workgroup, Cancer Alliance of Texas
    • 2020-Present, Member, Health Equity Alliance Summit Planning Committee, Health Equity Alliance, Fort Worth, TX
    • 2020-Present, Secretary and Board of Directors Member, Immunization Collaboration of Tarrant County, Fort Worth, TX
    • 2019-Present, Core Team/Evaluator, Birth Equity Collaborative, Tarrant County Workgroup, Tarrant County, TX
    • 2019-Present, Member, Family Subcommittee, Tarrant County Homeless Coalition, Fort Worth, TX
    • 2019-Present, Member, Texas HPV Vaccine Coalition American Cancer Society

  • Publications