Section: Faculty & Research

Kenneth P Tercyak

Title

Associate Professor

Department

CANCER CONTROL PROGRAM
General profile

Phone

202-687-9484

Location

4100 Harris Building

Bio

Dr. Kenneth Tercyak is currently an Associate Professor in the Departments of Oncology and Pediatrics. Dr. Tercyak also holds an appointment at Georgetown University Hospital where he practices pediatric psychology.

Dr. Tercyak's research focuses on biobehavioral aspects of cancer risk, including public health genetics/genomics and tobacco prevention and control. Dr. Tercyak's work in familial cancer examines parent-child communication, decision making and decision support, and outcomes of genetic counseling and testing. His work in tobacco control includes a focus on primary prevention, child and adolescent behavior change, and high risk/special populations.

Dr. Tercyak has been supported by the National Institutes of Health throughout his career, and is currently the Principal Investigator of a randomized controlled trial to promote informed decision making/decision support for mothers undergoing hereditary cancer risk testing. Dr. Tercyak has also been involved with a research and education partnership with the University of the District of Columbia for cancer control and health disparities.

Dr. Tercyak has over 75 peer-reviewed publications and is the editor of a forthcoming book (Springer) on the interface of public health genomics with children, adolescents, and their families. He also serves as the Associate Editor for Prevention Science at the Journal of Pediatric Psychology (Oxford). Dr. Tercyak has served on several study sections of the Risk, Prevention, and Health Behavior Integrated Review Group at the National Institutes of Health and is standing member of its Behavioral Medicine committee. He has also been a member of the psychosocial review groups for the American Cancer Society, the Komen Foundation, and several international grant agencies. At Georgetown University, Dr. Tercyak co-chairs the medical center's Research Committee, is a member of the experimental medical studies committee, and strategic planning committee for faculty affairs. He is also a member of the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center and Fisher Center for Familial Cancer Research.

Education

  • Fellowship (2000) Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cancer Prevention & Control
  • PhD (1998) University of Florida, Clinical & Health Psychology
  • Internship (1998) University of Miami School of Medicine, Clinical Child & Pediatric Psychology
  • BA (1992) University of Pennsylvania, Psychology