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Lynn Ibekwe, M.P.H.,  Ph.D.

Lynn Ibekwe, M.P.H., Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

School
School of Public Health
Department
Public Health | Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center
  • Biography

    Lynn N. Ibekwe, PhD, MPH is an Assistant Professor within the Advancing Implementation & Improvement Science program at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. She holds a dual appointment within the Peter O’Donnell Jr. School of Public Health and the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center at UT Southwestern. The overarching goal of Dr. Ibekwe’s research program is to reduce the disproportionate burden of cancer borne by minoritized populations in the US, with a special focus on Black populations. To this end, she 1) investigates the multilevel impacts of structural racism and other modifiable and unjust factors on health and health behavior across the cancer continuum; and 2) uses implementation science methods, through a health equity lens, to develop and test strategies designed to improve the implementation and scale-up of evidence-based cancer control interventions in community and clinical settings, particularly low-resource settings. Prior to joining UT Southwestern, Dr. Ibekwe served as a Research Associate within the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and completed a National Cancer Institute (NCI) T32 Postdoctoral Fellowship in Cancer Prevention at Harvard Chan. She received her PhD in Behavioral Sciences from the UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, where she was an NCI T32 predoctoral fellow; an MPH in Social and Behavioral Sciences from Boston University; and a BA in Medicine, Health, & Society as well as Sociology from Vanderbilt University.

  • Education
    Graduate School
    (2021)
  • Research Interest
    • Cancer Interventions
    • Health Behaviors Regarding Cancer
    • Health Equity
    • Implementation Science
    • Racial Equity
    • Structural Racism and Health Justice
  • Publications

    Star Featured Publications

    Featured Featured Featured Featured Featured Featured
    Development of a Mapped Diabetes Community Program Guide for a Safety Net Population.
    Zallman L, Ibekwe L, Thompson J, Ross-Degnan D, Oken E Diabetes Educ 2014 Apr
  • Honors & Awards
    • Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Scholarship
      NIH and AcademyHealth Annual Conference on the Science of Dissemination and Implementation in Health (2023-2023)
    • Health Disparities Research Institute (HDRI) Scholar
      National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (2022-2022)
    • Health Disparities Research Loan Repayment Program (LRP) Award
      National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health (part of NIH/NCI R03CA256233-01, "Improving Mammography Completion and Follow-Up in Community Health Centers", as Lead Investigator) (2022-2024)
    • Postdoctoral Fellowship in Harvard Education Program in Cancer Prevention and Control
      Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health & Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (2021-2023)
    • Student and Early Career Investigator Scholarship
      American Association for Cancer Research (2021-2021)
    • Dr. Oddis Calvin Turner Endowed Scholarship in Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences Award
      UTHealth Houston School of Public Health (2020-2020)
    • Geographic Management of Cancer Health Disparities (GMaP) Region 3 Registration/ Membership Award
      University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center (2019-2019)
    • Geographic Management of Cancer Health Disparities (GMaP) Region 3 Travel Award
      University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center (2019-2019)
    • Predoctoral Fellowship in Cancer Prevention and Control Research Training and Career Development Program
      UTHealth Houston School of Public Health (2017-2021)
    • Competitive Merit Scholarship
      Boston University School of Public Health (2011-2011)
    • Chancellor's Scholar
      Vanderbilt University (2007-2007)
    • Community Scholarship Award
      Trinity Foundation (2007-2011)
  • Professional Associations/Affiliations
    • African Student Union, Vanderbilt University (2009-2011)
    • Alpha Kappa Delta International Sociology Honor Society (2011-2024)
    • American Association for Cancer Research (2019-2024)
    • American Public Health Association (2013-2024)
    • Arkansas Association of Nigerians: Next Generation (2011-2016)
    • Delta Omega Honorary Public Health Society (2021-2024)
    • Doctors for Change (2020-2024)
    • Interdisciplinary Association for Population Health Science (2022-2024)
    • National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity (2022-2024)
    • Public Health Alliance of Minorities, Boston University School of Public Health (2011-2013)
    • Society for the Analysis of African American Public Health Issues (2020-2024)
    • Society for Women and Leadership, UTHealth Houston School of Public Health (2020-2021)