THRIVING
February 2025
iTHRIV Scholar Alumnus Makes an Impact
iTHRIV Scholar alumnus Dr. Kara Wiseman's work is being featured in the 2025 U.S. Surgeon General's Alcohol and Cancer Risk Advisory report (Alcohol and Cancer Risk | HHS.gov) on alcohol and cancer risk. Dr. Wiseman is an epidemiologist and Assistant Professor of Public Health at the University of Virginia School of Medicine and graduated from the iTHRIV Scholars/KL2 Program in 2022. Her research focuses on cancer prevention and control and plays a pivotal role in influencing public health policy.
Dr. Wiseman’s research has been instrumental in raising awareness of alcohol's cancer risks, with findings such as the startling statistic that fewer than half of U.S. adults engage in conversations about alcohol and cancer risk with their healthcare providers. This is crucial in shaping future healthcare conversations and preventive measures. Her advocacy for increasing awareness through health warning labels on alcohol products and increased dialogue between healthcare providers and patients is aligned with the US Surgeon general and especially timely as alcohol use continues to rise in the U.S.The Surgeon General's advisory is a testament to the impact of her research, not only in academic and scientific communities but also in shaping public health policy. It is inspiring to see iTHRIV Scholar alumni driving meaningful change in health recommendations.
This Advisory describes the scientific evidence for the causal link between alcohol consumption and increased risk for certain types of cancer
The increased awareness and support for health warnings will hopefully lead to broader societal and behavioral benefits.Jason Papin, Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Director of the iTHRIV Scholars Program adds, “Dr. Wiseman’s research is having a tremendous impact, shaping policy that will improve health outcomes across the world. It is a privilege to see the research careers of the iTHRIV Scholar Program faculty flourish.” Congratulations to Dr. Wiseman and everyone involved in this important research!** The iTHRIV Scholars Program is a mentored, career development award over a two-year period which is supported in part by the National Center for Advancing Translational Science of the National Institutes of Health Awards UL1TR003015/ KL2TR003016. This competitive program prepares Scholars to excel in a transformed biomedical research environment in which digital data drives health care hypotheses, interventions, and health quality evaluation. The program contributes to the growth of team science culture with a strong emphasis on clinical translational science.iTHRIV Scholar cohorts consist of faculty from the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech and Carilion Clinic. All Scholars participate in weekly virtual sessions for a variety of activities supporting their research and career development goals. For more information about the Scholars Program visit our website: https://www.ithriv.org/ithrivscholars-program-main.