Overview
Leah L. Zullig, PhD, MPH is a health services researcher and an implementation scientist. She is a Professor in the Duke Department of Population Health Sciences and an investigator with the Center of Innovation to Accelerate Discovery and Practice Transformation (ADAPT) at the Durham Veterans Affairs Health Care System. Dr. Zullig leads INTERACT, the Implementation Science Research Collaborative, and is co-leader of Duke Cancer Institute's cancer prevention and control program.
Dr. Zullig’s overarching research interests address three domains: improving cancer care delivery and quality; promoting cancer survivorship and chronic disease management; and improving medication adherence. Throughout these three area of foci Dr. Zullig uses an implementation science lens with the goal of providing equitable care for all by implementing evidence-based practices in a variety of health care environments. She has authored over 200 peer-reviewed publications.
Dr. Zullig completed her BS in Health Promotion, her MPH in Public Health Administration, and her PhD in Health Policy.
Areas of expertise: Implementation Science, Health Measurement, Health Policy, Health Behavior, Telehealth, and Health Services Research
Current Appointments & Affiliations
Recent Publications
Design and implementation of a risk-adapted, longitudinal, theory-driven medication adherence intervention: A protocol for a multi-phasic, hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial.
Journal Article Res Social Adm Pharm · June 2025 BACKGROUND: The increasing use of targeted oral anticancer agents (OAAs) has transformed cancer treatment, yet patient adherence in real-world settings remains suboptimal. This protocol outlines a multi-phasic, hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial des ... Full text Link to item CiteIntervention delivery complexity and adaptations for implementation of non-pharmacologic pain interventions.
Journal Article Contemp Clin Trials Commun · April 2025 BACKGROUND: Delivering evidence-based interventions remains challenging, particularly for complex conditions like chronic musculoskeletal pain. Non-pharmacologic treatments are recommended for many pain conditions, but implementing these can be difficult d ... Full text Link to item CiteRisk Stratification for Sentinel Lymph Node Positivity in Older Women With Early-Stage Estrogen Receptor-Positive/Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 Neu-Negative Invasive Breast Cancer.
Journal Article JCO Clin Cancer Inform · March 2025 PURPOSE: Guidelines recommend omission of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) for axillary staging in select patients age 70 years and older with early-stage estrogen receptor-positive (ER+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 neu-negative (HER2-) inva ... Full text Link to item CiteRecent Grants
Planning grant for Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) for African American (AA) Cancer Survivors
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2024 - 2027Optimizing the Management and Outcomes for Cancer Survivors Transitioning to Follow-up Care
ResearchCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by National Cancer Institute · 2020 - 2026Multimedia caregiver education program to improve outcomes for children with cancer in low-resource settings
ResearchSignificant Contributor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2023 - 2025View All Grants