University of Michigan School of Nursing

Sonia A. Duffy

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Dr. Sonia Duffy

Sonia A. Duffy, PhD, RN

Associate Professor
Division of Health Promotion and Risk Reduction (Division II)
Room 3178

University of Michigan School of Nursing
400 North Ingalls Building
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5482

Telephone: (734) 395-0613
Fax: (734) 647-0351

Scholarly Expertise / Activity

Interests:

  • Cancer prevention and control
  • Tobacco cessation
  • Health behaviors
  • End-of-life issues
  • Quality of life

With an interest in cancer prevention and control, Dr. Sonia Duffy’s program of research focuses on how cognition influences health behaviors.  In particular, Dr. Duffy is interested in the relationship between depression and health behavior change including smoking, alcohol use, diet, physical activity, and sleep. Dr. Duffy conducted a novel, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)-based intervention that was aimed at addressing the combined issues of depression, smoking cessation, and alcohol use among head and neck cancer patients. Ultimately, her findings indicated that treatment of comorbid depression can enhance cessation rates and currently, the efficacious aspects of this intervention are being disseminated in an implementation trial.  As a continuation of this successful investigation, web-based applications of this same intervention with nurse enhanced follow up are currently being tested.

Current Research Grants and Programs:

  • NIH/Diabetes Digestive and Kidney Disorders, Co-Principal Investigator. “Effective Care and Management of Depressed Diabetes Patients”; 5/1/2005 – 4/30/2010.
  • NIH/NCI, Co-Principal Investigator. “The Molecular Basis of Head and Neck Cancer Biology, Treatment and Prevention”; 7/1/2008 – 6/30/2013.
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation, Principal Investigator. “Tobacco Tactics Website for Operating Engineers”; 9/1/2009 – 8/31/2011.
  • VA HSR&D QUERI, Principal Investigator. “Inpatient Smoking Cessation: Bringing the Program to the Smoker” ; 10/1/2006 – 3/31/2010.

Teaching

Dr. Duffy has mentored students in a variety of disciplines including nursing, medicine, and public health. She teaches courses at the undergraduate and graduate level (Utilization of Nursing in Advanced Practice, Interventions with Aggregates and Communities, Health Promotion Intervention Research Across the Lifespan, Community Assessment),  and participates in dissertation committees. While she does not adhere to any particular teaching philosophy, she relies certain teaching principles such as linking learning with positive experiences, using evidenced-based examples, emphasizing major concepts, supporting different learning styles, incorporating research, commitment to diversity, bolstering self esteem, and assisting with career development.

Affiliations / Service

  • Sigma Theta Tau, National Honor Society in Nursing
  • Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco
  • Tobacco Research Network, University of Michigan

Notable Awards / Honors

  • Florence Nightingale Award for Nursing Research, 1st Runner-Up, Oakland University, 2001
  • National Cancer Institute Pre-doctoral Fellowship Award, School of Public Health, University of Illinois, 1993
  • Emile Gleason Sargent Award, Leadership in Public Health Nursing Award, University of Michigan, 1985
  • Member, Mortar Board, Wayne State University, 1978
  • U.S. Traineeship Award, Wayne State University, 1977
  • Sigma Theta Tau, National Honor Society in Nursing, Wayne State University, 1977

Education

  • PhD, Public Health, University of Illinois, Chicago, Il, 1999
  • MSN, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 1985
  • BSN, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, 1978

Publication Highlights

  • Duffy, S.A., Essenmacher, C.A., Karvonen-Gutierrez, C.A., Ewing, L.A. (In Press). Motivation to Quit Smoking Among Veterans Diagnosed with Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Disorders. Journal of Addictions Nursing.
  • Duffy, S.A., Biotti, J.K., Karvonen-Gutierrez, C.A., Essenmacher, C. (In Press). Medical Comorbidities Increase Motivation to Quit Smoking Among Veterans Being Treated by a Psychiatric Facility. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care.
  • Shuman, A.G., Duffy, S.A., Ronis, D.L., Garetz, S.L., McClean, S.A., Fowler, K.E., Terrell, J.E. (In Press). Predictors of poor sleep quality among head and neck cancer patients. Laryngoscope.
  • Duffy, S.A., Scheumann, A.L., Fowler, K.E., Darling-Fisher, C., & Terrell, J.E. (2010). Perceived Difficulty Quitting Predicts Enrollment in a Smoking-Cessation Program for Patients With Head and Neck Cancer. Oncology Nursing Forum, 37(3), 349-356.
  • Duffy, S.A., Scholten, R.L., Karvonen-Gutierrez, C.A. (2010). The relation of tobacco use during hospitalization to post-discharge smoking cessation among US veterans. Preventive Medicine, 50, 285-287.
  • Duffy, S.A., Karvonen-Gutierrez, C.A., Ewing, L.A., & Smith, P.M. (2010). Implementation of the Tobacco Tactics Program in the Department of Veterans Affairs. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 25(Suppl.1), 3-10.
  • Essenmacher, C., Karvonen-Gutierrez, C., Lynch-Sauer, J., & Duffy, S.A. (2009). Staff's Attitudes Toward the Delivery of Tobacco Cessation Services in a Primarily Psychiatric Veterans Affairs Hospital, Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 23(3), 231-242.
  • Duffy, S.A., Ronis, D.L., McLean, S., Fowler, K.E., Gruber, S.B., Wolf, G.T., & Terrell, J.E. (2009). Pretreatment Health Behaviors Predict Survival Among Patients With Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 27(12), 1969-1975.
  • Al-Khalifa, K.S., Duffy, S.A., & Burt, B.A. (2009). The relationship between self-assessed oral health and depression in head and neck cancer patients. Oral Oncology, Suppl. S, 60-61.
  • Essenmacher, C., Karvonen-Gutierrez, C., Lynch-Sauer, J., & Duffy, S.A. (2009). Staff's Attitudes Toward the Delivery of Tobacco Cessation Services in a Primarily Psychiatric Veterans Affairs Hospital. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 23(4), 340-340.
  • Duffy, S.A., Reeves, P., Hermann, C., Karvonen, C., & Smith, P. (2008). In-hospital smoking cessation programs: What do VA patients and staff want and need? Applied Nursing Research 21(4), 199-206.
  • Donatelli-Lassig, A.A., Duffy, S.A., Fowler, K.E., Ronis, D.L., Chepeha, D.B., Terrell, J.E. (2008). The effect of neck dissection on quality of life after chemoradiation. Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, 139, 511-518.
  • Duffy, S.A., Taylor, J.M.G., Terrell, J.E., Islam, M., Yuan, Z., Fowler, K.E., Wolf, G., Teknos, T.. (2008). IL-6 predicts recurrence among head and neck cancer patients, Cancer, 113(4), 750-757.
  • Mukerji, S.S., Duffy, S.A., Fowler, K.E., Khan, M., Ronis, D.L., & Terrell, J.E. (2007). Comorbidities in head and neck cancer: Agreement between self-report and chart review. Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery 136(4), 536-42.
  • Duffy, S.A., Ronis, D.L., Valenstein, M., Fowler, K.E., Lambert, M.T., Bishop, C., & Terrell, J.E. (2007). Depressive symptoms, smoking, alcohol use, and quality of life among head and neck cancer patients. Psychosomatics 48(2), 142-8.