Beth Meyerowitz

Summary Statement of Research Interests

Beth Meyerowitz is Professor of Psychology and Preventive Medicine at the University of Southern California. She, and the students who work with her, study the psychosocial issues facing individuals diagnosed with chronic illness. For 30 years, she has investigated the distress and disruption associated with the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and the factors that aid individuals in coping and adjustment. This work, which has included a focus on diverse groups of patients and their family members, has involved collaborations with physicians and other health care providers in the United States and Europe.

Current research projects include investigation of quality of life and coping among the partners of cancer survivors and their impact on patient adjustment; adjustment following the diagnosis of prostate cancer over the years after treatment; cognitive functioning among older, long-term cancer survivors; and quality of life and attitudes toward preventive behaviors among Latina women with gynecological cancers. These studies are being conducted in a variety of clinical settings including cancer centers and public and private hospitals.

In addition to her work with cancer survivors, Meyerowitz has been studying trauma and resilience among survivors of the 1994 Tutsi genocide in Rwanda. Through close collaboration with organizations in Rwanda, she is gathering interview and questionnaire data about experiences during the genocide and their relation to post-genocide adjustment.

• USC Raubenheimer Outstanding Senior Faculty Award, , 2007-2008
• USC Award for Excellence in Mentorship for School-wide Mentoring Programs, 2006-2007
• USC Center for Excellence in Teaching, Faculty Fellow, , 1999
• USC or School/Dept Award for Teaching, Psychology Department Teacher of the Year Award, 1990

Administrative Appointments

• Vice Provost for Faculty and Programmatic Development, 2011 –
• USC College Dean of Faculty, 2000 – 2005