Christine Harrop-Stein, PH.D.

Education

2009 – 2014.  Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA

Ph.D. Health Related Sciences, Gerontology Focus

  • Dissertation Co-Chairs: J.James Cotter, Ph.D. and Ayn Welleford, PhD.
  • Dissertation Title: Transitioning from a Traditional Nursing Home Environment to Green House® Homes: What are Stakeholders’ Attitudes Toward and Satisfaction with the Small House Care Environment?

1990 – 1994. St. Joseph’s University. Philadelphia, PA

M.S.  Health Education

 

1983 – 1987.  La Salle University. Philadelphia, PA

B.A.  Psychology

 

Professional experience

Teaching

  • York College of Pennsylvania (2007 -Fall 2019). Adjunct Professor of Gerontoloy in the Department of Behavioral Sciences, Human Services Division.
    • Classes taught:
      • Introduction to Gerontology
      • Psychological Aspects of Aging
      • Health in the Later Years
      • Death and Dying
      • Sociology of Health and Illness
      • Introduction to Sociology
      • Introduction to Psychology
    • American Institute of Health Care Professionals
      • Classes Taught
        • Perspectives on Aging

Consultant

  • Aging Matters Consulting (Currently) Helping elders and their families navigate the next chapter of life (aging in place, downsizing, moving, loss, etc.)
  • Olivia’s House (September, 2005 – 2007). Facilitated a bereavement support group for young adults aged 18 – 25.
  • Fox Chase Cancer Center (July, 1999 – January 2001). Assisted in the development of curricula and course materials for an advanced cancer risk counseling training program for nurses.

 

Health Education Experience

1998 – 1999.  Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA

Project Manager

  • Managed a cancer registry project called the Ovarian Cancer Consortium. This program is an ovarian cancer registry, which serves as a research platform from which to study decision making about prophylactic oopherectomy and the efficacy of fenretinide to prevent the development of ovarian cancer.

1995 – 1999.  Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA

Health Educator II

  • Counseled women about their risk for cancer utilizing a cancer risk counseling protocol established at Fox Chase Cancer Center.
  • Facilitated group educational sessions about breast and ovarian cancer, risk factors, screening guidelines, prevention options, and cancer genetics.
  • Managed a research program designed to study the frequency of the three recurrent mutations in the Ashkenazi Jewish population. This study also evaluated the psychological sequelae of receiving genetic testing results.
  • Implemented a research project which examined the use of an educational and counseling program to promote psychological adjustment to genetic cancer risk information and adherence to screening recommendations for women at increased risk for breast or ovarian cancer.
  • Assisted in development of health education materials, the preparation of grants, and preparation of manuscripts.
  • Presented research findings and procedures at professional meetings.

 

1993 – 1996.  Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA

Health Educator II and Data Coordinator II

  • Implemented a research and educational program on breast cancer screening for older adults.
  • Facilitated group education sessions – about the importance of mammography – in retirement communities.
  • Assisted in the development and production of educational materials.
  • Managed data collection for the research component of the breast cancer screening program.
  • Ran descriptive statistics using SAS.

 

1992 – 1993.  Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA

Data Manager 

  • Data managed several research studies including protocols for breast cancer (NSABP) and gastric cancer.
  • Maintained and computerized research data using an IBM PC.
  • Assisted in developing and formatting data collection instruments.
  • Assisted in the development of educational materials for women involved in the Breast Cancer Prevention Trial.
  • Provided education to the participants of the Breast Cancer Prevention Trial.
  • Ran descriptive and inferential statistics using SAS.

 

1989 – 1992.  Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA

Data Coordinator II

  • Data managed a smoking cessation program called the Smoke Free Pregnancy Project – a contract from the PA Department of Health – designed to assist pregnant women in quitting smoking.
  • Extensive use of VAX, UNIX cluster and Macintosh computers.
  • Assisted in the development of survey instruments.
  • Served as liaison between FCCC and off-site interviewing company.
  • Created and presented reports on data collected.
  • Ran descriptive statistics using SAS.

 

1987 – 1989. Substance Abuse Treatment Center, Veteran’s Administration, Philadelphia, PA

Research Technician

  • Clinical interviewing using the Addiction Severity Index and the Diagnostic Interview Schedule.
  • Trained addiction counselors how to use the Addiction Severity Index.

Served as liaison between the VA and other addiction treatment centers.

Continuing Education:

Awakening the Sage Inside (18 hours).  Sage-ing International. October, 2019. Longmont, CO.

Online Teaching Workshop (4 weeks). June, 2018. York College of Pennsylvania. York, PA.

Matter of Balance Master Trainer Training (16.0 hours). May 7 – 8, 2015. MaineHealth’s Partnership for Health Aging. Portland, Maine.

Mood Disorders Research/Education Symposium. (5.0 hours). April 25, 2006. John’s Hopkins Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.

Mood Disorders Research/Education Symposium (5.0 hours). April 24, 2005).  John’s Hopkins Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.

8th National Symposium on Children’s Grief Support.  June 17 – 19, 2004.  Carnegie Mellon University. Pittsburgh, PA

Living With Grief: Children, Adolescents, and Loss (3.5 hours). April 26, 2000 White Rose Hospice, York PA.

Enhancing Care: 3rd Annual Conference on Fatigue and Quality of Life. March 30, 1999 Fox Chase Cancer Center.  (6.80 hours).

Alternative Medicine: An Objective View. Philadelphia PA. February 27, 1998.

How to Train Adults.  Philadelphia PA September 17-18, 1997. Padgett-Thompson Division of the American Management Association. (1.2 CEU’s).

Hospice Care Course.  June 4-5, 1996 Fox Chase Cancer Center.  (12.5 hours).

Familial Cancer Risk Counseling Program. March 25-27, 1996. Fox Chase Cancer Center. (13.80 hours).

 

PUBLICATIONS

King, B.K. Rimer, T. Benincasa, C. Harrop, K. Amfoh, G. Bonney, P. Kornguth, W. Demark-Wahnefried, T. Strigo, P. Engstrom. (1998) Strategies to encourage mammography use among women in senior citizens’ housing facilities, Journal of Cancer Education, 13(2), 108-115.

Daly, J. Farmer, C. Harrop-Stein, S. Montgomery, M. Itzen, J. Wagner Costalas, A. Rogatko, A. Balshem, D. Gillespie (1999). Exploring family relationships in cancer risk counseling using the genogram, Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, 8, 393-398

King, T. Benincasa, C. Harrop-Stein, and L. Crossette (1999). Using peer volunteers to promote mammography utilization in senior citizen facilities, Holistic Nursing Practice, 14(1), 12-21.

 

Paper and poster presentations

An Exploratory Factor Analysis of the Person-Centered Care Attitude Test

C Harrop-Stein, J.J. Cotter from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). M. C. Ehlman, M. Jones from the University of Southern Indiana. E. A. Welleford, from VCU, M. Fortner from Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community. Accepted for presentation at the November 5, 2014 Gerontological Society of America annual meeting.

Transitioning from a Traditional Nursing Home Environment to Green House®: What are Stakeholder Outcomes?

C. Harrop-Stein, J. J. Cotter, E. A. Welleford, J. Pryor from Virginia Commonwealth University. M. Fortnerfrom Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community. Accepted for presentation at the November 5, 2014 Gerontological Society of America annual meeting.

Psychological Outcomes of Jewish Women in a Cancer Risk Program. M. Daly, C. Harrop-Stein, J. Malick, A. Godwin, J. Dangel, J. Costalas, S. Siemers.  Poster presented at the American Society of Preventive Oncology, March 14-16, 1999, Houston, TX.

Dietary Supplement Use Among High Risk Women. C. Harrop-Stein, S. Steinberg, M. Daly. Poster presented at the American Society of Preventive Oncology, March 14-16, 1999, Houston, TX.

Recruiting Ethnic Groups to Genetic Research: Addressing Ethical Concerns. M. Daly, G. Grana, C. Harrop-Stein, K. Shirley, P. Barse, A. Masny. Paper presented at the Breast Cancer Symposium, December 12-15, 1998, San Antonio, TX.

Psychological Outcomes of High-risk Women in a Cancer Genetics Education and Counseling Program.  M. Daly, S. Montgomery, C. Harrop-Stein, J. Costalas, D. Gillespie, A. Masny.  Poster presented at the Breast Cancer Symposium, December 12-15, 1998, San Antonio, TX.

Improvement in Genetic Knowledge Following Group Education and Individual Counseling.  C. Harrop-Stein; S. Montgomery; M. Daly & D. Gillespie.  Poster presented at the American Society of Preventive Oncology, March 5 – 6, 1998.

The Impact of Peer Volunteers on Attendance at Mammography Education Programs Held in Senior Citizen Housing Facilities.  C. Harrop; L. Crossette; T. Benincasa & E. King.  Poster presented at the Pennsylvania Public Health Association Annual Conference, October 14, 1997.

Psychological Outcomes for High-risk Women in a Comprehensive Cancer Genetics Education and Counseling Program. S. Montgomery; C. Harrop-Stein; M. Daly; J. Costalas & D. Gillespie.  Poster presented at the American Society of Human Genetics Annual Conference, October 28 – November 1, 1997.

Psychological  Characteristics of Women Undergoing Cancer Risk Counseling.  S. Montgomery; C. Harrop; M. Daly & D. Gillespie. Poster presented at the American Society of Preventive Oncology Annual Conference, March 23-25, 1997.

Comparison of Mammography Related Beliefs and Practices Among Women 65-84 from Diverse SES and Racial Backgrounds.  E. King; T. Benincasa; C. Harrop & B. Rimer.  Paper presented at the American Public Health Association Annual Conference,  November 17-21, 1996.

Using Peer Volunteers to Increase Attendance at a Mammography Education Program in Diverse Racial and SES Retirement Communities.  T. Benincasa; E. King; C. Harrop; I. Tessaro and B. Rimer.  Poster presented at the American Public Health Association Annual Conference, November 17-21, 1996.

A Novel Approach to Prepare High Risk Women for Genetic Testing. C. Harrop; S. Montgomery; M. Daly; J. Costalas & D. Gillespie.  Poster presented at the American Society of Human Genetics, October, 1996.

Coping with Genetic Risk for Breast and Ovarian Cancer. S. Montgomery; C. Harrop; M. Daly; J. Costalas & D. Gillespie.  Poster presented at the Honor Society of Nursing, Temple University, March, 1996.

Promoting Mammography Among Retirement Community Women. E. King; T. Benincasa & C. Harrop.  Presented at the Pennsylvania Public Health Association Annual Conference, October 18-20, 1995.

Educating Older Women in Culturally and Economically Diverse Retirement Communities about Breast Cancer Screening. T. Benincasa; C. Harrop & L. Crossette.  Presented at the Fifth Annual Health Educator’s Institute, March 29-30, 1995.

Lessons Learned: Increasing Participation in a State-wide Mailed Survey of Prenatal Care Providers. L. Fleisher; E. King; A. Masny; C. Harrop & M. Keintz.  Presented at the Society of Public Health Educator’s Institute, March 1993.

Preventing Relapse to Smoking: A Postparum Pilot Intervention. A. Masny; C. Harrop; L. Fleisher & E. King.  Paper presented at the Pennsylvania Public Health Association Annual Meeting, May 21, 1992.

Differences in Smoking Habits and Readiness to Quit Among Low Income Pregnant Smokers.  L. Fleisher; E. King; A. Masny; N. Resch & C. Harrop.  Paper presented at the American Society of Preventive Oncology Annual Meeting, March 14, 1992.

Smoke-free Pregnancy Program: Preliminary Process Evaluation Results.  E. King; L. Fleisher; A. Masny; C. Harrop & B. Rimer.  Paper presented at the Pennsylvania Public Health Association Annual Meeting, April 12, 1991.

 

Additional professional activities

Conference Planning:

Jewish Women & Breast/Ovarian Cancer: Understanding the Genetic Link. Philadelphia, PA.  April 19, 1998.

1996 Society of Public Health Educator’s Mid-year Scientific Conference. Health Education in the New Millennium: The Power of Technology and Innovation.  West Chester University.  June 6-9, 1996.

1996 Pennsylvania Health Educators Institute: Empowering the Healthy Community: A Health Educator’s Role.  March 20-21, 1996.

Cancer Screening and Detection: Tools for the Primary Care Provider.  New Jersey.  June 7, 1995.

 

Professional memberships

American Society on Aging, 2020

Gerontological Society of America, 2009 – present.

Sigma Phi Omega, Gerontological Honors Society, York College Chapter, 2015 to present.

Society of Public Health Educators, Pennsylvania Chapter.  1992 – 2003; 2015 to present.

Pennsylvania Public Health Association. 1990 – 2003; 2015 to present.

 

Community activities

Junior League of York (2001-present)

Board Member: The Janus School (2018 – present),

Jewish Family Services (2014-present)

Advisory Board Member: Pappus House

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of York (2002 – 2010).  Sunday

school teacher.  Former board member.

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Taste of the Town 2000 to 2002.

White Rose Hospice, Hospice Volunteer 1999 to 2003.

Palliative Care Volunteer, Fox Chase Cancer Center 1995 – 1999.

Community First Aid & CPR instructor 1992-1997.

Crisis Counselor, Women Organized Against Rape 1986-1991.

 

Awards received

1996 Chapter Service Award from the Pennsylvania Chapter of the Society for Public Health Education for outstanding service in planning the 1996 SOPHE mid-year scientific conference.

 

Personal

Married with two young adult children and three cats.  I enjoy learning, reading, gardening, hiking, embroidery, knitting, and cooking.