Thomas Nuño

Postdoctoral Research Associate I

E-Mail Address: 
tnuno@email.arizona.edu
Phone Number: 
(520)626-3589
Fax: 
(520)626-9275
Short Bio: 

Dr. Nuño completed his PhD in Epidemiology in August 2011 at the University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health (MEZCOPH). His dissertation research explored breast and cervical cancer screening among rural-dwelling Hispanic and American Indian women in Arizona.

A key part of his research was the evaluation of a community-based, randomized controlled trial that assessed a promotora-administered intervention to promote breast and cervical cancer screening in a rural community along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Dr. Nuño initially received a Bachelor of Science degree in Managerial Economics from the University of California, Davis before going on to compete a Master of Arts degree in Economics at the University of Arizona. While earning his doctorate, Dr. Nuño taught CPH 376: Introduction to Health Sciences Science Statistics from 2008 through 2011 for the MEZCOPH.

Upon completion of his doctorate, Dr. Nuño was selected for a postdoctoral fellowship with the Arizona Area Health Education Center-funded Clinical Outcomes and Comparative Effectiveness Research (COCER) Academic Fellowship Program. The goal of the fellowship program was to provide training in clinical outcomes and comparative effectiveness research, with a specific focus on primary care for rural and underserved patients, families, and communities in Arizona and its interface with specialty and tertiary care.

Dr. Nuño has been awarded a three-year National Cancer Institute (NCI) Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities (CRCHD) grant to be conducted as part of the R25T Cancer Prevention and Control Fellowship Program at the University of Arizona Cancer Center. This research will study clinical (screening/diagnosis/treatment), economic, and humanistic cancer outcomes and assess disparities among underserved populations, including racial/ethnic and rural populations.

Dr. Nuño will use the findings from this study to quantify disparities in cancer outcomes. In addition, this study will provide preliminary data to assess strategies that can then be tested in clinical or community settings and hopefully help reduce the burden of cancer among underserved populations.

Dr. Nuño has selected Dr. Ivo Abraham (outcomes and effectiveness research) and Dr. Francisco Garcia (cancer disparities) as his primary mentors. Dr. Grant Skrepnek (health economics and national expenditure database research) and Dr. David S. Alberts (cancer prevention and control) also serve as mentors for Dr. Nuño.

Research Information
Research Program: 
4. Cancer Prevention and Control
Selected Publications: 

1. Nodora J, Nuño T, O’Day K, Yrun V, and García F. Barriers and Facilitators to Mexican-American Participation in Clinical Trials: Physician and Patient Focus Group Perspectives. Health. 2(7); 742-752, 2010 July.

2. Rosales C, Nuño T, Dieke A, Galvez FN, Dutton RJ, Guerrero R, Dulin P, Jimenez EA, Granillo B, and deZapien J. U.S.-Mexico cross-border workforce training needs: survey implementation. J Inj Violence Res. 3(1); 1-11, 2011 January.

3. Nuño T, Martinez ME, Harris RB, and García F. Assessment of a Promotora Educational Strategy to Promote Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening in a Rural Community along the U.S.-Mexico Border. Cancer Causes & Control. 22(3); 367-374, 2011 March.

4. Brown SR, Nuño T, Joshweseoma L, Begay RC, Goodluck C, and Harris RB. Impact of a community-based breast cancer screening program on Hopi women. Preventive Medicine. 52(5); 390-393. 2011 May.
5. Nuño T, Castle PE, Harris RB, Estrada A, and García F. Breast and cervical cancer screening utilization among Hispanic women living near the U.S.-Mexico border. Journal of Women’s Health. 20(5); 685-693. 2011 May.
6. Nuño T, Gerald JK, Harris RB, Martinez ME, Estrada A, and García F. Comparison of breast and cervical cancer screening among rural and urban Hispanic and American Indian women in the U.S. Southwest. Cancer Causes and Control. 23(8); 1333-1341. 2012 August.

Professional Information
Professional Affiliations: 

Member, American Association for Cancer Research
Member, SACNAS National Society
Member, Society for Epidemiologic Research
Member, American Public Health Association

 

Honors: 

National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute R25T Cancer Prevention and Control Training Fellowship. National Cancer Institute Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences Research Supplement Grant, 2012

Arizona Area Health Education Center Clinical Outcomes and Comparative Effectiveness Research Fellowship, 2011

American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) – Susan G. Komen® for the Cure Scholar-in-Training Award, 2009

American Public Health Association Annual Meeting, Epidemiology Section, Outstanding Student Abstract, 2008

AACR Minority Scholar in Cancer Research Award, 2007

Hispanic Serving Health Professions Schools FRONTERA Program: Focusing Research on the Border Area Fellowship Training Program, 2007

University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health Yuma Friends Young Investigator Award, 2004-2005

Academic Information
Doctorate: 
University of Arizona
Master's Degree: 
University of Arizona
Undergraduate School: 
University of California, Davis