Cancer Outcomes Research and Education Program (CORE)


Contact Information
Cancer Outcomes Research & Education Program
Yawkey, Suite 10B
55 Fruit Street
Boston,
MA
02114
Email: MGHCORE@partners.org
Support CORE
A gift may be made to the Mass General Cancer Center in support of the Cancer Outcomes Research and Education Program (CORE). Gifts can be made online or mailed to the MGH Development Office, attention: Meagan Coons, 125 Nashua Street, Suite 540, Boston, MA 02114. Checks should be made payable to MGH Cancer Center. Please reference fund 222448. Make a gift.
Explore the Cancer Outcomes Research & Education Program
Overview
The Cancer Outcomes Research and Program (CORE) is a unique, collaborative research team with members from oncology, nursing, palliative care, psychiatry, and psychology. CORE's breadth of experience as investigators and clinicians enables the team to integrate multiple perspectives into a transdisciplinary research platform.
Mission Statement
We conduct innovative research and educational programs to improve the experience and outcomes of patients and caregivers across the continuum of cancer care.
Our objectives are to:
- Increase health behaviors that reduce cancer risk and incidence.
- Improve care delivery, symptoms, and quality of life for patients and caregivers throughout their illness.
- Enhance the physical and psychosocial experience of cancer survivors.
By advancing the science of cancer care, we will ensure that all individuals affected by cancer receive the highest quality, state-of-the-art care that is personalized to their physical, psychosocial and spiritual needs.
Program Areas
- Cancer Prevention and Screening
- Behavioral Health and Self Care
- Symptom Management
- Palliative Care
- Survivorship
- Health Disparities and Inequities
- Training and education
Our Areas of Research
- Behavioral Health and Self-care
- Caregivers
- Communication and Decision Making
- Geriatrics
- Health Disparities and Inequities
- Palliative Care
- Quality Improvement
- Survivorship
- Symptom Management
Education & Training
Annual Workshop on Methods in Supportive Oncology Research
Please stay tuned for details on our 2021 workshop. CORE faculty will host junior investigators from around the world for a week-long intensive workshop in supportive oncology research. This annual workshop provides an overview of fundamental methods in supportive oncology research, such as study designs, qualitative and survey methods, and approaches to data analysis.
Research Team
CORE is a unique, collaborative research team with members from oncology, nursing, palliative care, psychiatry, and psychology.
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- Clinical Director of Thoracic Oncology
- Co-Director, Cancer Outcomes Research and Education Program
- Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School
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- Program Director, Center for Psychiatric Oncology & Behavioral Sciences
- Co-Director, Cancer Outcomes Research & Education Program
- Associate Professor of Psychology
Videos
Dr. Temel discusses the now standard of care for all patients diagnosed with a serious cancer to receive care from both an oncologist and a palliative care clinician. She also talks about the Cancer Outcomes Research & Education Program and how she views mentoring as an investment in the future.
Dr. Jamie Jacobs discusses the CORE program with Billy Costa, and how her specialty, cognitive behavioral therapy, applies to the cancer experience.
Research Highlights
NEJM: Early palliative care for patients with metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer.
In this video, lead authors Jennifer Temel, MD and Vicki Jackson, MD, MPH discuss the findings of this landmark study.
A Decade of Discovery at the Mass General Cancer Center
In this video, meet three individuals, including Jennifer Temel, MD, who have a gift for developing the Everyday Amazing relationships that make the Mass General Cancer Center so special.
Team Photos & Highlights
September 2019 MGH Palliative Care and Geriatrics Medicine Grand Rounds
CORE member Nneka Ufere, MD, presented her work “End-Of-Life Care with End-Stage Liver Disease” at the MGH Palliative Care and Geriatrics Medicine Grand Rounds.

2017 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting
CORE members (l-r) Areej El-Jawahri, MD, Daniel Lage, MD, Jamie Jacobs, PhD, Joseph Greer, PhD, Jennifer Temel, MD, and Ryan Nipp, MD at the 2017 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago, IL.

Dr. Vicki Jackson appointed as inaugural incumbent of the Blum Family Endowed Chair in Palliative Care
(l-r) MGH President Peter L. Slavin, MD; Marjorie Blum; Betty Ann Blum; CORE faculty member Vicki Jackson, MD, MPH; and Physician-in-Chief Katrina Armstrong celebrating Dr. Jackson’s appointment as the inaugural incumbent of the Blum Family Endowed Chair in Palliative Care, September 13, 2018.

1st Annual “Bridging the Divide: Mental Health and Cancer Care” Symposium
Members of CORE and the MGH Center of Psychiatric Oncology and Behavioral Sciences (l-r) Donna Greenberg, MD, Amy Corveleyn, MSW, LICSW, Carlos Fernandez-Robles, MD, Kelly Irwin, MD, and Joseph Greer, PhD, at the 1st Annual “Bridging the Divide: Mental Health and Cancer Care” Symposium in May 2017.

“the one hundred” 2017
(l-r) Sanja Percac-Lima, MD with CORE faculty members Inga Lennes, MD, Elyse Park, PhD, Areej El-Jawahri, MD, and Kelly Irwin, MD at the MGH Cancer Center’s “the one hundred” 2017 gala on June 15, 2017 at the Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel.

Dr. Daniel Lage named a 2016 Conquer Cancer Foundation Medical Student Rotation Award
CORE Director Jennifer Temel, MD and CORE faculty member Areej El-Jawahri, MD with CORE member Daniel Lage, MD (center) at the 2017 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago, IL. Dr. Lage is a 2016 Conquer Cancer Foundation Medical Student Rotation Award recipient.

Dr. Jennifer Temel awarded 2017 Award for Excellence in Scientific Research
Jennifer Temel, MD receives the 2017 Award for Excellence in Scientific Research from the American Association of Hospice and Palliative Medicine.

Relay for Life 2017
CORE research team members at Relay for Life 2017 in East Boston, MA.

Lauren Fields awarded “Best Student Poster” at 2017 American Psychosocial Oncology Society conference
Research assistant Lauren Fields presents a poster at the 2017 American Psychosocial Oncology Society annual conference in Orlando, FL. Lauren was awarded “Best Student Poster” at the conference.

2018 MGH Clinical Research Day
CORE research coordinators at the 2018 MGH Clinical Research Day.

News & Announcements
Dr. Jacobs was awarded the 2021 Claflin Distinguished Scholar Award from Massachusetts General Hospital
Jamie Jacobs, PhD has been selected as one of eight junior faculty women to receive the 2021 Claflin Distinguished Scholar Award, which is managed by the Executive Committee on Research and the Office for Women's Careers. The intent of this award is to increase opportunities for women to advance to senior positions in academic medicine. Congrats, Jamie!
Dr. Park presented with The Ruth McCorkle Research Mentorship Award and promoted to full Professor at Harvard Medical School
Elyse Park, PhD was awarded The Ruth McCorkle Research Mentorship Award by the American Psychosocial Oncology Society (APOS). The Ruth McCorkle Research Mentorship Award honors an APOS or community member who has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to making a significant positive impact on their mentees’ education and career, nurturing intellectual growth, career development, professional guidance, and positive role-modeling in the field of psychosocial oncology. Further, she was recently promoted to Professor at Harvard Medical School. Congratulations, Dr. Park!
Dr. Dhawale awarded 2021 MGH American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grant
Tejaswini More Dhawale, MD, was awarded a 2021 MGH American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grant for her proposal Communication about Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR-T) Therapy: Patients’ and Caregivers’ Understanding of Their Treatment Risks and Benefits. Her mentor for the project is Areej El-Jawahri, MD, Associate Director of CORE. Congratulations, Tejaswini!
Dr. Temel was elected to the Association of American Physicians
Jennifer Temel, MD, Co-Director of CORE, was elected to the Association of American Physicians (AAP). The AAP is composed of members who are leading senior physician scientists and are competitively selected. The goals of its members include the pursuit of medical knowledge, and the advancement through experimentation and discovery of basic and clinical science and their application to clinical medicine. Congratulations, Jennifer!
Dr. Perez awarded the Eleanor and Miles Shore Family Award from Harvard Medical School
Giselle K. Perez, PhD, senior scientist in the Health Policy Research Center at the Mongan Institute and director of the Adolescent and Young Adult Research within the Mass General Cancer Center Survivorship Program, has received the Eleanor and Miles Shore Family Award from Harvard Medical School. The award helps junior faculty, at the point in their careers when they must teach, conduct research, compete for grants, publish or practice at the same time they may be assuming increased family or other responsibilities.
Amy Corveleyn, MSW, LICSW Selected to Serve on the Oncology Social Work CORE Advisory Committee for Nationwide Initiative at the University of Michigan School of Social Work
Amy Corveleyn, MSW, LICSW, has been selected to serve on the Oncology Social Work CORE (Competencies, Opportunities, Roles and Expectations) advisory committee for a nationwide initiative at the University of Michigan School of Social Work, in collaboration with the Association of Oncology Social Work. The committee will conduct a survey of oncology social workers to better define the profession. Findings from the survey will be used to distinguish the role of oncology social work in cancer care, develop education and training initiatives, and advocate for data-driven staffing standards for social work and psychosocial care service delivery.
Dr. Temel received the American Cancer Society Research Professorship
Co-Director of CORE, Jennifer Temel, MD, was one of four cancer investigators to receive the American Cancer Society Research Professorship, the most prestigious research grant made by the American Cancer Society Extramural Grants program. Researchers are selected for the professorship based on their history of pioneering, influential work that’s continuing to change the direction of cancer research and on their track record of mentoring people who have become successful in cancer research. This professorship is a lifelong designation, and the grant provides 5 years of funding and may be renewed once. This is also the second time in the history of the American Cancer Society that this award has ever been given to a supportive care researcher. We are so proud of all your work, Jennifer. Congratulations!
Dr. Amonoo awarded the 2020 Harold Amos Faculty Diversity Award
Hermioni Amonoo, MD, MPP, was awarded the Harold Amos Diversity Award from Harvard Medical School during a virtual ceremony on June 9, 2020. The Harold Amos Diversity Award has been established to recognize Harvard Medical School/ Harvard School of Dental Medicine faculty who have made significant achievements in moving Harvard Medical School/Harvard School of Dental Medicine toward being a diverse and inclusive community. Awardees have demonstrated a significant commitment to enhancing diversity above and beyond the routine role and responsibilities.
Dr. Greer presented with The Ruth McCorkle Research Mentorship Award
Co-Director of CORE, Joe Greer, PhD, FAPOS, was awarded The Ruth McCorkle Research Mentorship Award by the American Psychosocial Oncology Society (APOS) during their 17th Annual Meeting that was conducted virtually March 11-13, 2020. The Ruth McCorkle Research Mentorship Award honors an APOS or community member who has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to making a significant positive impact on their mentees’ education and career, nurturing intellectual growth, career development, professional guidance, and positive role-modeling in the field of psychosocial oncology. Congratulations, Joe!
Dr. Jacobs received The American Psychosocial Oncology Society’s New Investigator Award
Jamie Jacobs, PhD, was awarded the New Investigator Award by the American Psychosocial Oncology Society (APOS) during their 17th Annual Meeting that was conducted virtually March 11-13, 2020. The New Investigator Award is presented for outstanding research contributions in psychosocial oncology. Congratulations, Jamie!
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