Vani Simmons, PhD

Dr. Simmons’ research interests include the development of smoking cessation and relapse-prevention interventions for special populations including cancer patients, college students, and racial/ethnic minorities.  A resumption of smoking among cancer patients can result in numerous adverse health consequences.  Dr. Simmons received funding from the NCI to study smoking relapse among lung cancer and head and neck cancer patients.  Study findings led to an NCI-funded grant to test the efficacy of the first targeted smoking relapse-prevention intervention for cancer patients.  Dr. Simmons has also developed a line of research focusing on the systematic development of interventions for college student smokers.  The primary aim of her current study in this area is to test the efficacy of an experiential, theory-based, web-intervention for college smokers.  Finally, Dr. Simmons has conducted research on the development and testing of culturally appropriate smoking cessation interventions for Hispanic smokers.

Associations

• Health Outcomes and Behavior
• Thoracic Oncology
• Tobacco Research & Intervention Program
• Health Outcomes & Behavior Program

Education & Training

Graduate:

• University of South Florida, PhD - Clinical Psychology
• University of South Florida, MA - Clinical Psychology

Fellowship:

• H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute - Behavioral Oncology

Dr. Simmons’ research interests include the development of smoking cessation and relapse-prevention interventions for special populations including cancer patients, college students, and ethnic minorities.  A resumption of smoking among cancer patients can result in numerous adverse health consequences.  Dr. Simmons received funding from the NCI to study smoking relapse among lung cancer and head and neck cancer patients.  Study findings led to an NCI-funded grant to test the efficacy of the first targeted smoking relapse-prevention intervention for cancer patients.  Dr. Simmons has also developed a line of research focusing on the systematic development of interventions for college student smokers.  The primary aim of her current study in this area is to test the efficacy of an experiential, theory-based, web-intervention for college smokers.  Finally, Dr. Simmons has conducted research on the development and testing of culturally appropriate smoking cessation interventions for Hispanic smokers.

• Fennell BS, Jones SR, Sutton SK, Hoogland CE, Cottrell-Daniels C, Wetter DW, Shih YT, Simmons VN, Stephens YP, Vidrine DJ, Vidrine JI. In-Clinic vs. Online Recruitment of Women with a History of Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia or Cervical Cancer to a Smoking Cessation Trial: A Post-hoc Comparison of Participant Characteristics, Study Retention, and Cessation Outcomes. Nicotine Tob Res. 2024 Mar. Pubmedid: 38452212.
• Webb Hooper M, Lee DJ, Simmons VN, Brandon KO, Antoni MH, Asfar T, Koru-Sengul T, Brandon TH. Cognitive behavioral therapy versus general health education for smoking cessation: A randomized controlled trial among diverse treatment seekers. Psych Addic Behav. 2024 Feb.38(1):124-133. Pubmedid: 37141036. Pmcid: PMC10624643.
• Cottrell-Daniels C, Hoogland CE, Fennell BS, Simmons VN, Vidrine DJ, Vidrine JI. Smoking Cessation by Cancer Treatment Status Among Cervical Cancer Survivors. Am J Prev Med. 2024 Feb. Pubmedid: 38342477.
• Vidrine JI, Simmons VN, Vidrine DJ. Improving Smoking Cessation Support for Patients With Cancer. JCO Oncol Pract. 2024 Feb.20(2):161-163. Pubmedid: 38181304. Pmcid: PMC10911543.
• Rollison DE, Gonzalez BD, Turner K, Jim HSL, Zhao Y, Amorrortu RP, Howard R, Ghia KM, Ngo B, Reisman P, Moore C, Perkins R, Keenan RJ, Sallman DA, Naso CM, Robinson EJ, Vadaparampil ST, Simmons VN, Schabath MB, Gilbert SM. Examining disparities in large-scale patient-reported data capture using digital tools among cancer patients at clinical intake. Cancer Med. 2023 Sep.12(18):19033-19046. Pubmedid: 37596773. Pmcid: PMC10557830.
• Pluta K, Hohl SD, D'Angelo H, Ostroff JS, Shelley D, Asvat Y, Chen LS, Cummings KM, Dahl N, Day AT, Fleisher L, Goldstein AO, Hayes R, Hitsman B, Buckles DH, King AC, Lam CY, Lenhoff K, Levinson AH, Minion M, Presant C, Prochaska JJ, Shoenbill K, Simmons V, Taylor K, Tindle H, Tong E, White JS, Wiseman KP, Warren GW, Baker TB, Rolland B, Fiore MC, Salloum RG. Data envelopment analysis to evaluate the efficiency of tobacco treatment programs in the NCI Moonshot Cancer Center Cessation Initiative. Implement Sci Commun. 2023 May.4(1):50. Pubmedid: 37170381. Pmcid: PMC10173908.
• Yang MJ, Martínez Ú, Simmons VN, Schabath MB, Vinci C. Considerations and recommendations for mHealth interventions for substance use among Sexual and Gender Minority (SGM) individuals: A narrative review of the past 5 years. Curr Addict Rep. 2023 May.1-13. Pubmedid: 37359146. Pmcid: PMC10214315.
• Harrell PT, Brandon TH, Stark SE, Simmons VN, Barnett TE, Quinn GP, Chun S. Measuring vaping-related expectancies in young adults: Psychometric evaluation of the Electronic Nicotine Vaping Outcomes (ENVO) scale. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2023 May.246:109861. Pubmedid: 37028105. Pmcid: PMC10187827.
• Vidrine JI, Sutton SK, Wetter DW, Shih YT, Ramondetta LM, Elting LS, Walker JL, Smith KM, Frank-Pearce SG, Li Y, Jones SR, Kendzor DE, Simmons VN, Vidrine DJ. Efficacy of a Smoking Cessation Intervention for Survivors of Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia or Cervical Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Clin Oncol. 2023 May.41(15):2779-2788. Pubmedid: 36921237.
• Casas L, Medina-Ramirez P, Carreno V, Calixte-Civil P, Martinez U, Brandon TH, Simmons VN. Hispanic/Latinx individuals' attributions for abstinence and smoking: A content analysis of open-ended responses from a randomized cessation trial. Addict Behav Rep. 2023 Jun.17:100478. Pubmedid: 36619608. Pmcid: PMC9816900.
• Yang MJ, Martínez Ú, Fulton HJ, Maconi ML, Turner K, Powell ST, Chern JY, Brandon TH, Vidrine JI, Simmons VN. Qualitative evaluation of the implementation and future sustainability of an e-referral system for smoking cessation at a US NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center: lessons learned. Support Care Cancer. 2023 Jul.31(8):483. Pubmedid: 37480364.
• Vidrine JI, Fennell BS, Simmons VN, Sutton SK, Jones SR, Woodward HW, Hoogland CE, Vidrine DJ. Enhancing long-term smoking abstinence among individuals with a history of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia or cervical cancer (Project ACCESS): protocol for a randomized clinical trial. BMC Public Health. 2023 Jul.23(1):1284. Pubmedid: 37403057. Pmcid: PMC10318835.
• Pérez-Morales J, Pathak R, Reyes M, Tolbert H, Tirbene R, Gray JE, Simmons VN, Schabath MB, Quinn GP. Qualitative Findings From a Survey on Patient Experiences and Satisfaction with Lung Cancer Screening. Cancer Control. 2023 Jan.30. Pubmedid: 36971270. Pmcid: PMC10052477.
• Hohl SD, Shoenbill KA, Taylor KL, Minion M, Bates-Pappas GE, Hayes RB, Nolan MB, Simmons VN, Steinberg MB, Park ER, Ashing K, Beneventi D, Cox LS, Goldstein AO, King A, Kotsen C, Presant CA, Sherman SE, Sheffer CE, Warren GW, Adsit RT, Bird JE, D'Angelo H, Fiore MC, Nguyen CVT, Pauk D, Rolland B, Rigotti NA. The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Tobacco Treatment Program Implementation at National Cancer Institute-Designated Cancer Centers. Nicotine Tob Res. 2023 Jan.25(2):345-349. Pubmedid: 35778237. Pmcid: PMC9384385.
• Yang MJ, Pérez-Morales J, Quinn GP, Miller JD, Simmons VN, Schabath MB. Psychosocial characteristics and quality of life among sexual and gender minority patients with cancer. JNCI Cancer Spectr. 2023 Aug.7(5). Pubmedid: 37572311. Pmcid: PMC10587999.
• Sutton SK, Brandon KO, Harrell PT, Martínez Ú, Simmons VN, Gore LR, Bullen CR, Brandon TH. Identifying prospective subpopulations of combustible and electronic cigarette dual users in the United States via finite mixture modeling. Addiction. 2022 Sep.117(9):2493-2503. Pubmedid: 35491736. Pmcid: PMC9795793.
• Sims Z, Cousin L, Suppiah V, Stanley N, Li J, Quinn G, Martinez U, Zea AH, Simmons VN, Meade CD, Tsien F, Gwede CK. Improving Multi-site Interaction Through Remote Learning Technology: Report from a Training Program to Increase Underrepresented Undergraduate and Medical Students in Health Disparities Research. J Cancer Educ. 2022 Oct.37(5):1466-1471. Pubmedid: 33860443. Pmcid: PMC9157396.
• Medina-Ramirez P, Casas L, Sutton SK, Calixte-Civil P, Brandon KO, Martinez U, Meade CD, Byrne MM, Brandon TH, Simmons VN. Hispanic/Latinx Ethnic Subgroup Differences in Sociodemographic, Sociocultural, and Smoking Characteristics in a Cessation Trial: An Exploratory Study. Nicotine Tob Res. 2022 Oct.24(10):1589-1596. Pubmedid: 35366328. Pmcid: PMC9575968.
• Fennell BS, Piñeiro B, Vidrine DJ, Frank-Pearce SG, Wetter DW, Simmons VN, Vidrine JI. Ask-Advise-Connect: Differential Enrollment and Smoking Cessation Outcomes Between Primary Care Patients Who Received Quitline-Delivered Treatment in Spanish vs English. Ann Fam Med. 2022 Nov.20(6):519-525. Pubmedid: 36443074. Pmcid: PMC9705036.
• Martinez U, Simmons VN, Brandon KO, Quinn GP, Brandon TH. Examining smoking and vaping behaviors, expectancies, and cessation outcomes between bisexual and heterosexual individuals. Behav Med. 2022 May.49(4):392-401. Pubmedid: 35614523. Pmcid: PMC9691792.
• Simmons VN, Sutton SK, Medina-Ramirez P, Martinez U, Brandon KO, Byrne MM, Meade CD, Meltzer LR, Brandon TH. Self-help smoking cessation intervention for Spanish-speaking Hispanics/Latinxs in the United States: A randomized controlled trial. Cancer. 2022 Mar.128(5):984-994. Pubmedid: 34679188. Pmcid: PMC9254161.
• Medina-Ramirez P, Casas L, Haver MK, Calixte-Civil P, Kim Y, Woodward H, Martinez U, Brandon TH, Simmons VN. Smoking cessation interventions for Hispanic/Latino(a) adults in the USA: protocol for a systematic review and planned meta-analysis. BMJ Open. 2022 Dec.12(12):e065634. Pubmedid: 36521902. Pmcid: PMC9756193.
• Palmer AM, Sutton SK, Correa JB, Simmons VN, Brandon TH. Abstinence-related motivational engagement for smoking cessation: Longitudinal patterns and predictive validity. PLoS One. 2021 Mar.16(3):e0247867. Pubmedid: 33661996. Pmcid: PMC7932153.
• Martinez U, Simmons VN, Sutton SK, Drobes DJ, Meltzer LR, Brandon KO, Byrne MM, Harrell PT, Eissenberg T, Bullen CR, Brandon TH. Targeted smoking cessation for dual users of combustible and electronic cigarettes: a randomised controlled trial. Lancet Public Health. 2021 Jul.6(7):e500-e509. Pubmedid: 34175001. Pmcid: PMC8281505.
• Maller B, Simmons VN, Byrne MM, Tanvetyanon T. Characteristics and Outcomes of Lung Cancer Screening Among Individuals With or Without Cancer History. Clin Lung Cancer. 2021 Jul.22(4):e629-e636. Pubmedid: 33441268.
• Chavarria EA, Christy SM, Simmons VN, Vadaparampil ST, Gwede CK, Meade CD. Learner Verification: A Methodology to Create Suitable Education Materials. Health Lit Res Pract. 2021 Jan.5(1):e49-e59. Pubmedid: 34251862. Pmcid: PMC8075101.
• Meltzer LR, Simmons VN, Piñeiro B, Drobes DJ, Quinn GP, Meade CD, Brandon KO, Palmer A, Unrod M, Harrell PT, Bullen CR, Eissenberg T, Brandon TH. Development of a Self-Help Smoking Cessation Intervention for Dual Users of Tobacco Cigarettes and E-Cigarettes. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Feb.18(5). Pubmedid: 33673413. Pmcid: PMC7956571.
• Permuth JB, Dezsi KB, Vyas S, Ali KN, Basinski TL, Utuama OA, Denbo JW, Klapman J, Dam A, Carballido E, Kim DW, Pimiento JM, Powers BD, Otto AK, Choi JW, Chen DT, Teer JK, Beato F, Ward A, Cortizas EM, Whisner SY, Williams IE, Riner AN, Tardif K, Velanovich V, Karachristos A, Douglas WG, Legaspi A, Allan BJ, Meredith K, Molina-Vega MA, Bao P, St Julien J, Huguet KL, Green L, Odedina FT, Kumar NB, Simmons VN, George TJ, Vadaparampil ST, Hodul PJ, Arnoletti JP, Awad ZT, Bose D, Jiang K, Centeno BA, Gwede CK, Malafa M, Judge SM, Judge AR, Jeong D, Bloomston M, Merchant NB, Fleming JB, Trevino JG. The Florida Pancreas Collaborative Next-Generation Biobank: Infrastructure to Reduce Disparities and Improve Survival for a Diverse Cohort of Patients with Pancreatic Cancer. Cancers (Basel). 2021 Feb.13(4). Pubmedid: 33671939. Pmcid: PMC7919015.
• Jones SR, Vidrine DJ, Wetter DW, Shih YT, Sutton SK, Ramondetta LM, Elting LS, Walker JL, Smith KM, Frank-Pearce SG, Li Y, Simmons VN, Vidrine JI. Evaluation of the Efficacy of a Smoking Cessation Intervention for Cervical Cancer Survivors and Women With High-Grade Cervical Dysplasia: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Res Protoc. 2021 Dec.10(12):e34502. Pubmedid: 34967755. Pmcid: PMC8765796.
• Sutter ME, Simmons VN, Sutton SK, Vadaparampil ST, Sanchez JA, Bowman-Curci M, Duarte L, Schabath MB, Quinn GP. Oncologists' experiences caring for LGBTQ patients with cancer: Qualitative analysis of items on a national survey. Patient Educ Couns. 2021 Apr.104(4):871-876. Pubmedid: 32981814. Pmcid: PMC7982350.
• Conn MR, Brandon TH, Lorenzo YL, Sawyer LE, Simmons VN, Sutton SK, Donny EC, Hatsukami D, Drobes DJ. Facilitating smoking cessation using reduced nicotine cigarettes: Intervention development and RCT study design. Contemp Clin Trials. 2020 Nov.98:106172. Pubmedid: 33038504.
• Rodríguez-Rabassa MS, Simmons VN, Vega A, Moreno D, Irizarry-Ramos J, Quinn GP. Perceptions of and Barriers to Lung Cancer Screening Among Physicians in Puerto Rico: A Qualitative Study. J Health Care Poor Underserved. 2020 May.31(2):973-991. Pubmedid: 33410819. Pmcid: PMC7791893.
• Li L, Lee JH, Sutton SK, Simmons VN, Brandon TH. A Bayesian transition model for missing longitudinal binary outcomes and an application to a smoking cessation study. Stat Modelling. 2020 Jun.20(3):310-338. Pubmedid: 33854408. Pmcid: PMC8043653.
• Webb Hooper M, Calixte-Civil P, Verzijl C, Brandon KO, Asfar T, Koru-Sengul T, Antoni MH, Lee DJ, Simmons VN, Brandon TH. Associations between Perceived Racial Discrimination and Tobacco Cessation among Diverse Treatment Seekers. Ethnic Dis. 2020 Jul.30(3):411-420. Pubmedid: 32742143. Pmcid: PMC7360180.
• Vinci C, Malkhasyan L, Simmons VN, Correa-Fernandez V. The relationship of mindfulness and mindfulness-related practices with alcohol use among Hispanics/Latinx. Psychiatry Res. 2020 Jan.285:112774. Pubmedid: 32035378.
• Simmons VN, Sutton SK, Meltzer LR, Martinez U, Palmer AM, Meade CD, Jacobsen PB, McCaffrey JC, Haura EB, Brandon TH. Preventing smoking relapse in patients with cancer: A randomized controlled trial. Cancer. 2020 Dec.126(23):5165-5172. Pubmedid: 32902856. Pmcid: PMC7771373.
• Medina-Ramirez P, Calixte-Civil P, Meltzer LR, Brandon KO, Martinez U, Sutton SK, Meade CD, Byrne MM, Brandon TH, Simmons VN. Comparing Methods of Recruiting Spanish-Preferring Smokers in the United States: Findings from a Randomized Controlled Trial. J Med Internet Res. 2020 Aug.22(8):e19389. Pubmedid: 32795986. Pmcid: PMC7455877.
• Wang T, Townsend MK, Simmons V, Terry KL, Matulonis UA, Tworoger SS. Prediagnosis and postdiagnosis smoking and survival following diagnosis with ovarian cancer. Int J Cancer. 2020 Aug.147(3):736-746. Pubmedid: 31693173. Pmcid: PMC7758910.
• Martínez Ú, Martínez-Loredo V, Simmons VN, Meltzer LR, Drobes DJ, Brandon KO, Palmer AM, Eissenberg T, Bullen CR, Harrell PT, Brandon TH. Erratum: How Does Smoking and Nicotine Dependence Change After Onset of Vaping? A Retrospective Analysis of Dual Users. Nicotine Tob Res. 2020 Apr.22(5):864. Pubmedid: 31184754. Pmcid: PMC7457319.
• Martínez Ú, Martínez-Loredo V, Simmons VN, Meltzer LR, Drobes DJ, Brandon KO, Palmer AM, Eissenberg T, Bullen CR, Harrell PT, Brandon TH. How Does Smoking and Nicotine Dependence Change After Onset of Vaping? A Retrospective Analysis of Dual Users. Nicotine Tob Res. 2020 Apr.22(5):764-770. Pubmedid: 30883640. Pmcid: PMC7171272.
• Muñoz-Antonia T, Simmons VN, Sutton SK, Schabath MB, Alam I, Chiappori A, Quinn GP. Use of biomarker testing in lung cancer among Puerto Rico and Florida Physicians: Results of a comparative study. J Clin Pathw. 2019 Oct.5(8):33-40. Pubmedid: 31930172. Pmcid: PMC6953751.
• Medina-Ramírez P, Sutton SK, Martínez Ú, Meade CD, Byrne MM, Brandon KO, Meltzer LR, Gonzales FM, Brandon TH, Simmons VN. A randomized controlled trial of a smoking cessation self-help intervention for Spanish-speaking Hispanic/Latinx smokers: Study design and baseline characteristics. Contemp Clin Trials. 2019 Oct.85:105836. Pubmedid: 31473331. Pmcid: PMC6815731.
• Brandon KO, Simmons VN, Meltzer LR, Drobes DJ, Martínez Ú, Sutton SK, Palmer AM, Bullen CR, Harrell PT, Brandon TH. Vaping characteristics and expectancies are associated with smoking cessation propensity among dual users of combustible and electronic cigarettes. Addiction. 2019 May.114(5):896-906. Pubmedid: 30644627. Pmcid: PMC6629519.
• Schabath MB, Blackburn CA, Sutter ME, Kanetsky PA, Vadaparampil ST, Simmons VN, Sanchez JA, Sutton SK, Quinn GP. National Survey of Oncologists at National Cancer Institute-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers: Attitudes, Knowledge, and Practice Behaviors About LGBTQ Patients With Cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2019 Mar.37(7):547-558. Pubmedid: 30650044. Pmcid: PMC6553841.
• Permuth JB, Clark Daly A, Jeong D, Choi JW, Cameron ME, Chen DT, Teer JK, Barnett TE, Li J, Powers BD, Kumar NB, George TJ, Ali KN, Huynh T, Vyas S, Gwede CK, Simmons VN, Hodul PJ, Carballido EM, Judge AR, Fleming JB, Merchant N, Trevino JG. Racial and ethnic disparities in a state-wide registry of patients with pancreatic cancer and an exploratory investigation of cancer cachexia as a contributor to observed inequities. Cancer Med. 2019 Jun.8(6):3314-3324. Pubmedid: 31074202. Pmcid: PMC6558500.
• Webb Hooper M, Asfar T, Unrod M, Dorsey A, Correa JB, Brandon KO, Simmons VN, Antoni MA, Koru-Sengul T, Lee DJ, Brandon TH. Reasons for Exclusion from a Smoking Cessation Trial: An Analysis by Race/Ethnicity. Ethnic Dis. 2019 Jan.29(1):23-30. Pubmedid: 30713413. Pmcid: PMC6343546.
• Martínez Ú, Brandon KO, Sutton SK, Brandon TH, Simmons VN. Does smoking abstinence predict cancer patients' quality of life over time?. Psychooncology. 2019 Aug.28(8):1702-1711. Pubmedid: 31212391. Pmcid: PMC6691965.
• Harrell PT, Brandon TH, England KJ, Barnett TE, Brockenberry LO, Simmons VN, Quinn GP. Vaping Expectancies: A Qualitative Study among Young Adult Nonusers, Smokers, Vapers, and Dual Users. Subst Abuse. 2019 Aug.13. Pubmedid: 31456638. Pmcid: PMC6702779.
• Meltzer LR, Unrod M, Simmons VN, Brandon KO, Piñeiro B, Palmer AM, Brandon TH. Capitalizing on a teachable moment: Development of a targeted self-help smoking cessation intervention for patients receiving lung cancer screening. Lung Cancer. 2019 Apr.130:121-127. Pubmedid: 30885332. Pmcid: PMC7771317.
• Brandon TH, Unrod M, Drobes DJ, Sutton SK, Hawk LW, Simmons VN, Brandon KO, Roetzheim RG, Meltzer LR, Miller RR, Cahill SP. Facilitated Extinction Training to Improve Pharmacotherapy for Smoking Cessation: A Pilot Feasibility Trial. Nicotine Tob Res. 2018 Sep.20(10):1189-1197. Pubmedid: 29059409. Pmcid: PMC7868958.
• Martínez Ú, Brandon TH, Sutton SK, Simmons VN. Associations between the smoking-relatedness of a cancer type, cessation attitudes and beliefs, and future abstinence among recent quitters. Psychooncology. 2018 Sep.27(9):2104-2110. Pubmedid: 29785718. Pmcid: PMC6156937.
• Hudson JN, Quinn GP, Wilson LE, Simmons VN. Evaluation of Promotional Materials To Promote Low-Dose Computed Tomography (LDCT) Screening to High-Risk Consumers and Health Care Providers. J Cancer Educ. 2018 Oct.33(5):1043-1051. Pubmedid: 28285419.
• Simmons VN, Sutton SK, Meltzer LR, Unrod M, Meade CD, Brandon TH. Long-term outcomes from a self-help smoking cessation randomized controlled trial. Psych Addic Behav. 2018 Nov.32(7):710-714. Pubmedid: 30284878. Pmcid: PMC6242763.
• Webb Hooper M, Lee DJ, Simmons VN, Brandon KO, Antoni MH, Unrod M, Asfar T, Correa JB, Koru-Sengul T, Brandon TH. Reducing racial/ethnic tobacco cessation disparities via cognitive behavioral therapy: Design of a dualsite randomized controlled trial. Contemp Clin Trials. 2018 May.68:127-132. Pubmedid: 29617633.
• Piñeiro B, Díaz DR, Monsalve LM, Martínez Ú, Meade CD, Meltzer LR, Brandon KO, Unrod M, Brandon TH, Simmons VN. Systematic Transcreation of Self-Help Smoking Cessation Materials for Hispanic/Latino Smokers: Improving Cultural Relevance and Acceptability. J Health Commun. 2018 Mar.23(4):350-359. Pubmedid: 29533167. Pmcid: PMC5972386.
• Correa JB, Brandon KO, Meltzer LR, Hoehn HJ, Piñeiro B, Brandon TH, Simmons VN. Electronic cigarette use among patients with cancer: Reasons for use, beliefs, and patient-provider communication. Psychooncology. 2018 Jul.27(7):1757-1764. Pubmedid: 29671928. Pmcid: PMC6043356.
• Fleming K, Simmons VN, Christy SM, Sutton SK, Romo M, Luque JS, Wells KJ, Gwede CK, Meade CD. Educating Hispanic Women about Cervical Cancer Prevention: Feasibility of a Promotora-Led Charla Intervention in a Farmworker Community. Ethnic Dis. 2018 Jul.28(3):169-176. Pubmedid: 30038478. Pmcid: PMC6051510.
• Jiménez J, Ramos A, Ramos-Rivera FE, Gwede C, Quinn GP, Vadaparampil S, Brandon T, Simmons V, Castro E. Community Engagement for Identifying Cancer Education Needs in Puerto Rico. J Cancer Educ. 2018 Feb.33(1):12-20. Pubmedid: 27722911. Pmcid: PMC5386827.
• McIntyre J, Jiménez J, Rivera YM, Sutton SK, Asencio G, Castro-Figueroa EM, Gwede CK, Brandon TH, Vadaparampil ST, Simmons VN, Corchado J, Moreno L, Wells KJ, Quinn GP. Comparison of Health Communication Channels for Reaching Hispanics About Biobanking: a Pilot Trial. J Cancer Educ. 2018 Aug.33(4):833-841. Pubmedid: 28378199. Pmcid: PMC5628139.
• Wheldon CW, Schabath MB, Hudson J, Bowman Curci M, Kanetsky PA, Vadaparampil ST, Simmons VN, Sanchez JA, Sutton SK, Quinn GP. Culturally Competent Care for Sexual and Gender Minority Patients at National Cancer Institute-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers. LGBT Health. 2018 Apr.5(3):203-211. Pubmedid: 29641317. Pmcid: PMC5905865.
• Meltzer LR, Meade CD, Diaz DB, Carrington MS, Brandon TH, Jacobsen PB, McCaffrey JC, Haura EB, Simmons VN. Development of a Targeted Smoking Relapse-Prevention Intervention for Cancer Patients. J Cancer Educ. 2018 Apr.33(2):440-447. Pubmedid: 27476432. Pmcid: PMC5288399.
• Meltzer LR, Simmons VN, Sutton SK, Drobes DJ, Quinn GP, Meade CD, Unrod M, Brandon KO, Harrell PT, Eissenberg T, Bullen CR, Brandon TH. A randomized controlled trial of a smoking cessation self-help intervention for dual users of tobacco cigarettes and E-cigarettes: Intervention development and research design. Contemp Clin Trials. 2017 Sep.60:56-62. Pubmedid: 28648969. Pmcid: PMC5559662.
• Hudson J, Schabath MB, Sanchez J, Sutton S, Simmons VN, Vadaparampil ST, Kanetsky PA, Quinn GP. Sexual and Gender Minority Issues Across NCCN Guidelines: Results From a National Survey. J Natl Compr Canc Ne. 2017 Nov.15(11):1379-1382. Pubmedid: 29118229. Pmcid: PMC5705047.
• Merrill JK, Alberg AJ, Goffin JR, Ramalingam SS, Simmons VN, Warren GW. American Society of Clinical Oncology Policy Brief: FDA's Regulation of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems and Tobacco Products. J Oncol Pract. 2017 Jan.13(1):58-60. Pubmedid: 28084879.
• Castro EM, Asencio G, Quinn GP, Brandon T, Gwede CK, Vadaparampil S, Simmons V, McIntyre J, Jiménez J. Importance of and Satisfaction with Psychosocial Support among Cancer Patients and Survivors in Puerto Rico: Gender, Health Status, and Quality of Life Associations. P R Health Sci J. 2017 Dec.36(4):205-211. Pubmedid: 29220064. Pmcid: PMC5859307.
• Schabath MB, Curci MB, Kanetsky PA, Vadaparampil ST, Simmons VN, Sanchez JA, Sutton SK, Wheldon C, Quinn GP. Ask and Tell: The Importance of the Collection of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Data to Improve the Quality of Cancer Care for Sexual and Gender Minorities. J Oncol Pract. 2017 Aug.13(8):542-546. Pubmedid: 28719237.
• Simmons VN, Gray JE, Schabath MB, Wilson LE, Quinn GP. High-risk community and primary care providers knowledge about and barriers to low-dose computed topography lung cancer screening. Lung Cancer. 2017 Apr.106:42-49. Pubmedid: 28285693.
• Davis SN, Christy SM, Chavarria EA, Abdulla R, Sutton SK, Schmidt AR, Vadaparampil ST, Quinn GP, Simmons VN, Ufondu CB, Ravindra C, Schultz I, Roetzheim RG, Shibata D, Meade CD, Gwede CK. A randomized controlled trial of a multicomponent, targeted, low-literacy educational intervention compared with a nontargeted intervention to boost colorectal cancer screening with fecal immunochemical testing in community clinics. Cancer. 2017 Apr.123(8):1390-1400. Pubmedid: 27906448. Pmcid: PMC5384866.
• Díaz DB, Brandon TH, Sutton SK, Meltzer LR, Hoehn HJ, Meade CD, Jacobsen PB, McCaffrey JC, Haura EB, Lin HY, Simmons VN. Smoking relapse-prevention intervention for cancer patients: Study design and baseline data from the surviving SmokeFree randomized controlled trial. Contemp Clin Trials. 2016 Sep.50:84-89. Pubmedid: 27468664. Pmcid: PMC5564185.
• Simmons VN, Pineiro B, Hooper MW, Gray JE, Brandon TH. Tobacco-Related Health Disparities Across the Cancer Care Continuum. Cancer Control. 2016 Oct.23(4):434-441. Pubmedid: 27842333. Pmcid: PMC5972388.
• Simmons VN, Quinn GP, Harrell PT, Meltzer LR, Correa JB, Unrod M, Brandon TH. E-cigarette use in adults: a qualitative study of users' perceptions and future use intentions. Addict Res Theory. 2016 Oct.24(4):313-321. Pubmedid: 27725794. Pmcid: PMC5055066.
• Palmer AM, Correa JB, Heckman BW, Brandon TH, Simmons VN. Health, Stigma, and the Burden of Smoking in College: A Thematic Analysis. Am J Health Behav. 2016 May.40(3):381-388. Pubmedid: 27103417.
• Unrod M, Simmons VN, Sutton SK, Cummings KM, Celestino P, Craig BM, Lee JH, Meltzer LR, Brandon TH. Relapse-Prevention Booklets as an Adjunct to a Tobacco Quitline: A Randomized Controlled Effectiveness Trial. Nicotine Tob Res. 2016 Mar.18(3):298-305. Pubmedid: 25847293. Pmcid: PMC4757931.
• Brandon TH, Simmons VN, Sutton SK, Unrod M, Harrell PT, Meade CD, Craig BM, Lee JH, Meltzer LR. Extended Self-Help for Smoking Cessation: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Am J Prev Med. 2016 Jul.51(1):54-62. Pubmedid: 26868284. Pmcid: PMC4914420.
• Piñeiro B, Correa JB, Simmons VN, Harrell PT, Menzie NS, Unrod M, Meltzer LR, Brandon TH. Gender differences in use and expectancies of e-cigarettes: Online survey results. Addictive Behaviors. 2016 Jan.52:91-97. Pubmedid: 26406973. Pmcid: PMC4644488.
• Piñeiro B, Simmons VN, Palmer AM, Correa JB, Brandon TH. Smoking cessation interventions within the context of Low-Dose Computed Tomography lung cancer screening: A systematic review. Lung Cancer. 2016 Aug.98:91-98. Pubmedid: 27393513.
• Hudson J, Munoz-Antonia T, Haura E, Cress D, Simmons VN, Quinn GP. Translating Hispanic Genomic Factors in Lung Cancer Into Clinical Practice: EGFR Testing for Improved Outcomes. Gene Cell Tissue. 2016 Apr.3(2). Pubmedid: 29888762. Pmcid: PMC5990038.
• Menzie NS, Simmons VN, Quinn GP, Diaz DB, Piñeiro B, Jimenez J, Castro E, Brandon TH. Acceptability and Cultural Appropriateness of Self-Help Booklets for Relapse Prevention in Puerto Rico. J Cancer Educ. 2015 Sep.30(3):585-592. Pubmedid: 25219544. Pmcid: PMC4384999.
• Bloom EL, Oliver JA, Sutton SK, Brandon TH, Jacobsen PB, Simmons VN. Post-operative smoking status in lung and head and neck cancer patients: association with depressive symptomatology, pain, and fatigue. Psychooncology. 2015 Sep.24(9):1012-1019. Pubmedid: 25257853. Pmcid: PMC4374041.
• Simmons VN, Klasko LB, Fleming K, Koskan AM, Jackson NT, Noel-Thomas S, Luque JS, Vadaparampil ST, Lee JH, Quinn GP, Britt L, Waddell R, Meade CD, Gwede CK. Participatory evaluation of a community-academic partnership to inform capacity-building and sustainability. Eval Program Plann. 2015 Oct.52:19-26. Pubmedid: 25863014. Pmcid: PMC4509815.
• Harrell PT, Simmons VN, Piñeiro B, Correa JB, Menzie NS, Meltzer LR, Unrod M, Brandon TH. E-cigarettes and expectancies: why do some users keep smoking?. Addiction. 2015 Nov.110(11):1833-1843. Pubmedid: 26173651. Pmcid: PMC4609252.
• Correa JB, Simmons VN, Sutton SK, Meltzer LR, Brandon TH. A content analysis of attributions for resuming smoking or maintaining abstinence in the post-partum period. Matern Child Health J. 2015 Mar.19(3):664-674. Pubmedid: 24996953. Pmcid: PMC4284152.
• Harrell PT, Marquinez NS, Correa JB, Meltzer LR, Unrod M, Sutton SK, Simmons VN, Brandon TH. Expectancies for cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and nicotine replacement therapies among e-cigarette users (aka vapers). Nicotine Tob Res. 2015 Feb.17(2):193-200. Pubmedid: 25168035. Pmcid: PMC4438353.
• Castro EM, Jiménez JC, Quinn G, García M, Colón Y, Ramos A, Brandon T, Simmons V, Gwede C, Vadaparampil S, Nazario CM. Identifying clinical and support service resources and network practices for cancer patients and survivors in southern Puerto Rico. Support Care Cancer. 2015 Apr.23(4):967-975. Pubmedid: 25249352. Pmcid: PMC4346447.
• Harrell PT, Simmons VN, Correa JB, Padhya TA, Brandon TH. Electronic nicotine delivery systems ("e-cigarettes"): review of safety and smoking cessation efficacy. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2014 Sep.151(3):381-393. Pubmedid: 24898072. Pmcid: PMC4376316.
• Vadaparampil ST, Simmons VN, Lee JH, Malo T, Klasko L, Rodriguez M, Waddell R, Gwede CK, Meade CD. Journal clubs: an educational approach to advance understanding among community partners and academic researchers about CBPR and cancer health disparities. J Cancer Educ. 2014 Mar.29(1):122-128. Pubmedid: 24078328. Pmcid: PMC4201936.
• Unrod M, Simmons VN, Sutton SK, Meltzer LR, Harrell PT, Meade CD, Craig BM, Lee JH, Brandon TH. A randomized clinical trial of self-help intervention for smoking cessation: research design, interventions, and baseline data. Contemp Clin Trials. 2014 Jul.38(2):284-290. Pubmedid: 24865525. Pmcid: PMC4104245.
• Pomeranz JL, Moorhouse MD, King J, Barnett TE, Young ME, Simmons V, Brandon T, Stetten N. Creating a Tobacco Cessation Program for People with Disabilities: A Community Based Participatory Research Approach. J Addict Res Ther. 2014 Dec.5(4). Pubmedid: 35492032. Pmcid: PMC9053313.
• Unrod M, Gironda RJ, Clark ME, White KE, Simmons VN, Sutton SK, Brandon TH. Smoking behavior and motivation to quit among chronic pain patients initiating multidisciplinary pain treatment: a prospective study. Pain Med. 2014 Aug.15(8):1294-1303. Pubmedid: 24528473. Pmcid: PMC4374596.
• Simmons VN, Sutton SK, Quinn GP, Meade CD, Brandon TH. Prepartum and postpartum predictors of smoking. Nicotine Tob Res. 2014 Apr.16(4):461-468. Pubmedid: 24203933. Pmcid: PMC3954426.
• Simmons VN, Heckman BW, Fink AC, Small BJ, Brandon TH. Efficacy of an experiential, dissonance-based smoking intervention for college students delivered via the internet. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2013 Oct.81(5):810-820. Pubmedid: 23668667. Pmcid: PMC4640469.
• Bejarano A, Litvin EB, Quinn GP, Brandon TH, Simmons VN. Distribution of smoking relapse prevention materials in the Hispanic community: lessons learned. J Cancer Educ. 2013 Mar.28(1):143-150. Pubmedid: 23055134. Pmcid: PMC4608428.
• Simmons VN, Litvin EB, Jacobsen PB, Patel RD, McCaffrey JC, Oliver JA, Sutton SK, Brandon TH. Predictors of smoking relapse in patients with thoracic cancer or head and neck cancer. Cancer. 2013 Apr.119(7):1420-1427. Pubmedid: 23280005. Pmcid: PMC3604135.
• Brandon TH, Simmons VN, Meade CD, Quinn GP, Lopez Khoury EN, Sutton SK, Lee JH. Self-help booklets for preventing postpartum smoking relapse: a randomized trial. Am J Public Health. 2012 Nov.102(11):2109-2115. Pubmedid: 22994170. Pmcid: PMC3477952.
• Gwede CK, Castro E, Brandon TH, McIntyre J, Meade CD, Munoz-Antonia T, Simmons VN, Vadaparampil ST, Jimenez J, Quinn GP. Developing strategies for reducing cancer disparities via cross-institutional collaboration: outreach efforts for the partnership between the Ponce School of Medicine and the Moffitt Cancer Center. Health Promot Pract. 2012 Nov.13(6):807-815. Pubmedid: 22167362. Pmcid: PMC3708698.
• Simmons VN, Litvin EB, Unrod M, Brandon TH. Oncology healthcare providers' implementation of the 5A's model of brief intervention for smoking cessation: patients' perceptions. Patient Educ Couns. 2012 Mar.86(3):414-419. Pubmedid: 21784598. Pmcid: PMC3222746.
• Litvin EB, Rojas A, Brandon TH, Quinn G, Meade CD, Jimenez J, Castro E, Diaz Z, Simmons VN. Cultural Acceptability of a Smoking Relapse Prevention Intervention for Pregnant Women in Puerto Rico: Providers' Feedback. Hisp Health Care Int. 2011 Sep.9(3):117-126. Pubmedid: 26617474. Pmcid: PMC4662285.
• Simmons VN, Jiménez JC, Castro E, Litvin EB, Gwede CK, Vadaparampil ST, Mclntyre J, Meade CD, Brandon TH, Quinn GP. Initial efforts in community engagement with health care providers: perceptions of barriers to care for cancer patients in Puerto Rico. P R Health Sci J. 2011 Mar.30(1):28-34. Pubmedid: 21449495. Pmcid: PMC3685431.
• Quinn GP, Jimenez J, Meade CD, Muñoz-Antonia T, Gwede CK, Castro E, Vadaparampil ST, Simmons VN, McIntyre J, Crocker TT, Brandon TH. Enhancing oncology health care provider's sensitivity to cultural communication to reduce cancer disparities: a pilot study. J Cancer Educ. 2011 Jun.26(2):322-325. Pubmedid: 21479572. Pmcid: PMC3673723.
• Williams RJ, Herzog TA, Simmons VN. Risk perception and motivation to quit smoking: a partial test of the Health Action Process Approach. Addictive Behaviors. 2011 Jul.36(7):789-791. Pubmedid: 21463920. Pmcid: PMC3081897.
• Ditre JW, Gonzalez BD, Simmons VN, Faul LA, Brandon TH, Jacobsen PB. Associations between pain and current smoking status among cancer patients. Pain. 2011 Jan.152(1):60-65. Pubmedid: 21168758. Pmcid: PMC3031140.
• Simmons VN, Cruz LM, Brandon TH, Quinn GP. Translation and adaptation of smoking relapse-prevention materials for pregnant and postpartum Hispanic women. J Health Commun. 2011 Jan.16(1):90-107. Pubmedid: 21120739.
• Simmons VN, Quinn G, Litvin EB, Rojas A, Jimenez J, Castro E, Meade CD, Brandon TH. Transcreation of validated smoking relapse-prevention booklets for use with Hispanic populations. J Health Care Poor Underserved. 2011 Aug.22(3):886-893. Pubmedid: 21841285. Pmcid: PMC3804252.
• Simmons VN, Heckman BW, Ditre JW, Brandon TH. A measure of smoking abstinence-related motivational engagement: development and initial validation. Nicotine Tob Res. 2010 Apr.12(4):432-437. Pubmedid: 20190004. Pmcid: PMC2847080.
• Simmons VN, Litvin EB, Patel RD, Jacobsen PB, McCaffrey JC, Bepler G, Quinn GP, Brandon TH. Patient-provider communication and perspectives on smoking cessation and relapse in the oncology setting. Patient Educ Couns. 2009 Dec.77(3):398-403. Pubmedid: 19846270. Pmcid: PMC2787754.
• Simmons V, Vidrine J, Brandon T. Smoking cessation counseling as a teachable moment for skin cancer prevention: pilot studies. Am J Health Behav. 2008 Mar.32(2):137-145. Pubmedid: 18052854.
• Lopez EN, Simmons VN, Quinn G, Meade C, Chirikos T, Brandon T. Clinical trials and tribulations: lessons learned from recruiting pregnant ex-smokers for relapse prevention. Nicotine Tob Res. 2008 Jan.10(1):87-96. Pubmedid: 18188749. Pmcid: PMC4056986.
• Simmons V, Brandon T. Secondary smoking prevention in a university setting: a randomized comparison of an experiential, theory-based intervention and a standard didactic intervention for increasing cessation motivation. Health Psychol. 2007 May.26(3):268-277. Pubmedid: 17500613.
• Construction of Smoking‐Relevant Risk Perceptions Among College Students: The Influence of Need for Cognition and Message Content. J Appl Soc Psychol. 2007 Jan.37(1):91-114.
• Webb M, Simmons V, Brandon T. Tailored interventions for motivating smoking cessation: using placebo tailoring to examine the influence of expectancies and personalization. Health Psychol. 2005 Mar.24(2):179-188. Pubmedid: 15755232.
• Simmons V, Webb M, Brandon T. College-student smoking: an initial test of an experiential dissonance-enhancing intervention. Addictive Behaviors. 2004 Aug.29(6):1129-1136. Pubmedid: 15236813.
• Brandon TH, Herzog TA, Juliano LM, Irvin JE, Lazev AB, Simmons VN. Pretreatment task persistence predicts smoking cessation outcome. J Abnorm Psychol. 2003 Aug.112(3):448-456. Pubmedid: 12943023.
• Westmaas J, Nath V, Brandon T. Contemporary smoking cessation. Cancer Control. 2000 Jan.7(1):56-62. Pubmedid: 10740661.
• Unrod M, Oliver JA, Heckman BW, Simmons VN, Brandon TH. Outdoor smoking ban at a cancer center: attitudes and smoking behavior among employees and patients. J Public Health Manag Pract. 18(5):E24-E31. Pubmedid: 22836544.

• Title: Creation of an Infrastructure to Support Delivery of mHealth Interventions for Cancer Patients Throughout Florida
  Sponsor: Florida Biomedical Research Program (FBRP)
  PI: Vidrine, D., CO-PI: Simmons, V.
• Title: Tobacco Cessation P01 Preliminary Data Support
  Sponsor: Moffitt Cancer Center
  PI (Contact): Vidrine, J., PI: Simmons, V.
• Title: Behavioral Oncology Education & Career Development
  Sponsor: Nat Institutes of Health
  PI (Contact): Vadaparampil, S., PI (MPI): Simmons, V.