Dr. Suparna Qanungo, PhD., is an Associate Professor in the College of Nursing. She is the Director of Global Health at the College and has also previously served as the Director for Telehealth Research Program at MUSC Center for Telehealth. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from Visva Bharati University, India, her Master of Science degree in biochemistry from Calcutta University, India, and her Ph.D. degree in biological sciences and biochemistry from Jadavpur University, India, with dissertation defense at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio. She started her career as a cancer research scientist (cell biology, genetics, biomarkers) at Case Western Reserve University and transitioned to a public health scientist at MUSC.
Dr. Qanungo’s research interest lies in global health, community-based supportive care for cancer and aging. Her focus is to develop and implement interventions for underserved communities to improve health outcomes, access to care and quality of life, locally, and globally. Her implementation science research has taken her on a journey from developing home-based palliative care interventions for rural cancer patients in India to improving mealtimes through telehealth-based caregiver training for individuals with dementia. She serves on multiple leadership roles in community organizations and boards. She has extensive collaboration with academic and clinical partners internationally.
Dr. Qanungo teaches in the PhD and the DNP programs. She mentors Ph.D. dissertations, inter-professional students, and fellows on research design and methods related to community and global health. She is also committed to expand students learning in global health at the College of Nursing. She is honored to be awarded the MUSC Values in Action award for Collaboration. Dr. Qanungo brings a unique expertise of blending basic and translational research together with implementation in clinical and community settings.
Keywords: global health, cancer, suppportive care, telehealth, mixed methods research, community-based research