Background

Dr. Wickersham is an Assistant Professor, Tenure-Track at the University of South Carolina, College of Nursing. She is a core faculty member of the Cancer Survivorship Program. She received her BSN in 1991 from the University of Virginia, her MSN with a specialty in Nursing Education from the University of Pittsburgh in 2011, and her PhD from the University of Pittsburgh in 2012. Dr. Wickersham completed her postdoctoral training at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, School of Nursing where she conducted her fellowship study, “Genetic, Clinical, and Biomarker Correlates of EGFR Inhibitor-related Rash” (NINR F32NR014753; American Nurses Foundation).

Teaching

Dr. Wickersham has experience teaching undergraduate (health assessment skills laboratory, evidence-based practice nursing) and graduate (organizational health systems, qualitative research, professional writing) students. She currently teaches NURS800 Philosophical Foundations and Theoretical Applications in Nursing Science and NURS813 Qualitative Research Methods.

Research

Dr. Wickersham is a core faculty member of the Cancer Survivorship Research Center, a Co-Investigator of the South Carolina Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network, and the current Chair of the Board for the South Carolina Cancer Alliance. Her research focuses on adherence to and management of side effects of tyrosine kinase inhibitors to improve quality of life for individuals with advanced cancer who experience disparities in cancer care (e.g., race, age, rurality). Her research has included qualitative, quantitative, and translational research methods. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic prompted a second line of inquiry, which is to examine the effect of COVID-19 on patients and health care providers.

Her research expertise includes:

• Symptoms related to oral targeted therapy
• Adherence to oral cancer therapy
• Aging and cancer
• Health disparities

Professional Service

Dr. Wickersham is an ad hoc reviewer for Oncology Nursing Forum, Patient Preference and Adherence, Cancer Nursing, Geriatric Nursing, Nursing Research, BMC Palliative Care, Cancer Causes and Control, and Supportive Care in Cancer. She has been a long-time, active member of the Oncology Nursing Society and is also a member of Sigma Theta Tau International and the Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer.

Professional Practice

Dr. Wickersham practiced primarily in the intensive care setting, including trauma, solid organ transplant, medical-surgical, and neurosurgical specialties. 

Research Studies (selected)

SIP 24-003. Adams (PI). 2024-2029. The South Carolina Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network IV - SCCPCRN IV. Role: Co-I

National Cancer Institute R01. Adams (PI). 2024-2029. A Systems Theory Approach to the Study of Colon and Lung Cancer Health Disparities using Novel Data Linkages. Role: Co-I

NIGMS 1P20GM155896-01. Spinale/Hebert (Co-PI). 7/15/2024-6/30/2029. The Center for Clinical and Translational Research at USC (CLINTRUSC). Community Outreach and Engagement Core. Role: Co-I

USC Office of the Vice President for Research. Ciolino (Student/PI). 5/1/2024 – 5/31/2025. Magellan Scholar Award for Undergraduate Research. Investigating Self-Medicating Behaviors: A Lens into the Health Literacy of Undergraduates. Role: Faculty Mentor/Thesis Chair

NCI R01-CA242745-04. Pinto (PI). 2024-2025. Peer Coaching for Physical Activity Promotion among Breast Cancer Survivors: Adapting an Efficacious Intervention to Prepare for Implementation. Role: Co-I

COBRE: Center for Colon Cancer Research Jun (PI). 2022-2023. Identifying optimal visual narratives to impact African American men’s colorectal cancer risk awareness and screening uptake. Role: Co-I

Oncology Nursing Foundation. Wickersham (PI). 1/15/2021 – 1/14/2023. Disparities in utilization of oral targeted therapies for treatment of lung, colorectal, and breast cancer among adults living in South Carolina.

Publications (selected)

Rosenzweig, M. Q. and the ONS Research Priority Team (…Wickersham, K. E.) (2024). The development of the 2024 Oncology Nursing Society Research Priorities. Oncology Nursing Forum.

Miles, H., Wickersham, K. E., & Hein, L. (2024).  Beyond survival: a scoping review on the sexual health of sexual and gender minority women following curative cancer treatment. Journal of Transcultural Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1177/10436596241253863

Seaman, A.T., Rowland, J.H., Werts, S.J., Tam, R.M., Torres, T.K., Hucek, F.A., Wickersham, K. E., Fairman, C.M., Patel, H.D., Thomson, C.A., Hebert, J.R., & Friedman, D.B. (2023). Examining provider perceptions and practices for comprehensive geriatric assessment among cancer survivors: An implementation science focus. Frontiers in Aging (Interventions in Aging), 4, 1305922. doi: 10.3389/fragi.2023.1305922.

Wickersham, K. E., Morrill, K. E., Heiney, S. P., Lopez-Pentecost, M., King, J. J., Madhivanan, P., & Hirschey, R. (2023). Losing a part of life: Experiences of cancer survivors accessing treatment and sheltering in place during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cancer Causes and Control. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-023-01742-7

Jun. J., Wickersham, K., Zain, A., Ford, R., Zhang, N., Ciccarelli, C., Kim, S., & Liang, C. (2023). Cancer and COVID-19 vaccines on Twitter: the voice and vaccine attitude of cancer community. Journal of Health Communication. https://doi.org/10.1080/10810730.2023.2168800

Wickersham, K. E., Dawson, R., Becker, K., Everhart, K., Miles, H., Schultz, B., Tucker, C., Wright, P., & Jenerette, C. (2022). Experience of African Americans living with sickle cell disease and palliative care. The Journal of Transcultural Nursing. doi:10.1177/10436596211070600

Von Ah, D., Cooley, M. E., Bailey, D. E., Hammer, M., Tamez, P. A., Wickersham, K. E., Kennedy Sheldon, L., Armstrong, T., & Saligan, L. (2022). Oncology Nursing Symptom Science: Proceedings from the NINR, ONS, and NCI Symptom Science Colloquium. Oncology Nursing Forum, 49(2), 105-112. doi: 10.1188/22.ONF.105-112.