Mary Beth Terry, PhD
- Professor of Epidemiology (in Environmental Health Sciences)
Overview
Mary Beth Terry, PhD, is a Professor of Epidemiology and Environmental Sciences at Columbia University. She also serves as Executive Director of Silent Spring Institute, a non-profit research institute, committed to discovery and translation of the role of environmental chemicals on cancer risk. For over 25 years, she has led molecular epidemiologic studies focusing on the role of genomics, epigenomics, and other biomarkers in modifying the effects of environmental exposures on cancer risk and outcomes. She has led some of the first studies of prenatal exposures and their effects on mammographic density as well as breast cancer risk and conducts research focused on understanding gene-environmental interactions during windows of susceptibility. She leads multiple, multi-institutional studies focused on reducing cancer health inequities in New York City communities. In addition to the community-centered consortia, she serves as the contact PI for the international Breast Cancer Family Registry (BCFR). She has received awards for her research, mentoring and community service. In addition to her PhD in Epidemiology, Professor Terry has a Masters Degree in Economics and previously served as an econometrician evaluating government programs.
Academic Appointments
- Professor of Epidemiology (in Environmental Health Sciences)
Administrative Titles
- Associate Director for Population Sciences and Community Outreach, HICCC
Credentials & Experience
Education & Training
- MA, Economics, University of Washington, Seattle WA
- PhD, Epidemiology, Columbia University
- BA, International Affairs, George Washington University
Committees, Societies, Councils
Society for Epidemiologic Research
American Association for Cancer Research
American Society for Preventive Oncology
Editorial Boards
International Journal of Epidemiology
Breast Cancer Research
Honors & Awards
2023 Columbia University HICCC Distinguished Award for Service
2023 MSPH Dean’s Leadership Award
2023 Elected Member, Columbia Academy of Community and Public Service
2018 Susan Bulkeley Leadership Award, International Breast Cancer Network
2015 Provost’s Leadership Fellows Award
2013 MSPH Dean’s Excellence in Mentoring Award
2010 Glenda Garvey Teaching Academy, Columbia University
Research
Longitudinal Studies, Research Design and Methods, Adolescent Health, Cancer, Cancer Breast, Cancer Screening, Community Programs and Outreach, Disparities / Inequalities in Health, Women's Health, Environmental Epidemiology, Molecular Epidemiology, Genetic Susceptibility, Genetics, Perinatal Epidemiology, Life-course Approach to Prevention
Research Interests
- Biostatistical Methods
- Child and Adolescent Health
- Chronic disease
- Community Health
- Environmental Health
- Genetics
- Maternal and Reproductive Health
- Public Health Education
Selected Publications
1.Kehm RD, Lloyd SE, Burke KR, Terry MB. Advancing environmental epidemiologic methods to confront the cancer burden. Am J Epidemiol. 2024 Jul 20:kwae175. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwae175. Online ahead of print. PMID: 39030715
2.Kehm RD, Knight JA, Houghton LC, McDonald JA, Schwartz LA, Goldberg M, Chung WK, Frost CJ, Wei Y, Bradbury AR, Keegan THM, Daly MB, Buys SS, Andrulis IL, John EM, Terry MB. Childhood physical activity and pubertal timing: findings from the LEGACY girls study. Int J Epidemiol. 2024 Feb 1;53(1):dyad193. doi: 10.1093/ije/dyad193. PMID: 38205889
3.Terry MB, Colditz GA. Epidemiology and Risk Factors for Breast Cancer: 21st Century Advances, Gaps to Address through Interdisciplinary Science. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med. 2023 Feb 13:a041317. doi: 10.1101/cshperspect.a041317. Online ahead of print. PMID: 36781224
4.Kehm RD, Walter EJ, Oskar S, White ML, Tehranifar P, Herbstman JB, Perera F, Lilge L, Miller RL, Terry MB. Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons during pregnancy and breast tissue composition in adolescent daughters and their mothers: a prospective cohort study.Breast Cancer Res. 2022 Jul 11;24(1):47. doi: 10.1186/s13058-022-01546-8. PMID: 35821060 Free PMC article.
5.Kehm RD, Llanos AAM, McDonald JA, Tehranifar P, Terry MB.
Evidence-Based Interventions for Reducing Breast Cancer Disparities: What Works and Where the Gaps Are? Cancers (Basel). 2022 Aug 26;14(17):4122. doi: 10.3390/cancers14174122. PMID: 36077659 Free PMC article. Review.
6.Leoce NM, Jin Z, Kehm RD, Roh JM, Laurent CA, Kushi LH, Terry MB. Modeling risks of cardiovascular and cancer mortality following a diagnosis of loco-regional breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res. 2021;23(1):91. Epub 2021/09/29. doi: 10.1186/s13058-021-01469-w. PubMed PMID: 34579765; PMCID: PMC8474887.
7.Lima SM, Kehm RD, Terry MB. Global breast cancer incidence and mortality trends by region, age-groups, and fertility patterns. EClinicalMedicine. 2021 Jul 7;38:100985. doi: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2021.100985. PMID: 34278281; PMCID: PMC8271114.
8.MacInnis RJ, Knight JA, Chung WK, Milne RL, Whittemore AS, Buchsbaum R, Liao Y, Zeinomar N, Dite GS, Southey MC, Goldgar D, Giles GG, Kurian AW; kConFab Investigators, Andrulis IL, John EM, Daly MB, Buys SS, Phillips KA, Hopper JL, Terry MB. Comparing 5-Year and Lifetime Risks of Breast Cancer using the Prospective Family Study Cohort. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2021 Jun 1;113(6):785-791. doi: 10.1093/jnci/djaa178. PMID: 33301022; PMCID: PMC8168075.
9.Zeinomar N, Oskar S, Kehm RD, Sahebzeda S, Terry MB. Environmental exposures and breast cancer risk in the context of underlying susceptibility: A systematic review of the epidemiological literature. Environ Res. 2020 Aug;187:109346. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109346. Epub 2020 Mar 12. Review. PMID: 32445942.
10. Lima SM, Kehm RD, Swett K, Gonsalves L, Terry MB. Trends in Parity and Breast Cancer Incidence in US Women Younger Than 40 Years From 1935 to 2015. JAMA Netw Open. 2020 Mar 2;3(3):e200929. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.0929. PubMed PMID:32167569.
11. Cohn BA, Cirillo PM, Terry MB. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2019 Feb 13. doi: 10.1093/jnci/djy198. [Epub ahead of print] DDT and Breast Cancer: Prospective Study of Induction Time and Susceptibility Windows. PMID: 30759253
12.Terry MB, Liao Y, Whittemore AS, Leoce N, Buchsbaum R, Zeinomar N, Dite GS, Chung WK, Knight JA, Southey MC, Milne RL, Goldgar D, Giles GG, McLachlan SA, Friedlander ML, Weideman PC, Glendon G, Nesci S, Andrulis IL, John EM, Phillips KA, Daly MB, Buys SS, Hopper JL, MacInnis RJ. 10-year performance of four models of breast cancer risk: a validation study. Lancet Oncol. 2019 Apr;20(4):504-517. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(18)30902-1. Epub 2019 Feb 21. PMID: 30799262
13.Terry MB, Liao Y, Kast K, Antoniou AC, McDonald JA, Mooij TM, Engel C, Nogues C, Buecher B, Mari V, Moretta-Serra J, Gladieff L, Luporsi E, Barrowdale D, Frost D, Henderson A, Brewer C, Evans DG, Eccles D, Cook J, Ong KR, Izatt L, Ahmed M, Morrison PJ, Dommering CJ, Oosterwijk JC, Ausems MGEM, Kriege M, Buys SS, Andrulis IL, John EM, Daly M, Friedlander M, McLachlan SA, Osorio A, Caldes T, Jakubowska A, Simard J, Singer CF, Tan Y, Olah E, Navratilova M, Foretova L, Gerdes AM, Roos-Blom MJ, Arver B, Olsson H, Schmutzler RK, Hopper JL, van Leeuwen FE, Goldgar D, Milne RL, Easton DF, Rookus MA, Andrieu N; EMBRACE, GENEPSO, BCFR, HEBON, kConFab and IBCCS. The Influence of Number and Timing of Pregnancies on Breast Cancer Risk for Women With BRCA1 or BRCA2 Mutations. JNCI Cancer Spectr. 2018 Dec;2(4):pky078. doi: 10.1093/jncics/pky078. Epub 2019 Mar 8.
14.Shen J, Liao Y, Hopper JL, Goldberg M, Santella RM, Terry MB.Dependence of cancer risk from environmental exposures on underlying genetic susceptibility: an illustration with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and breast cancer.Br J Cancer. 2017 Mar 28. doi: 10.1038/bjc.2017.81
15.Terry MB, Phillips KA, Daly MB, John EM, Andrulis IL, Buys SS, Goldgar DE, Knight JA, Whittemore AS, Chung WK, Apicella C, Hopper JL. Cohort Profile: The Breast Cancer Prospective Family Study Cohort (ProF-SC).Int J Epidemiol. 2016 Jun;45(3):683-92. doi: 10.1093/ije/dyv118. Epub 2015 Jul 13.
For a complete list of publications, please visit PubMed.gov
Global Health Activities
BCFR- Breast Cancer Family Registry: www.bcfamilyregistry.org
LEGACY Girls Study: www.legacygirlsstudy.org
International Breast Cancer Network: International BRCA1 and BRCA2 prospect cohort
International Breast Cancer Nutrition Network: Network of countries from six continents focused on modifiable factors and cancer risk
Urban Health Activities
COMMUNITY Center: www.health4allnyc.org
SOCA Center: www.socacenternyc.org
DISRUPT: www.stopcancernyc.org