Theresa Keegan, a professor in the Division of Hematology and Oncology, is the 2024 honoree of the UC Davis Health Department of Internal Medicine Faculty Research Award. The recognition is given to faculty at the assistant, associate, or early professor level for distinguished contributions to research.
As an epidemiologist with primary interests in cancer outcomes and health disparities, Keegan has undertaken research examining population-based cancer registry data. As part of her focus in adolescent and young adult (AYA) oncology, she looks at sociodemographic disparities in diagnosis, treatment, access to care, late effects, and survival of cancer.
She has been involved with multiple studies, including the Adolescent and Young Adult Health Outcomes and Patient Experience study that the National Cancer Institute supported, and the currently funded Valuing Opinions and Insight from Cancer Experience study in which she collaborates with a national team.
Keegan has presented research findings revealing that AYAs with Medicaid are more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage and that their survival rates are worse than those of AYA cancer patients who have private health insurance. Maintaining insurance coverage is a struggle for AYAs, according to Keegan, and their success rate in beating cancer remains directly related to their degree of access to care.
