Catherine Mosher, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Psychology in the IUPUI School of Science and is a clinical pyschologist by training. Her field of research, Pyscho-Oncology, is the study of the behavioral, psychological, and social aspects of cancer. She is interested in the experiences of both patients and their family caregivers. We know that patients often suffer from a range of debilitating symptoms such as depression, anxiety, pain and fatigue. And family caregivers are often just as distressed, if not more distressed, than the patients themselves.
Dr. Mosher's research aims to address both patients' and family caregivers' concerns by developing and testing new counseling approaches. The approaches are delivered over the telephone and online to have the broadest reach to patients and caregivers throughout the state of Indiana. Dr. Mosher's ultimate goal is to implement and disseminate these counseling interventions in clinical practice.
In her free time, Dr. Mosher enjoys spending time outdoors - hiking and taking pictures of the beautiful scenery.
My study team members have received a lot of positive feedback from research participants. I am encouraged that our interventions are making a positive impact on their quality of life.
Dr. Mosher
Q and A with Dr. Mosher
As a teenager, I observed my mother cope with incurable cancer. This eventually led to my desire to enter the field of psycho-oncology, which is the study of the behavioral, psychological, and social aspects of cancer.
In general, I am trying to reduce the suffering experienced by patients and family caregivers coping with cancer. This suffering includes physical symptoms such as fatigue and emotional problems.
Locally, my study team members have received a lot of positive feedback from research participants. I am encouraged that our interventions are making a positive impact on their quality of life. Nationally, I have had the honor of presenting my work at meetings of the National Cancer Institute with the goal of influencing future directions for cancer research.
I enjoy scientific writing, but learning that my research made a positive difference in participants’ lives is especially rewarding.
To date, I have mentored 10 Ph.D. students who have been actively engaged in every aspect of my research. I have also mentored undergraduates who have assisted with participant recruitment and data management.
My team has consulted with members of the community affected by cancer (e.g., patients, caregivers) when designing research projects. Their input has been valuable.
I plan to continue to test interventions to improve symptom management and quality of life in patients with cancer and their family caregivers. I also plan to disseminate these interventions to clinicians.
Conversation with Dr. Mosher
On Friday, October 28, 2022 from 12 noon to 1:00 p.m. Dr. Catherine Mosher presented two intervention studies that her team conducted to reduce the negative impact of symptoms in patients with advanced cancer and improve family caregivers’ well-being. These studies used a telephone-delivered approach to reach participants throughout the state of Indiana.
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