Heather N Owens, PhD, MPH

Dr. Heather Owens is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Systems and Policy at West Virginia University School of Pharmacy.

Assistant Professor

Organization:

West Virginia University School of Pharmacy

Department:

Pharmaceutical Systems & Policy

Classification:

Faculty

Assistant Professor

Organization:

West Virginia University School of Medicine

Department:

Cancer Prevention and Control

Classification:

Faculty

• PhD, University of South Florida, 2023
• MPH, East Tennessee State University, 2018

1. Christy, S.M., Sutton, S.K., Owens, H., Trejos, R., Patra, C., Arevalo, M., Meade, C.D., Ramos, M., Borrego, J., Park, E., Vadaparampil, S.T., Jimenez, J.C., Sanchez, J., Marzan-Rodriguez, M. Human papillomavirus vaccine knowledge, health beliefs, recommendation receipt, and intentions among unvaccinated Spanish-speaking young adult Hispanic/Latino sexual minority men. Ethnicity & Health (Accepted).

2. Vazquez-Otero, C.+, Owens, H.N.+, Arevalo, M., Cui, J., Chavez, M.N, Maconi, M.L., Geiss, C., Turner, K., Vadaparampil, S.T., Barrios-Monroy, V., Pena, A., Whiting, J., Christy, S.M. (2026). Primary care providers’ perspectives on barriers and facilitators to human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination among young adults: A qualitative study. Journal of Cancer Education. doi: 10.1007/s13187-025-02802-z.

3. Owens, H., Griner, S.B., Beckstead, J., Kim, E., Zgibor, J., Daley, E. (2025). Predictors of intention to use at-home HPV testing: Health belief factors and potential moderation by decision-making style. Women’s Health Issues (accepted).

4. Owens, H.N., Arevalo, M., Whitmer, A., Fuzzell, L., Geiss, C., Turner, K., Chung-Bridges, K., Endemano, E., Parras, D., Christy, S.M., & Vadaparampil, S.T. (2025). Development and evaluation of an HPV vaccine champion training: A strategy to boost adolescent vaccination in community health centers in Florida. Journal of Cancer Education. doi: 10.1007/s13187-025-02658-3

5. Owens, H.N., Brownstein, N.C., Whiting, J., Arevalo, M., Kasting, M.L., Vadaparampil, S.T., Head, K.J., & Christy, S.M. (2025). Factors associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) patient-clinician communication and HPV vaccine uptake among adults. Preventive Medicine, 195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2025.108280

6. Owens, H., Daley, E., Richardson Cayama, M., Villa, A., Beckstead, J., Pezzo, M., Sauls, R., Vamos, C. (2025). Missed opportunities for adolescent HPV vaccination in the United States: Parents’ perceptions of a range of healthcare providers and settings. Journal of Cancer Education. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-025-02572-8

7. Desch, J., Thompson, E., Beckstead, J., Owens, H., Richardson Cayama, M., Hernandez, P., Valencia, J., Zimet, G., Vamos, C., Daley, E. (2024). Improving United States HPV vaccination rates: Factors predictive of parental attitudes towards middle school entry requirements. Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics, 20(1):2390231. Doi: 10.1080/21645515.2024.2390231

8. Owens, H., Beckstead, J., Walker, K., Thompson, E.L., Tomar, S.L., Griner, S., Desch, J., Daley, E.M. (2023). Dental patients’ communication preferences for learning about HPV-related topics. General Dentistry, 71(1):38-43. PMID: 36592357.

9. Daley, E.M., Thompson, E.L., Beckstead, J., Driscoll, A., Vamos, C., Piepenbrink, R.P., Desch, J., Merrell, L., Richardson Cayama, M.B., Owens, H., Lovett, S.M. (2021). Discussing HPV and oropharyngeal cancer in dental settings: Gender and provider-type matter. Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics. https://doi.org/10.1080/21645515.2021.1996809

10. Walker, K., Owens, H., Zimet, G. (2020). “We Fear the Unknown”: Emergence, route, and transfer of hesitancy and misinformation among HPV vaccine accepting mothers. Preventive Medicine Reports, 20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2020.10

Selection as an American Cancer Society National HPV Vaccination Roundtable Emerging Leaders Fellow (2025-2026)

I completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Behavioral Oncology at Moffitt Cancer Center (Jan. 2024-Dec. 2025).

Dr. Heather Owens is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Systems and Policy at West Virginia University School of Pharmacy. She obtained her PhD in Public Health (Epidemiology) at the University of South Florida College of Public Health and her Master of Public Health (Epidemiology) at East Tennessee State University. Dr. Owens completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Behavioral Oncology at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida.

Dr. Owens’s research focus is cancer prevention and control in rural areas. Her primary research program focuses on HPV-related cancer prevention through increasing access to and utilization of HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening.