Karlynn BrintzenhofeSzoc, Ph.D., MSW, FAOSW

Education:

B.A., George Mason University, Fairfax, VA; 1987
M.S.W., Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA; 1989
Ph.D., The Catholic University of America, National Catholic School of Social Service, Washington, DC; 1995

Current Positions:

Professor, Raymond A. Kent School of Social Work & Family Science
Dr. Renato LaRocca Endowed Chair in Oncology Social Work
Member, Brown Cancer Center

Contact Information:

Kent School of Social Work
Patterson Hall, Room 202
University of Louisville
Louisville, KY 40202

Phone: 502 852-1946
Email: karlynn.brintzenhofeSzoc@louisville.edu

Research Description:

My clinical research interests are focused on the myriad of BioPsychoSocialSpritutialSexualCultural (BPSSS), also known as psychosocial, characteristics that each patient and family bring to the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. This includes developing a better understanding of the differences in adaptation across the disease trajectory based on BPSSSC issues, identifying interventions that have been deemed effective and evidence-based for patients and their family caregivers, which will lead to the evaluation of the effectiveness of the interventions.

In my research plan, I have four areas of focus:

  1. Working to improve the experience of older adults with cancer and their healthcare providers.
  2.  Developing a better understanding of the interaction between BPSSSC characteristics that are challenged with a cancer diagnosis and the co-occurrence of alcohol use. The first step in this focus area is determining the prevalence of alcohol use across all cancers undergoing cancer treatments.
  3. The role of oncology social workers in cancer care teams and within healthcare systems. Through this, I hope to increase knowledge of oncology social workers' roles in improving the quality of care of all people with cancer and their families.
  4. The final focus is on teaching social workers to work in oncology settings.

Recent/Notable Publications:

  1. Kaur A, Pergolotti M, Battisti N, Krok-Schoen JL, Cabrera Chien L, Canin B, Malone MV, MacKenzie A, Ali I, Streck B, Shahrokni A, Plotkin E, Boehmer LB, BrintzenhofeSzoc K.  Healthcare providers' attitudes towards delay in cancer treatment during COVID-19 pandemic.  Journal of Geriatric Oncology 2023 Jan 17;14(2):101438.  doi: 10.1016/j.jgo.2023.101438.  Epub ahead of print.  PMID: 36682216.  PMCID: PMC9842617 .
  2. Pisegna JL, BrintzenhofeSzoc K, Shahrokni A, Canin B, Plotkin E, Boehmer LM, Chien L, Malone MV, MacKenzie AR, Krok-Schoen JL.  Differences in urban and suburban/rural settings regarding care provision and barriers of cancer care for older adults during COVID-19.  Supportive Care in Cancer 2022 Dec 23;31(1):78.  doi: 10.1007/s00520-022-07544-y.  PMID: 36562819.  PMCID: PMC9780617 .
  3. BrintzenhofeSzoc K, Canin B, Casas-Silva E, Denicoff A, Braun-Inglis C, Okado I, Bakos A.  Through the lens of patient partners: Challenges in accrual of older adults to NCI clinical trials.  Journal of the National Cancer Institute Monographs 2022 Dec 15;2022(60):125-134.  doi: 10.1093/jncimonographs/lgac022 .  PMID: 36519817.
  4. Hendricks Sloan D, BrintzenhofeSzoc K, Mistretta E, Cova J, Li L, Willis G, Weaver MS, Berger A.  What does the word healing mean to you? Perceptions of patients with life-limiting illness.  Palliative Support Care 2022 Aug 1:1-5.  doi: 10.1017/S1478951522000839 .  Epub ahead of print.  PMID: 35909084.
  5. BrintzenhofeSzoc, K. (2022). Clinical trials and the role of social workers. In:  Atillio T, Otis-Green S, Cagle J (Eds.).  Oxford Textbook of Palliative Social Work.  Oxford Press, 2022; 2nd edn., pp. 294-306.
  6. BrintzenhofeSzoc K, Acquavita SP, Baker S.  Drug abuse trends in the Cincinnati region June 2020. Ohio Substance Abuse Monitoring Network. https://mha.ohio.gov/Researchers-and-Media/Workgroups-and-Networks/Ohio- Substance-Abuse-Monitoring-Network/Drug-Trend-Reports #15441383-2020; 2021,
  7. BrintzenhofeSzoc K, Krok-Schoen Pisegna JL, MacKenzie AR, Canin B, Plotkin E, Boehmen LM, Shahrokni A.  Survey of cancer care providers' attitudes toward care for older adults with cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Journal of Geriatric Oncology 2020;12(2):196-205.
  8. Krok-Schoen Pisegna JL, BrintzenhofeSzoc K, MacKenzie AR, Canin B, Plotkin E, Boehmen LM, Shahrokni A.  Experiences of healthcare providers of older adults with cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Journal of Geriatric Oncology 2020;12(2):190-195.
  9. Cunningham S, Wakim P, Hendricks J, Cassidy Q, Teigen E, BrintzenhofeSzoc K.  Influence of psychosocial distress on traumatic stress symptoms among oncology patients.  Journal of Psychosocial Oncology Research & Practice 2020;2(2):e-21.
  10. BrintzenhofeSzoc K, Krok-Schoen JL, Canin B, Parker I, MacKenzie AR, Koll T, Vankina R, Hsu C D, Jang B, Pan K, Lund JL, Starbuck E, Shahrokni A.  The underreporting of phase III chemo-therapeutic clinical trial data of older patients with cancer: A systematic review.  Journal of Geriatric Oncology 2020;11(3):369-379.