Directory

Cara Exten
PhD, MPH

Associate Professor

University Park

Phone: 814-863-9724

Email: cer5374@psu.edu

Exten is an infectious disease epidemiologist. Her research leverages advanced quantitative methods to examine the biological, structural, social, and behavioral determinants of increased susceptibility to infectious diseases both within and across communities. She conducts this research in a wide range of populations, with an emphasis on the underserved. Exten aims to conduct translational research that will shape science, clinical practice, and policy.

Education

• PhD, The Ohio State University
• MPH, Emory University
• BS, East Tennessee State University

Teaching

Courses Taught

• NURS200M/W: Principles of Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice
• NURS300: Honors Seminar in Nursing
• NURS808: Population Health Perspectives

Mentorship

• 1 DNP Student (graduated 2024)
• 2 PhD Students (1 graduated 2024, 1 current)
• 1 postdoctoral researcher (2023 – 2025)

Research

Research & Publications

Research Interests and Areas of Expertise

PRIMARY

• Biopsychosocial determinants of infectious disease transmission

SECONDARY

• Predictors of health challenges in underserved communities

ADDITIONAL

• Development and application of innovative quantitative methods

Presentations and Conference Involvement

*INDICATES STUDENT/TRAINEE AUTHOR

• Lego SE & Exten C. (2024). “Assessing Student Perceptions of Peer Review Methods’ Efficacy in a Team-Based, Senior Undergraduate Capstone Course Setting.” Paper presentation. ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Portland, Oregon. Paper ID#: 43152.

ORAL PRESENTATIONS:

• Exten C & Kugler KC. (2024). “Among Genderqueer Adults, Personal Barriers Mediate the Relationship between Demographic Characteristics and STI Testing.” 2024 STI Prevention Conference, Atlanta, GA.
• Wellington JD*, Anderson J, Adebayo OW, & Exten C. (2024). “The rural divide: Gender diverse people’s experiences of healthcare provider discrimination, abuse, and violence”. 25th Nursing Network on Violence against Women International Conference, Phuket, Thailand.
• Exten C & Catalone C. (2024). “Suicide among Sexual and Gender Minority Adults: Exploring QPR as a Potential Intervention”. 2024 Pennsylvania Rural Community and Public Health Conference, University Park, PA.
• Wardecker B & Exten C (Symposium co-chairs) (2020). “Challenges to Health among Sexual Minority Adults: An Examination of Key Concerns”. Gerontological Society of America; Virtual Conference.
• Exten CL & Salomaa A*. (2020). “Major Depressive Episode and Generalized Anxiety Disorder among Sexual Minority Adults in the United States”. Gerontological Society of America; Virtual Conference.
• Exten C. (2020) “Substance misuse among sexual minority young adults who experience discrimination in the university setting.” Society for Prevention Research. Partially cancelled due to COVID-19.

POSTER PRESENTATIONS:

• Adebayo OW & Exten C. (2024). “It’s Not Just Access: Personal Barriers to STI Testing Differences between Rural and Non-Rural Genderqueer Adults”. Society of Behavioral Medicine Annual Meeting & Scientific Sessions.  Philadelphia, PA.
• Adekeye OT*, Adebayo OW, & Exten C. (2024). “Exploring the Nexus of Family Dynamics: Family Support, Family Rejection, and E-cigarette Use among Genderqueer Adults”. Society of Behavioral Medicine Annual Meeting & Scientific Sessions.  Philadelphia, PA.
• Adekeye OT* & Exten C. (2024). “The Impact of Healthcare Providers’ Advice on Adolescent E-Cigarette Use”. 36th Annual Eastern Nursing Research Society Scientific Sessions. Boston, MA.
• Chapman A* & Exten C. (2024). “Substance use, family formation, and sexual and gender identity”. Western Society of Criminology, Long Beach, CA.
• Adekeye OT & Exten C. (2023). “A Scoping Review of the Influence of Social Media on Adolescent E-Cigarette Use”. Society for Research on Tobacco and Nicotine. London, UK.
• Pinto CN, Exten C, Holt J*, Hubach R, Marisco I*, & Moss J. (2023). “County-level persistent poverty as a predictor of gonorrhea and chlamydia incidence”. STI & HIV 2023 World Congress, Chicago, IL.
• Exten C & Adebayo OW. (2023). “If you build it, they will come: Access, not distance, predicts STI testing among genderqueer adultsSTI & HIV 2023 World Congress, Chicago, IL.
• Layland EK*, Fish JN, Exten C, Mallory A, & Williams N. (2021). “Suicide Attempt Prevalence and Associations with Discrimination are Highest in Early Adulthood for Diverse Sexual Minorities”. Society of Behavioral Medicine 42nd Annual Meeting and Scientific Sessions; Virtual Conference.
• Pinto C, Agebese E, Exten CL, Norris Turner A, & Leslie DL. (2020). “Annual out-of-pocket and total healthcare costs for STD treatment and screening”. STD Prevention Conference, CDC/ASTDA. Virtual Conference.
• Cesari N*, Exten C, & Pinto C. (2020). “The geographic surveillance of syphilis screening practices in Central Pennsylvania”. STD Prevention Conference, CDC/ASTDA. Virtual Conference.

Research Funding and Grants

ONGOING:

• “Intensive longitudinal assessment of human olfaction” Funding agency: NIDCD (external), R01
  Role: Co-Investigator
• “Examining the relationship between caregiving factors, social determinants of health, and quality of life among parental caregivers of adults with profound autism: A mixed methods study”
  Funding agency: NINR (external), F31
  Role: Consultant
• “Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute”
  Funding agency: NCATS, UL1TR002014
  Role: Co-Investigator

COMPLETED:

• Title: Frontline Healthcare Workers and COVID-19
  Funding Agency: Department of Health, Commonwealth of PA
  Role: Principal Investigator

• Title: Rapid Olfactory Tools for Telemedicine-Friendly COVID-19 Screening and Surveillance
  Funding Agency: NIDCD, U01 DC019573-02
  Role: Co-Investigator

• Title: POST-ACUTE & LONG-TERM CARE (PALTC) COVID-19 Regional Response Health Collaborative
  Funding Agency: Department of Health, Commonwealth of PA
  Role: Co-Investigator

• Title: Barriers to Healthcare in Rural Communities among Transgender Adults
  Funding Agency: Penn State CTSI (internal award)\
  Role: Principal Investigator

Publications and Scholarly Work

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/cara%20e..rice.1/bibliography/public/

• Arnold, CRK, Bharti N, Exten C, Small M, Srinivasan S, Kuchipudu SV, Kapur V, & Ferrari MJ. The maximal expected benefit of SARS-CoV-2 interventions among university students: A simulation study using latent class analysis. Scientific Reports; In Press.
• Russell MA, Richards VL, Turrisi RJ, Exten C, Pesigan IJ, & Rodriguez GC. Profiles of alcohol Intoxication and their associated risks in young adults’ natural settings: A multilevel latent profile analysis applied to daily transdermal alcohol concentration data. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors 2025; 39(2): 173-185.
• D’Souza GC*, Pinto CN, Exten C, Yingst JM, Foulds J, Anderson J, Allen R, Calo WA. Understanding Factors associated with COVID-19 vaccination among health care workers using the Diffusion of Innovation Theory. American Journal of Infection Control 2024; 52(9): 509-516. DOI:10.1016/j.ajic.2023.11.019
• Forrest LN, Beccia AL, Exten C, Gehman S, Ansell EB. Intersectional prevalence of suicide ideation, plan and attempt based on gender, sexual orientation, race and ethnicity, and rurality. JAMA Psychiatry 2023; 80(10): 1037-1046. DOI:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2023.2295
• Exten C, Pinto CN, Gaynor AM, Meyerson B, Griner S, Van Der Pol B. Direct-to-Consumer STI Testing Services: A Position Statement from the American Sexually Transmitted Diseases Association. STD 2021; 48(11): e11-e159. DOI: 10.1097/OLQ.0000000000001475

Editorial and Peer Review Roles

• Editorial Board, Sexually Transmitted Diseases Journal Member, American STD Association Membership Workgroup
• Reviewer, Annals of Epidemiology
• Reviewer, Prevention Science
• Reviewer, American Journal of Infection and Control

Service

Professional Organization Involvement and Fellowships

• Member, American STD Association
• Member, Society of Behavioral Medicine
• Member, Society of Prevention Research
• Member, American Public Health Association

Additional Information

• Honors Advisor, Ross & Carol Nese College of Nursing Schreyer Honors Program
• Co-Director, Penn State CTSI Translational Science Fellowship Program

Download Exten’s Curriculum Vitae »
Last updated 8/21/2025