Monica Webb Hooper, Ph.D.

Deputy Director
Office of the Director
Monica.Hooper@nih.gov
301-402-1366

Dr. Monica Webb Hooper is Deputy Director of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD). She is an internationally recognized licensed clinical health psychologist and translational behavioral scientist, with a 20 plus–year history of working daily to improve health and quality of life among communities with high need. Her collaborative, community-engaged science seeks to prevent or reduce the impact of chronic illnesses on populations with health disparities. Through her work, Dr. Webb Hooper has directly improved the health of thousands of racial and ethnic minority persons as well as low socioeconomic status adults and families—developing and delivering successful treatments for overcoming addictions (e.g., tobacco smoking), achieving personal weight management goals, reducing distress and mental health concerns (e.g., anxiety or depression), and improving partner and family relationships.

NIMHD leads and supports cutting edge science to improve minority health, reduce health disparities, and promote health equity. As NIMHD Deputy Director, Dr. Webb Hooper partners with the Director on overall executive direction and scientific leadership of the institute. Dr. Webb Hooper is also highly committed to training the next cadre of scientists who are invested in improving population health, community health, and global health.

Overall, Dr. Webb Hooper is dedicated to the scientific study of minority health and racial and ethnic disparities, and interventions to reduce them. She has published over 130 articles and book chapters and has been featured in numerous editorials throughout her career. Indeed, the mantra of her work is “science and partnerships that benefit and serve communities.” Academic Influence has identified Dr. Webb Hooper as one of 25 Influential Black Psychologists from the Last 30 Years, and one of 50 most cited and searched Black anthropologists (including the social sciences, biological sciences, physical sciences, and the humanities) over the past 30 years.

Before joining NIMHD, Dr. Webb Hooper was a Professor of Oncology, Family Medicine & Community Health and Psychological Sciences at Case Western Reserve University. She was also Associate Director for Cancer Disparities Research and Director of the Office of Cancer Disparities Research in the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Dr. Webb Hooper completed her doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of South Florida, internship in medical psychology from the University of Florida Health Sciences Center, and her Bachelor of Science from the University of Miami.

Selected Publications

• Johnson, A. L., Bui, T. C., Bullen, C., Businelle, M., Carroll, D. M., Correa-Fernández, V., Pickner, W., Spears, C. A., Vickerman, K., Vidrine, D. J., Webb Hooper, M., Bold, K. W., & Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco (SRNT) Treatment Research Network (2024). Engaging Specific Populations with Tobacco-Related Health Disparities in Treatment Research: A Summary of a SRNT Treatment Research Network Preconference Workshop. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, ntae248. https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntae248
• Zajdel, R. A., Patterson, E. J., Rodriguez, E. J., Webb Hooper, M., & Pérez-Stable, E. J. (2024). Self-Identified Race and Ethnicity and How this Is Perceived: Associations with the Physical and Mental Health of Incarcerated Individuals. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-024-02186-8
• Raslan, S., Smith, D. H., Reis, I. M., Peifer, S. J., Forman, G., Ezeh, U. C., Joshi, P., Koester, M., Buitron, I., Al-Awady, A., Halgowich, J., Liu, H., Gordon, C., Webb Hooper, M., Sweeny, L., & Franzmann, E. J. Soluble CD44 in Oral Rinses for the Early Detection of Cancer: A Prospective Cohort Study in High-Risk Individuals. BMC Oral Health 24, 820 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-024-04463-8
• Compton, W. M., Webb Hooper, M., Hodes, R. J., & Pérez-Stable, E. J. (2024). Lessons from COVID-19 Testing Research: The Power of Rapid Response, American Journal of Public Health 114, S343_S346. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307653
• Mensah, G. A., Johnson, L. E., Zhang, X., Stinson, N., Carrington, K., Malla, G., Land, S. R., Huff, E., Freeman, N., Stoney, C., Ampey, B., Paltoo, D., Clark, D., Rajapakse, N., Ilias, M. R., Haase, K. P., Punturieri, A., Kurilla, M. G., Archer, H., Bolek, M., Santos, M., Wilson-Frederick, S., Devaney, S., Marshall, V., Farhat, T., Webb Hooper, M., Wilson, D. R., Perez-Stable, E. J., & Gibbons, G. H. Community Engagement Alliance (CEAL): A National Institutes of Health Program to Advance Health Equity. (2024). American Journal of Public Health 114(S1):S12-S17, doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2023.307476. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37944098.
• Griffith, D. M., Efird, C. R., Baskin, M. L., Webb Hooper, M., Davis, R. E., & Resnicow, K. (2024). Cultural Sensitivity and Cultural Tailoring: Lessons Learned and Refinements After Two Decades of Incorporating Culture in Health Communication Research. Annual Review of Public Health, 45(1), 195–212. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-publhealth-060722-031158
• Pérez-Stable, E. J. & Webb Hooper, M. (2023). The Pillars of Health Disparities Science—Race, Ethnicity, and Socioeconomic Status. JAMA Health Forum 4(12), e234463. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamahealthforum.2023.4463
• Walker, A., Abnet, C. C., Shiels, M. S., Lawrence, W. R., Funchess, T., Rogers, D. B., Webb Hooper, M. & Chen, Y. (2023). Racial and Geographical Disparities in Oesophageal Cancer Incidence, Mortality and County-Level Risk Factors in the State of Mississippi Between 2003 and 2019: A Descriptive Analysis. BMJ Public Health, 1:e000316. doi: 10.1136/bmjph-2023-000316.
• Webb Hooper, M., Lee, D. J., Simmons, V. N., Brandon, K. O., Antoni, M. H., Asfar, T., Koru-Sengul, T., & Brandon, T. H. (2024). Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Versus General Health Education for Smoking Cessation: A Randomized Controlled Trial Among Diverse Treatment Seekers. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors 38(1), 124–133. https://doi.org/10.1037/adb0000928
• Webb Hooper, M., Carpenter, K. M., Salmon, E. E., & Resnicow, K. (2023). Enhancing Tobacco Quitline Outcomes for African American Adults: An RCT of a Culturally Specific Intervention. American Journal of Preventive Medicine 65(6), 964−972. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37302513/

Page updated Nov. 26, 2024