Assistant Professor
Leli.Pedro@ucdenver.edu
Dr. Leli Pedro’s research focuses on cancer survivorship and health-related quality of life (HRQL) for rural residents and elders. Dr. Pedro has conducted research with long-term cancer survivors and prostate cancer couples that focuses on psychosocial predictors, quality-of-life outcomes, and nursing interventions. Concepts of communication, health disparities, contextual health, and self-management characterize the research.
Findings from a pilot study funded by the Doris Kemp-Smith award include the association of social support and rurality with HRQL for long-term cancer survivors. Rural long-term cancer survivors' HRQL may be addressed by understanding the impact of rurality. Dr. Pedro’s research moves forward with a funded 3-year grant from the National Institute of Health’s Institute for Nursing Research; the study is entitled “Rural long-term cancer survivors and contextual health-related quality of life.” The study is guided by Ashing-Giwa’s HRQOL Model and will add "contextual milieu" to the predominantly individual-centered HRQL paradigms. This perspective is useful for exploring the complexities of rural culture as a health determinant and HRQL. This study applies to HRQL interventions that are culturally (rural as primary culture with ethnic/racial and age considerations) appropriate at the micro/macro levels for this growing sub-group of cancer survivors.
At three different health science universities, Dr. Pedro has acquired extensive teaching experience, having taught, across curricula, chronic illness, adult and older adult health, oncology, professional issues and curriculum design. She has mentored junior faculty in teaching methods and evaluation. As an active member of Sigma Theta Tau International and the Oncology Nursing Society, she has served as Sigma Theta Tau Peer Reviewer for the On-line Case Study Program and the Oncology Nursing Society Small Grants and Awards Review Team. She is an NLN certified nurse educator as well as a certified oncology and medical-surgical nurse. Dr. Pedro is a board member of the Philippine Nurses Association of America Colorado Chapter and reviewer for the Journal of the Philippine Nurses Association of America. These professional roles are complemented by Dr. Pedro’s musical and photography talents and interests in travel, movies, and one-of-a-kind antiques.