Fern J. Webb, Ph.D.

Fern J. Webb Ph.D.

Associate Professor & Co-Director, Center for Health Equity and Engagement Research

Department: Department of Surgery
Business Phone: (904) 244-9626
Business Email: Fern.webb@jax.ufl.edu

About Fern J. Webb

Fern J. Webb, Ph.D., is an associate professor in the University of Florida College of Medicine – Jacksonville’s Department of Surgery. Dr. Webb is also the co-director for the UF Center for Health Equity and Engagement Research. Dr. Webb is a social behavioral epidemiologist who conducts research testing multi-dimensional choice-driven wellness programs designed to improve overall health and quality of life among underrepresented populations.

Dr. Webb also directs community research engagement programs to increase community involvement on health research. She is currently collaborating with other scientists on research programs designed to eliminate health disparities related to obesity, cancer, and diabetes, as well as involve more members of the population in all phases of translational research. Her professional skills include epidemiological designs and methodology, and community and civic engagement. Along with serving in academic capacities on the national and state level, Dr. Webb volunteers at several community serving organizations in her local community.

Clinical Profile

Specialties
  • Epidemiology
Interests
  • Clinical Special Interests: Community-based health interventions; health behavior and improvement; community-based initiated research; health disparities; clinical health interventions and systems improvement

Publications

2024
Anxiety and depression among individuals with long COVID: Associations with social vulnerabilities.
Journal of affective disorders.367():286-296[DOI] 10.1016/j.jad.2024.08.214.[PMID] 39233251.
2024
Community engagement strategies for population health research with culturally diverse adults.
Journal of medicine, surgery, and public health.2():-[DOI] 10.1016/j.glmedi.2023.100037.[PMID] 38873122.
2024
Impact of a Hospital-Based Food Pharmacy Program on Health Outcomes of Vulnerable Patients.
Community health equity research & policy.():2752535X241269528-[DOI] 10.1177/2752535X241269528.[PMID] 39066474.
2024
Intergenerational Influence of African American, Caribbean and Hispanic/Latino Adults Regarding Decision to Participate in Health-Related Research.
Research on aging.46(7-8):414-425[DOI] 10.1177/01640275241229411.[PMID] 38361310.
2024
Providing telemedicine services to persons living with HIV in an urban community: a demonstration project.
AIDS care.36(4):432-441[DOI] 10.1080/09540121.2023.2195606.[PMID] 37011383.
2024
Using Community Engagement to Move Upstream to Address Social Determinants of Health
Academic Medicine.():-[DOI] 10.1097/acm.0000000000005780.[PMID] .
2023
Florida-California Cancer Health Equity Center (CaRE2) Community Scientist Research Advocacy Program.
Journal of cancer education : the official journal of the American Association for Cancer Education.38(5):1429-1439[DOI] 10.1007/s13187-023-02351-3.[PMID] 37642919.
2023
Florida-California Cancer Research, Education and Engagement (CaRE2) Health Equity Center: Structure, Innovations, and Initial Outcomes.
Cancer control : journal of the Moffitt Cancer Center.30():10732748231197878-[DOI] 10.1177/10732748231197878.[PMID] 37703814.
2023
Intergenerational perceptions of health and health research among African American, Caribbean, and Hispanic/Latinx American older and younger adults
Journal of Healthcare Administration.2(1):29-49[DOI] 10.33546/joha.2653.[PMID] .
2023
Smart Meds: Using Pharmacists to Address Health Literacy Disparities Among Medically- and Socially-Vulnerable Populations.
Journal of health care for the poor and underserved.34(3):1149-1156[DOI] .[PMID] 38015143.
2023
Training Community African American and Hispanic/Latino/a Advocates on Prostate Cancer (PCa): a Multicultural and Bicoastal Approach.
Journal of cancer education : the official journal of the American Association for Cancer Education.38(5):1719-1727[DOI] 10.1007/s13187-023-02326-4.[PMID] 37452225.
2023
Willingness of Older Adults From Culturally Diverse Populations to Participate in COVID-19 Related Treatment Trials and Associated Factors
Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine.9():233372142311798-[DOI] 10.1177/23337214231179826.[PMID] 37324645.
2022
COVID-19 Infection among Family and Friends: The Psychological Impact on Non-Infected Persons.
Brain sciences.12(9):-[DOI] 10.3390/brainsci12091123.[PMID] 36138859.
2022
COVID-19 infection survivors and the risk of depression and anxiety symptoms: A nationwide study of adults in the United States.
European journal of internal medicine.97():119-121[DOI] 10.1016/j.ejim.2022.01.021.[PMID] 35063358.
2022
COVID-19 pandemic and weight gain in American adults: A nationwide population-based study.
Diabetes & metabolic syndrome.16(1):102392-[DOI] 10.1016/j.dsx.2022.102392.[PMID] 35030452.
2022
Engaging primary care patients with existing online tools for weight loss: A pilot trial.
Obesity science & practice.8(5):569-584[DOI] 10.1002/osp4.592.[PMID] 36238223.
2022
Promoting weight-loss maintenance among Black women primary care patients: A cluster RCT of a culturally sensitive versus standard behavioural approach.
Clinical obesity.12(6):e12553-[DOI] 10.1111/cob.12553.[PMID] 36151609.
2022
Striking a Balance between Work and Play: The Effects of Work-Life Interference and Burnout on Faculty Turnover Intentions and Career Satisfaction.
International journal of environmental research and public health.19(2):-[DOI] 10.3390/ijerph19020809.[PMID] 35055630.
2021
COVID-19 Morbidity and Mortality in Social Networks: Does It Influence Vaccine Hesitancy?
International journal of environmental research and public health.18(18):-[DOI] 10.3390/ijerph18189448.[PMID] 34574373.
2021
COVID-19 related information and psychological distress: Too much or too bad?
Brain, behavior, & immunity - health.12():100213-[DOI] 10.1016/j.bbih.2021.100213.[PMID] 34589735.
2021
COVID-19 Vaccination Hesitancy in the United States: A Rapid National Assessment.
Journal of community health.46(2):270-277[DOI] 10.1007/s10900-020-00958-x.[PMID] 33389421.
2021
Knowledge, preferences and willingness to use at-home prostate and colorectal cancer screening tests in African American and Haitian men.
Ecancermedicalscience.15():1310-[DOI] 10.3332/ecancer.2021.1310.[PMID] 34824633.
2021
Post-lockdown depression and anxiety in the USA during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Journal of public health (Oxford, England).43(2):246-253[DOI] 10.1093/pubmed/fdaa250.[PMID] 33426559.
2020
Continuous Engagement in a Weight-Loss Program Promotes Sustained Significant Weight Loss.
WMJ : official publication of the State Medical Society of Wisconsin.119(4):253-257[DOI] .[PMID] 33428835.
2019
Black-White Differences in Willingness to Participate and Perceptions About Health Research: Results from the Population-Based HealthStreet Study.
Journal of immigrant and minority health.21(2):299-305[DOI] 10.1007/s10903-018-0729-2.[PMID] 29603088.
2019
Correction to: Black-White Differences in Willingness to Participate and Perceptions About Health Research: Results from the Population-Based HealthStreet Study.
Journal of immigrant and minority health.21(2):306-[DOI] 10.1007/s10903-018-0747-0.[PMID] 29744623.
2019
Prevalence of epithelial abnormalities and high-risk human papilloma virus in cervicovaginal Pap smears of population subgroups as a guide toward evidence-based best practice.
Diagnostic cytopathology.47(7):648-652[DOI] 10.1002/dc.24158.[PMID] 30801970.
2018
Poverty and Health Disparities: What Can Public Health Professionals Do?
Health promotion practice.19(2):170-174[DOI] 10.1177/1524839918755143.[PMID] 29363333.
2018
The Association Between Religiosity and Substance Use Patterns Among Women Involved in the Criminal Justice System.
Journal of drug issues.48(3):327-336[DOI] 10.1177/0022042618757208.[PMID] 33814600.
2016
Community-Engaged Strategies to Increase Diversity of Participants in Health Education Research.
Health promotion practice.17(3):323-7[DOI] 10.1177/1524839916644713.[PMID] 27091602.
2016
Community-engaged strategies to promote hepatitis B testing and linkage to care in immigrants of Florida.
Journal of epidemiology and global health.6(4):277-284[DOI] 10.1016/j.jegh.2016.06.003.[PMID] 27373603.
2016
Exploring Barriers Among Primary Care Providers in Referring Patients to Hospice
Journal of Hospice & Palliative Nursing.18(2):167-172[DOI] 10.1097/NJH.0000000000000233.[PMID] .
2016
The Perceived and Actual Physical Activity Behaviors of African American Women.
Journal of community health.41(2):368-75[DOI] 10.1007/s10900-015-0106-1.[PMID] 26487441.
2015
Diabetes registries in patient-centered medical homes.
Journal of registry management.42(1):3-8[DOI] .[PMID] 25961785.
2015
Marijuana Use and Its Association with Participation, Navigation, and Enrollment in Health Research among African Americans.
Journal of ethnicity in substance abuse.14(4):325-39[DOI] 10.1080/15332640.2014.986355.[PMID] 26213328.
2015
Teacher and Friend Social Support: Association with Body Weight in African-American Adolescent Females.
Journal of racial and ethnic health disparities.2(3):358-64[DOI] 10.1007/s40615-014-0081-8.[PMID] 26863465.
2014
Differences in patient ratings of medical home domains among adults with diabetes: comparisons across primary care sites.
Journal of primary care & community health.5(4):247-52[DOI] 10.1177/2150131914538455.[PMID] 24928567.
2014
What's inside a medical home? Providers and staff give insight.
The Journal of ambulatory care management.37(2):106-19[DOI] 10.1097/JAC.0000000000000017.[PMID] 24594559.
2013
Capillary haemangioma in a 13-year-old boy.
BMJ case reports.2013():-[DOI] 10.1136/bcr-2013-010495.[PMID] 23887995.
2013
Facilitators of and Barriers To Healthy Eating and Physical Activity for Black Women: a Focus Group Study in Florida, Usa
Critical Public Health.23(1):32-38[DOI] 10.1080/09581596.2012.753407.[PMID] .
2012
Delayed Complication From a Tattoo
.86():669-670[DOI] .[PMID] .
2012
Delayed complication from a tattoo.
American family physician.86(7):669-70[DOI] .[PMID] 23062095.
2011
Undiagnosed cognitive impairment in nursing home residents.
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.59(11):2193-4[DOI] 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2011.03637.x.[PMID] 22098050.
2007
Family physicians' proficiency in urine drug test interpretation.
Journal of opioid management.3(6):333-7[DOI] .[PMID] 18290585.
2007
Urine drug test interpretation: what do physicians know?
Journal of opioid management.3(2):80-6[DOI] .[PMID] 17520987.
2006
Survival in cancer patients undergoing in-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation: a meta-analysis.
Resuscitation.71(2):152-60[DOI] .[PMID] 16987581.
2000
Understanding mail survey response rates among male reserve component Gulf War era veterans.
Psychological reports.87(3 Pt 1):859-80[DOI] .[PMID] 11191402.

Office Information

Academic Office
6th Floor, Tower II
580 West 8th Street
Jacksonville, FL 32209
(904) 244-9859
Fern.webb@jax.ufl.edu
Research Administrator
Caitlin Murphy
(904) 244-9626
Caitlin.Murphy@jax.ufl.edu

Education

Ph.D., Epidemiology
2001 · University of South Florida College of Public Health, Tampa, FL, USA

Media Coverage

January 26, 2021
The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida