Dr. Megan Shen is a psychologist and Associate Professor in the Clinic Research Division at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Dr. Shen’s research aims to improve engagement in advance care planning among advanced cancer patients, with a particular focus on reducing health disparities in end-of-life care. Her research program seeks to develop and validate interventions for population groups in Washington to improve advance care planning engagement and result in enhanced quality end-of-life care for Latino patients in rural areas, patients with low health literacy, and Native American patients.

Dr. Shen will conduct formative research to develop and test culturally appropriate and targeted interventions for each of these groups. She will develop and test communication-based interventions that are specified to meet the preferences and needs of each group. Dr. Shen’s research has a high potential to improve outcomes for hard to reach and underserved populations in a low-cost way.