Lakeshia Cousin, PhD, APRN, AGPCNP-BC
Assistant Professor; Assistant Director Of Community Outreach & Engagement, UF Health Cancer Center
Department:
Family, Community and Health Systems Science
Business Phone:
(352) 273-6318
Business Email:
lakeshiacousin@ufl.edu
About Lakeshia Cousin
Research/Scholarship
Dr. Cousin’s research centers on cancer prevention and control, specifically focusing on improving cancer screenings and preventive cardio-oncology among high-risk underserved populations in the community. Her significant scientific contributions include developing culturally relevant interventions that align with the science of behavioral change model, focusing on understanding and influencing health behaviors through a comprehensive lens that incorporates biological, psychological, and social factors. She investigates how resilience factors—such as gratitude, spirituality, and self-efficacy—can enhance both spiritual and physical well-being, which includes improving physical activity, reducing stress, and bolstering immune health to mitigate cardiometabolic risk among breast cancer survivors.
Teaching
Dr. Cousin’s teaching and mentoring philosophy revolves around instilling a passion for excellence and critical thinking in students. She strives to create inclusive learning environments that promote student success and inspire positive change in healthcare practices. Her commitment extends to fostering a culture of care across various settings, including the bedside, clinics, and community environments.
Service
Dr. Cousin is the Assistant Director of Community Outreach and Engagement and Medical Director of the Mobile Cancer Screening Connector at the UF Health Cancer Center. She is also a member of the UF Health Cancer Center Scientific Review and Monitoring Committee (CCPS) and the Cancer Control and Population Sciences Program. Dr. Cousin also partners with the UF Health Cancer Center Community-Partnered Cancer Disparities Research Collaborative and is the CON Faculty representative of the UF Health Shands Community Outreach & Engagement Council. Additionally, she serves as an editorial board member of Seminars in Oncology Nursing, an international oncology nursing research journal and co-chairs the Health Equity Special Interest Group of the Society of Behavioral Medicine.
Related Links:
Additional Positions:
Assistant Director of Community Outreach & Engagement
2024 – Current
·
UF Health Cancer Center
Clinical Director, Mobile Cancer Screening Connector
2024 – Current
·
UF Health Cancer Center
Member, Cancer Control & Population Sciences
2021 – Current
·
UF Health Cancer Center
Accomplishments
FNA Community Action Icon Award
2024
·
Florida Nurses Association
NCI Early Investigator Advancement Program (EIAP) Scholar
2024
·
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
UF Health Cancer Center Rising Star Award
2023
·
UF Health Cancer Center
Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center REC Scholar – UF
2022-2024
·
National Institute of Aging
UF Clinical and Translational Science Institute Scholar
2022-2024
·
UF Clinical and Translational Science Institute/UF Health Cancer Center
UF College of Nursing Impact Award
2022
·
UF College of Nursing
American Academy of Nursing Jonas Policy Scholar
2021-2022
·
American Academy of Nursing
New Investigator Workshop Award
2021
·
American Society of Preventive Oncology
Behavioral Oncology Postdoctoral Fellow
2020-2021
·
National Cancer Institute (T32 CA090314)/Moffitt Cancer Center (Health Outcomes & Behavior)
Footsteps to Funding Award, /Geographic Management of Cancer Health Disparities Program (GMaP) Region 2
2020
·
National Cancer Institute
Transdisciplinary Community-Based Participatory Research Training Award
2020
·
National Cancer Institute/University of Tennessee, NCI/R13 Grant
Healthy Start – John Hopkins All Children’s Hospital Community Outreach Scholarship Award
2019
·
John Hopkins All Children's Hospital
International Rising Stars of Scholarship and Research Award
2019
·
Sigma Theta Tau International
Summer Genetics Institute
2019
·
National Institute of Nursing Research
Black Nurses Rock Tampa Scholarship Award
2018
·
Black Nurses Rock, Tampa Bay Chapter
Patient-Centered Outcomes Institute (PCORI) Research Graduate Trainee Scholarship
2016
·
Patient-Centered Outcomes Institute (PCORI)
McKnight Doctoral Fellow
2015-2019
·
Florida Education Fund
University Graduate Fellowship Award
2015-2016
·
University of South Florida College of Nursing
Kara E. Flannery Nursing award
2015
·
Tampa General Hospital
Transplant Nurse of the Year
2015
·
Tampa General Hospital
Spirit of Nursing Award
2013
·
University of South Florida College of Nursing
Teaching Profile
Courses Taught
2022-2023
NGR6840 Applied Statistical Analysis I
2022-2025
NGR7970L Adv Nursing Project
2022-2024
NUR4905 Individual Study
2022-2025
NUR4108 Lead and Inspire 3: Policy and Change in Nursing Practice
2024-2025
NGR6905 Individual Study
Board Certifications
-
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse PractitionerAmerican Nurses Credentialing Center
Research Profile
Dr. Cousin’s areas of expertise are cancer prevention and survivorship, cardiovascular health, psychosocial care, and health disparities research.
Open Researcher and Contributor ID (ORCID)
0000-0002-9649-8864
Areas of Interest
- Cancer prevention
- Cancer survivorship
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Health Policy
- Health disparities and vulnerable populations
- Health literacy
- Psycho-Oncology
Publications
Academic Articles
2024
Cardio-oncology disparities: Interplay of psychosocial stress, inflammation, and cardiometabolic health among Black breast cancer survivors.
American heart journal plus : cardiology research and practice.
38
[DOI] 10.1016/j.ahjo.2024.100366.
[PMID] 38510748.
2024
Determinants of Health-Related Quality of Life among Black Individuals with Low-Incomes, Excess Weight, and Comorbid Chronic Conditions
Online Journal of Cardiology Research & Reports.
[DOI] https://doi.org/10.33552/OJCRR.2024.07.000675.
2024
Evaluation of a Multi-Site Cancer Health Disparities Research Training Program for Underrepresented Undergraduate and Medical Students.
Journal of cancer education : the official journal of the American Association for Cancer Education.
[DOI] 10.1007/s13187-024-02488-9.
2024
Nurses in health policy: Lessons learned from one cohort of the American Academy of Nursing Jonas Policy Scholars Program.
Nursing outlook.
72(5)
[DOI] 10.1016/j.outlook.2024.102175.
[PMID] 38908294.
2024
Racial/ethnic disparities, artificial intelligence, and cutting-edge research: Proceedings from the 2023 Florida cardio-oncology symposium
American Heart Journal Plus: Cardiology Research and Practice.
46
[DOI] 10.1016/j.ahjo.2024.100469.
[PMID] 39431118.
2023
Comparison of serum metabolomics in women with breast Cancer Prior to Chemotherapy and at 1 year: cardiometabolic implications.
BMC women's health.
23(1)
[DOI] 10.1186/s12905-023-02355-7.
[PMID] 37138260.
2023
Factors associated with parental COVID-19 vaccine attitudes and intentions among a national sample of United States adults ages 18–45
Journal of Pediatric Nursing.
69:108-115
[DOI] 10.1016/j.pedn.2023.01.003.
[PMID] 36716520.
2022
“Be Strong My Sista'”: Sentiments of Strength From Black Women With Chronic Pain Living in the Deep South.
ANS. Advances in nursing science.
[DOI] 10.1097/ANS.0000000000000416.
[PMID] 35234672.
2022
A multilevel, low literacy dual language intervention to promote colorectal cancer screening in community clinics in Florida: A randomized controlled trial
Preventive Medicine.
[DOI] 10.1016/j.ypmed.2022.107021.
2022
Authors’ response to Padgett.
Nursing outlook.
[DOI] 10.1016/j.outlook.2022.05.011.
[PMID] 35798585.
2022
Defining the social determinants of health for nursing action to achieve health equity: A consensus paper from the American Academy of Nursing.
Nursing outlook.
70(1):10-27
[DOI] 10.1016/j.outlook.2021.08.003.
2022
Equity in Genomics: A Brief Report on Cardiovascular Health Disparities in African American Adults.
The Journal of cardiovascular nursing.
37(1):58-63
[DOI] 10.1097/JCN.0000000000000725.
[PMID] 32649378.
2022
Underrecognition of Symptoms During Breast Radiotherapy
JAMA Oncology.
8(10):1509-1510
[DOI] 10.1001/jamaoncol.2022.3239.
[PMID] 35951332.
2021
Cardio-Oncology Health Disparities: Social Determinants of Health and Care for Black Breast Cancer Survivors
Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing.
25(5):36-41
[DOI] 10.1188/21.cjon.s1.36-41.
2021
Characterizing Health Literacy Among Spanish Language-Preferring Latinos Ages 50-75.
Nursing research.
[DOI] 10.1097/NNR.0000000000000519.
2021
Effect of gratitude on cardiovascular health outcomes: a state-of-the-science review
The Journal of Positive Psychology.
16(3):348-355
[DOI] 10.1080/17439760.2020.1716054.
2021
Exercise Interventions in Cardio-Oncology Populations: A Scoping Review of the Literature.
The Journal of cardiovascular nursing.
36(4):385-404
[DOI] 10.1097/JCN.0000000000000664.
[PMID] 32195686.
2021
Improving Multi-site Interaction Through Remote Learning Technology: Report from a Training Program to Increase Underrepresented Undergraduate and Medical Students in Health Disparities Research
Journal of Cancer Education.
[DOI] 10.1007/s13187-021-01985-5.
2021
Mindfulness-based stress reduction for breast cancer survivors (MBSR(BC)): evaluating mediators of psychological and physical outcomes in a large randomized controlled trial.
Journal of behavioral medicine.
[DOI] 10.1007/s10865-021-00214-0.
[PMID] 33963420.
2021
Race Moderates the Relationship Between Perceived Social Support and Self-care Confidence in Patients With Heart Failure.
The Journal of cardiovascular nursing.
[DOI] 10.1097/JCN.0000000000000822.
[PMID] 34091565.
2021
“A Charge to Keep I Have”: Black Pastors’ Perceptions of Their Influence on Health Behaviors and Outcomes in Their Churches and Communities
Journal of Religion and Health.
60(2):1069-1082
[DOI] 10.1007/s10943-021-01190-0.
2020
A Structural Equation Model of Gratitude, Self-efficacy, and Medication Adherence in Patients With Stage B Heart Failure.
The Journal of cardiovascular nursing.
35(6):E18-E24
[DOI] 10.1097/JCN.0000000000000721.
[PMID] 32649372.
2020
Effects of a Digital Self-care Intervention in Adults with COPD: A Pilot Study.
Western journal of nursing research.
42(9):736-746
[DOI] 10.1177/0193945919892282.
[PMID] 31854271.
2020
Mindfulness, Anxiety Symptoms, and Quality of Life in Heart Failure.
The Journal of cardiovascular nursing.
35(4):358-363
[DOI] 10.1097/JCN.0000000000000630.
[PMID] 31904692.
2020
Psychometrics of the Gratitude Questionnaire-6 in African-Americans at Risk for Cardiovascular Disease
Western Journal of Nursing Research.
42(12):1148-1154
[DOI] 10.1177/0193945920922777.
2020
Surviving Multiple Pandemics-COVID-19 and Racism for African American Older Adults: A Call to Gerontological Nursing for Social Justice.
Journal of gerontological nursing.
46(9):4-6
[DOI] 10.3928/00989134-20200811-01.
[PMID] 32845341.
2019
“Puttin’ on”: Expectations Versus Family Responses, the Lived Experience of Older African Americans With Chronic Pain.
Journal of family nursing.
25(4):533-556
[DOI] 10.1177/1074840719884560.
[PMID] 31718470.
2019
A Large Randomized Trial: Effects of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) for Breast Cancer (BC) Survivors on Salivary Cortisol and IL-6.
Biological research for nursing.
21(1):39-49
[DOI] 10.1177/1099800418789777.
[PMID] 30079756.
2018
Feasibility of the mobile mindfulness-based stress reduction for breast cancer (mMBSR(BC)) program for symptom improvement among breast cancer survivors.
Psycho-oncology.
27(2):524-531
[DOI] 10.1002/pon.4491.
[PMID] 28665541.
Grants
Apr 2022
– Sep 2023
Strengthening the UF Health Nursing Academic-Practice Partnership through Joint Demonstration Projects with College of Nursing faculty and Shands Nurses
Role: Project Manager
Funding: UF HEALTH SHANDS HOSPITAL
Education
Postdoctoral Fellow (National Cancer Institute T32)
2020-2021
·
Moffitt Cancer Center (Health Outcomes & Behavior)
Ph.D. Nursing Science
2019
·
University of South Florida College of Nursing
M.S. Adult-Gerontology Primary Care/Oncology Nursing
2017
·
University of South Florida College of Nursing
B.S. Nursing
2013
·
University of South Florida College of Nursing
B.S. Business Administration
2000
·
Florida A&M University
Contact Details
Phones:
- Business:
- (352) 273-6318
Emails:
- Business:
- lakeshiacousin@ufl.edu
Addresses:
- Business Mailing:
-
PO Box 100197
GAINESVILLE FL 32610