- Assistant Professor of Cancer Prevention and Control, Health Communication Researcher, West Virginia University
Dannell Boatman, EdD, MS, is a health communication researcher with the WVU Cancer Institute and an Assistant Professor in the WVU School of Medicine, Department of Cancer Prevention and Control. Her research focuses on advancing health communication strategies to improve cancer outcomes in rural communities. She specializes in translating scientific evidence into clear, actionable messaging across clinical, community, and digital settings. Her work integrates communication and behavioral sciences with community insights to make health information effective, accessible, and actionable.
As director of the Communicating for Health in Appalachia by Translating Science (CHATS) Lab, she leads interdisciplinary research to design communication interventions that resonate with rural populations and drive positive health behaviors. She and her team launched the CHATS Core at the WVU Cancer Institute to support researchers and practitioners in translating their research to different audiences to amplify the impact of their work.
Dr. Boatman’s path to research was shaped by early work as a practice facilitator in rural West Virginia primary care clinics, where she helped implement evidence-based strategies to increase cancer screening rates. This practical experience deepened her understanding of rural health challenges and inspired her pursuit of graduate training. She completed postdoctoral training at the WVU Cancer Institute where she honed her expertise in cancer prevention and control and developed an independent research agenda in cancer communication science. Since her faculty appointment in 2023, she has advanced this research agenda by serving as principal investigator or other key personnel on federal and private foundation grants.
Dr. Boatman's work has been recognized by the Academy of Communication in Healthcare (Putnam Scholar), the WV Clinical and Translational Science Institute (Research Scholar), and Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society. She contributes nationally and globally through service with the National Lung Cancer Roundtable Stigma and Nihilism Task Group, the World Health Organization Health Information Integrity Alliance, and the editorial board of PEC Innovation.
Experience
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2023–presentAssistant Professor and Health Communication Researcher, West Virginia University
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2024–presentDirector, Communicating for Health in Appalachia by Translating Science (CHATS) Core, West Virginia University Cancer Institute
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2020–2023Postdoctoral Research Associate, West Virginia University Cancer Institute
Education
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2023University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign , Master of Science, Health Communication
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2020AT Still University of Health Sciences, Doctor of Education in Health Education
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2016Kansas State University, Master of Science, Adult Education
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2008West Virginia University, Regents Bachelor of Arts, Communication Studies
Publications
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2026Designing Communication Strategies to Increase Rural Participation in Clinical Trials Using the Health Belief Model and Strategic Communication, Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications
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2025Confronting Nihilism and Stigma in Lung Cancer: The Nurse Practitioner's Role in Restoring Hope and Trust, Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners
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2025Using REDCap to Address Gaps in Electronic Health Record Data for Strengthening Colorectal Cancer Screening and Navigation, Advances in Health Information Science and Practice
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2025Community co-design of research intervention materials to reduce cervical cancer disparities in Appalachia, PEC Innovation
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2025Adapting the MUSIQ calculator for practice facilitators to evaluate primary care clinic performance in a colorectal cancer screening quality improvement project, Journal of Primary Care & Community Health
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2024Results of an HPV self-collection educational intervention for health care providers in Appalachia., Women’s Health Reports
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2024HPV vaccine misinformation on social media: A multi-method qualitative analysis of comments across three platforms, PEC Innovation
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2024A mail-based HPV self-collection program to increase cervical cancer screening in Appalachia: Results of a group randomized trial, Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention
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2024A new communication approach to encourage lung cancer screening action in rural eligible populations, PEC Innovation
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2024A health information technology protocol to enhance colorectal cancer screening, JMIR Formative Research
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2024Unmet needs and care delivery gaps among rural cancer survivors, Journal of Patient Experience
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2024Using social listening for digital public health surveillance of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine misinformation online: An exploratory study, JMIR Infodemiology
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2023Cancer screening behaviors and associations with childhood trauma, resiliency, and patient-provider relationships: Findings from an exploratory study of Appalachian cervical cancer survivors, Journal of Appalachian Health
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2022Addressing lung cancer health disparities in West Virginia: An academic- industry collaboration model, Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved
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2022Human papillomavirus vaccine messaging on TikTok: Social media content analysis, Health Promotion Practice
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2021Appalachian caregiver perspectives on childhood gun safety in the home, Journal of Appalachian Health
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2020Advancing cancer prevention practice facilitation work in rural primary care during COVID-19, Journal of Appalachian Health
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2020Leveraging electronic health records data for enhanced colorectal cancer screening efforts, Journal of Appalachian Health
Grants and Contracts
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2025Influencing HPV Vaccine Misinformation Narratives on Social Media Through Inoculation Messaging
- Role:
- Principal Investigator
- Funding Source:
- Merck
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2025West Virginia Program to Increase Colorectal Cancer Screening
- Role:
- Evaluator
- Funding Source:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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2025Expanding the CHATS Core at the WVU Cancer Institute
- Role:
- Principal Investigator
- Funding Source:
- DeLynn Foundation
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2024Developing a Lung Cancer Screening Shared Decision-Making Intervention for Appalachian Primary Care
- Role:
- Research Scholar
- Funding Source:
- West Virginia Clinical & Translational Sciences Institute
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2024Developing a Health Communication Core at the WVU Cancer Institute
- Role:
- Principal Investigator
- Funding Source:
- DeLynn Foundation
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2024Multilevel RCT of Rural Community Sun Safety for Young Children in Sports
- Role:
- Site Principal Investigator
- Funding Source:
- National Cancer Institute
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2024West Virginia Rural Roots to Research (WVR3)
- Role:
- Co-Investigator
- Funding Source:
- National Institutes of Health
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2023HPV Vaccine Social Media Posts: Content Analysis of User Comments
- Role:
- Principal Investigator
- Funding Source:
- Merck
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2022HPV Vaccination Decisions for Appalachian Adolescents with Disabilities: A Caregiver-Youth Dyadic Study Approach
- Role:
- Principal Investigator
- Funding Source:
- Sisters of St. Joseph Health and Wellness Foundation
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2020West Virginia Program to Increase Colorectal Cancer Screening
- Role:
- Evaluator
- Funding Source:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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2019Improving Uptake of Cervical Cancer Prevention Services in Appalachia
- Role:
- Manager
- Funding Source:
- National Institutes of Health
Professional Memberships
- Member, Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society
- Member, American Society of Preventative Oncology
- Member, Academy for Communication in Healthcare
- Member, Society for Health Communication
- Health Information Integrity Alliance Member, World Health Organization
- Stigma and Nihilism Task Group Member, National Lung Cancer Roundtable
Honours
Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society; Putnam Scholar, Academy of Communication in Healthcare; Research Scholar, WV Clinical and Translational Science Institute
Contact Dannell for
- General
- Media request
- Speaking request
- Consulting / Advising
- Research collaboration
- Research supervision
- Location: Morgantown, West Virginia, U.S.
- Website
- LinkedIn: dboatman
- X (formerly Twitter): @dr_dboatman
- Article Feed
- ORCID
- Joined
