Kristin Wallace, Ph.D.
Professor
Public Health Sciences
Cancer Focus
Racial differences in immune and microbial responses and risk and outcomes in colorectal cancer
Research Program
Research Interest
My research focuses on understanding differences in the tumor, lifestyle, and environmental factors as drivers of the racial disparities in colorectal neoplastic risk and outcomes (polyp recurrence, cancer recurrence, death). I have extensive experience with large-scale cancer prevention, multicenter clinical, and registry-based analysis, including SEER, the South Carolina Central Cancer Registry, and the Hollings Cancer Center Cancer Registry. Additionally, I have extensive experience working with community-based programs, including colorectal cancer screening in the southeast. With colleagues Dr. Alekseyenko and Dr. Obeid, we built the South Carolina Regional Colon Cancer Network (SCRCCN) to measure outcomes over time; we include EHR, registry, pathologic specimens, and outcomes. My primary research theme is understanding the role of inflammation and clinical, lifestyle, and genomic factors in driving the racial difference in colorectal neoplasia outcomes.
Positions and Scientific Appointments
2023-Present: Professor, Department of Public Health Sciences, MUSC, Charleston, SC
2021-Present: Professionalism Committee, College of Graduate Studies, MUSC
2019-Present: Hollings Cancer Center – Co-leader of the Translational Cancer Team
2019-Present: MUSC Student Admission Committee PhD and MPH
2016-2022: Associate Professor, Department of Public Health Sciences, MUSC, Charleston, SC
2010-2012: Protocol Review Committee, Hollings Cancer Center
2008-Present: Hollings Cancer Center, MUSC - Research Member
2008-2016: Assistant Professor, Department of Public Health Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
Education
PhD
June 2005
Clinical Sciences, Epi
Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH
Postdoctoral
May 2008
Cancer Prevention Epi
Dartmouth Medical School, Lebanon, NH
BA
May 1990
Psychology
Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
MA
October 1992
Anthropology
University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
Other
January 1995
30+ hrs basic science
Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY