Cathy J. Bradley, PhD, MPA, is Professor and Dean of the Colorado School of Public Health and Deputy Director of the University of Colorado Cancer Center. She also holds the Paul A. Bunn, Jr. Endowed Chair in Cancer Research. An internationally recognized expert in health economics and health policy, Dr. Bradley’s research focuses on the economic and social determinants of cancer outcomes, including labor market participation, financial hardship, and disparities in access to care.

She has pioneered studies examining how cancer diagnoses affect employment and insurance decisions, producing seminal evidence on the role of employer-based health insurance and financial toxicity in shaping survivorship. Her work has extended to caregivers and families, highlighting the long-term financial and psychosocial burdens of cancer care. Dr. Bradley has led or co-led numerous NIH- and foundation-funded studies, including R01s on labor supply, cancer caregiving, and rural–urban disparities, as well as interdisciplinary initiatives supported by the National Cancer Institute and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Widely published in JAMA Health Forum, Journal of Clinical Oncology, Health Affairs, and Journal of the National Cancer Institute, her research has shaped understanding of cancer survivorship, access to treatment, and the financial consequences of serious illness. She has also advanced data infrastructure for cancer health economics, including linking registries with Medicare, Medicaid, and private claims data to study disparities in screening, diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes

In addition to her research, Dr. Bradley has held extensive leadership roles. At ColoradoSPH, she has driven strategic planning, curriculum reform, and growth in research and philanthropy. As Deputy Director of the CU Cancer Center, she has strengthened interdisciplinary collaboration and advanced population health sciences. Nationally, she serves as Chair of the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute’s Methodology Committee and has been a member of the National Cancer Policy Forum and advisory groups for AHRQ and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Her contributions have been recognized with numerous honors, including the University of Colorado’s 2025 Excellence in Leadership Award.