Rachel M. Ceballos

Rachel M. Ceballos, PhD

Languages spoken: English

Academic Information

Departments Primary - Family & Preventive Medicine

Divisions: Public Health

Dr. Rachel Ceballos is an Associate Professor in the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine at the University of Utah, Senior Director for Community Outreach and Engagement at the Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI), is a member of the Cancer Control and Population Sciences Program at HCI, and holds a Huntsman Cancer Institute Endowed Chair in Cancer Research.

Her areas of research include understanding the psychological and social impact of cancer, especially in communities that experience unequal health outcomes. She has experience working with rural, African American, Native American, and Latino communities, is committed to the practice of community engagement at all levels of the research process, and co-learning between researchers and the communities we serve.

Prior to arriving at the University of Utah and HCI, she was an Associate Professor in the Division of Public Health Sciences at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and an Affiliate Associate Professor in the Department of Health Systems and Population Health at the University of Washington in Seattle, WA.

Education History

Postdoctoral Fellowship Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
 Postdoctoral Fellow
University of Washington School of Public Health
 Senior Research Fellow
Doctoral Training Pennsylvania State University
 PhD
Pennsylvania State University
 MS
Undergraduate California State University Long Beach
 BA
Undergraduate Skyline College
 AA

Selected Publications

Journal Article

  1. Torres VN, Williams EC, Ceballos RM, Donovan DM, Ornelas IJ (2022). Discrimination, acculturative stress, alcohol use and their associations with alcohol-related consequences among Latino immigrant men. J Ethn Subst Abuse, 23(1), 150-165. (Read full article)
  2. Waters AR, Meehan K, Atkins DL, Ittes AH, Ferrari RM, Rohweder CL, Wangen M, Ceballos RM, Issaka RB, Reuland DS, Wheeler SB, Brenner AT, Shah PD (2025). How pharmacists would design and implement a community pharmacy-based colorectal cancer screening program. Prev Oncol Epidemiol, 2(1). (Read full article)
  3. Brenner AT, Rohweder CL, Wangen M, Atkins DL, Ceballos RM, Correa S, Ferrari RM, Issaka RB, Ittes A, Odebunmi OO, Reuland DS, Waters AR, Wheeler SB, Shah PD (2023). Primary care provider perspectives on the role of community pharmacy in colorectal cancer screening: a qualitative study. BMC Health Serv Res, 23(1), 892. (Read full article)
  4. Duggan C, Cushing-Haugen KL, Cole AM, Allen J, Gilles R, Hornecker JR, Gutierrez AI, Warner J, Baker KS, Ceballos RM, Chow EJ (2023). Feasibility of delivering survivorship care via lay health educators: A pilot randomized controlled trial among rural cancer survivors. J Rural Health. (Read full article)
  5. Hirko KA, Xu H, Rogers LQ, Martin MY, Roy S, Kelly KM, Christy SM, Ashing KT, Yi JC, Lewis-Thames MW, Meade CD, Lu Q, Gwede CK, Nemeth J, Ceballos RM, Menon U, Cueva K, Yeary K, Klesges LM, Baskin ML, Alcaraz KI, Ford S (2022). Cancer disparities in the context of rurality: risk factors and screening across various U.S. rural classification codes. Cancer Causes Control, 33(8), 1095-1105. (Read full article)
  6. Samayoa C, Santana-Ufret V, Santoyo-Olsson J, Strassle PD, Stewart A, Bonilla J, Escalera C, Mendez RM, Mrquez-Magaa L, Ortiz C, Ceballos RM, Npoles AM (2022). Cortisol levels in rural Latina breast cancer survivors participating in a peer-delivered cognitive-behavioral stress management intervention: The Nuevo Amanecer-II RCT. Compr Psychoneuroendocrinol, 11, 100153. (Read full article)
  7. Boehmer U, Potter J, Clark MA, Winter M, Berklein F, Ceballos RM, Hartshorn K, Ozonoff A (2021). Follow-up surveillance among colorectal cancer survivors of different sexual orientations. J Cancer Surviv, 16(2), 445-454. (Read full article)
  8. Boehmer U, Ozonoff A, Winter M, Berklein F, Potter J, Ceballos RM, Clark MA (2021). Anxiety and depression in colorectal cancer survivors: Are there differences by sexual orientation? Psychooncology, 31(3), 521-531. (Read full article)
  9. Boehmer U, Ozonoff A, Winter M, Berklein F, Potter J, Hartshorn KL, Ward KC, Ceballos RM, Clark MA (2021). Health-related quality of life among colorectal cancer survivors of diverse sexual orientations. Cancer, 127(20), 3847-3855. (Read full article)
  10. Ceballos RM, Hohl SD, Molina Y, Hempstead B, Thompson-Dodd J, Weatherby S, Malen RC (2020). Oncology provider and African-American breast cancer survivor perceptions of the emotional experience of transitioning to survivorship. J Psychosoc Oncol, 39(1), 35-53. (Read full article)
  11. Torres VN, Williams EC, Ceballos RM, Donovan DM, Duran B, Ornelas IJ (2020). Participant engagement in a community based participatory research study to reduce alcohol use among Latino immigrant men. Health Educ Res, 35(6), 627-636. (Read full article)
  12. Miropolsky EM, Scott Baker K, Abbey-Lambertz M, Syrjala K, Chow EJ, Ceballos R, Mendoza JA (2020). Participant Perceptions on a Fitbit and Facebook Intervention for Young Adult Cancer Survivors: A Qualitative Study. J Adolesc Young Adult Oncol, 9(3), 410-417. (Read full article)
  13. Torres VN, Williams EC, Ceballos RM, Donovan DM, Ornelas IJ (2020). Participant Satisfaction and Acceptability of a Culturally Adapted Brief Intervention to Reduce Unhealthy Alcohol Use Among Latino Immigrant Men. Am J Mens Health, 14(3), 1557988320925652. (Read full article)
  14. Knerr S, Ceballos RM, Chan KCG, Beresford SAA, Bowen DJ (2017). Women's beliefs about what causes obesity: variation by race/ethnicity and acculturation in a Washington State sample. Ethn Health, 25(2), 243-254. (Read full article)
  15. Boehmer U, Potter J, Clark MA, Ozonoff A, Ceballos RM, Winter M, Hartshorn KL (2019). Neighborhood Characteristics and Colorectal Cancer Survivors' Quality of Care. Health Equity, 3(1), 619-627. (Read full article)
  16. Hohl SD, Ceballos R, Scott MA, Thompson B (2018). Developing a Culturally Informed Survey Instrument to Assess Biomedical Research Participation Among Latinos on the U.S.-Mexico Border. Qual Health Res, 29(3), 445-454. (Read full article)
  17. Molina Y, Hohl SD, Nguyen M, Hempstead BH, Weatherby SR, Dunbar C, Beresford SA, Ceballos RM (2016). Ethnic differences in social support after initial receipt of an abnormal mammogram. Cultur Divers Ethnic Minor Psychol, 22(4), 588-593. (Read full article)
  18. Molina Y, Scherman A, Constant TH, Hempstead B, Thompson-Dodd J, Richardson S, Weatherby SR, Reding KW, Ceballos RM (2016). Medical advocacy among African-American women diagnosed with breast cancer: from recipient to resource. Support Care Cancer, 24(7), 3077-84. (Read full article)
  19. McGregor BA, Murphy KM, Albano DL, Ceballos RM (2015). Stress, cortisol, and B lymphocytes: a novel approach to understanding academic stress and immune function. Stress, 19(2), 185-91. (Read full article)
  20. McGregor BA, Dolan ED, Murphy KM, Sannes TS, Highland KB, Albano DL, Ward AA, Charbonneau AM, Redman MW, Ceballos RM (2015). Cognitive Behavioral Stress Management for Healthy Women at Risk for Breast Cancer: a Novel Application of a Proven Intervention. Ann Behav Med, 49(6), 873-84. (Read full article)
  21. Sannes TS, Dolan E, Albano D, Ceballos RM, McGregor BA (2015). Stress management reduces intraindividual cortisol variability, while not impacting other measures of cortisol rhythm, in a group of women at risk for breast cancer. J Psychosom Res, 79(5), 412-9. (Read full article)
  22. Molina Y, Hempstead BH, Thompson-Dodd J, Weatherby SR, Dunbar C, Hohl SD, Malen RC, Ceballos RM (2014). Medical Advocacy and Supportive Environments for African-Americans Following Abnormal Mammograms. J Cancer Educ, 30(3), 447-52. (Read full article)
  23. Knerr S, Ceballos RM (2015). Giving samples or "getting checked": measuring conflation of observational biospecimen research and clinical care in Latino communities. BMC Med Ethics, 16, 49. (Read full article)
  24. Ceballos RM, Molina Y, Malen RC, Ibarra G, Escareo M, Marchello N (2015). Design, development, and feasibility of a spanish-language cancer survivor support group. Support Care Cancer, 23(7), 2145-55. (Read full article)
  25. Song S, Graham-Engeland JE, Corwin EJ, Ceballos RM, Taylor SE, Seeman T, Klein LC (2015). The role of multiple negative social relationships in inflammatory cytokine responses to a laboratory stressor. PeerJ, 3, e959. (Read full article)
  26. Molina Y, Thompson B, Ceballos RM (2015). Physician and Family Recommendations to Obtain a Mammogram and Mammography Intentions: The Moderating Effects of Perceived Seriousness and Risk of Breast Cancer. J Womens Health Care, 3(6). (Read full article)
  27. Ceballos RM, Knerr S, Scott MA, Hohl SD, Malen RC, Vilchis H, Thompson B (2014). Latino beliefs about biomedical research participation: a qualitative study on the U.S.-Mexico border. J Empir Res Hum Res Ethics, 9(4), 10-21. (Read full article)
  28. Cadmus-Bertram L, Littman AJ, Ulrich CM, Stovall R, Ceballos RM, McGregor BA, Wang CY, Ramaprasad J, McTiernan A (2013). Predictors of adherence to a 26-week viniyoga intervention among post-treatment breast cancer survivors. J Altern Complement Med, 19(9), 751-8. (Read full article)
  29. Sherman KJ, Wellman RD, Cook AJ, Cherkin DC, Ceballos RM (2013). Mediators of yoga and stretching for chronic low back pain. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med, 2013, 130818. (Read full article)
  30. Littman AJ, Bertram LC, Ceballos R, Ulrich CM, Ramaprasad J, McGregor B, McTiernan A (2011). Randomized controlled pilot trial of yoga in overweight and obese breast cancer survivors: effects on quality of life and anthropometric measures. Support Care Cancer, 20(2), 267-77. (Read full article)
  31. Barrington WE, Ceballos RM, Bishop SK, McGregor BA, Beresford SA (2012). Perceived stress, behavior, and body mass index among adults participating in a worksite obesity prevention program, Seattle, 2005-2007. Prev Chronic Dis, 9, E152. (Read full article)
  32. Beasley JM, Newcomb PA, Trentham-Dietz A, Hampton JM, Ceballos RM, Titus-Ernstoff L, Egan KM, Holmes MD (2010). Social networks and survival after breast cancer diagnosis. J Cancer Surviv, 4(4), 372-80. (Read full article)
  33. West SG, Krick AL, Klein LC, Zhao G, Wojtowicz TF, McGuiness M, Bagshaw DM, Wagner P, Ceballos RM, Holub BJ, Kris-Etherton PM (2011). Effects of diets high in walnuts and flax oil on hemodynamic responses to stress and vascular endothelial function. J Am Coll Nutr, 29(6), 595-603. (Read full article)
  34. Ceballos RM, Coronado GD, Thompson B (2010). Having a diagnosis of diabetes is not associated with general diabetes knowledge in rural Hispanics. J Rural Health, 26(4), 342-51. (Read full article)
  35. Miller SM, Bowen DJ, Lyle J, Clark M, Mohr D, Wardle J, Ceballos R, Emmons K, Gritz E, Marlow L (2008). Primary prevention, aging, and cancer: overview and future perspectives. Cancer, 113(12 Suppl), 3484-92. (Read full article)
  36. Ceballos RM, Newcomb PA, Beasley JM, Peterson S, Templeton A, Hunt JR (2008). Colorectal cancer cases and relatives of cases indicate similar willingness to receive and disclose genetic information. Genet Test, 12(3), 415-20. (Read full article)
  37. Cavigelli SA, Guhad FA, Ceballos RM, Whetzel CA, Nevalainen T, Lang CM, Klein LC (2006). Fecal corticoid metabolites in aged male and female rats after husbandry-related disturbances in the colony room. J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci, 45(6), 17-21. (Read full article)
  38. Corwin EJ, McCoy CS, Whetzel CA, Ceballos RM, Klein LC (2005). Risk indicators of metabolic syndrome in young adults: a preliminary investigation on the influence of tobacco smoke exposure and gender. Heart Lung, 35(2), 119-29. (Read full article)
  39. Klein LC, Corwin EJ, Ceballos RM (2004). Leptin, hunger, and body weight: Influence of gender, tobacco smoking, and smoking abstinence. Addict Behav, 29(5), 921-7. (Read full article)

Review

  1. Molina Y, Thompson B, Espinoza N, Ceballos R (2013). Breast cancer interventions serving US-based Latinas: current approaches and directions. [Review]. Womens Health (Lond), 9(4), 335-48; quiz 349-50. (Read full article)

Letter

  1. Molina Y, Ceballos RM, Dolan ED, Albano D, McGregor BA (2014). Perceived breast cancer risk and breast cancer worry among women with a family history of breast cancer: a new perspective on coping as a mediator. [Letter to the editor]. Psychooncology, 24(1), 113-6. (Read full article)