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Robert J. Ferguson, PhD
Robert J.  Ferguson, PhD

Robert J. Ferguson, PhD

Associate Member, St. Jude Faculty

Departments

Education

AB – Bowdoin College, Brunswick, ME
PhD – Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Internship (Clinical Psychology) – Dartmouth Medical School, Lebanon, NH
Fellowship (Behavioral Medicine) – Dartmouth Medical School, Lebanon, NH

Research Interests

  • Treatment and rehabilitation of cancer-related cognitive impairment for cancer survivors
  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy and telehealth interventions for cancer-related cognitive impairment
  • Evaluation of cancer, treatment and patient-related factors in cancer-related cognitive impairment
  • Telehealth-delivered psychological treatment for persons with cancer 

Selected Publications

Janelsins MC, Van Dyk K, Hartman SJ, et al. The National Cancer Institute Clinical Trials Planning Meeting to Address Gaps in Observational and Intervention Trials for Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairment. JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute 2024; djae209.

Shaffer KM, Turner KL, Siwik C, Gonzalez BD, Upasani R, Glazer JV, Ferguson RJ, Joshua C, Low CA. Digital health and telehealth in cancer care: a scoping review of reviews. Lancet Digit Health 2023 May;5(5):e316-e327. PMID: 37100545; PMCID: PMC10124999.

Brick R, Lyons KD, Bender C, Eilers R, Ferguson RJ, Pergolottie M, Toto P, Skidmore E, Leland NE. Preferences on delivery of cancer rehabilitation services for cancer-related disability among older individuals surviving breast cancer: A qualitative study. Rehabilitation Oncology 2023;41(3):139-148. PMID: 373841364.

Ferguson RJ, Manculich J, Chang H, Sareen NJ, Snitz BE, Terhorst L, Bovbjerg DH, Duensing AU. Self-reported cognitive impairments and quality of life in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumor: Results of a multinational survey. Cancer 2022 Nov 15;128(22):4017-4026. Epub 2022 Sep 20. PMID: 36125989 PMCID: PMC9633548.

Turner K, Bobonis Babilonia M, Naso C, Nguyen O, Gonzalez BD, Oswald LB, Robinson E, Elston Lafata J, Ferguson RJ, Alishahi Tabriz A, Patel KB, Hallanger-Johnson J, Aldawoodi N, Hong YR, Jim HSL, Spiess PE. Health Care Providers' and Professionals' Experiences With Telehealth Oncology Implementation During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study. J Med Internet Res 2022 Jan 19;24(1):e29635. PMID: 34907900 PMCID: PMC8772877.

Ferguson, RJ, Terhorst, L, Gibbons, B, Posluszny, D.M., Chang, H., Bovbjerg, D., McDonald, B.C. Using single case experimental design to evaluate treatment of cancer-related cognitive impairment in clinical practice. Cancers 2023;15(18):4643. PMID: 37760621. 

Brick R. Turner R. Bender C. Douglas M. Eilers R. Ferguson RJ. Leland NE. Lyons KD. Toto PE. Skidmore ER. Impact of non-pharmacological interventions on cancer-related activity limitations in older adult cancer survivors: A scoping review. Journal of Geriatric Oncology 2022;13(2):132-142.

Brick R, Skidmore E, Bender C, Ferguson R, Pergolotti M, Toto P, Leland N. Development of an intervention influencing activity limitations in older breast cancer survivors: A modified Delphi study. J Geriatr Oncol 2022 Sep;13(7):1031-1037. Epub 2022 Jun 22. PMID: 35750628.

Ferguson RJ & Gillock K. (2021) Memory and Attention Adaptation Training (MAAT): A Brief Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Cancer Survivors Clinician Manual (Volume 1) Survivor Workbook (Volume 2). New York: Oxford University Press. 

Brick R. Turner R. Bender C. Douglas M. Eilers R. Ferguson RJ. Leland NE. Lyons KD. Toto PE. Skidmore ER. Impact of non-pharmacological interventions on cancer-related activity limitations in older adult cancer survivors: A scoping review. Journal of Geriatric Oncology. 2022;13(2):132-142.

Brick R, Lyons KD, Bender C, Eilers R, Ferguson R, Pergolotti M, Toto P, Skidmore E, Leland NE. Factors influencing utilization of cancer rehabilitation services among older breast cancer survivors in the USA: a qualitative study. Support Care Cancer 2022 Mar;30(3):2397-2405. Epub 2021 Nov 11. PMID: 34766199.

Buffart LM, Schreurs MAC, Abrahams HJG, Kalter J, Aaronson NK, Jacobsen PB, Newton RU, Courneya KS, Armes J, Arving C, Braamse AM, Brandberg Y, Dekker J, Ferguson RJ, Gielissen MF, Glimelius B, Goedendorp MM, Graves KD, Heiney SP, Horne R, Hunter MS, Johansson B, Northouse LL, Oldenburg HS, Prins JB, Savard J, van Beurden M, van den Berg SW, Brug J, Knoop H, Verdonck-de Leeuw IM. Effects and moderators of coping skills training on symptoms of depression and anxiety in patients with cancer: Aggregate data and individual patient data meta-analyses. Clin Psychol Rev 2020 Aug;80:101882. Epub 2020 Jun 25. PMID: 32640368.

McDonald BC, Flashman LA, Arciniegas DB, Ferguson RJ, Xing L, Harezlak J, Sprehn GC, Hammond FM, Maerlender AC, Kruck CL, Gillock KL, Frey K, Wall RN, Saykin AJ, McAllister TW. Methylphenidate and Memory and Attention Adaptation Training for Persistent Cognitive Symptoms after Traumatic Brain Injury: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Neuropsychopharmacology 2017 Aug;42(9):1766-1775. Epub 2016 Nov 22. PMID: 27874023 PMCID: PMC5520776.

Magnuson A, Lei L, Gilmore N, Kleckner AS, Lin FV, Ferguson R, Hurria A, Wittink MN, Esparaz BT, Giguere JK, Misleh J, Bautista J, Mohile SG, Janelsins MC. Longitudinal Relationship Between Frailty and Cognition in Patients 50 Years and Older with Breast Cancer. J Am Geriatr Soc 2019 May;67(5):928-936. PMID: 31034595; PMCID: PMC6490967.

Fremouw T, Fessler CL, Ferguson RJ, Burguete Y. Preserved learning and memory in mice following chemotherapy: 5-Fluorouracil and doxorubicin single agent treatment, doxorubicin-cyclophosphamide combination treatment. Behav Brain Res 2012 Jan 1;226(1):154-62. Epub 2011 Sep 14. PMID: 21930159.

Fremouw T, Fessler CL, Ferguson RJ, Burguete Y. Recent and remote spatial memory in mice treated with cytosine arabinoside. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2012 Jan;100(3):451-7. Epub 2011 Oct 12. PMID: 22020055.

Ferguson RJ, Sigmon ST, Pritchard AJ, LaBrie SL, Goetze RE, Fink CM, Garrett AM. A randomized trial of videoconference-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy for survivors of breast cancer with self-reported cognitive dysfunction. Cancer 2016 Jun 1;122(11):1782-91. Epub 2016 May 2. PMID: 27135464.

Ferguson RJ, McDonald BC, Rocque MA, Furstenberg CT, Horrigan S, Ahles TA, Saykin AJ. Development of CBT for chemotherapy-related cognitive change: results of a waitlist control trial. Psychooncology 2012 Feb;21(2):176-86. Epub 2010 Dec 2. PMID: 22271538 PMCID: PMC3955296.

Ferguson RJ, McDonald BC, Saykin AJ, Ahles TA. Brain structure and function differences in monozygotic twins: possible effects of breast cancer chemotherapy. J Clin Oncol 2007 Sep 1;25(25):3866-70. PMID: 17761972; PMCID: PMC3329758.

Ferguson RJ, Ahles TA, Saykin AJ, McDonald BC, Furstenberg CT, Cole BF, Mott LA. Cognitive-behavioral management of chemotherapy-related cognitive change. Psychooncology 2007 Aug;16(8):772-7. PMID: 17152119 PMCID: PMC3482484.

Last update: December 2024

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