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Rebecca A Shelby

Associate Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Behavioral Medicine & Neurosciences
Box 102506, Durham, NC 27710
2400 Pratt Street, 7th Floor, Room 7059, Durham, NC 27705

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


Associate Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences · 2019 - Present Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Behavioral Medicine & Neurosciences, Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
Associate Professor in Population Health Sciences · 2020 - Present Population Health Sciences, Basic Science Departments
Member of the Duke Cancer Institute · 2014 - Present Duke Cancer Institute, Institutes and Centers

In the News


Published May 16, 2025
Duke Program Helps Young Adults Move Forward After Cancer

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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 Cite

Pattern 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 Cite

Availability 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 Cite
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Recent Grants


2/3 CTSA K12 Program at Duke University

ResearchMentor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2025 - 2030

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Education, Training & Certifications


Ohio State University · 2006 Ph.D.