Leah Puklin, PhD, MPH
Postdoctoral AssociateAbout
Research
Publications
2026
Moments of deep connection between clinicians and patients in oncology: a mixed-methods study of sacred moments
Yasin F, Puklin L, Quinn M, Norman K, Saint S, Sanft T. Moments of deep connection between clinicians and patients in oncology: a mixed-methods study of sacred moments. Frontiers In Psychology 2026, 17: 1833697. PMID: 42344987, PMCID: PMC13288769, DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1833697.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMotivation to Participate in a Nutrition and Physical Activity Intervention During Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer: A Qualitative Study
Puklin L, Harrigan M, McGowan C, Ferrucci L, Cartmel B, Zupa M, Deyling M, Sanft T, Sharifi M, Irwin M. Motivation to Participate in a Nutrition and Physical Activity Intervention During Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer: A Qualitative Study. Psycho-Oncology 2026, 35: e70472. PMID: 42025931, PMCID: PMC13106104, DOI: 10.1002/pon.70472.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2025
Effect of a lifestyle intervention during chemotherapy for breast cancer on quality of life
Puklin L, Li F, Ferrucci L, Cartmel B, Harrigan M, McGowan C, Zupa M, Ligibel J, Sanft T, Irwin M. Effect of a lifestyle intervention during chemotherapy for breast cancer on quality of life. JNCI Cancer Spectrum 2025, 10: pkaf125. PMID: 41452765, PMCID: PMC12803784, DOI: 10.1093/jncics/pkaf125.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchThis study investigates whether a yearlong nutrition and exercise program during chemotherapy improves quality of life in breast cancer patients, finding no significant benefits compared to usual care.Addressing conceptual and design gaps in the oncology nutrition evidence base during chemotherapy: contributions of the Exercise and Nutrition Interventions to Improve Cancer Treatment-Related Outcomes Consortium
Compton S, Wopat H, Lopez-Pentecost M, Agurs-Collins T, Brown J, Caan B, Demark-Wahnefried W, Elena J, Ferrucci L, McGowan C, Puklin L, Schmitz K, Thomson C, Robien K, Crane T, Caan B, Anderson S, Bahia H, Castillo A, Feliciano E, Johnson K, Ross M, Weltzein E, Brown J, Compton S, Green T, Nauta P, Yang S, Meyerhardt J, Dieli-Conwright C, Nguyen D, Pena A, Spielmann G, Kim Y, Evans W, Bea J, Blew R, Thomson C, Crane T, Camacho V, Cespedes V, Erlandsen S, Freylersythe S, Hollander K, Lopez-Pentecost M, Penedo F, Rolle L, Rossi P, Schlumbrecht M, Wheeler M, Irwin M, Cao A, Cartmel B, Ferrucci L, Gottlieb L, Harrigan M, Li F, McGowan C, Puklin L, Elena R, Sanft T, Zupa M, Berger N, Cerne S, Mills C, Conochan S, Hundal J, Owusu C, Pink J, Ligibel J, Campbell N, DiGuglielmo K, Kemp W, Maples-Campbell C, Nguyen T, Oppenheim J, Tanasijevic A, Thomson C, Yung A, Basen-Engquist K, Loomba P, Chinchilli V, Schmitz K, Binder J, Doerksen S, Foldi J, Garrett S, Scalise R, Sobolewski M, Scott J, Cercek A, Cai S, Cao S, Furberg H, Harrison J, Jones L, Lee C, Levine R, Michalski M, Moskowitz C, Meara A, Rabazzi J, Stoeckel K, Salz T, Weiser M, Yu A, Demark-Wahnefried W, Robien K, Evans S, DiPietro L, Duong B, Edelstein S, Helmchen L, Le D, McCleary C, Tjaden A, Wopat H, Rabin B, Perna F, Agurs-Collins T, Czajkowski S, Elena J, Nebeling L, Norton W. Addressing conceptual and design gaps in the oncology nutrition evidence base during chemotherapy: contributions of the Exercise and Nutrition Interventions to Improve Cancer Treatment-Related Outcomes Consortium. Journal Of The National Cancer Institute 2025, 117: 2441-2451. PMID: 40680173, PMCID: PMC12682377, DOI: 10.1093/jnci/djaf143.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2024
Baseline predictors associated with successful weight loss among breast cancer survivors in the Lifestyle, Exercise, and Nutrition (LEAN) study
Hoobler R, Puklin L, Harrigan M, Cartmel B, Li F, Sanft T, Ferrucci L, Irwin M, Playdon M. Baseline predictors associated with successful weight loss among breast cancer survivors in the Lifestyle, Exercise, and Nutrition (LEAN) study. Journal Of Cancer Survivorship 2024, 20: 990-998. PMID: 39528779, DOI: 10.1007/s11764-024-01702-3.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchBarriers to and facilitators of improving physical activity and nutrition behaviors during chemotherapy for breast cancer: a sequential mixed methods study
Puklin L, Irwin M, Sanft T, Ferrucci L, Harrigan M, McGowan C, Cartmel B, Zupa M, Winer E, Deyling M, Ligibel J, Basen-Engquist K, Spiegelman D, Sharifi M. Barriers to and facilitators of improving physical activity and nutrition behaviors during chemotherapy for breast cancer: a sequential mixed methods study. Supportive Care In Cancer 2024, 32: 590. PMID: 39141176, DOI: 10.1007/s00520-024-08789-5.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchExercise and Nutrition to Improve Cancer Treatment-Related Outcomes (ENICTO)
Schmitz K, Brown J, Irwin M, Robien K, Scott J, Berger N, Caan B, Cercek A, Crane T, Evans S, Ligibel J, Meyerhardt J, Agurs-Collins T, Basen-Engquist K, Bea J, Cai S, Cartmel B, Chinchilli V, Demark-Wahnefried W, Dieli-Conwright C, DiPietro L, Doerksen S, Edelstein S, Elena J, Evans W, Ferrucci L, Foldi J, Freylersythe S, Furberg H, Jones L, Levine R, Moskowitz C, Owusu C, Penedo F, Rabin B, Ratner E, Rosenzweig M, Salz T, Sanft T, Schlumbrecht M, Spielmann G, Thomson C, Tjaden A, Weiser M, Yang S, Yu A, Perna F, Caan B, Anderson S, Bahia H, Castillo A, Feliciano E, Johnson K, Ross M, Weltzein E, Brown J, Albarado B, Compton S, Green T, Nash R, Nauta P, Welch M, Yang S, Meyerhardt J, Dieli-Conwright C, Nguyen D, Pena A, Spielmann G, Kim Y, Evans W, Bea J, Blew R, Crane T, Bhatti A, Clavon R, Erlandsen S, Freylersythe S, Hollander K, Lopez-Pentecost M, Penedo F, Rolle L, Rossi P, Schlumbrecht M, Wheeler M, Irwin M, Cao A, Cartmel B, Ferrucci L, Gottlieb L, Harrigan M, Li F, McGowan C, Puklin L, Ratner E, Sanft T, Zupa M, Berger N, Cerne S, Mills C, Conochan S, Hundal J, Owusu C, Ligibel J, Campbell N, DiGuglielmo K, Kemp W, Maples-Campbell C, Nguyen T, Oppenheim J, Tanasijevic A, Thomson C, Yung A, Basen-Engquist K, Loomba P, Chinchilli V, Schmitz K, Binder J, Doerksen S, Foldi J, Garrett S, Scalise R, Sobolewski M, White L, Scott J, Cercek A, Cai S, Cao S, Furberg H, Harrison J, Jones L, Lee C, Levine R, Michalski M, Moskowitz C, Novo R, Rabazzi J, Stoeckel K, Salz T, Weiser M, Yu A, Demark-Wahnefried W, Robien K, Evans S, DiPietro L, Duong B, Edelstein S, Helmchen L, Le D, McCleary C, Tjaden A, Wopat H, Rabin B, Perna F, Agurs-Collins T, Czajkowski S, Elena J, Nebeling L, Norton W. Exercise and Nutrition to Improve Cancer Treatment-Related Outcomes (ENICTO). Journal Of The National Cancer Institute 2024, 117: 9-19. PMID: 39118255, PMCID: PMC11717426, DOI: 10.1093/jnci/djae177.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsImproving lifestyle behaviors during chemotherapy for breast cancer: The Lifestyle, Exercise, and Nutrition Early After Diagnosis (LEANer) Trial
Puklin L, Ferrucci L, Harrigan M, McGowan C, Zupa M, Cartmel B, Li F, Ligibel J, Spiegelman D, Sharifi M, Sanft T, Irwin M. Improving lifestyle behaviors during chemotherapy for breast cancer: The Lifestyle, Exercise, and Nutrition Early After Diagnosis (LEANer) Trial. Cancer 2024, 130: 2440-2452. PMID: 38470431, PMCID: PMC11214600, DOI: 10.1002/cncr.35280.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2023
Post-diagnosis weight trajectories and mortality among women with breast cancer
Puklin L, Li F, Cartmel B, Zhao J, Sanft T, Lisevick A, Winer E, Lustberg M, Spiegelman D, Sharifi M, Irwin M, Ferrucci L. Post-diagnosis weight trajectories and mortality among women with breast cancer. Npj Breast Cancer 2023, 9: 98. PMID: 38042922, PMCID: PMC10693588, DOI: 10.1038/s41523-023-00603-5.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchRandomized Trial Evaluating a Self-Guided Lifestyle Intervention Delivered via Evidence-Based Materials versus a Waitlist Group on Changes in Body Weight, Diet Quality, Physical Activity, and Quality of Life among Breast Cancer Survivors
Puklin L, Harrigan M, Cartmel B, Sanft T, Gottlieb L, Zhou B, Ferrucci L, Li F, Spiegelman D, Sharifi M, Irwin M. Randomized Trial Evaluating a Self-Guided Lifestyle Intervention Delivered via Evidence-Based Materials versus a Waitlist Group on Changes in Body Weight, Diet Quality, Physical Activity, and Quality of Life among Breast Cancer Survivors. Cancers 2023, 15: 4719. PMID: 37835412, PMCID: PMC10571774, DOI: 10.3390/cancers15194719.Peer-Reviewed Original Research