Dr. Dennis is a cancer epidemiologist whose research focus has been in melanoma for 30 years including trend analyses of SEER data, risk factor analyses, meta-analyses, and conducting case-control studies. She will lead a research team that will examine how melanoma patients undergoing treatment at oncology practices are affected by having a positive COVID-19 test. They will evaluate how COVID affects the outcomes of melanoma patients on active anti-cancer treatment and how COVID-19 severity changes survival by stage of melanoma (localized, regional, metastatic) among COVID infected patients. Evidence based information on negative effects of clinics stopping treatment or scheduling of patients on survival can be used to get clinical practices to better prepare for future outbreaks. Additionally, by understanding risk factors that decrease an individual patients’ survival, will help implement risk screening of patients during COVID-19 outbreaks so that those at higher risk can take more precautions to prevent COVID-19 infections.

Career Development Award – Rebecca Hartman, MD, MPH

Team Awards – Melanoma Research Program at Georgetown University