Overview
Tamara J. Somers, PhD, is a Clinical Psychologist and Faculty Member in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Dr. Somers conducts research developing, testing, and implementing behavioral interventions for pain and other symptoms in patients with chronic disease (e.g., cancer, arthritis). She is particularly interested in developing behavioral interventions that are personalized to the needs of individual patients and using innovative delivery methods to deliver the interventions. Grant awards from the NIH, American Cancer Society, and other funding agencies support her research. Dr. Somers also co-directs a clinical psychology training program at the Duke Cancer Institute (DCI) that trains graduate students, clinical psychology interns, and post-doctoral fellows in psychosocial and behavioral symptom management interventions.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
Recent Publications
LiveWell: Pilot Feasibility Trial of an Adapted Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Skills Training Protocol in Patients With Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.
Journal Article Psychooncology · December 2025 BACKGROUND: People living longer with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (mNSCLC) experience heightened psychological distress and decrements in quality of life. Therefore, we developed LiveWell, an 8-session adapted dialectical behavioral therapy skill ... Full text Open Access Link to item CiteA digital health approach to improving PTSD symptom management among cancer transplant survivors using a SMART design.
Journal Article JCO Oncology Practice · October 14, 2025 550Background: Hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) cancer survivors face elevated risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, yet access to effective treatment remains limited. This NCI-funded study (R01-CA244172) evaluated a stepped-care, ... Full text CiteExploring Perspectives on Feasibility, Challenges, and Support Needs for Chlorhexidine Gluconate (CHG) Bathing in the Outpatient Setting for Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Recipients: A Qualitative Study.
Journal Article Transplant Cell Ther · September 19, 2025 BACKGROUND: Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) bathing is recommended for infection prevention in hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) patients. As more centers transition HCT care to outpatient settings, understanding patients' perceptions of CHG bathing f ... Full text Link to item CiteRecent Grants
Randomized Controlled Trial of a Hybrid-Delivered Cognitive Behavioral Symptom Management and Activity Coaching Intervention for Stem Cell Transplant Patients
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2024 - 2029Symptom 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 - 2029Engage: A Randomized Controlled Trial Testing the Efficacy of a Telehealth-Delivered Psychosocial Intervention to Decrease Symptom Interference in Patients with Advanced Cancer
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2024 - 2029View All Grants