Executive Committee Victoria Champion, Ph.D., R.N., F.A.A.N.
Victoria Champion, Ph.D., R.N., F.A.A.N., serves as the associate director of population science. In this role, Dr. Champion will provide scientific and administrative oversight of the cancer center's population science research programs. The program's goals are to reduce the morbidity (rate of incidence) and mortality (death rate) of cancer. She is responsible for maintaining an independent research effort, fostering the continued development of population science research programs, and trans-disciplinary collaborations.
Dr. Champion is the executive associate dean for research affairs, scientific director of the Mary Margaret Walther Program, the Mary Margaret Walther Professor of Nursing, a Distinguished Professor, and the Edward W. and Sara Stam Cullipher Endowed Chair at the IU School of Nursing. She is also co-leader of the IU Simon Cancer Center's Cancer Control and Prevention program.
Dr. Champion has more than 20 years of experience conducting research in the area of breast cancer screening interventions. Her research -- funded by the National Cancer Institute, the National Institute for Nursing Research, and the American Cancer Society -- has focused on testing a variety of tailored and non-tailored interventions to increase mammography screening participation and adherence. Outcomes of her research demonstrate strong tailoring intervention effects for increasing mammography utilization.
Dr. Champion's work has been theoretically based in the Health Belief Model and the Transtheoretical Model, and she pioneered the development of instruments based on Health Belief Model constructs to measure benefits and barriers to breast cancer screening as well as breast cancer fear.
Dr. Champion's work in breast cancer screening has influenced and been translated to the work on colorectal cancer screening. Dr. Champion is also leading a large five-year study to identify quality of life indicators for women diagnosed with breast cancer at age 45 or younger and those diagnosed between ages 55 and 70.
Dr. Champion received the Irwin Research Award in 2007. Nationally, she has served on many study sections and was appointed by President Bush to a six-year appointment to the National Cancer Advisory Board. She will remain on that board until 2014.