Deborah Cragun, PhD, CGC, MS

Professor, Department of Community Health Sciences

Program Director, Genetic Counseling

Contact Info

• Office: LRC 212
• Academic Email: dcragun@usf.edu
• Academic Phone: (813) 974-4232
• View My C.V.

Education

Discipline

Genomics Genetics

Specialization

• Genetic Counseling
• Hereditary Cancer Syndromes
• Dissemination and Implementation
• Genetic Services Access and Delivery

Biography

Dr. Deborah Cragun is a Professor in the College of Public Health at the University of South Florida, where she founded and directs the state’s first Genetic Counseling Graduate Program. She received her Master of Science in Medical Genetics from the University of Cincinnati and began her career as a genetic counselor specializing in pediatric and cancer genetics before earning her PhD in Public Health at USF. She subsequently completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Moffitt Cancer Center and participated in the Mentored Training in Dissemination and Implementation Research in Cancer (MT-DIRC). Dr. Cragun’s work focuses on advancing genetic counseling education and preparing the next generation of genetic counselors through innovative, research-informed training, patient-centered communication, and evidence-based practice. Her research centers on implementation science and genetic counseling service delivery, with a focus on improving access, quality, and outcomes of genetic services. She has served as a principal investigator or co-investigator on multiple NIH-funded studies examining hereditary cancer, including projects on Lynch syndrome tumor screening, follow-up care, and genetic counseling processes and outcomes. Dr. Cragun is recognized for her expertise in mixed methods research and advanced analytic approaches, including coincidence analysis (CNA), to identify complex factors influencing healthcare implementation. Her recent work explores the integration of AI-assisted qualitative methods and applications of AI in genetic counseling research, education, and simulation. Through her combined leadership in education and research, she contributes to advancing the field of genetic counseling and improving patient care.