Deb Usinger is a Research Project Manager with the Cancer Outcomes group.
How did you get into cancer outcomes research?
Ron Chen hired me about 10 years ago to be a project manager on his then newly-funded AHRQ grant to build and follow a cohort of North Carolina men newly-diagnosed with prostate cancer (NC ProCESS). The goal of the NC ProCESS was/is to study and compare the outcomes of the various treatments for prostate cancer.
What have you been working on recently?
I have a few things going on at the moment- Ron Chen left UNC for KUMC late last fall; however, I’m still working with him from afar (as well as Matt Nielsen) and managing the NC ProCESS study which has a few more years of data collection to complete (funded by a DoD grant). Last fall I began working on a super-exciting project with Matt Nielsen and Ray Tan. It’s still in its infancy; we are researching different approaches to support a North Carolina-based learning collaborative in urology (following the University of Michigan’s MUSIC model). Lastly, I’m helping Angie Smith out on a bladder cancer study (CEASE-BC). CEASE-BC was a study very similar to NC ProCESS: recruited newly-diagnosed bladder cancer patients (via Rapid Case Ascertainment) and followed patients for 2 years. We assessed quality of life outcomes at baseline through 2 years post diagnosis. Now I’m helping out mostly with data management.
In an alternate universe, what is a different career path you might have taken?
Hmm… tough question because I have so many different interests. I learned how to play the violin at a very young age and considered momentarily going to the NC School of the Arts. So probably would have to say musician as a different career path I might have taken.
What are your passions/hobbies outside of health research?
I love to be in the woods and am an avid mountain biker and trail runner. I also love gardening, and have recently become obsessed with all things houseplants (buying, styling and propagating). And of course, my kiddos and husband have to be included as one of my passions!