South Middlesex Times

For over 20 years, Shawna Hudson has been actively involved in research and community work to enhance the health of underserved populations. Recently, Hudson was elected as a member of the National Academy of Medicine, joining 100 new members this year. This prestigious recognition is given to individuals who have significantly contributed to advancing medical sciences, healthcare, and public health.

Hudson serves as the vice chancellor for dissemination and implementation science at Rutgers Health and is also a senior associate dean for population health research at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. The academy acknowledged her for her “seminal work to address vital U.S. health system implementation challenges for vulnerable populations.” Her research focuses on integrating care for cancer and chronic illnesses during critical transitions between specialty and primary care, as well as long-term cancer survivorship.

Hudson is known for her extensive publications—over 130—and currently manages $20 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Her research emphasizes improving primary care's role in long-term follow-up care for cancer survivors using implementation science approaches.

Upon her election, Hudson expressed gratitude: “It is a distinct honor to be elected into the National Academy of Medicine. I am thankful for their recognition of the importance of scholarship focused on person-centered care, whole health and health equity.” She looks forward to collaborating with other academy members to improve patient care within communities.

Through her work, Hudson aims to empower patients, community stakeholders, and healthcare organizations by promoting evidence-based guidelines for preventive healthcare and chronic disease management. She leads New Jersey’s AHRQ Learning Health System Embedded Scientist Training and Research Center (LHS E-STaR), which trains future scientists in evaluating patient-centered care.

As part of the academy, Hudson will gain a national platform to continue addressing significant health issues alongside members from the National Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Engineering. Brian Strom, chancellor of Rutgers Health, praised Hudson's election: “We are extraordinarily proud of Shawna Hudson’s election... Her expertise will further advance the academy’s mission...”

In addition to her roles at Rutgers University, Hudson has led several initiatives aimed at improving access to COVID-19 testing among underserved communities in New Jersey. She holds multiple positions across various institutions dedicated to healthcare policy and aging research.

Hudson has also served on numerous committees within the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Additionally, she is an elected fellow of the Society of Behavioral Medicine and contributes to Stand Up to Cancer’s Health Equity Committee.