Anapaula Cupertino, Ph.D.

Contact Information

Faculty Appointments

Interim Professor - Department of Public Health Sciences (SMD)
Interim Professor - Cancer Center - Joint

Biography

Paula Cupertino, Ph.D., is a University of Rochester Medical Center Professor of Public Health Sciences and Oncology and Wilmot Cancer Institute’s first Associate Director of Community Outreach, Engagement and Disparities.

Cupertino leads efforts to strengthen and expand Wilmot’s research and connections across its 27-county catchment area in upstate New York. A social behavioral scientist, Cupertino has focused her research on health disparities in underserved and minority communities, primarily among Latinos and immigrants. Much of her work has been in tobacco control, improving smoking cessation and access to cessation treatments using a community-based approach.

She also serves as a member of the Medical Center Executive Committee for Diversity and Inclusion and the UR Community Engagement Committee. As part of both efforts, Cupertino seeks to bring additional resources, infrastructure and opportunities to build a community-based research program in collaboration with UR departments, divisions and centers.

Throughout her career, she has had more than 40 peer-reviewed publications, and she has been continuously funded for her research since 2003.

Credentials

Education

1993
Bachelor of Arts | Federal University of Rio de Janeiro
Psychology

1996
Masters of Arts | Federal University of Rio de Janeiro
Social Psychology

2001
Doctor of Philosophy | University of California
Human Development

Awards

2018
Finalist Executive Vice Chancellor Diversity & Inclusion Award

2016
Full Bright Certificate for Mentoring Medical Students

2014
Honorarium Visiting Professor
Sponsor: Universidad Autonoman del Estado de Hidalgo School of Medicine
Location: Mexico

2014
Community Engagement Faculty Award
Sponsor: University of Kansas Medical Center

2012
Humanitarian Award
Sponsor: Kansas City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

2009
KDHE Center for Health Disparities
Location: Kansas

2008
Association of Medical Education and Research in Substance Abuse Conference Travel Award

2008
Cancer, Culture, and Literacy Travel Award
Sponsor: Moffitt Cancer Center
Location: Florida

2008
Tobacco Related Disparities Award
Sponsor: Society of Nicotine and Tobacco Research

2008
Certificate of Appreciation and Recognition
Location: University of Kansas Medical Center

2007
National Cancer Institute (NCI) 2nd Place Poster Award of Excellence
Location: Gaithersburg, Maryland

2006
National Cancer Institute Travel Award

2004
Honor Paper Award
Location: Rio de Janiero, Brazil

2003
Honor Paper Award
Location: MG- Brazil

2003
Mocao Aplausos Number 219 da Camara Municipal de Juiz de Fora
Location: City of Juiz de Fora

2003
Methodology Poster Award
Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

1999
Student Award in Health Aging- Poster Session
Sponsor: Sacramento Area Latino Study on Aging
Location: San Antonio, Texas

1998
Student Excellence in Geriatrics and Gerontology
Location: University of California Davis, California

1998
Student Research Award- Division 20 for Poster Presented at the American Psychological Association
Location: San Francisco, California

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Clinical Trials

Decidetexto: Mobile Cessation Support for Latino Smokers

Lead Researcher: Anapaula Cupertino

Latino smokers (N = 618) will be randomized to one of two conditions: 1) Decídetexto or 2) standard of care. Decídetexto is a mobile smoking cessation intervention (available in English and Spanish) that incorporates three integrated components: 1) a tablet-based software that collects smoking-related information to develop an individualized quit plan, 2) a 24-week text messaging counseling program with interactive capabilities, and 3) pharmacotherapy support. Decídetexto follows the Social Cognitive Theory as theoretical framework. Standard of care consists of printed smoking cessation materials along with referral to telephone quitline. Participants in both groups are given access to free pharmacotherapy (nicotine patches or gum) by calling study phone number. All participants will complete follow-up assessments at Week 12 and Month 6.

View Study Details

Publications

Journal Articles

11/24/2020
Tercyak KP, Phan L, Gallegos-Carrillo K, Mays D, Audrain-McGovern J, Rehberg K, Li Y, Cartujano-Barrera F, Cupertino AP. "Prevalence and correlates of lifetime e-cigarette use among adolescents attending public schools in a low income community in the US." Addictive behaviors.. 2020 Nov 24; 114:106738. Epub 2020 Nov 24.

11/22/2020
Hurtado-de-Mendoza A, Gómez-Trillos S, Graves KD, Carrera P, Campos C, Anderson L, Gronda A, Orellana H, Peshkin BN, Schwartz MD, Cupertino P, Ostrove N, Luta G, Gonzalez N, Sheppard VB. "Process evaluation of a culturally targeted video for Latinas at risk of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer." Journal of genetic counseling.. 2020 Nov 22; Epub 2020 Nov 22.

4/2020
Zhang D, Advani S, Waller J, Cupertino AP, Hurtado-de-Mendoza A, Chicaiza A, Rohloff PJ, Akinyemiju TF, Gharzouzi E, Huchko MJ, Barnoya J, Braithwaite D. "Mobile Technologies and Cervical Cancer Screening in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review." . 2020 Apr 0; 6:617-627.

Books & Chapters

2010
Chapter Title: Sintomatologia Depressiva em Idosos. [Mental Health]
Book Title: Deusivânia Vieira da Silva Falcao; Ludgleydson Fernandes de Araújo.
Author List: Tavares S S, Neri A L, Cupertino AP
Published By: Campinas: Papirus 2010

2004
Chapter Title: Envelhecimento e Espiritualidade [Aging and Spirituality]
Book Title: A saúde do Idoso vol 2
Author List: Cupertino AP, Novaes C
Published By: Saúde emocional após aposentadoria 2004 in Rio de Janeiro

2004
Chapter Title: Saúde emocional após aposentadoria [Mental Health Implications after Retirement]
Book Title: Velhice Bem-Sucedida. 1ed
Author List: Tavares S S, Neri A L, Cupertino AP
Published By: PAPIRUS 2004 in São Paulo

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