Behnoosh Momin, DrPH, MS, MPH

Behnoosh Momin, DrPH, MS, MPH, is a health scientist in the Division of Cancer Prevention and Control’s Comprehensive Cancer Control Branch, Scientific Support and Clinical Translation Team. Dr. Momin began her public health career as a fellow with the Association of Schools of Public Health. She moved to Atlanta, Georgia after completing her bachelor’s degree in biomedical science and master’s degree in public health from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. Upon moving to Atlanta, she completed her master’s degree in biomedical sciences from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Georgia Campus. Dr. Momin is a graduate from The University of Georgia’s (UGA) College of Public Health where she completed her doctorate degree in public health.

Dr. Momin currently provides scientific expertise to a wide range of the Division’s research studies. She served as project lead on a large American Recovery and Reinvestment Act-funded research study that involves a mixed-methods approach to identify promotional and cessation interventions for tobacco control in decreasing cancer rates. She also served as co-lead on a study measuring the effects of state and local radon policies. She is the co-founder of CDC’s Tobacco-Related Cancers workgroup, which promotes tobacco-related cancer epidemiological research, education, and awareness to decrease cancer incidence, morbidity, and mortality.

Dr. Momin was presented with the CDC and ATSDR Honor Award for Excellence in Public Health Protection for her Cancer Prevention through Tobacco Cessation Comparative Effectiveness Research by former CDC Director, Dr. Thomas Frieden. She is the recipient of the 2015 DCPC Future Directions Fund in which she served as project lead for the development and implementation of an evidence-based action plan for liver cancer and its risk factors for the National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program (NCCCP). In 2018, Dr. Momin and her team engaged in a study related to the prevention of liver cancer deaths by promoting vaccination and screening among opioid users, a high-risk group for hepatitis B and C infections.

Dr. Momin is also a recipient of the UGA Alumni Association’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2017. This award celebrates the professional, personal, and philanthropic achievements of UGA graduates who are under the age of 40. She has also served on the editorial committee on a Special Issue of the journal Cancer Causes and Control (volume 29, number 12, December 2018) that celebrates both NCCCP awardees’ and state, tribe, territory, and Pacific Island Jurisdiction comprehensive cancer control coalitions’ efforts and progress in advancing cancer control in the United States. Dr. Momin has authored more than 20 publications, serves as a peer reviewer for renowned journals, and has presented her research at national public health conferences. Lastly, Dr. Momin is passionate about mentoring new students and has served as a student supervisor through CDC’s Student Workforce and Experience Program.

The most recent articles Dr. Momin has authored include—

• 2019 Smoking cessation behaviors among older U.S. adults.external icon
• 2019 Implementation of liver cancer education among health care providers and community coalitions in the Cherokee Nation.
• 2019 Smoking cessation attitudes and practices among cancer survivors—United States, 2015.external icon
• 2018 Promising practices for the prevention of liver cancer: a review of the literature and cancer plan activities in the National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program.external icon
• 2018 Advancing health equity through the National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program.external icon
• 2018 Surveillance for cancers associated with tobacco use—United States, 2010–2014.
• 2018 Lung cancer among women in the United States.external icon
• 2018 A qualitative study of Realtor knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to radon health effects: implications for comprehensive cancer control.external icon
• 2018 Measuring public knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to radon to inform cancer control activities and practices.external icon
• 2017 Liver cancer survival in the United States by race and stage (2001–2009): findings from the CONCORD-2 study.external icon
• 2017 Mixed-methods for comparing tobacco cessation interventions.external icon
• 2016 Vital Signs: Disparities in tobacco-related cancer incidence and mortality—United States, 2004–2013.
• 2016 Use and effectiveness of quitlines versus Web-based tobacco cessation interventions among 4 state tobacco control programs.external icon
• 2015 Factors involved in the collaboration between the national comprehensive cancer control programs and tobacco control programs: a qualitative study of 6 states, United States, 2012.
• 2015 Tobacco cessation among users of telephone and Web-based interventions—Four states, 2011–2012.
• 2014 Maximizing the impact of digital media campaigns to promote smoking cessation: a case study of the California Tobacco Control Program and the California Smokers’ Helpline.external icon
• 2014 Decreasing trend in tobacco-related cancer incidence, United States 2005–2009.external icon
• 2014 Traditional and innovative promotional strategies of tobacco cessation services: a review of the literature.external icon
• 2012 An analysis of content in comprehensive cancer control plans that address chronic hepatitis B and C virus infections as major risk factors for liver cancer.external icon
• 2012 Racial and regional disparities in lung cancer incidence.external icon
• 2010 Hepatocellular carcinoma—United States, 2001–2006.

Dr. Momin offers her perspective in the blog post, A Call for Action: Responding to the Increasing Incidence of Liver Cancer in the United States.