Diane M Harper
Professor of Family Medicine
Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Professor of Women's and Gender Studies
College of Literature, Science, and the Arts
Family Medicine
1018 Fuller Street
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1382
[email protected]

Available to mentor

Diane M Harper
Professor
  • About
  • Links
  • Qualifications
  • Center Memberships
  • Research Overview
  • Recent Publications
  • About

    Dr. Diane M. Harper is an internationally recognized family physician and clinical research expert in HPV-associated diseases, their prevention, early detection, and treatment for cancer prevention. She has been a consultant for the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to advise on global guidelines and to set up screening and prevention operations in low and middle-income countries to prevent cervical cancer. She is the first Family Medicine physician-researcher to be inducted as a member of the Association of American Physicians(link is external), which recognizes researchers for their impactful contributions to improve patient care through the advancement of physician-led research. She also has received the Distinguished Scientist Award from the European Research Organization on Genital Infection and Neoplasia for her scientific work as well as the Femmes de l'Année Prix Monte Carlo, which honors influential changemakers working to better women's lives around the world.

    As a physician-researcher, Dr. Harper has a strong interest in public health, epidemiology, and health behaviors, all fields in which she has published over her 30-year career. She has over 300 publications and tens of thousands of citations, has contributed to multiple textbooks, and has shaped global guidelines and policies related to cervical cancer screening and prevention efforts in the U.S., Europe, and for the WHO Elimination of Cervical Cancer Initiative. According to a 2023 study published in Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics(link is external), Dr. Harper ranks third among co-cited authors in the HPV cancer vaccine and cervical cancer prevention literature globally. She has also served as a United States Preventive Services Task Force member.

    Dr. Harper is currently working on an at-home cervical cancer testing method, comprised of a urine collection device that washes the HPV-infected cells already shed from the cervix and vagina. According to Dr. Harper, the test is as accurate as the vaginal devices and the clinician devices (i.e. Pap test) used to detect cervical cancer. Her article was published in Medicine at Michigan in August 2023.

    Dr. Harper's research interests include: Prevention, screening, early detection, and treatment of HPV-associated cancers including cervix, anus, and oropharynx; evidence-based guidelines development; women's health; women in rural Michigan; women of Arab American descent; African American women; women with disabilities; Native American women.

    Links
    • Google Scholar Citations
    Qualifications
    • MPH
      University of Kansas, Kansas City, 1995
    • MD
      University of Kansas Medical Center, 3901 Rainbow Boulevard, 1986
    • MS
      Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Aven, 1982
    • BS
      Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, 1980
    Center Memberships
    • Center Member
      Rogel Cancer Center
    • Center Member
      Precision Health Initiative
    • Center Member
      Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation
    • Center Member
      Global REACH
    Research Overview

    Research Interests: Prevention, screening, early detection, and treatment of HPV-associated cancers including cervix, anus, and oropharynx; evidence-based guidelines development; women's health; women in rural Michigan; women of Arab American descent; African American women; women with disabilities; Native American women.

    Recent Publications See All Publications
    • Journal Article
      Perspectives of international experts and the Danish citizens on the 'relevant knowledge' that citizens need for making informed choices about participation in cancer screening: Qualitative study.
      Stokholm RN, Kirkegaard P, Larsen MB, Lauridsen HH, Stacey D, Harper DM, Sepucha K, McCaffery K, Reder M, Pignone M, Fransen M, Volk RJ, Wengström Y, Edwards A, Andersen B. Patient Educ Couns, 2024 Oct 24; 130: 108479 DOI:10.1016/j.pec.2024.108479
      PMID: 39488032
    • Journal Article
      Exploration of individual socioeconomic and health-related characteristics associated with human papillomavirus vaccination initiation and vaccination series completion among adult females: A comprehensive systematic evidence review with meta-analysis.
      Okoli GN, Neilson CJ, Grossman Moon A, Kimmel Supron H, Soos AE, Grewal A, Etsell K, Alessi-Severini S, Richardson C, Harper DM. Vaccine, 2024 Sep 17; 42 (22): 125994 DOI:10.1016/j.vaccine.2024.05.042
      PMID: 38796328
    • Journal Article
      Supporting faculty development for obesity education: A National Survey of United States family medicine residency programme directors.
      Gabison J, Palazzolo B, Saleh C, Ritchie O, Sheehan K, Othman A, Harper DM, Oshman L. Clin Obes, 2024 Aug; 14 (4): e12654 DOI:10.1111/cob.12654
      PMID: 38525544
    • Journal Article
      Barriers to Cervical Cancer Screening and Satisfaction with Self-Sampling among Black Women in Michigan: a Mixed Methods Study.
      Haro E, Butcher EA, Alves ML, El Khoury C, Vinson A, Harper DM. Med Res Arch, 2024 Apr; 12 (4): DOI:10.18103/mra.v12i4.5209
      PMID: 38818307
    • Journal Article
      Lives Saved Through Increasing Adherence to Follow-Up After Abnormal Cervical Cancer Screening Results.
      Harper DM, Yu TM, Fendrick AM. O G Open, 2024 Mar; 1 (1): e001 DOI:10.1097/og9.0000000000000001
      PMID: 38533459
    • Journal Article
      The first year of a new era.
      Behrens TE, Dalal Y, Harper DM, Weigel D. Elife, 2024 Feb 29; 13: DOI:10.7554/eLife.96413
      PMID: 38420960
    • Journal Article
      How and why eLife selects papers for peer review.
      eLife Editorial Leadership , eLife Senior Editors , eLife Early Career Advisory Group . Elife, 2024 Jul 23; 13: DOI:10.7554/eLife.100571
      PMID: 39041434
    • Journal Article
      It Is Time to Switch to Primary HPV Screening for Cervical Cancer.
      Harper DM, Bettcher CM, Young AP. Am Fam Physician, 2024 Jan; 109 (1): 8 - 9.
      PMID: 38227863
    Featured News & Stories A microscopic image of an infection shown from a Pap test
    Medicine at Michigan
    The end of the Pap test?
    The Pap test, developed over a century ago, has been the standard of care for detecting cervical cancer. But it is collected through an invasive and uncomfortable vaginal exam. Michigan Medicine researchers have evaluated several at-home tests to detect HPV, a virus that causes cervical cancer. The at-home tests are more accurate than a Pap test and could make screenings more accessible for many people.