Alison Footman, PhD, MPH

Postdoctoral Fellow

Departments

HPV Cancer Prevention Program

Alison Footman is a postdoctoral fellow in the HPV Cancer Prevention Program at St. Jude.

In this role, Dr. Footman focuses on multiple projects centered on implementation science and mixed-methods research approaches. Her goal is to work with the HPV Cancer Prevention Program team to improve access to and awareness about HPV vaccination. She will also collaborate on policy projects to explore policies that could promote HPV vaccination coverage.

“HPV vaccination prevents cancer and save lives,” she said. “Unfortunately, many barriers prevent people from getting vaccinated or understanding the benefits of vaccination. At St. Jude, I hope to help lessen some of these barriers so that people feel confident in getting themselves or their children vaccinated and have peace of mind in knowing they are protected from several types of cancer.”

Originally from Durham, North Carolina, Dr. Footman loves watching Duke basketball and is obsessed with March Madness. When not worrying about basketball brackets, she enjoys spending her free time with her dog, Otis, and gardening.

Education

PhD (Health Behavior) – University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
Graduate Certificate (Applications of Mixed Methods Research) – University of Alabama at Birmingham, School of Health Professions, Birmingham, Alabama
MPH (Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases) – Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut
BS (Math and Biology) – Agnes Scott College, Decatur, GA

Research Interests

Promoting education about adolescent vaccination
Identifying barriers and facilitators to vaccine uptake
Mixed methods and qualitative study approaches

Current Research

Policies to promote HPV vaccination
Understanding HPV vaccine acceptance among sexual minorities
Exploring opinions about future adolescent vaccines

Contact Information

Alison Footman, PhD, MPH HPV Cancer Prevention Program St. Jude Children's Research Hospital 262 Danny Thomas Place Memphis, TN 38105

Selected Publications

Footman A, Kanney N, Niccolai LM, Zimet GD, Overton ET, Davies SL, Van Der Pol B. Parents Acceptance of COVID-19 compared to HPV Vaccines. (2022) Journal of Adolescent Health. (In Press)

Footman A, Kanney N, Niccolai LM, Zimet GD, Overton ET, Davies SL and Van Der Pol B (2022). Chlamydia Vaccination: Parent Opinions and Implications for Future Promotion Programs. Sexually transmitted diseases, 10.1097/OLQ.0000000000001692. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1097/OLQ.0000000000001692

Footman A, Kanney N, Niccolai LM, Zimet GD, Overton ET, Davies SL, and Van Der Pol B (2022). Perceived Need and Acceptance of a Future Chlamydia Vaccine among Healthcare Providers. Sexually transmitted diseases, 10.1097/OLQ.0000000000001663. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1097/OLQ.0000000000001663

Griner SB, Footman A and Van Der Pol B (2022). Mentoring Relationships in the Field of Sexually Transmitted Infections: Experiences, Observations, and Recommendations. Health Behavior Research. (In Press).

Van Gerwen O, Griner S, Davis A, Footman A, Pinto CN, Melendez J, Tuddenham S, Exten C, Soge OO, Chakraborty P, Nenninger A, Marlowe EM, Joseph AM, McGowin C, Seña AC, Fortenberry JD, Ghanem KG, and Van Der Pol B (2022). Summary of the 4th Annual ASTDA Workshop on Improving STI Control Efforts through Cross-Sector Collaboration. Sexually Transmitted Diseases. August 2022 - Volume 49 - Issue 8 - p 588-593. doi: 10.1097/OLQ.0000000000001651Footman, A., Dagama, D., Smith, C., & Van Der Pol, B. (2021). A Systematic Review of New Approaches to STI Screening Framed in the COM-B Model of Implementation Science. Sexually Transmitted Diseases, 8(8 Suppl), S58. doi: 10.1097/OLQ.0000000000001461. PMID: 33938515; PMCID: PMC8284379.

Footman A, Dionne-Odom J, Aaron KJ, Raper JL, and Van Der Pol, B (2019). Performance of Four Molecular Assays for Detection of Chlamydia and Gonorrhea in a Sample of HIV Positive Men who Have Sex with Men. Sexually Transmitted Diseases, 47(3), 158-161. doi: 10.1097/OLQ.0000000000001115. PMID: 32032316; PMCID: PMC7393578.

Lanzi RG, Footman AP, Jackson E, Araya BY, Ott C, Sterling RD, Davis TR, and Kaiser KA (2019). Love with No Exceptions: A Statewide Faith-Based, University-Community Partnership for Faith-Based HIV Training and Assessment of Needs in the Deep South. AIDS and Behavior, 23(11), 2936–2945. doi: 10.1007/s10461-019-02604-7. PMID: 31321638; PMCID: PMC7075029.

Kempf MC, Ott C, Wise JM, Footman A, Araya BY, Hardy CM, Walker C, Latham C, Stockett R, Daniels G, Alexander M, Lanzi RG (2018). Universal Screening for HIV and Hepatitis C Infection: A Community-Based Pilot Project. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 55(5), S112-S121. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2018.05.015. PMID: 30670196; PMCID: PMC6548448.

Niccolai LM, North AL, Footman A, and Hansen CE (2018). Lack of school requirements and clinician recommendations for human papillomavirus vaccination. Journal of Public Health Research, 7(1). doi: 10.4081/jphr.2018.1324. PMID: 29780768; PMCID: PMC5941259.

Last update: October 2022