Kalyani (Kelly) Sonawane, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences and a member of the Hollings Cancer Center. Dr. Sonawane is a trained pharmacist and a health services researcher. Her research focuses on analyzing high-dimensional healthcare data to study cancer prevention and treatment strategies and to evaluate their downstream impact on population health outcomes. Her primary interest is in examining the landscape of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and HPV-associated in the United States, particularly understanding the epidemiology of HPV infection and HPV-associated cancers, barriers to HPV vaccination, and the prevention and treatment of HPV-associated cancers among marginalized groups. Dr. Sonawane has published in prestigious clinical journals including the Lancet Public Health, Annals of Internal Medicine, JAMA Pediatrics, JAMA Network Open, and Pediatrics. Her research has been featured in media outlets including CNN, TIME, Forbes, NPR News, NBC News, and CNBC. Her work has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and the Department of Health and Human Services.
Education
PhD (Health Outcomes and Policy) 2015, Auburn University
BS (Pharmacy) 2010, Pune University
Selected Media
NY Times: The HPV Vaccine Prevents Cancer, but Most Kids Don’t Receive It
NCI Cancer Currents: Despite Proven Safety of HPV Vaccines, More Parents Have Concerns
NY Times: Even a Single Dose of HPV Vaccine May Provide Protection
CNN: Just 1 dose of the HPV vaccine may protect against infection, new study
Forbes: Men Found Six Times More Likely Than Women To Have Highest Risk HPV Infection
NBC News: Most adults unaware of link between HPV and oral, penile and anal cancers
CNN: One in nine American men has oral HPV, study finds
CBS News: 1 in 9 American men are infected with oral HPV