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Syrjala
Karen Syrjala, PhD
- Professor Emeritus, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutch
- Professor Emeritus, Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutch
- Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine
Background
Dr. Karen Syrjala is a clinical psychologist who works to reduce the physical and emotional consequences of cancer. Her research focuses on defining the long-term complications of cancer treatment, including blood stem cell transplantation. She leads clinical trials to improve outcomes during and after cancer treatment. Those studies have focused on symptom management for pain, musculoskeletal symptoms, fatigue, emotional distress, insomnia and sexual function. Dr. Syrjala co-directed Fred Hutchinson’s Survivorship Program and directed the Biobehavioral Sciences Program, which studies ways to integrate behavioral and biological treatments to help patients adjust to the health, physical and psychological challenges they face after cancer therapy.
Education
Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of Washington and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Pain/Behavioral Medicine, 1985
PhD, Clinical Psychology, Boston University, 1983
MA, Clinical Psychology, Boston University, 1980
BA, Psychology and English, Wellesley College, 1973
Research Interests
Determining acute, long term and late complications of cancer treatment for hematopoietic cell transplantation and other cancer survivors, along with clinical trials to improve outcomes during and after cancer treatment.