University of Vermont Cancer Center Member Profile
Emily Hallgren, PhD
Assistant Professor
N/ADeputy Associate Director, Community Outreach and Engagement, UVM Cancer Center
Associate Member
Population Sciences and Cancer Outcomes (PSCO)
Academic Interests
I study cancer survivorship and caregiving, with a focus on rural cancer survivors and the rural cancer experience. I am interested in how we can best identify and address unmet social needs (for example, food insecurity, housing, financial strain) among cancer patients and survivors. In particular, I research the financial and employment impacts of cancer on survivors and their families. I have extensive experience conducting community-based participatory research (CBPR) with rural and underserved communities. I have published over 35 articles, most focused on rural cancer health and survivorship. Prior to joining the faculty at UVM, I led a statewide needs assessment of cancer survivors and caregivers in Arkansas, a largely rural state. My overall research goals are to improve health and well-being for cancer survivors and caregivers in rural areas and reduce cancer health disparities for rural and underserved communities.
As a sociologist, I am interested in how social status, social networks, and our environment shape our access to resources, such as healthcare and supportive services. I bring a sociological lens to my work on cancer survivorship and rural cancer health disparities.
Some key publications representing my work:
Hallgren, Emily, DelNero P, Owsley KM, Allen JL, Amick BC, Schootman M. Cancer Prevention and Control in Persistent Poverty Areas: A Scoping Review to Identify Gaps and Opportunities for Future Research. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention (2025): OF1-OF17. http://dx.doi.org/10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-25-0598.
Hallgren, Emily, Aaron Caldwell, Jennifer A. Andersen, Mohammed Ason, James P. Selig, Jonathan Langer, Pearl A. McElfish. Participation in Cancer Survivorship Survey Research: Differences by Rurality and Age. Journal of Clinical and Translational Science. 2025;9(1):e200. https://doi.org/10.1017/cts.2025.10123.
Hallgren, Emily, Ayers, B.L., Moore, R. Purvis, R.S., McElfish, P.A., Maraboyina, S., Bryant-Smith, G (2022). Facilitators and barriers to employment for rural women cancer survivors. J Cancer Surviv. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-022-01179-y. PMID: 35142993.
Hyojin Choi, Emily Hallgren, Maija Reblin, J. Kathleen Tracy, and Erika Ziller. “Rural-Urban Differences in the Prevalence of Chronic Pain in Adult Cancer Survivors: National Health Interview Survey Findings.” JAMA Network Open 2025;8;(12):e2549972 doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.49972.
I study cancer survivorship and caregiving, with a focus on rural cancer survivors and the rural cancer experience. I am interested in how we can best identify and address unmet social needs (for example, food insecurity, housing, financial strain) among cancer patients and survivors. In particular, I research the financial and employment impacts of cancer on survivors and their families. I have extensive experience conducting community-based participatory research (CBPR) with rural and underserved communities. I have published over 35 articles, most focused on rural cancer health and survivorship. Prior to joining the faculty at UVM, I led a statewide needs assessment of cancer survivors and caregivers in Arkansas, a largely rural state. My overall research goals are to improve health and well-being for cancer survivors and caregivers in rural areas and reduce cancer health disparities for rural and underserved communities.
As a sociologist, I am interested in how social status, social networks, and our environment shape our access to resources, such as healthcare and supportive services. I bring a sociological lens to my work on cancer survivorship and rural cancer health disparities.
Some key publications representing my work:
Hallgren, Emily, DelNero P, Owsley KM, Allen JL, Amick BC, Schootman M. Cancer Prevention and Control in Persistent Poverty Areas: A Scoping Review to Identify Gaps and Opportunities for Future Research. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention (2025): OF1-OF17. http://dx.doi.org/10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-25-0598.
Hallgren, Emily, Aaron Caldwell, Jennifer A. Andersen, Mohammed Ason, James P. Selig, Jonathan Langer, Pearl A. McElfish. Participation in Cancer Survivorship Survey Research: Differences by Rurality and Age. Journal of Clinical and Translational Science. 2025;9(1):e200. https://doi.org/10.1017/cts.2025.10123.
Hallgren, Emily, Ayers, B.L., Moore, R. Purvis, R.S., McElfish, P.A., Maraboyina, S., Bryant-Smith, G (2022). Facilitators and barriers to employment for rural women cancer survivors. J Cancer Surviv. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-022-01179-y. PMID: 35142993.
Hyojin Choi, Emily Hallgren, Maija Reblin, J. Kathleen Tracy, and Erika Ziller. “Rural-Urban Differences in the Prevalence of Chronic Pain in Adult Cancer Survivors: National Health Interview Survey Findings.” JAMA Network Open 2025;8;(12):e2549972 doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.49972.