Background

Dr. Felder received her BA in sociology, with a minor in Spanish, from Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC in 2001. She received her Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, with specializations in social policy and evaluation (practice method concentration) and community and social systems (practice area concentration) in 2002.  In 2010, she graduated with a PhD in behavioral sciences, with minors in epidemiology and health policy, from the University of Texas (UT) School of Public Health in Houston. After receiving her doctorate, Dr. Felder received additional research training as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of South Carolina, jointly affiliated with the Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Outcomes Sciences in the SC College of Pharmacy, and the Cancer Prevention and Control Program of the Arnold School of Public Health. 

Research

Access to care
Health Disparities
Cancer prevention and control
Breast health
Mentoring and Training of diverse faculty
Health services/outcomes research 

The long-term goal of Dr. Felder's research is to identify approaches that address racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in health, with an emphasis on disadvantaged populations diagnosed with cancer. She also has strong research interests in the mentoring and training of junior faculty from underrepresented backgrounds in biomedical science.

Teaching

NURS 399 Independent Study on Health Disparities Research
NURS 790 Research Methods for Nursing (Co-Instructor)

Dissemination

Dr. Felder has presented at local and national meetings, including the Hollings Cancer Center Annual Research Retreat, American Public Health Association, and American Association for Cancer Research.

Professional Service

Dr. Felder is a member of the American Public Health Association, American Association for Cancer Research, and the South Carolina Cancer Alliance. 

Professional Practice

Dr. Felder serves as a Field Instructor for graduate students in the USC College of Social Work program (2013 – present). Prior to working in academia, Dr. Felder applied her macro-level social work training as a Presidential Management Fellow at the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health (2003-2005). 

Research Studies (Selected)

Reducing disparities, Reducing Risks: Promoting breastfeeding among African American women. Institute for African American Research, University of South Carolina - $2,500. 2014-2015. Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI: Rivers). 

South Carolina Cancer Health Equality Consortium (SC CHEC) – Sub-award. NCI/NIH - $138,810. 2015-2020. Co-Investigator. (Dr. M. Ford, PI).  

South Carolina Cancer Disparities Community Network --II- Training Core. NCI/NIH. $47,805.00. 2015-2016. Co-Investigator. (PI: Hebert). 

Improving Adherence to Adjuvant Hormonal Therapy among Disadvantaged Breast Cancer Survivors. NCI/NIH (K01CA193667)- $630,979. 9/11/2015-08/31/2020. Principal Investigator. Mentors: Elk, Ford, Friedman, Heiney, Hebert. 

Health Disparities Loan Repayment Program. NIMHD/NIH. $35,000. 2015-2016. Principal Investigator.

Exploring the use of pharmaceutical patient assistance programs as an option to improve access to and affordability of prescription drugs. National Cancer Institute Cancer Education and Career Development Fellowship (2005-2010), and a Graduate Student Traineeship (2008-2009) from the U.T. MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Racial differences in the use of oral anti-cancer agents among Medicaid enrollees diagnosed with breast cancer (1998-2008). Health Outcomes award from the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) Foundation. $110,000. 2011-2013. Principal Investigator.

Publications (selected)

A complete listing of all published manuscripts.

Felder TM, Braun K, Brandt HM, Khan S, Tanjasiri S, Friedman DB, Armstead CA, Okuyemi KS, Hebert JR. Mentoring and training of cancer-related health disparities researchers committed to community-based participatory research. Progress in Community Health Partnerships, 2015; 9 Suppl: 97-108.

Felder TM, Bennett CL. Can patients “afford” to be adherent to expensive oral cancer drugs? unintended consequences of pharmaceutical development. Journal of Oncology Practice, 2013 Nov; 9 (6s): 64s-66s.

Palmer N, Geiger A, Felder T, Case D, Lu L, Weaver K. Racial/ethnic disparities in health care receipt among male cancer survivors. American Journal of Public Health, 2013 Jul;103(7):1306-13.

Friedman DB, Young VM, Freedman DA, Adams SA, Brandt HM, Xirasagar S, Felder TM, Ureda JR, Hurley T, Khang L†, Campbell D†, Hébert JR. Reducing cancer disparities through innovative partnerships: A collaboration of the South Carolina cancer prevention and control research network and federally qualified health centers.  Journal of Cancer Education. 2012 Mar;27(1):59-61. PMCID: PMC3272325

Felder TM, Palmer NR, Lal LS, Mullen PD. What is the evidence for pharmaceutical patient assistance programs? A systematic review. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved. 2011 Feb;22(1):24-48. PMCID: PMC3065996.

Finnie RK, Kneuper S, Felder TM, Mullen PD.  Beyond reading level: a systematic review of the suitability of cancer education print and web-based materials. Journal of Cancer Education. 2010 Dec; 25(4): 497-505. PMCID: PMC2933274.

Fowler T*, Steakley C, Garcia AR, Kwok J, Bennett LM.  Reducing disparities in the burden of cancer: the role of patient navigators. Public Library of Science (PLoS) Medicine. 2006;3(7): e193.. PMCID: PMC1489186.

*Maiden name