Jessica N. Rivera Rivera, PHD, MPH

Jessica N. Rivera Rivera, PhD, MPH, is a research scientist for Implementation Science in the Healthcare Delivery Research Network at MedStar Health Research Institute and is a research affiliate in the Cancer Prevention and Control Program at the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Dr. Rivera Rivera’s work focuses on understanding how interpersonal experience can influence patients’ behaviors, psychological well-being, and quality of life. She has experience developing and evaluating health interventions for racial/ethnic minorities, including Spanish-preferring patients. She has expertise in qualitative and quantitative methods and has published over a dozen peer-reviewed manuscripts. Her current work with Dr. Hannah Arem supports large research projects focused on reducing disparities in cancer survivorship outcomes and maternal and infant mortality. Dr. Rivera Rivera is interested in developing and disseminating culturally targeted psychosocial interventions that facilitate the uptake of guideline-concordant care and preventive health behaviors among underserved populations.

Prior to MedStar Health, Dr. Rivera Rivera completed a doctoral degree in clinical psychology with a specialty in Health Psychology from the University of Kentucky and a Master of Public Health degree in Biostatistics from the University of Puerto Rico, Medical Science Campus. She also completed post-doctoral training in the NCI-funded T32 Behavioral Oncology Training Program at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida.

Research Interests

Dr. Rivera Rivera’s research interests include Cancer survivorship, colorectal cancer, genetic testing, cancer disparities, behavioral interventions, and implementation science.

Selected Research

Dr. Rivera Rivera is a principal investigator on the eHealth pretest genetic education for early-onset colorectal cancer patients project named Nest-CRC. Dr. Rivera Rivera received funds from the Society of Behavioral Medicine Bridging the Gaps Research Award to develop and refine Nest-CRC when she was at Moffitt Cancer Center. She is currently finalizing the study findings following the conclusion of this project. Dr. Rivera Rivera will continue this line of research at MedStar Health, supported by the MedStar New Investigator Associate Giving Grant Fund.

Dr. Rivera Rivera was recently awarded funds from the DC Department of Health to understand and evaluate the reasons for delaying and declining recommended cancer treatment among women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer in the DC area and to develop a toolkit for providers and patients to address reasons related to delaying or declining cancer treatment. The start date for this project is January 2024.

Complete List of Published Works in My Bibliography