Narissa Nonzee, Ph.D.

(877) 460-4673
Narissa Nonzee, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Division of Health Equities, Department of Population Sciences
Research Area
  • Health Disparities
  • Access to Care
  • Cancer Prevention and Early Detection
  • Community-Partnered Research
Academic Appointments
  • Assistant Professor, Division of Health Equities, Department of Population Sciences
Research Teams
Health Equities
Population Sciences
Narissa Nonzee, Ph.D., is a health services researcher and assistant professor in the Division of Health Equities within the Department of Population Sciences at City of Hope.
 
Dr. Nonzee’s research focuses on disparities in cancer care and outcomes in underserved populations and safety net settings. Her work explores multilevel determinants of cancer-related behaviors and community-partnered interventions to improve the prevention and early detection of cancers. Her current research focuses on colorectal cancer screening and human papillomavirus vaccination, particularly among racial/ethnic minority populations.
 
Dr. Nonzee earned a master’s degree in public policy and administration from Northwestern University and a doctorate in health policy and management from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Fielding School of Public Health. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the UCLA Center for Cancer Prevention and Control Research, and UCLA Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Equity.
 
The goal of Dr. Nonzee’s research is to improve access to care, health outcomes and health equity among populations disproportionately impacted by cancer.

Education & Experience

Degrees

  • 2018, Ph.D., Health Policy and Management, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA

  • 2011, M.A., Public Policy and Administration, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL

  • 2005, B.S., Molecular and Cellular Biology and Spanish, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL

Internship

  • 2019-2020, Postdoctoral Fellow, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health and Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Health Policy and Management, Center for Cancer Prevention and Control Research, UCLA Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Equity

Professional Experience

  • 2021-present, Assistant Professor, Division of Health Equities, Department of Population Sciences, City of Hope, Duarte, CA

  • 2020-present, Research Scientist, Department of Health Policy and Management, Center for Cancer Prevention and Control Research, UCLA Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Equity, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health

  • 2016, Teaching Assistant, Department of Health Policy and Management, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health

  • 2014-2018, Graduate Researcher, Department of Health Policy and Management, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health

  • 2013, Clinical Research Associate, Institute for Public Health and Medicine, Northwestern University

  • 2011-2013, Research Project Manager, The Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University

  • 2006-2010, Project Coordinator, The Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Departments of Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwestern University

Awards & Memberships

Awards

  • 2017-2020, Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ) Fellowship

  • 2013-2017, NIH/NCATS Clinical and Translational Science Institute Fellowship

  • 2008, Clinical Research Poster Competition 2nd Prize, National Cancer Institute Cancer Health Disparities Summit

  • 2005, High Distinction for Spanish Honors Thesis, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

  • 2001-2005, Dean’s List, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

  • 2001-2005, James Scholar Honors Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

  • 2004, Sigma Delta Pi Spanish National Honor Society, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

  • 2004, Dean’s Office Asian Pacific American Leadership Award, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

  • 2004, Dean’s Office Best Asian Pacific American Program Award, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Publications

  • Bastani R, Glenn BA, Singhal R, Crespi C, Nonzee NJ, Tsui J, Chang LC, Herrmann AK, Taylor VM. Increasing HPV Vaccination among Low-income, Ethnic Minority Adolescents: Effects of a Multicomponent System Intervention through a County Health Department Hotline. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2021 Oct 14;cebp.1578.2020. PMID: 34649960. PMCID – In process
  • Glenn BA, Nonzee NJ, Tieu L, Pedone B, Cowgill BO, Bastani R. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine Decision-Making in the Transition between Adolescence and Adulthood. Vaccine. 2021 Jun 8;39(25):3435-3444. PMID: 33992435. PMCID – In process.
  • Glenn BA, Nonzee NJ, Hamilton AS, Tieu L, Maxwell AE, Crespi C, Chang LC, Deapen D, Bastani R. Cancer surveillance and preventive services in a diverse sample of breast and colorectal cancer survivors. J Cancer Surviv. 2021 Apr;15(2):213-223. PMID: 32794009. PMCID: PMC7882005
  • Thiel de Bocanegra H, Navarro S, Nonzee NJ, Vangala S, Zhou X, Chang C, Moscicki AB. Trends in cervical cancer screening in California’s family planning program. J Low Genit Tract Dis. 2018 Jul;22(3):171-177. PMCID: PMC6014881
  • Thiel de Bocanegra H, Navarro S, Nonzee NJ, Vangala S, Zhou X, Chang C, Moscicki AB. Trends in cervical cancer screening in California’s family planning program. J Low Genit Tract Dis. 2018 Jul;22(3):171-177. PMCID: PMC6014881
  • Kominski GF, Nonzee NJ, Sorensen A. The Affordable Care Act’s Impact on Access to Insurance and Health Care for Low-income Populations. Annu Rev Public Health. 2017 Mar 20;38:489-505. PMID: 27992730. PMCID: PMC5886019
  • Nonzee NJ, Ragas DM, Luu TH, Phisuthikul AM, Tom L, Dong XQ, Simon MA. Delays in cancer care among low-income minority women despite access. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2015 Jun;24(6):506-14. PMCID: PMC4490771
  • Simon MA, Tom LS, Nonzee NJ, Murphy KR, Endress R, Dong X, Feinglass J. Evaluating a bilingual patient navigation program for uninsured women with abnormal screening tests for breast and cervical cancer: implications for future navigator research. Am J Public Health. 2015 May;105(5):e87-94. PMCID: PMC4386517
  • Simon MA, Nonzee NJ, McKoy JM, Liu D, Luu TH, Byer P, Eklund EA, Richey EA, Wu Z, Dong X, Rademaker AW. Navigating veterans with an abnormal prostate cancer screening test: a quasi-experimental study. BMC Health Serv Res. 2013 Aug 15;13(1):314. PMCID: PMC3844412 (Contributed equally) 
  • Nonzee NJ, McKoy JM, Byer P, Luu TH, Liu D, Richey EA, Samaras AT, Panucci G, Dong X, Simon MA. Design of a Prostate Cancer Patient Navigation Intervention for a Veterans Affairs Hospital. BMC Health Serv Res. 2012 Sep 25;12(1):340. PMCID: PMC3517303
  • Shankaran V, Luu TH, Nonzee NJ, Richey E, McKoy JM, Graff Zivin J, Ashford A, Lantigua R, Frucht H, Scoppettone M, Bennett CL, Sheinfeld Gorin S. Costs and cost effectiveness of a health care provider-directed intervention to promote colorectal cancer screening. J Clin Oncol. 2009 Nov 10;27(32):5370-5. PMID: 19826133. PMCID: PMC2773222
  • Nonzee NJ, Dandade NA, Patel U, Markossian T, Agulnik M, Argiris A, Patel J, Munshi H, Kern R, Calhoun EA, Bennett CL. Evaluating the supportive care costs of severe radiochemotherapy-induced mucositis and esophagitis: Results from a Northwestern University Costs of Cancer Care Program pilot study with head and neck and non-small cell lung cancer patients who received care at a county hospital, a VA hospital, or a comprehensive cancer care center. Cancer. 2008 Sep 15;113(6):1446-52. PMID: 18683883