Sora Park Tanjasiri

Picture of Sora Park Tanjasiri
Professor, Department of Health, Society and Behavior
Public Health
Associate Director, Cancer Health Equity and Community Engagement, Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center
Equity Advisor, Program in Public Health
Dr.Ph., University of California, Los Angeles, Community Health Sciences
M.P.H., University of California, Los Angeles, Behavioral Sciences
B.A., University of California, Berkeley, Biochemistry
Phone: (949) 824-6009
Fax: (949) 824-4773
Email: tanjasir@uci.edu
University of California, Irvine
856 Health Sciences Quad
Suite 3232
Irvine, CA 92697
Research Interests
Cancer health disparities, cancer prevention, breast and cervical early detection, community-based participatory research
Academic Distinctions
Wang Family Excellence Award in Education, and Professional and Applied Sciences, California State University Office of the Chancellor, January 2015

Champions of Health Professions Diversity Award, The California Wellness Foundation, June 2013

Outstanding Professor Award, California State University, Fullerton, 2012-2013

Distinguished Faculty Member/Faculty Marshall Award, College of Health & Human Development, California State University, Fullerton, May 2010

Chancellor’s Award in Clinical and Translational Science: Promising Community Research Investigator, University of California, Irvine, November 2009

Christopher N.H. Jenkins Cancer Control Award, Asian American Network for Cancer Awareness, Research and Training, 2008
Awards and Honors
Asian Pacific Partners for Empowerment, Advocacy and Leadership (APPEAL) Lifetime Achievement Award, Sept 2021
Publications
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Tanjasiri SP, Lee C, LaBreche M, Lepule T, Lutu G, May VT, Pang JK, Pike J, Tan N, Sabado M, Schmidt-Vaivao D, Soakai L, Fifita M, Toilolo T, & Palmer PH. (In press). Community-based recruitment strategies for young adult Pacific Islanders into a randomized community smoking cessation trial. Progress in Community Health Partnerships.

Del Rosario M, Chang, J, Ziogas A, Clair K, Bristow RE, Tanjasiri SP, Zell JA. (2022). Differential effects of race, socioeconomic status, and insurance on disease-specific survival in rectal cancer. Diseases of the Colon & Rectum, doi: 10.1097/DCR.0000000000002341.
Garcia S, Hopfer S, Amaro H, Tanjasiri SP. (2022) HPV vaccine delay and refusal among unvaccinated Mexican American young adult women: a qualitative investigation of Mexican-born and US-born HPV vaccine decision narrative. J Behavioral Medicine.
Hopfer S, Duong HT, Garcia S, & Tanjasiri SP. (2021). Health information source characteristics matter: Adapting the dissemination of an HPV vaccine intervention to reach Latina and Vietnamese women. The Journal of Primary Prevention.


Mouttapa M, Cunningham M, Tanjasiri SP. (2021). Awareness of and support for HPV vaccination among Pacific Islander women in Southern California. Journal of Cancer Education, published online February 4, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-021-01965-9.


Morey B, Tulua A, Tanjasiri SP, Subica AM, Kaholokula JK, Thomas K, Chang RC, Ponce NA, Ong P, Ong E. (2020). Structural Racism and Its Effects on Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders in the United States: Issues of Health Equity, Census Undercounting, and Voter Disenfranchisement. AAPI Nexus Journal, 17 (1&2).


Ah Soon N, Akee R, Kagawa M, Morey B, Ong E, Ong P, Ponce N, Samoa R, & Tanjasiri SP. (2020). Counting race and ethnicity for small populations during the COVID-19 pandemic. AAPI Nexus Journal, 17 (1&2): 1-7.

Tanjasiri SP, Mouttapa M, Weiss JW, Sablan-Santos L. (2019). Outcomes of a randomized community trial to increase Pap testing among Pacific Islander women in Southern California. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-18-1306.
Felder T, Braun KL, Wigfall LT, Sevoyan M,Vyas S, Khan S, Brandt HM, Rogers CR, Tanjasiri SP, Armstead CA, Hébert JR. (2018). Mentoring, Training, and Scholarly Productivity Experiences of Cancer-Related Health Disparities Research Trainees: Do Outcomes Differ for Underrepresented Scientists? J Cancer Educ. doi: 10.1007/s13187-018-1322-z.

Hopfer S, Garcia S, Duong HT, Russo JA, Tanjasiri SP. (2017). A narrative engagement framework to understand HPV vaccination among Latina and Vietnamese women in a Planned Parenthood setting. Health Education & Behavior, 1-10. DOI: 10.1177/1091098117728761.

Kwan P, Sabado-Liwag M, Lee C, Lepule J, Pang V, Pike J, Santos L, Tanjasiri S, Toilolo T, May VT, Schmidt-Vaivao D, Palmer P. (2017). Development of an online smoking cessation curriculum for Pacific Islanders: A community-based participatory research approach. Progress in Community Health Partnerships, 11(3): 263-274. DOI: 10.1353/cpr.2017.0031.

Weiss JW, Mouttapa M, DeGuzman Lacsamana J, Sablan-Santos L, Quitugua L, Tanjasiri SP. (2016). Decision making for Pap testing among Pacific Islanders. Health Education & Research, 31(6): 792-802. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/her/cyw044.

Wang R, Tanjasiri SP, Palmer P, Valente TW. (2016). Network structure, multiplexity, and evolution as influences on community-based participatory research collaboration. Journal of Community Psychology, 44(6): 781–798.DOI=10.1002/jcop.21801&ArticleID=4213964.

Pike JR, Tan N, Sabado-Liwag MD, Orne A, Toilolo T, Cen S, May V, Lee C, Pang VK, Rainer MA, Vaivao DES, Lepule JT, Tanjasiri SP, Palmer PH. (2016). Developing an internet-based ecological momentary assessment system to measure cigarette use among Pacific Islanders. JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 4(1): e2. DOI: 10.2196/mhealth.4437.

LaBreche M, Cheri A, Custodio H, Fex CC, Foo MA, Lepule JA, May VT, Orne A, Pang JK, Pang VK, Sablan-Santos L, Schmidt-Vaivao D, Surani Z, Talavou MF, Toilolo T, Palmer PH, Tanjasiri SP. (2016). Let’s Move for Pacific Islander communities: An evidence-based intervention to increase physical activity. Journal of Cancer Education, 31(2): 261-267. DOI: 10.1007/s13187-015-0875-3.

Valdez A, Stewart S, Tanjasiri SP, Levy V, & Garza A. (2015). Design and efficacy of a multilingual, multicultural HPV vaccine education intervention, Journal of Communication in Healthcare: Strategies, Journal of Communication in Healthcare, 8:2: 106-118. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1179/1753807615Y.0000000015.

Tanjasiri SP, Takahashi L, Sablan-Santos L. (2015). Financial distress among Pacific Islanders in southern California. AAPI Nexus Journal: Policy, Practice, and Community, 13 (1-2): 1-11. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17953/1545-0317.13.1.14.

Mouttapa M, Tanjasiri SP, Weiss J, Sablan-Santos L, DeGuzman Lacsamana J, Quitugua L, Flores P, Flores P, Paige C, May VT, Tupua M, Vaivao DS, Taito P, Vaikona E, Vunileva I. (2015). Associations between women’s perception of their husbands’/partners’ social support and Pap screening in Pacific Islander communities. Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health, 1-11, DOI: 10.1177/1010539515613412

Paige C, Peters R, Fifita L, Parkhurst M, Beck LL, Tulua A, Hui B, May VT, Tanjasiri SP. (2015). Enhancing community-based participatory research partnerships through appreciative inquiry. Progress in Community Health Partnerships, 9(3): 457-463. doi: 10.1353/cpr.2015.0054.

Tanjasiri SP, Weiss JW, Sablan-Santos L, Lacsamana JD, Quitugua L, Flores P, Flores, P, Pele C, Tupua M, Taito P, Lutu G, Vaikona E, Vunileva I, May VT, Mouttapa M, Paige C. (2015). CBPR-Informed Adaptations in a randomized study of Pap testing among Pacific Islander women in southern California. Progress in Community Health Partnerships, 9(3): 389-396. doi: 10.1353/cpr.2015.0067.

Hébert JR, Satariano WA, Friedman DB, Armstead CA, Greiner A, Felder TM, Coggins TA, Tanjasiri SP, Braun KL. (2015). Fulfilling ethical responsibility: moving beyond the minimal standards of protecting human subjects from research harm. Progress in Community Health Partnerships, 9: 41-50. DOI: 10.1353/cpr.2015.0021.

Braun KL, Chen JS, Steward S, Baquet C, Berry-Bobovski L, Blumenthal D, Brandt H, Buchwald DS, Campbell JE, Coe K, Cooper LC, Epsinoza P, Henry-Tillman R, Hargreaves M, James A, Kaur JS, Viswanath KV, Ma GX, Mandelblatt J, Meade C, Ramirez A, Scarinci I, Tanjasiri SP, Thompson B, Vines A, Dignan M. (2015). NCI’s Community Networks Program Initiative to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities: lessons in partnership and research. Progress in Community Health Partnerships, 9: 21-32. DOI: 10.1353/cpr.2015.0017.

Felder TM, Braun KL, Brandt HM, Khan S, Tanjasiri SP, Friedman DB, Armstead CA, Okuyemi KS, Hébert JR. (2015). Mentoring and training of cancer-related health disparities researchers committed to community-based participatory research. Progress in Community Health Partnerships, 9: 97-108. DOI: 10.1353/cpr.2015.0020.

Dutciuc TD, Gorman N, Tanjasiri SP, Brown B. (2014). Qualitative interviews of Romanian key informants guiding a preliminary health needs assessment of Romanian immigrants in Southern California. Californian Journal of Health Promotion, 12(1): 53-61.

Kwan PP, Brian G, Lee C, Lepule J, Pang JK, Sabado M, Sablan-Santos L, Schmidt-Vaivao D, Tanjasiri SP, Tui`one V, Palmer PH. (2014). Use of a community-based participatory research approach to assess knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs on biospecimen research among Pacific Islanders. Health Promotion Practice, 15(3): 422-430. DOI: 10.1177/1524839913516464.

Sur R, Peters R, Beck LL, Fifita M, Gonzalez M, Guevara L, Palmer PH, Tanjasiri SP. (2013). A Pacific Islander Organization’s Approach Towards Increasing Colorectal Cancer Knowledge and Beliefs. Californian Journal of Health Promotion. 11(2): 12-20.

Tanjasiri SP, Lew R, Mouttapa M, Lipton R, Lew L, Has S, Wong M. (2013). Environmental influences on tobacco use among Asian American and Pacific Islander youth. Health Promotion Practice, 14 (5S): 40-47. DOI: 10.1177/1524839913484762.

Palmer P, Lee C, Santos L, Lepule J, Pang V, Tui’one V, Etimani-Vaivao DS, Sabado MD, Sur R, Tanjasiri SP. (2013) Eliminating tobacco disparities among Native Hawaiian Pacific Islanders through policy change: the role of community-based organizations. Health Promotion Practice, 14 (5S): 36S-39S. DOI: 10.1177/1524839913486150.

Roberts E, Kumar B, Collins N, Guo L, King G, Wong M, Barlow J, Bichler J, Cady L, Engel C, Garrett D, Harrison M, Morieko A, Murgai N, Tanjasiri SP, & Pierce K. (2013). Guidelines for the mapping of cancer registry data: Results from a breast cancer expert panel study. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 19(3): E1-E10. DOI: 10.1097/PHH.0b013e318268aef1.

DiStefano A., Quitugua L., Hui B., Barrera-Ng A., Peters R., Vunileva I., Dimaculangan J., Tui’one V., Takahashi L., & Tanjasiri S. (2013). A community based participatory research study on HIV and HPV risk and prevention in two Pacific Islander communities: Ethical challenges and collaborative solutions. Journal of Empirical Research on Human Research Ethics, 8(1): 68-78. DOI: 10.1525/jcr.2013.8.1.68.

Felder TM, Brandt HM, Armstead C, Cavicchia PP, Braun KL, Adams SA, Friedman DB, Tanjasiri SP, Steck SE, Smith ER, Daguisé, & Hébert JR.(2012). Creating a cadre of junior investigators to address the challenges of cancer-related health disparities: lessons learned from the Community Networks Program. Journal of Cancer Education, 27(3): 409-17. PMID: 22528636

DiStefano A, Hui B, Barrera-Ng A, Quitugua L, Peters R, Dimaculangan J, Vunileva I, Tui'one V, Takahashi L, & Tanjasiri SP (2012). Contextualization of HIV and HPV risk and prevention among Pacific Islander young adults in Southern California. Social Science & Medicine, 75(4): 699-708. DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2012.04.011.

Bryars T, Mouttapa M, McMahan S, & Tanjasiri SP. (2012). Results of a school-based obesity prevention program targeting early childhood students. Californian Journal of Health Promotion, 10(1): 92-105.

Tanjasiri SP, Mouttapa M, Quitugua L, & Sablan-Santos L. (2012). What promotes cervical cancer screening among Chamorro women in California? Journal of Cancer Education. 27:725-730. DOI 10.1007/s13187-012-0394-4.

Complete List of Published Work in My Bibliography:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/myncbi/sora.tanjasiri.1/bibliography/40832819/public/?sort=date&direction=ascending
Grants
6/1/18-5/31/22 Optimizing Access to Cancer Care for Asian American Medi-Cal Beneficiaries in Orange County (Bristow & Tanjasiri). Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation, the aims of this project are to increase access to cancer specialty care for low-income Chinese, Koreans and Vietnamese adults in Orange County.
8/1/19-1/30/22 Cancer Navigation for Vietnamese Americans (CANVAS) (Nguyen & Tanjasiri) Funded by the California Breast Cancer Research Program (25AB-1900). This study aims to assess the psychosocial needs of Vietnamese American women who are newly diagnosed with breast cancer in Orange County.
1/1/20-12/31/21 Samoan Healthy Eating and Active Living (Samoan HEAL). Funded by the UC Cancer Research Coordinating Committee, this pilot study aims to assess the readiness of Samoan churches to adopt physical activity and nutrition interventions for their members.
7/1/21-6/30/23 Health Literacy in Orange County (PI: Billimek, Tanjasiri). (MP-CPI-21-006-092239). Funded by the Office of Minority Health, this project evaluates the efficacy of community-based health literacy interventions to increase COVID-19 testing and vaccinations in Orange County.
9/23/21-8/31/25 Cancer Health Equity Research Partnership (CHERP), (P20CA253254). Funded by the NCI, this grant establishes a highly integrated and interactive cancer disparities partnership between CSUF and UCI-CFCCC for research and student training in cancer health equity.
Other Experience
Last updated
04/24/2023