Dr. Tan is a health psychologist and epidemiologist who focuses on reducing health disparities among underserved populations through health behavior change. Her research interests are 1) examining biopsychosocial and behavioral factors that contribute to disparities in chronic disease, primarily cancer, and 2) conducting community-based health behavior interventions to reduce risk factors among disparity populations. A majority of her work has focused on tobacco cessation and weight management among low-income and racial/ethnic minority populations.
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Chicago, IL
Postdoctoral Fellowship - Cancer Prevention
2018
University of Miami
Miami, FL
PhD - Clinical Health Psychology
2016
Miami VA Medical Center
Miami, FL
Predoctoral Clinical Internship - Health Psychology
2016
Emory University Rollins School of Public Health
Atlanta, GA
MPH - Epidemiology
2010
University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, AL
BS - Psychology
2007
The Impact of State Certification and Medicaid Reimbursement on Community Health Worker Place of Employment and Wages: United States, 2012-2023.
The Impact of State Certification and Medicaid Reimbursement on Community Health Worker Place of Employment and Wages: United States, 2012-2023. Am J Public Health. 2026 08; 116(8):1198-1209.
PMID: 42241658
Equitable Learning Outcomes Among Community Health Workers Following a Modified Smoking Cessation Training: A Pre-Post Intervention Study.
Equitable Learning Outcomes Among Community Health Workers Following a Modified Smoking Cessation Training: A Pre-Post Intervention Study. Am J Health Promot. 2026 May 05; 8901171261449023.
PMID: 42084590
Social Determinants of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors Among Black Ethnic Groups: Findings From the 2013 to 2018 National Health Interview Survey.
Social Determinants of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors Among Black Ethnic Groups: Findings From the 2013 to 2018 National Health Interview Survey. J Am Heart Assoc. 2026 04 21; 15(8):e047268.
PMID: 41954061
Factors Associated With Fear of Cancer Recurrence in a Multiethnic Cohort of Patients With Breast Cancer.
Factors Associated With Fear of Cancer Recurrence in a Multiethnic Cohort of Patients With Breast Cancer. Psychooncology. 2025 10; 34(10):e70307.
PMID: 41102597
Examining the Preliminary Effectiveness on Knowledge of a Tobacco Cessation Facilitator Training for Community Health Workers.
Examining the Preliminary Effectiveness on Knowledge of a Tobacco Cessation Facilitator Training for Community Health Workers. J Prim Care Community Health. 2025 Jan-Dec; 16:21501319251341977.
PMID: 40413736
Racial disparities in the frequency and timing of code status orders among women with breast cancer.
Racial disparities in the frequency and timing of code status orders among women with breast cancer. BMC Cancer. 2024 Nov 19; 24(1):1426.
PMID: 39563219
How Community Health Workers can Address Tobacco Dependence of High-Risk patients: A Qualitative Analysis of the Unique Training Needs of Community Health Workers.
How Community Health Workers can Address Tobacco Dependence of High-Risk patients: A Qualitative Analysis of the Unique Training Needs of Community Health Workers. Tob Use Insights. 2024; 17:1179173X241272369.
PMID: 39513181
Adverse Childhood Experiences, Resilience, and Cardiovascular Disease in Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer: A Report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study.
Adverse Childhood Experiences, Resilience, and Cardiovascular Disease in Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer: A Report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2024 08 01; 33(8):1132-1136.
PMID: 38738881
Perceptions of family functioning impact smoking during pregnancy.
Perceptions of family functioning impact smoking during pregnancy. J Addict Dis. 2025 Jan-Mar; 43(1):67-76.
PMID: 38619008
Challenges and Opportunities in Diagnosis and Management of Cardiometabolic Risk in Adolescents.
Challenges and Opportunities in Diagnosis and Management of Cardiometabolic Risk in Adolescents. Curr Diab Rep. 2023 08; 23(8):185-193.
PMID: 37273161
NIH Loan Repayment Program, Clinical Research
National Cancer Institute
2019 - 2021
G. Alan Marlatt Award for Distinguished Scientific Early Career Contributions
American Psychological Association, Division 50 – Addiction Psychology
2019
Diversity Travel Award
American Psychosomatic Society
2019
Citation Abstract Winner
Society of Behavioral Medicine
2018
Graduate Student Association Academic Excellence, Leadership, and Service Award
University of Miami
2015
Diversity Travel Scholarship
Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco
2013
Biennial Symposium on Minorities, the Medically Underserved & Health Equality Scholarship
Intercultural Cancer Council
2012
NSF Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences AGEP Travel Award
University of Miami
2010 - 2014
McKnight Doctoral Fellowship
Florida Education Fund
2010 - 2016
Roberts Research Training Awardee
Emory University
2009 - 2010
Presidential Scholar, National Urban League Scholarship, Golden Key International Honour Society
University of Alabama
2003 - 2007