Samantha Jones
Assistant Professor
Academic Appointment(s)
Medical College of Georgia
Department of Family Medicine
Medical College of Georgia
Department of Medicine
Bio
Dr. Samantha Jones is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine. She is a health disparities researcher with extensive experience in Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR).
- (706) 721-0312
- (706) 721-7518
- HB-3014
Education
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Ph.D., Pharmaceutical Sciences
Florida Agricultural & Mechani, 2017
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BS, Biology/Biological Sciences, General
South Carolina State Universit, 2011
Awards & Honors
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Career Development Scholar Program Award
Augusta University, 2022
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CPCPH Pilot Award
Georgia Cancer Center - Cancer Prevention, Control & Population Health Program, 2020
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McKnight Dissertation Fellowship
Florida Education Fund, 2016
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Travel Award for Experimental Biology (EB) Meeting
Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC) Program, 2016
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Cancer Research Training and Community Service (CRTCS) Fellowship
National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) Center of Excellence, 2015
Courses Taught Most Recent Academic Year
Teaching Interests
Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) focused on increasing engagement of underserved populations in both clinical and community-based research in efforts to reduce existing health disparities in the US across multiple diseases including cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and maternal mortality.
Scholarship
Selected Recent Publications
- The Role of Race/Ethnicity on the Association between Neighborhood Deprivation and Breast Cancer Outcomes among Kentucky Breast Cancer Patients years 2010-2022., 2025
Journal Article, Academic Journal
- Cancer health awareness through screening and education: A community approach to healthy equity., 2024
Journal Article, Academic Journal
- Investigating the association between educational attainment and allostatic load with risk of cancer mortality among African American women., 2023
Journal Article, Academic Journal
- Association of Food Deserts and Food Swamps With Obesity-Related Cancer Mortality in the US., 2023
Journal Article, Academic Journal
- How Attributes of Place Threaten Community Trust in the American South: Opportunities for Improving Pandemic-Related Communication., 2023
Journal Article, Academic Journal
Research Interests
Dr. Jones’ research identifies opportunities for improving quality health care among disadvantaged communities and addresses barriers to cancer care, education and resources. Her current research interests include understanding the role of mental health in the initiation and persistence of poor health behaviors associated with increased morbidity and mortality in disadvantaged populations. Dr. Jones’ long-term goals include increasing community-engaged research approaches in the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) and nationally that will eliminate barriers to proper health care and reduce disease burden in minority and underserved populations, as well as increasing minority representation in health science research, with the ultimate goal of eliminating health disparities.
Dr. Jones has focused on addressing risk-increasing factors for illness including socioeconomic (income level, lack of transportation, lack of access to adequate health care), education about or understanding of disease risks and symptoms, and cultural practices and beliefs related to health care and cancer care which drive the large disparities in disease incidence and mortality experienced by disadvantaged populations. Differences in certain lifestyle behaviors (diet, exercise, and cultural acceptability of smoking and alcohol use) can have a heavier impact on minority and rural populations concerning the top cancers in the US (ie. breast, colorectal, lung, prostate) when coupled with social determinants of health. Further, co-morbidities associated with cancer, such as diabetes and heart disease, are more prevalent in minority and rural populations, indicating the need to address population-specific barriers to achievement of general health.
Department Service
University Service
