Research at the Rural Cancer Institute
The Rural Cancer Institute conducts both student-led and provider-led research on topics relating to the rural cancer gap. RCI’s research agenda is coordinated by our Director of Research, Ingrid Jacobson. There are currently six dedicated research groups, each advised by a rural-practicing oncologist. In addition, RCI supports independent research projects designed by RCI’s research & advocacy fellows and RCI-affiliated residents, attendings, and other professionals and community members.
Interested in joining one of our research groups? Or, is there an area of research/have you observed something rural oncology-related that no one else seems to be interested in researching? Contact us and let us know!
Latest Research Recap
Research recaps are 1-minute summaries of our published papers. We provide research recaps to improve visibility and accessibility of our research, which may otherwise be inaccessible to blind or vision-impaired readers, or hidden behind paywalls. Each research recap is given by an RCI or RCI-affiliated co-author of the paper.
Head and Neck Group (HANG)
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Women's Health Group
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Pediatric, Adolescent, and Young Adult (PAYA) Cancers
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Rural Cancer Care Experiences
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Rural Cancer Care Delivery Group
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Rural Health Policy and Advocacy Group
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Head and Neck Group (HANG) ✳︎ Women's Health Group ✳︎ Pediatric, Adolescent, and Young Adult (PAYA) Cancers ✳︎ Rural Cancer Care Experiences ✳︎ Rural Cancer Care Delivery Group ✳︎ Rural Health Policy and Advocacy Group ✳︎
RCI Research Groups
Rural Head and Neck Group (HANG)
The head and neck cancer group (HANG) investigates issues related to rural head and neck cancers and rural dentistry. Currently, HANG also encompasses research on colorectal cancer, although this may soon move to a new research group. HANG is advised by hematologist/ oncologist Dr. Aquino Williams, MD (Lakewood Health System, Staples, MN).
Most Recent Research Output: “HPV Vaccination Uptake and Oropharyngeal Cancer Burden: A County-Level Rural-Urban Analysis” at the Rural Oncology Conference 2026 (Minneapolis, MN)
Rural Cancer Care Experiences Group
The rural cancer care experiences group researches the “squishier” and more intangible aspects of rural oncology, concerning patient experiences around, attitudes towards, trust in, and quality of health care in rural areas. This group is advised by Dr. Payton Markley, MD (Intermountain Health, CO) and Dr. Jasmine Kamboj, MD (Northfield Hospital, Northfield, MN), both rural oncologists.
Most Recent Research Output: “Social support as a novel predictor of healthcare affordability among adults with lifetime histories of cancer” in Discover Public Health
Rural Women’s Health and Cancer Group
The women’s health and cancer group researches breast, cervical, ovarian, and endometrial cancers through a rural lens. The women’s health group is advised by medical oncologist Dr. Emily McGovern, DO (Lakewood Health System, Staples, MN).
Most Recent Research Output: “Breast cancer screening method prevalences in rural and urban women post-pandemic” in the Journal of Rural Health
Rural Cancer Care Delivery Group
The rural cancer care delivery group investigates how cancer care is delivered to communities throughout rural America. This group is advised by rural oncologists Dr. Joshua Pritchett, MD (Mayo Clinic Health System, La Crosse, WI) and Dr. Jasmine Kamboj (Northfield Hospital, Northfield, MN).
Most Recent Research Output: “Bridging the Rural Cancer Gap: Why Clinical Trials Must Include Rural Patients” in Cancer Causes & Control (in collaboration with the Rural Health Policy and Advocacy Group)
Rural Pediatric, Adolescent, and Young Adult (PAYA) Cancer Group
Pediatric, adolescent, and young adult (PAYA) cancers are under-researched compared to adult cancers, and dramatically less so among rural children. The PAYA cancer group aims to build the research base around rural PAYA cancers. The PAYA group is advised by Dr. Zachary Schroeder, MD (Atrium Health Wake Forest, Winston-Salem, NC), who is both an oncologist and a rural PAYA cancer survivor (read his story here).
Most Recent Research Output: “Pediatric and Adolescent Cancer Incidence Rates in 29 Non-Metropolitan Counties: An Analysis of Publicly Available Data” in Pediatric Blood & Cancer
Rural Health Policy and Advocacy Group
The rural health policy and advocacy group publishes research and briefs aimed at informing current health policy for the betterment of rural America. This group is advised by Dr. Wade Swenson, MD, MPH, MBA (Lakewood Health System, Staples, MN), a medical oncologist and the founder of the Rural Cancer Institute.
Most Recent Research Output: “Bridging the Rural Cancer Gap: Why Clinical Trials Must Include Rural Patients” in Cancer Causes & Control (in collaboration with the Rural Cancer Care Delivery Group)
Recent Peer-Reviewed Publications by RCI Members and Affiliates
Social support as a novel predictor of healthcare affordability among adults with lifetime histories of cancer
est. June 2026, Discover Public Health
Ingrid Jacobson, MPH; Andrew Armstong, BS (MS4); and Zachary Schroeder, MD
As Part of the Rural Cancer Care Experiences Group
Pediatric and Adolescent Cancer Incidence Rates in 29 Non-Metropolitan U.S. Counties: An Analysis of Publicly Available Data
May 2026, Pediatric Blood and Cancer
Ingrid Jacobson, MPH; Luke Levasseur, BA (MS2); Laura Hankins, BS (MS2); Aryan Kamboj; and Zachary Schroeder, MD
As Part of the Rural PAYA Cancer Group
Rural-Urban Differences in Cancer Worry, Fatalism, and Attitudes Towards Research Progress
March 2026, Cancer Causes & Control
Ingrid Jacobson, MPH; Payton Markley, MD; and Jasmine Kamboj, MD
As Part of the Rural Cancer Care Experiences Group
The Case for Decentralizing Cancer Care: The Rural Oncology Home
April 2024, New England Journal of Medicine Catalyst
Wade Swenson, MD, MPH, MBA; Missy Lindow, MBA; Joe Reycraft; Lisa Bjerga, CPA; Zachary Schroeder, BS; Abby Swenson, BA; and Emily (Westergard) McGovern, DO
As Part of the Rural Cancer Care Delivery Group
The struggles that are faced with a rural cancer diagnosis: My personal story
July 2023, The Journal of Rural Health
Zachary Schroeder, BS
As Part of the Rural Health Policy and Advocacy Group
Health Effects of Smoke Exposure in Wildland Firefighters
June 2026, Atmosphere
Andrew Armstrong, BS (MS4); Iza Zabaneh; Isabela Maluli; Paige DaFoe; Angel Sheu; and Wade Swenson, MD, MPH, MBA
As an Independent Research Project
Loneliness is Differentially Associated with Increased Cancer Mortality in Rural and Urban U.S. Counties
March 2026, Journal of General Internal Medicine
Ingrid Jacobson, MPH; Zachary Schroeder, MD; and Wade Swenson, MD, MPH, MBA
As Part of the Rural Cancer Care Experiences Group
Thank You for Being Here: Insights From Rural Oncology Practice
February 2024, Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO) Oncology Practice (OP)
Wade Swenson, MD, MPH, MBA
As Part of the Rural Cancer Care Delivery Group
Challenges and Opportunities for Rural Multidisciplinary Lung Cancer Care
December 2025, Journal of the American College of Radiology
Margaret Walker, MD, MPH; Kyle Burton, MD; Diego Collazo-Irizzary, MD; Wade Swenson, MD, MPH, MBA; Joshua Pritchett, MD; Noelle LoConte, MD; and Anand Narayan, MD, PhD
As Part of a Multi-Center Collaboration
Bridging the Rural Cancer Gap: Why Clinical Trials Must Include Rural Patients
December 2025, Cancer Causes & Control
Ingrid Jacobson, MPH; Emily McGovern, DO; and Wade Swenson, MD, MPH, MBA
As Part of the Rural Cancer Care Delivery and Rural Health Policy and Advocacy Groups
Bridging The Rural Health Care Gap: The 340B Program
December 2023, Health Affairs
Wade Swenson, MD, MPH, MBA
As Part of the Rural Health Policy and Advocacy Group
Breast cancer screening method prevalences in rural and urban women post-pandemic
October 2025, The Journal of Rural Health
Ingrid Jacobson, MPH; Brooke Gully, MS; Anika Eldien, BS (MS2); and Emily McGovern, DO
As Part of the Women’s Health and Cancer Group
Human-Centered Design: A Possible Solution to Rural Clinical Trial Enrollment
September 2023, Oncology Issues
Wade Swenson, MD, MPH, MBA; Emily (Westergard) McGovern, DO; Zachary Schroeder, BS; and Abby Swenson, BA
As Part of the Rural Cancer Care Delivery Group
Reasons for uninsurance among rural working-age U.S. adults with histories of cancer
est. June 2026, Discover Public Health
Ingrid Jacobson, MPH; Emily McGovern, DO; and Wade Swenson, MD, MPH, MBA
As Part of the Rural Cancer Care Experiences Group
Say Hello! Catch RCI In-Person at Conferences
RCI Members Will Be Attending the Following Upcoming Academic and Professional Conferences…
Rural Minnesota Lung Cancer Summit | Brainerd, MN | June 26, 2026
Transforming Community, Regional, and Rural Healthcare 2026 | Rochester, MN | October 12-13, 2026
ASCO Quality Care Symposium | Boston, MA | October 16-17, 2026
San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium | San Antonio, TX | December 8-11, 2026
Rural Oncology Conference (ROC) North Carolina | Chapel Hill, NC | April 30-May 1, 2027
