Overview
Rebecca Shelby, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor with Tenure in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Duke University and the Director of Education and Training for the Duke Cancer Patient Support Program. Dr. Shelby is a member of the Duke Pain Prevention and Treatment Research Program and the Duke Cancer Control and Population Sciences Program. Dr. Shelby completed her graduate training in clinical psychology at the Ohio State University and her clinical internship and postdoctoral fellowship at Duke University Medical Center. Her research focuses on developing and evaluating behavioral interventions for cancer patients, management of cancer pain and treatment side effects, and improving adherence to recommended care. Dr. Shelby serves on the Duke clinical psychology internship faculty and supervises clinical psychology fellows, interns, and clinical psychology graduate practicum students completing clinical rotations as part of the Duke Cancer Patient Support Program.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
Recent Publications
Impact of loving-kindness meditation intervention vs. music intervention during biopsy on adherence to recommended breast cancer screening.
Journal Article Breast Cancer Res Treat · July 2025 PURPOSE: To evaluate the impact of providing a loving-kindness meditation (LKM) intervention vs. a music intervention during core-needle breast biopsy (CNBB) on adherence to subsequent, clinically recommended breast cancer screening and surveillance. METHO ... Full text Link to item CitePattern of change and predictors of cognitive function in older adults receiving allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation using the Montreal cognitive assessment.
Journal Article J Cancer Surviv · June 20, 2025 PURPOSE: This study examined the pattern of change in cognitive function using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) in the context of physical function and identified risk factors for poor cognitive function post allogeneic HCT in adults ≥ 60 years. MA ... Full text Link to item CiteAvailability of Adolescent and Young Adult-Specific Sexual and Reproductive Health Programs and Resources: A Review of the Websites of National Cancer Institute-Designated Cancer Centers.
Journal Article J Adolesc Young Adult Oncol · June 2025 Adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors often search online for information about cancer-related sexual and reproductive health concerns. A review of the websites of National Cancer Institute-designated cancer centers (n = 9) and comprehensive ca ... Full text Link to item CiteRecent Grants
2/3 CTSA K12 Program at Duke University
ResearchMentor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2025 - 2030Development and pilot testing of a behavioral intervention to improve pelvic dilator therapy use among cancer survivors who received pelvic radiation
ResearchMentor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2025 - 2030Symptom Management and Transitioning to Engagement with Post-treatment Care for Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors (AYA STEPS)
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2024 - 2029View All Grants