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Lauren Ghazal, PhD, FNP-BC

Lauren Ghazal, PhD, FNP-BC

(Pronouns: she/her/hers)
  • Assistant Professor

Education

  • Postdoctoral Fellowship in Cancer Care Delivery Research, 2023. University of Michigan. Ann Arbor, MI
  • PhD in Nursing Research and Theory Development, 2021. New York University. New York, NY
  • Masters in Nursing, 2016. Regis College. Weston, MA
  • BSN in Nursing, 2015. Regis College. Weston, MA
  • BA in Economics, 2013. Boston College. Chestnut Hill, MA

Bio

Lauren Ghazal, PhD, FNP-BC, is an assistant professor and researcher at the University of Rochester School of Nursing. As a family nurse practitioner and cancer survivor, she brings a unique perspective to her research, which focuses on improving the health and quality of life of adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors. Her work also explores the financial toxicity of cancer care among AYAs, integrating her background in economics and health care. This passion stems from her personal experience with stage-two Hodgkin lymphoma, which she battled during her PhD studies. Ghazal is recognized for her innovative approach to research, and was chosen as a 2023 STAT Wunderkind, “next-generation scientific superstar,” in a national contest that singles out young, high achievers from top research institutions. Ghazal earned her bachelor's degree in economics from Boston College, and a bachelor's and master's degree in nursing from Regis College. She earned her PhD in nursing research and theory development from New York University in 2021. Following her PhD, she completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Cancer Care Delivery Research at the University of Michigan in 2023. At the University of Rochester, she is part of the Wilmot Cancer Institute’s Cancer Prevention and Control research group, contributing significantly to AYA cancer studies.


Publications

  • Ghazal, L.V., Doran, J., Bryant, M., Zebrack, B., & Liang, M.I. (2024). Evaluation of a Conference on Cancer-Related Financial and Legal Issues: A Potential Resource to Counter Financial Toxicity. Current Oncology. DOI: 10.3390/curroncol31050214

  • Ghazal, L.V., Johnston, H., Dodd, E., Ramachandra, Y., Giallourakis, N., Fulginiti, K., & Kamen, C. (2024). A Needs Assessment Approach for Adolescent and Young Adult Sexual and Gender Diverse Cancer Survivors. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21040424

  • Waters, A.R., Easterly, C.W., Turner, C., Ghazal, L., Tovar, I., Mulvaney, M., Poquadeck, M., Rains, S.A., Cloyes, K.G., Kirchhoff, A.C., Kent, E.E., & Warner, E.L. (2024). LGBTQ+ inequity in crowdfunding cancer costs: The influence of online reach and LGBTQ+ state policy. Cancer Medicine. DOI: 10.1002/cam4.6926

  • Sinko, L., Ghazal, L.V., Alex Fauer, A., & Wheldon, C.W. (2023). It takes more than rainbows: Supporting sexual and gender minority patients with trauma-informed cancer care. ACS Journals, Cancer. DOI: 10.1002/cncr.35120

  • Francis-Levin, N., Ghazal, L.V., Francis-Levin, J., Zebrack, B., Chen, M., & Zhang, A. (2023). Exploring the Relationship between Self-Rated Health and Unmet Cancer Needs among Sexual and Gender Minority Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer. Current Oncology. PMID: 37887571 PMCID: PMC10605547 DOI: 10.3390/curroncol30100671

  • Waters, A.R., Turner,C., Easterly, C.W., Tovar, I., Mulvaney, M., Poquadeck, M., Johnston, H., Ghazal, L.V., Rains, S.A., Cloyes K.G., Kirchhoff, A.C., & Warner. E.L. (2023). Exploring Online Crowdfunding for Cancer-Related Costs Among LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Plus) Cancer Survivors: Integration of Community-Engaged and Technology-Based.Methodologies. JMIR Cancer. PMID: 37902829 PMCID: PMC10644187 DOI: 10.2196/51605

  • Ghazal, L.V., Wentzell, K., & Blanchette, J.E. (2023). Mobilizing Research to Understand the Impact of Financial Toxicity Among Adolescents and Young Adults Diagnosed With Chronic Diseases. Journal of Adolescent Health. DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2023.05.020

  • Smith, J.M., Annis, A.M., Courtwright, S.E., Ghazal, L.V., Girouard, S., Jones, D., Ma, C., McGee, B.T., Nikpour, J., Riman, K.A., Root, M.C., Smith, J.G., Thompson, R.A., Turi, E., Cary, M. et al., & Kurtzman, E.T. (2023). Nurses Leading the Way: Insights From the 2023 AcademyHealth Interdisciplinary Research Group on Nursing Issues Annual Meeting. Journal of Nursing Regulation, 14 (2), 57-62. DOI: 10.1016/S2155-8256(23)00093-5

  • Nessle, C.N., Ghazal, L.V., Choi S.W., & Fetters, M.D. (2023). Joint Display of Integrated Data Collection for Mixed Methods Research: An Illustration From a Pediatric Oncology Quality Improvement Study. Annals of Family Medicine. DOI: 10.1370/afm.2985

  • Chino, F., Baez, A., Elkins, I.B., Aviki, E.M., Lauren V. Ghazal, L.V., & Thom, B. (2023). The Patient Experience of Prior Authorization for Cancer Care. JAMA Network Open. DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.38182

  • Ghazal, L.V., Abrahamse, P. Ward, K.C., Morris, A.M., Hawley, S.T., & Veenstra, C.M. (2023). Financial Toxicity and Its Association With Health-Related Quality of Life Among Partners of Colorectal Cancer Survivors. JAMA Network Open. DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.5897

  • Ghazal, L.V., Merriman, J.D., Santacroce, S.J., Fletcher, J., Wright, F., & Dickson, V. V. (2023). Profiles of Work and Quality of Life among Young Adult Cancer Survivors. Western Journal of Nursing Research. PMID: 36529990 DOI: 10.1177/01939459221120742

  • Ghazal, L. V., Wason, S. E., Gentry, B., & Santacroce, S.J. (2023). “Both a life saver and totally shameful”: young adult cancer survivors’ perceptions of medical crowdfunding. Journal of Cancer Survivorship. PMID: 35169983 PMCID: PMC9378759 DOI: 10.1007/s11764-022-01188-x

  • Ghazal, L.V., Merriman, J.D., Santacroce, S.J., Fletcher, J., Wright, F., & Dickson, V. V. (2022). Exploration of Relationships Between Symptoms, Work Characteristics, and Quality of Life in Young Adult Hematologic Cancer Survivors. Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology. PMID: 34882016 PMCID: PMC9639603 DOI: 10.1089/jayao.2021.0135

  • Kurtzman, E.T., Ghazal, L.V. , Girouard, S., Ma, C., Martin, B., McGee, B.T., Pogue, C.A., Riman, K.A., Root, M.C., Schlak, A.E., Smith, J.M., Stolldorf, D.P., Townley, J.N., Turi, E., & Germack, H.L. (2022). Nursing Workforce Challenges in the Postpandemic World. Journal of Nursing Regulation, 13 (2), 49-60. PMID: 35880143 PMCID: PMC9299514 DOI: 10.1016/S2155-8256(22)00061-8

  • Witkoski-Stimpfel,A., Ghazal, L., Goldsamt, L.A., & Vaughan-Dickson, V. (2022). Individual and Work Factors Associated with Psychosocial Health of Registered Nurses During the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Mixed Methods Study. JOEM. DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000002495

  • Lauren V.G., Cole, S., Salsman, J.M., Lynne Wagner, L., Duan, F., Gareen, I., Lux, L., Parsons, S.K., Cheung, C., Loeb, D.M., Prasad, P., Shira Dinner, S., & Zebrack, B. (2022). Social Genomics as a Framework for Understanding Health Disparities Among Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors: A Commentary. JCO Precision Oncology. PMID: 35772048 PMCID: PMC9259142 DOI: 10.1200/PO.21.00462

  • Hughes, T.L., Jackman, K., Dorsen, C., Arslanian-Engoren, C., Ghazal, L., Christenberry-Deceased, T., Coleman, C.L., Mackin, M. Moore, S.E., Mukerjee, R., Sherman, Smith. S., Walker, R. (2022). How can the nursing profession help reduce sexual and gender minority related health disparities: Recommendations from the National Nursing LGBTQ Health Summit. Nursing Outlook. PMID: 35430056 PMCID: PMC9393898 DOI: 10.1016/j.outlook.2022.02.005

  • Ghazal, L.V., Petrovsky, D.V., & Carpenter, J.S. (2022). Leadership corner: FAANs and the National Cancer Advisory Board. Nursing Outlook. PMID: 35164935 PMCID: PMC9382877 DOI: 10.1016/j.outlook.2021.12.005

  • Ghazal, L.V., Santacroce, S.J., Merriman, J.D., & Dickson, V.V. (2022). "Now Everybody Is Thinking about Things Like That." Young Adult Cancer Survivors Reimagining Work during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Nursing Research, 71 (2), 153-157. PMID: 34818265 DOI: 10.1097/NNR.0000000000000567

  • Witkoski-Stimpfel,A., Ghazal, L., Goldsamt, L.A., Zhanay, J., & Vaughan-Dickson, V. (2022). Original Research: Losing the Art and Failing the Science of Nursing: The Experiences of Nurses Working During the COVID-19 Pandemic. American Journal of Nursing. DOI: 10.1097/01.NAJ.0000827324.34143.7a

  • Ghazal, L. ., Santacroce, S.J., Merriman, J.D., & Dickson, V.V. (2022). “Now Everybody Is Thinking About Things Like That.” Young Adult Cancer Survivors Reimagining Work During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Nursing Research. PMID: 34818265 DOI: 10.1097/NNR.0000000000000567

  • Ghazal, L.V., Gormley, M., Merriman, J.D., & Santacroce, S.J. (2021). Financial Toxicity in Adolescents and Young Adults With Cancer: A Concept Analysis. Cancer Nursing, 44 (6), E636-E651. DOI: 10.1097/NCC.0000000000000972

  • Ghazal, L.V., Merriman, J., Santacroce, S.J., & Dickson, V.V. (2021). Survivors’ Dilemma: Young Adult Cancer Survivors’ Perspectives of Work-Related Goals. Workplace Health & Safety. PMID: 34039084 PMCID: PMC8599614 DOI: 10.1177/21650799211012675

  • Germack, H. Cary, M., Gilmartin, H., Girouard, S., Jones, T.M., Martin, B.J., Norful, A.A., Anusiewicz, C.V., Estrada, L.V., P., Gerchow, L., Ghazal, L.V., et al.. Stolldorf, D.P. (2021). Leading Policy and Practice Change During Unprecedented Times: The Nursing Health Services Research Response. Journal of Nursing Regulation. PMID: 34513205 PMCID: PMC8425338 DOI: 10.1016/s2155-8256(21)00057-0

  • Gormley, M., Ghazal, L., Fu, M.R., Van Cleave, J.H., Knobf, T., & Hammer, M. (2020). An Integrative Review on Factors Contributing to Fear of Cancer Recurrence Among Young Adult Breast Cancer Survivors. Cancer Nursing. PMID: 32657897 DOI: 10.1097/NCC.0000000000000858

  • Ghazal, L.V., Ma, C., Djukic, M., & Squires, A. (2020). Transition-to-U.S. Practice Experiences of Internationally Educated Nurses: An Integrative Review. Western Journal of Nursing Research. PMID: 31271112 DOI: 10.1177/0193945919860855

  • Ma, C., Ghazal, L., Chou, S., Ea, E., & Squires, A. (2020). Unit utilization of internationally educated nurses and collaboration in u.S. hospitals. Nursing Economics, 38 (1), 33-40.

Projects