Teamwork makes the dream work
The OPTICC Center brings together leading implementation scientists from three Seattle-based research institutions dedicated to reducing the cancer burden and eliminating health disparities
Greater than the sum of its parts
The OPTICC Center’s multi-institutional model capitalizes on a long history of institutional collaboration in cancer research and training. The University of Washington, Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center have developed a deep understanding of each other’s scientific capabilities, and investigators across the three institutions collaborate routinely in scientific, academic, and service activities.
The OPTICC Center will advance the science of optimizing evidence-based intervention implementation more rapidly, efficiently, and economically than a collection of independent studies conducted in isolation would be able to do.
Center Co-Director, Administrative Core Lead
Bryan J. Weiner, PhD
Dr. Bryan J. Weiner is a Professor in the Departments of Global Health and Health Services at the University of Washington. An organizational psychologist by training, his research over the past three decades has focused on the implementation of evidence-based interventions in health care generally and in cancer care specifically. He joined the UW faculty in 2016 as the Strategic Hire for Implementation Science for the UW School of Public Health and presently serves as Director of the Implementation Science Program in the Department of Global Health.
As OPTICC Center Co-Director and Administrative Core Lead, together with Center Co-Directors Drs. Hannon and Lewis, Dr. Weiner provides overall scientific direction to and administrative oversight of the OPTICC Center. He is responsible for planning and overseeing the Center’s outreach and training activities to build implementation science capacity, the Center’s dissemination of findings and tools, and the Center’s collaboration with other Implementation Science Centers for Cancer Control.
Center Co-Director, Implementation Laboratory Core Lead
Peggy Hannon, PhD
Dr. Margaret (Peggy) Hannon is a Professor in the Department of Health Services at the University of Washington. Dr. Hannon is the Director for the University of Washington Health Promotion Research Center (HPRC) a CDC Prevention Research Center, and PI of the HPRC’s collaborating center in the Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network, known as the Alliance for Reducing Cancer Northwest.
Dr. Hannon conducts practice-based implementation science research with community partners, including federally qualified health centers, state and local departments of health, and workplaces. She partners with national organizations to disseminate and evaluate the implementation of evidence-based interventions. Dr. Hannon also collaborates with the CDC Program Evaluation team to evaluate the Colorectal Cancer Control Program and the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, two national cancer screening programs focused on reducing disparities in cancer screening rates.
As Center Co-Director, together with Center Co-Directors Drs. Weiner and Lewis, Dr. Hannon provides overall scientific direction and administrative oversight of the OPTICC Center.
Center Co-Director, Research Program Project Lead
Cara C. Lewis, PhD
Dr. Cara Lewis is an implementation scientist and clinical psychologist with expertise in measurement and methods to promote rigorous implementation evaluation. Dr. Lewis is an Associate Scientific Investigator at Kaiser Permanente Washington Research Institute (KPWHRI) and affiliate faculty in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences in the School of Medicine at the University of Washington. She has published high impact work in implementation science methods, measurement, and the study of mechanisms.
Dr. Lewis is a past President of the international Society for Implementation Research Collaboration (SIRC), which she led from an NIMH-funded R13 conference series to a self-sustaining society. She is now co-founding Editor-in-Chief of the SIRC Journal, Implementation Science Research and Practice.
As Center Co-Director, together with Center Co-Directors Drs. Weiner and Hannon, Dr. Lewis provides overall scientific direction and administrative oversight of the OPTICC Center.
Implementation Laboratory Associate Lead
Allison M. Cole, MD, MPH
Dr. Allison Cole is an Associate Professor in Family Medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine and Director of the WWAMI region Practice and Research Network (WPRN). Additionally, Dr. Cole is Co-Director for the Institute of Translational Health Sciences Community Engagement program and the Dissemination and Implementation Program, where she leads research programs in dissemination and implementation science and cancer screening and prevention.
As the Implementation Laboratory Associate Lead, Dr. Cole is responsible for developing and leading the Implementation Lab processes that support collaborations between Implementation Lab Partners and OPTICC study teams, is a liaison for the Implementation Lab’s clinical organization-based Lab Partners (e.g., WPRN, NW PCI Network), and is responsible for working with any OPTICC study teams interested in working with clinical organizations, and for recruiting clinical organizations from our Lab Partners to OPTICC studies.
Implementation Laboratory Research Scientist
Ashley Johnson, MPH
Ashley Johnson is a Research Scientist and Practice Facilitator with expertise in project management, quality improvement, and qualitative research, who divides her time between the Six Building Blocks for Improved Opioid Management program, the WWAMI region Practice and Research Network (WPRN), and the OPTICC Center.
As I-Lab Research Scientist and steering committee member, Ms. Johnson serves as the point of contact for regular communications between the Implementation Lab Core and its Lab Partners, is responsible for gathering data (e.g., IRB and DSM processes, Lab Partner characteristics and implementation priorities) from OPTICC’s Partners, and provides administrative support to Drs. Hannon and Cole in their leadership of the Implementation Lab.
Center Administrator
Janell Blackmer
As the OPTICC Center Administrator, Janell Blackmer supports the Center Co-Directors as they provide scientific leadership, strategic planning, and administrative oversight for the OPTICC Center. She oversees day-to-day operations of the Center, supervises Administrative Core staff, coordinates activities across Cores, manages the Center’s budget, ensures study regulatory compliance, monitors the Center’s scientific progress, generates progress reports, and liaises with the Center’s Scientific Advisory Board and Stakeholder Advisory Committee. She also leads the logistics of OPTICC Center meetings, including the Center Annual Retreats.
Research Manager
Rene J. Hawkes
As OPTICC Research Manager, Rene Hawkes is responsible for overseeing and coordinating cross-study activities and personnel within the Research Program Core, including preparation of annual reports, ensuring regulatory compliance across all projects, managing field requests for administrative and operational assistance from investigators and project managers, administering the KPWHRI budget and sub-contract, and overseeing the administrative aspects of human subjects’ protections across all Research Program Core projects.
Methods Unit Expert Faculty
Paula Blasi, MPH
Paula Blasi, MPH is a Research Associate at KPWHRI who works with the Kaiser Permanente Research Affiliates Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC) on systematic evidence reviews of clinical preventive services for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, and completes rapid literature reviews for Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute (KPWHRI)’s Learning Health System Program.
Ms. Blasi is a member of the Research Program Core, working with Dr. Nora Henrikson to provide expertise in systematic reviews for OPTICC Stage I methods to identify and prioritize barriers.
Methods Unit Expert Faculty
Marlaine Figueroa Gray, PhD
Dr. Marlaine Figueroa Gray is an Assistant Investigator at KPWHRI and a medical anthropologist who has extensive experience in field observation, qualitative interviewing, and qualitative data analysis. She has led analyses assessing the perspectives of adolescent and young adult cancer patients, their caregivers, and clinicians and medical decision making and care outcomes for women during pregnancy and for bariatric surgery patients.
Dr. Figueroa Gray is a member of the Research Program Core Expert Faculty, contributing scientific expertise in rapid ethnographic assessment for OPTICC Stage I methods to identify and prioritize barriers. With help from Research Program Core Lead Dr. Lewis, Dr. Figueroa Gray is responsible for leading the methods development and product development for Stage I method rapid ethnographic assessment, including method development and refinement, and overseeing any qualitative analyses in studies.
Methods Unit Expert Faculty
Nora Henrikson, PhD, MPH
Dr. Nora Henrikson is a behavioral scientist and Assistant Scientific Investigator at KPWHRI and an Affiliate Assistant Professor at the University of Washington School of Public Health Department of Health Services. Dr. Henrikson is KPWA lead for the Kaiser Permanente Research Affiliates (KPRA) AHRQ-funded Evidence-based Practice Center where she leads systematic reviews that inform the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) guidelines.
Dr. Henrikson is a member of the Research Program Core Expert Faculty, contributing scientific expertise in systematic reviews for OPTICC Stage I methods to identify and prioritize barriers. Specifically, Dr. Henrikson is responsible for leading both the methods development and product development for Stage I method rapid evidence reviews, and leading all rapid evidence reviews used in OPTICC studies.
Methods Unit Expert Faculty
Salene M. W. Jones, PhD
Dr. Salene Jones is an Assistant Professor in the Cancer Prevention Program and an Assistant Professor in the Hutchinson Institute for Cancer Outcomes Research, both part of the Public Health Sciences Division of the Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center. Dr. Jones is a psychologist whose research focuses on cancer care delivery, the patient experience and quality of life. She is particularly interested in psychometrics, which is the development of valid and reliable questionnaires for patient-reported outcomes to assess pain, depression, anxiety and other facets of quality of life.
Dr. Jones is the Lead Psychometrician for the OPTICC Center, and also serves as the site principal investigator for the FHCRC site, overseeing all research activities at Fred Hutch that are associated with OPTICC.
Methods Unit Expert Faculty
Pedja Klasnja, PhD
Dr. Pedja Klasnja is an Associate Professor in the School of Information at the University of Michigan and an Affiliate Researcher at KPWHRI, researching the intersection of Human-Computer Interaction and Health Informatics. Dr. Klasnja studies how technology can help people to better manage their health and to more effectively communicate with their healthcare providers.
Dr. Klasnja is the OPTICC Methods Unit Faculty member responsible for leading the methods and product development for Stage II (Matching Implementation Strategies) and III (Optimizing Implementation Strategies) methods. As an OPTICC Studies methodologist, Dr. Klasnja will work with both Implementation Study 2 and Pilot Study 1 investigators on user-centered design methods in their research.
Methods Unit Expert Faculty
Lorella Palazzo, PhD
Dr. Lorella Palazzo is a Research Associate at KPWHRI who specializes in optimizing care delivery and improving access to health services. She has extensive experience in analyzing clinical data and evaluating health care improvement efforts. Inspired by her training as a sociologist, Dr. Palazzo is also interested in how social scientists can best collaborate with other health researchers to improve health care.
As a member of the Methods Unit Expert Faculty, Dr. Palazzo is responsible for overseeing the qualitative research aspects of all OPTICC studies including deployment of methods, data collection, analysis and interpretation. Dr. Palazzo works closely with Implementation Study 1 and Implementation Study 2 leads to develop practice facilitation conditions (IS-1) and focus group and outreach material design (IS-2).
Methods Unit Expert Faculty
Michael Pullmann, PhD
Dr. Michael Pullmann is a Research Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Washington, and provides methodological leadership for both the UW SMART Center and the UW ALACRITY Center in addition to his role with the OPTICC Center. Dr. Pullmann’s research focuses on community-based and participatory approaches in cross-system collaborative efforts. He has a particular interest in illuminating policy decisions through longitudinal approaches to data analyses of large-scale administrative databases, and on more small-scale implementation and dissemination efforts.
As Lead Analyst in the OPTICC Research Core Methods Unit, Dr. Pullman offers centralized analytic capabilities to all OPTICC-funded studies, directs Center innovation in data collection, management, analysis, and reporting, and disseminates this work to OPTICC Study Leads and through our national consultative services.
Peer Mentor
Shannon Dorsey, PhD
Dr. Shannon Dorsey is a Professor in the Department of Psychology and an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Global Health at the University of Washington, and the Director of the Research in Implementation Science and Effectiveness (RISE) in Mental Health Lab. Dr. Dorsey’s research includes a particular focus on dissemination and implementation of evidence-based therapy domestically and internationally. Her work has often used hybrid research designs that include both effectiveness and implementation questions. Dr. Dorsey’s research tests novel approaches to improving access and implementation of evidence-based practices in public health settings both in the United States and in low and middle-income countries.
As an OPTICC Center Peer Mentor, Dr. Dorsey is available for one-on one mentorship in implementation science and behavior change for all Center-funded study leads.
Peer Mentor
Aaron R. Lyon, PhD
Dr. Aaron Lyon is Associate Professor Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Washington. He is also Director of the School Mental Health Assessment, Research, and Training (SMART) Center – an implementation research and technical assistance center dually housed in the UW’s School of Medicine and College of Education. Dr. Lyon conducts quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods research focused on increasing the accessibility and effectiveness of psychosocial interventions for children, adolescents, and families, delivered within contexts that routinely provide care to chronically underserved populations.
As an OPTICC Center Peer Mentor, Dr. Lyon is available for one-on one mentorship in implementation science, technology, and behavior change for all Center-funded study leads.
Implementation Study 1 Lead Investigator
Allison Cole, MD, MPH
Dr. Allison Cole is an Associate Professor in Family Medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine and Director of the WWAMI region Practice and Research Network (WPRN). Additionally, Dr. Cole is Co-Director for the Institute of Translational Health Sciences Community Engagement program and the Dissemination and Implementation Program, where she leads research programs in D & I science and cancer screening and prevention.
As Implementation Study 1 Lead, Dr. Cole directs all aspects of the project.
Implementation Study 2 Co-Lead Investigator
Diana Buist, PhD, MPH
Dr. Diana Buist is an epidemiologist, health services researcher and KPWHRI Senior Scientific Investigator. Dr. Buist has led embedded research at KPWA for more than 20 years, and is currently MPI (with Dr. Winer) of the National Cancer Institute-funded STEP trial ( R01 CA240375) evaluating the effectiveness of home-based human papilloma virus (HPV) kits for improving cervical cancer screening uptake, cost-effectiveness, and patient and provider experience in under-screened women at Kaiser Permanente Washington (KPWA).. Her research portfolio primarily focuses on cancer screening delivery and evaluation across a range of cancers, with an emphasis on reducing morbidity and mortality and improving patient-centeredness.
As Implementation Study 2 co-Lead, Dr. Buist participates in and oversees all study material development and works with Drs. Klasnja and Lewis and the OPTICC Methods Unit Expert Faculty and staff to develop and test outreach materials through User Centered Design groups (Aim 1) and the RAM experiment (Aim 2). Additionally, Dr. Buist co-leads the investigative team in the analysis and manuscript generation of the study aims.
Implementation Study 2 Co-Lead Investigator
Rachel Winer, PhD, MPH
Dr. Rachel Winer is an Associate Professor of Epidemiology at the University of Washington and Affiliate Investigator at Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute. She has extensive experience researching the epidemiology and prevention of HPV infections and HPV-associated cancers. She is currently MPI (with Dr. Buist) of the National Cancer Institute-funded STEP trial ( R01 CA240375) evaluating the effectiveness of home-based human papilloma virus (HPV) kits for improving cervical cancer screening uptake, cost-effectiveness, and patient and provider experience in under-screened women at Kaiser Permanente Washington (KPWA).
As Implementation Study 2 co-Lead, Dr. Winer works closely with Dr. Buist on all aspects of the project. Drs. Winer participates in and oversees the development of all study materials and implementation of the User Centered Design groups (Aim 1) and the RAM experiment (Aim 2).
Pilot Study 1 Lead Investigator
Rachel Issaka, MD
Dr. Rachel Issaka is an Assistant Professor of Gastroenterology and Hepatology (Clinical Research Division) with a joint appointment as Assistant Professor for the Public Health Sciences Division and the Hutchinson Institute for Cancer Outcomes Research (HICOR) at The Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center. Dr. Issaka is also an Assistant Professor at the University of Washington Department of Medicine: Gastroenterology, and an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the UW Department of Health Services. Dr. Issaka is a gastroenterologist and clinical researcher focused on decreasing the mortality associated with colorectal cancer, with a special focus on medically underserved populations. Dr. Issaka’s research includes identifying, measuring and recommending new and improved approaches to screening and follow-up both in Seattle and across the U.S.
As Pilot Study 1 Lead Investigator, Dr. Issaka directs all aspects of the project.
Pilot Study 2 Co-Lead Investigator
Sarah Knerr, PhD, MPH
Dr. Sarah Knerr is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Services at the University of Washington, whose research interests are focused on cancer prevention and control, translational genomics, stakeholder engagement, and health care disparities.
As Pilot Study 2 co-Lead, Dr. Knerr works closely with co-Lead Leah Tuzzio on all aspects of this project.
Pilot Study 2 Co-Lead Investigator
Leah Tuzzio, MPH
Leah Tuzzio is a Senior Research Associate at KPWHRI, focused on improving patient experience, implementing evidence into health systems, and improving the health of populations. Ms. Tuzzio’s projects focus on social determinants of health, including financial hardship in cancer care, quality improvement in primary care, patient-centered care, and community-based research.
As Pilot Study 2 co-Lead, Ms. Tuzzio works closely with co-Lead Dr. Knerr on all aspects of this project.
Diversity Supplement Study Lead Investigator
Salene M. W. Jones, PhD
Dr. Salene Jones is an Assistant Professor in the Cancer Prevention Program and an Assistant Professor in the Hutchinson Institute for Cancer Outcomes Research, both part of the Public Health Sciences Division of the Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center. Dr. Jones is a psychologist whose research focuses on cancer care delivery, the patient experience and quality of life. She is particularly interested in psychometrics, which is the development of valid and reliable questionnaires for patient-reported outcomes to assess pain, depression, anxiety and other facets of quality of life.
As Diversity Supplement Study Lead Investigator, Dr. Jones is responsible for all aspects of the project.
Evaluation Specialist
Thuy Vu, MPH
Web Designer