Jessie Gruman
Encyclopedia
Jessie Gruman is active in the movement to incorporate evidence into health care and to help consumers adopt healthier behaviors. Gruman is the founder and president of the Washington-based Center for Advancing Health. She is the author of AfterShock: What to Do When the Doctor Gives You -- or Someone You Love -- a Devastating Diagnosis. (Walker, 2007). She lives in New York City.
She is a three time cancer survivor: at 20 she was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease, at 30 she developed cervical cancer, and at 50 she developed colon cancer. She used her personal and academic background to understand how people respond to serious illness.
Gruman interviewed 200 patients and families about how they used scientific information after devastating medical diagnoses. In a keynote address, she said, "I fear that the trend toward consumer-driven health care will disproportionately damage the health of the less educated and less wealthy, and that the net effect on the nation's health has already proved negative." She concluded that most patients are unable to make critical decisions about their health care in the consumer-driven model. Some people, called "monitors," track down detailed information, while other people, called "blunters," don't want information. One blunter, a theoretical physicist, said he would be "insulted" if someone read 15 papers on theoretical physics and asked him to help design an experiment; he pays his doctor to explain his choices. A "monitor," a lawyer, applied her legal research skills but couldn't think clearly enough to decide. People turn to the Internet, become overwhelmed, or don't understand the significance of the information. "Most health information is bad news," is stressful, and makes decisions even more difficult.
Gruman was born in Berea, Kentucky
, and graduated from Vassar College
in 1975 with a with a BA
in English. She received a PhD
in social psychology from Columbia University
in 1984. Her interest in psychology was sparked by her experience when she was treated for cancer
at the University of Wisconsin Medical Center at the age of 20. Despite her life-threatening condition, she struggled to comply with treatments that would increase her chance of her recovery. This casual, irrational misbehavior in the face of extreme risk drives her interest in the complicated forces that influence how people act with regard to their health and health care.
, Communications between 1984 and 1986. Gruman then managed the American Cancer Society
's public education efforts directed toward adults from 1986 through 1988. This position led to the opportunity to set up the nation's largest tobacco control demonstration project, ASSIST (the American Stop Smoking Intervention Study) at the National Cancer Institute
, part of the National Institutes of Health
.
In 1992, executives from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the Nathan Cummings Foundation
recruited Gruman to lead a new Washington DC-based policy institute, the Center for the Advancement of Health. Its purpose was to promote a view of health that recognizes the influence of behavioral, social, economic and environmental factors on health and disease. Since that time, the Center has grown into a respected source of scientific evidence related to this view of health through its Health Behavior News Service, which covers new scientific developments for the international media. Gruman writes, speaks and is interviewed frequently about how people use scientific evidence when making decisions about their health and health care and what it means to be a health care consumer.
of the US Department of Health and Human Services, and is a member of the boards of trustees of the National Health Council, the Public Health Institute, the Center for Information Therapy and the Sallan Foundation. She is also currently a member of the Advisory Board of the United States Cochrane Center, the Editorial Board, Annals of Family Medicine, and the Advisory Board of the American Psychosocial Oncology Society. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations
. She is co-Editor of a new Open Access, Open Source and Open Peer Review journal, the Journal of Participatory Medicine.
May 2009, Honorary Doctorate of Science, Georgetown University
May 2009, Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, New York University
May 2009, Honorary Doctorate of Science, Tulane University
May 2008, Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, Salve Regina University
August 2007, Honorary Doctorate of Public Service, Northeastern University
May 2006, President's Medal, George Washington University
April 2006, Executive in Residence, Vassar College
March 2006, Research!America Advocacy Award
May 2005, Honorary Doctorate of Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University
April 2005, Society of Behavioral Medicine Leadership in Translation of Research to Practice Award
August 2001, American Psychological Association
Outstanding Service to Division 38 (Health Psychology) Award
April 2000, Society of Behavioral Medicine Distinguished Service Award
April 2000, Society of Behavioral Medicine Fellow
She is a three time cancer survivor: at 20 she was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease, at 30 she developed cervical cancer, and at 50 she developed colon cancer. She used her personal and academic background to understand how people respond to serious illness.
Gruman interviewed 200 patients and families about how they used scientific information after devastating medical diagnoses. In a keynote address, she said, "I fear that the trend toward consumer-driven health care will disproportionately damage the health of the less educated and less wealthy, and that the net effect on the nation's health has already proved negative." She concluded that most patients are unable to make critical decisions about their health care in the consumer-driven model. Some people, called "monitors," track down detailed information, while other people, called "blunters," don't want information. One blunter, a theoretical physicist, said he would be "insulted" if someone read 15 papers on theoretical physics and asked him to help design an experiment; he pays his doctor to explain his choices. A "monitor," a lawyer, applied her legal research skills but couldn't think clearly enough to decide. People turn to the Internet, become overwhelmed, or don't understand the significance of the information. "Most health information is bad news," is stressful, and makes decisions even more difficult.
Gruman was born in Berea, Kentucky
Berea, Kentucky
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 9,851 people, 3,693 households, and 2,426 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,055.4 people per square mile . There were 4,115 housing units at an average density of 440.9 per square mile...
, and graduated from Vassar College
Vassar College
Vassar College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college in the town of Poughkeepsie, New York, in the United States. The Vassar campus comprises over and more than 100 buildings, including four National Historic Landmarks, ranging in style from Collegiate Gothic to International,...
in 1975 with a with a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in English. She received a PhD
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in social psychology from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in 1984. Her interest in psychology was sparked by her experience when she was treated for cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
at the University of Wisconsin Medical Center at the age of 20. Despite her life-threatening condition, she struggled to comply with treatments that would increase her chance of her recovery. This casual, irrational misbehavior in the face of extreme risk drives her interest in the complicated forces that influence how people act with regard to their health and health care.
Career
Throughout her career, her understanding of these concerns has grown in each position she has held. From 1979 to 1984, she worked at the Greenwich House Counseling Center with substance abusers and their families. She implemented the innovative employee health promotion program, Total Life Concept (TLC) at the national headquarters of AT&TAT&T
AT&T Inc. is an American multinational telecommunications corporation headquartered in Whitacre Tower, Dallas, Texas, United States. It is the largest provider of mobile telephony and fixed telephony in the United States, and is also a provider of broadband and subscription television services...
, Communications between 1984 and 1986. Gruman then managed the American Cancer Society
American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is the "nationwide community-based voluntary health organization" dedicated, in their own words, "to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and...
's public education efforts directed toward adults from 1986 through 1988. This position led to the opportunity to set up the nation's largest tobacco control demonstration project, ASSIST (the American Stop Smoking Intervention Study) at the National Cancer Institute
National Cancer Institute
The National Cancer Institute is part of the National Institutes of Health , which is one of 11 agencies that are part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The NCI coordinates the U.S...
, part of the National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
The National Institutes of Health are an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and are the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and health-related research. Its science and engineering counterpart is the National Science Foundation...
.
In 1992, executives from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the Nathan Cummings Foundation
Nathan Cummings Foundation
The Nathan Cummings Foundation was endowed by Nathan Cummings , founder of Consolidated Foods, now called Sara Lee Corporation...
recruited Gruman to lead a new Washington DC-based policy institute, the Center for the Advancement of Health. Its purpose was to promote a view of health that recognizes the influence of behavioral, social, economic and environmental factors on health and disease. Since that time, the Center has grown into a respected source of scientific evidence related to this view of health through its Health Behavior News Service, which covers new scientific developments for the international media. Gruman writes, speaks and is interviewed frequently about how people use scientific evidence when making decisions about their health and health care and what it means to be a health care consumer.
Board of Directors and Membership
Gruman currently serves as a member of the Advisory Panel on Medicare Education for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid ServicesCenters for Medicare and Medicaid Services
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services , previously known as the Health Care Financing Administration , is a federal agency within the United States Department of Health and Human Services that administers the Medicare program and works in partnership with state governments to administer...
of the US Department of Health and Human Services, and is a member of the boards of trustees of the National Health Council, the Public Health Institute, the Center for Information Therapy and the Sallan Foundation. She is also currently a member of the Advisory Board of the United States Cochrane Center, the Editorial Board, Annals of Family Medicine, and the Advisory Board of the American Psychosocial Oncology Society. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations
Council on Foreign Relations
The Council on Foreign Relations is an American nonprofit nonpartisan membership organization, publisher, and think tank specializing in U.S. foreign policy and international affairs...
. She is co-Editor of a new Open Access, Open Source and Open Peer Review journal, the Journal of Participatory Medicine.
Awards
May 2009, Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, Brown UniversityBrown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
May 2009, Honorary Doctorate of Science, Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
May 2009, Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
May 2009, Honorary Doctorate of Science, Tulane University
Tulane University
Tulane University is a private, nonsectarian research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States...
May 2008, Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, Salve Regina University
Salve Regina University
Salve Regina University is a university in Newport, Rhode Island. Founded by the Sisters of Mercy, the university is a Catholic, co-educational, private, non-profit institution chartered by the State of Rhode Island in 1934. In 1947 the university acquired Ochre Court and welcomed its first class...
August 2007, Honorary Doctorate of Public Service, Northeastern University
May 2006, President's Medal, George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
April 2006, Executive in Residence, Vassar College
Vassar College
Vassar College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college in the town of Poughkeepsie, New York, in the United States. The Vassar campus comprises over and more than 100 buildings, including four National Historic Landmarks, ranging in style from Collegiate Gothic to International,...
March 2006, Research!America Advocacy Award
May 2005, Honorary Doctorate of Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States....
April 2005, Society of Behavioral Medicine Leadership in Translation of Research to Practice Award
August 2001, American Psychological Association
American Psychological Association
The American Psychological Association is the largest scientific and professional organization of psychologists in the United States. It is the world's largest association of psychologists with around 154,000 members including scientists, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. The APA...
Outstanding Service to Division 38 (Health Psychology) Award
April 2000, Society of Behavioral Medicine Distinguished Service Award
April 2000, Society of Behavioral Medicine Fellow