Katherine Ramos

Associate Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences · 2024 - Present Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Behavioral Medicine & Neurosciences, Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences

Associate Professor in Population Health Sciences · 2024 - Present Population Health Sciences, Basic Science Departments

Associate Professor in Medicine · 2024 - Present Medicine, Geriatrics and Palliative Care, Medicine

Senior Fellow in the Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development · 2015 - Present Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development, Institutes and Centers

Member of the Duke Cancer Institute · 2018 - Present Duke Cancer Institute, Institutes and Centers

In the News

Published March 4, 2025

Psychological Distress Is a Significant Issue among Veteran Patients with Lung Cancer

Published January 29, 2025

Psychological Distress Common in Veterans with Lung Cancer

Published January 26, 2024

Navigating the Emotional Side of Illness through Palliative Psychology

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Recent Publications

Quality cancer care for older adults from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds: Perspectives from the Cancer and Aging Research Group Junior Board.

Journal Article J Geriatr Oncol · January 19, 2026 Full text Open Access Link to item Cite

Characterizing Intervention Components and Complexity of Nonpharmacologic Healthcare Interventions to Manage Distress Behaviors in Older Adults.

Journal Article J Appl Gerontol · January 2026 Distress behaviors are common in residential care settings and contribute to staff burnout and poor quality of life for older adults. While nonpharmacologic interventions reduce distress behaviors, implementation in routine care remains challenging. Our st ... Full text Link to item Cite

Adapting a Pain Coping Skills Training Intervention for Patients with Dementia and their Caregivers

Conference Innovation in Aging · December 1, 2025 AbstractCommunity dwelling persons with dementia (PWD) and their family caregivers represent a burgeoning and vulnerable population with significant unmet needs, one of which is pain management. Pain in P ... Full text Cite

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Recent Grants

Couple Communication in Cancer: A Multi-method Examination

ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by Arizona State University · 2024 - 2029

Duke/UNC ADAR Program

Inst. Training Prgm or CMECo Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2024 - 2029

A Randomized Controlled Trial of BETTER, A Transitional Care Intervention, for Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury and Their Families

ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institute of Nursing Research · 2023 - 2028

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Education, Training & Certifications

University of Houston · 2015 Ph.D.