Justin Moore, PhD, MPH 
Epidemiologist in the Department of Population Health Sciences | Augusta University
Augusta , GA, UNITED STATES
A global leader in epidemiology and research in tracing the spread of COVID-19 among minorities.
Spotlight
Biography
Dr. Moore is an epidemiologist with vast skills in biostatistics, epidemiology, database design, geographic information systems (GIS), mediation analysis, and cancer prevention and control. Dr. Moore serves as an Assistant Professor in the Cancer Prevention, Control, & Population Health Program, Department of Medicine; and the Institute of Public and Preventive Health at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University. Dr. Moore’s research explores the intersection between race (including effects of racism) and place (social and built environment) on various health outcomes including cancer and infectious diseases. Dr. Moore’s work delineated that place matters for African American, Hispanic, and rural populations characterized by hot spots of excess mortality from breast cancer, lung cancer, early-onset colorectal cancer, sepsis, and COVID-19. Dr. Moore’s current research interests lie in understanding the effects of race and place on determinants of breast cancer including breast cancer screening, mammographic density, life-course stress, and DNA methylation.
Areas of Expertise (6)
Cancer Prevention and Control
geographical information systems
Biostatistics
epidemiologic methodology
Database Design
Mediation Analysis
Education (3)
University of Alabama at Birmingham: Doctoral, Epidemiology
University of Alabama at Birmingham: Master's degree, Epidemiology
Hampshire College: Bachelor's degree
Affiliations (4)
- American Public Health Association (APHA)
- American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
- Society for Epidemiologic Research (SER)
- Golden Key National Honor Society
Links (1)
Media Appearances (10)
When it comes to breast cancer deaths, place and race matter
St. Louis Public Radio (NPR)
For breast cancer patients, race and geography can mean the difference between surviving and succumbing.
Cancer Hot Spots Identified in Southeast Missouri
Illinois Public Radio
Washington University researchers have identified specific areas of the country where women are much more likely to die from breast cancer.
“Study finds breast-cancer hot spot in Southeast Missouri”
Southeast Missourian
An in-depth look into the areas with the highest rates of breast cancer.
Where you live could impact your colon cancer risk
WJBF tv
2020-09-28
The death of actor Chadwick Boseman put a spotlight colon cancer and the fact that it is a disease that does not discriminate. In fact, hot spots are showing up across the country, and younger more younger adults are being diagnosed. Dr. Justin Moore, an epidemiologist at the Medical College of Georgia is on hand to talk about the signs and symptoms of colon cancer, and what you can do to lead a healthy life for yourself and your loved ones.
States reopening adds heavy weight to rise in COVID-19 cases
WRDW tv
2020-06-20
With more people getting tested, of course, we're going to see those numbers go up. But experts say increased testing isn’t the only factor in the rise of COVID-19 cases.
Medical College of Georgia researching who is vaccine hesitant
WJBF tv
2021-08-24
A week before the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted emergency use authorization to Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine, researchers at the Medical College of Georgia (MCG) began surveying CSRA residents
Black men's organization hosts COVID-19 relief events
U.S. News & World Report
2020-01-06
Aware of the devastating and disproportionate impact COVID-19 is having on the Black community, the local chapter of a prominent Black men’s group is helping with resources like masks and hand sanitizer, where to seek financial relief and also the opportunity to join an innovative study for those at higher risk that will offer them free testing.
I-TEAM: Deadly cancer hotspots uncovered across the CSRA
WRDW tv
2022-04-11
Groundbreaking research 20 years in the making. A local epidemiologist and doctor finds cancer hotspots here in the CSRA and beyond across the state of Georgia. These hotspots specifically look at some of the deadliest cancers: breast, colon, prostate, and lung cancer. The ITEAM exposes what local counties have the greatest risk of deadly cancers and what you can do about it. Dr. Justin Xavier Moore combed through two decades worth of data on cancer deaths in every single county in Georgia, all 159 of them, and even he was surprised by what he found. “I didn’t know it was going to be that many clusters within like the CSRA.”
MCG study shows lifelong stress can lead to cancer
WRDW tv
2022-11-03
New studies say the wear and tear on the body, and lifelong stress can increase your risk of dying from cancer. Your body releases hormones during stressful times. Once the stress is gone, the levels should go down. But a study found this is not the case for everyone. Stress is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. A study from doctors at the Medical College of Georgia shows a direct connection between death and dying from cancer. Dr. Justin x. Moore says in some cases, race can play a role as well.
JENNIE: Chronic, lifelong stress can increase risk of dying from cancer
WJBF tv
2022-12-30
New research from the Medical College of Georgia shows the wear and tear on the body, from chronic and lifelong stress, can lead to an increased risk of dying from cancer. The study looked at the cumulative effects of stress over time. Dr. Justin Xavier Moore, epidemiologist at the Medical College of Georgia and Georgia Cancer Center, led the study. He breaks down more details with Jennie
Articles (5)
The epidemiology of firework-related injuries in the United States:
PubMedMoore JX, McGwin G Jr, Griffin RL.
The purpose of this study is to examine the epidemiology of firework-related injuries among an emergency department (ED) nationally representative population of the United States for the years 2000-2010, including whether the type of firework causing the injury is differential by patient demographics and whether the severity of injury is associated with the firework type.
Epidemiology of High-Heel Shoe Injuries in U.S. Women:
PubMedMoore JX, Lambert B, Jenkins GP, McGwin G Jr.
The purpose of the present study was to investigate the epidemiology of high-heel–related injuries among a nationally representative population of women in the United States and to analyze the demographic differences within this group.
Black-white racial disparities in sepsis: a prospective analysis of the Reasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke
PubMed CentralMoore JX, Donnelly JP, Griffin R, Safford MM, Howard G, Baddley J, Wang HE.
Sepsis is a major public health problem. Prior studies using hospital-based data describe higher rates of sepsis among black than whites participants. We sought to characterize racial differences in incident sepsis in a large cohort of adult community-dwelling adults.
Researchers pinpoint rural Georgia counties as hotspots for death from four common cancers
News Medical Life SciencesJustin Moore
2022-04-11
Georgia counties with the highest mortality rates from four common cancers tended to be more rural, have higher poverty rates, have a higher percentage of Black residents and/or older individuals, according to researchers at the state's public medical school and Georgia Cancer Center. Georgia's hotspots for death from breast, prostate, colorectal and lung cancer over a 20-year period from 1999 to 2019 were concentrated in the eastern Piedmont to the southern-most Coastal Plain regions, as well as the southwestern rural and northern-most rural areas, says Dr. Justin Xavier Moore, epidemiologist at the Medical College of Georgia and Georgia Cancer Center.
Understanding geographic and racial/ethnic disparities in mortality from four major cancers in the state of Georgia: a spatial epidemiologic analysis, 1999–2019
Scientific ReportsJustin Xavier Moore, Martha S. Tingen, Steven S. Coughlin, Christine O’Meara, Lorriane Odhiambo, Marlo Vernon, Samantha Jones, Robert Petcu, Ryan Johnson, K. M. Islam, Darryl Nettles, Ghadeer Albashir & Jorge Cortes
2022-08-19
We examined geographic and racial variation in cancer mortality within the state of Georgia, and investigated the correlation between the observed spatial differences and county-level characteristics. We analyzed county-level cancer mortality data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on breast, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancer mortality among adults (aged ≥ 18 years) in 159 Georgia counties from years 1999 through 2019.
