Rebecca Deboer, MD, MA

Education
2019 - Medical Oncology Fellowship, University of California San Francisco
2016 - Internal Medicine Residency, University of Chicago
2016 - Clinical Medical Ethics Fellowship, University of Chicago MacLean Center
MA, 2014 - Medical Humanities and Bioethics, Northwestern University
MD, 2011 - , Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
BA, 2005 - Human Biology, Stanford University
Websites
Publications

  1. DeBoer RJ, Uwamahoro P, Ndoli DA, Rugengamanzi E, Mulindabigwi A, Bigirimana JB, Musafiri T, Slater SE, Van Loon K, Sudore RL, Anderson WG, Sanders JJ, Cubaka VK. Adaptation of a serious illness communication training intervention for the Rwandan context. Journal of pain and symptom management 2025. PMID: 41135916


  2. Uwamahoro P, Girukubonye I, Bigirimana JB, Shyirambere C, Van Loon K, Sudore RL, Sanders JJ, Cubaka VK, DeBoer RJ. Setting the stage for communication skills training in Rwandan cancer care: a qualitative study of local priorities and key contextual factors. BMC palliative care 2025. PMID: 41029628


  3. Tolani MA, Agbo CA, Umar SS, Paciorek A, Ojewola RW, Mohammed F, Maiga M, Kaninjing E, Ahmed M, DeBoer R. An intervention mapping approach to the development and evaluation of a community-based prostate cancer early detection programme in Nigeria. PLOS global public health 2025. PMID: 40763189


  4. DeBoer RJ, Wabl CA, Mushi BP, Uwamahoro P, Athanas R, Ndoli DA, Rugengamanzi E, Ngoma M, Tuyishime H, Mtei D, Nsabimana N, Van Loon K, Sanders JJ, Sudore RL, Cubaka VK. A scoping review of clinical communication in cancer care in Africa. The oncologist 2025. PMID: 40212023


  5. Tolani MA, Agbo CA, Paciorek A, Umar SS, Ojewola RW, Mohammed F, Kaninjing E, Ahmed M, DeBoer R. Quality of Care and Survival Outcomes Among Patients With Clinically Localized Prostate Cancer in Nigeria. JCO global oncology 2025. PMID: 40127382


  7. Buckle GC, DeBoer R, Xu MJ, Mrema A, Rubagumya F, Velloza J, Falade AS, Van Loon K. Using context-specific evidence to inform resource-stratified cancer guidelines: A call for a new approach. Cancer 2024. PMID: 39306723


  8. Tolani MA, Agbo CA, Paciorek A, Umar SS, Ojewola RW, Mohammed F, Kaninjing E, Ahmed M, DeBoer R. Detection and management of localized prostate cancer in Nigeria: barriers and facilitators according to patients, caregivers and healthcare providers. BMC health services research 2024. PMID: 39135037


  9. Ngabonziza E, Ghebre R, DeBoer RJ, Ntasumbumuyange D, Magriples U, George J, Grover S, Bazzett-Matabele L. Outcomes of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radical hysterectomy for locally advanced cervical cancer at Kigali University Teaching Hospital, Rwanda: a retrospective descriptive study. BMC women's health 2024. PMID: 38555423


  10. Van Loon K, Breithaupt L, Ng D, DeBoer RJ, Buckle GC, Bialous S, Hiatt RA, Volberding P, Hermiston ML, Ashworth A. A Roadmap to Establishing Global Oncology as a Priority Initiative within a National Cancer Institute-Designated Cancer Center. Journal of the National Cancer Institute 2023. PMID: 38060289


  11. DeBoer RJ, Ho A, Mutoniwase E, Nguyen C, Umutesi G, Bigirimana JB, Nsabimana N, Van Loon K, Shulman LN, Triedman SA, Cubaka VK, Shyirambere C. Ethical dilemmas in prioritizing patients for scarce radiotherapy resources. BMC medical ethics 2024. PMID: 38297294


  12. Sakafu LL, Philipo GS, Malichewe CV, Fundikira LS, Lwakatare FA, Van Loon K, Mushi BP, DeBoer RJ, Bialous SA, Lee AY. Delayed diagnostic evaluation of symptomatic breast cancer in sub-Saharan Africa: A qualitative study of Tanzanian women. PloS one 2022. PMID: 36201503


  13. Morgan J, DeBoer RJ, Bigirimana JB, Nguyen C, Ruhangaza D, Paciorek A, Mugabo F, Villaverde C, Nsabimana N, Bihizimana P, Umwizerwa A, Lehmann LE, Shulman LN, Shyirambere C. A Ten-Year Experience of Treating Chronic Myeloid Leukemia in Rural Rwanda: Outcomes and Insights for a Changing Landscape. JCO global oncology 2022. PMID: 35839427


  14. Tsang M, DeBoer RJ, Garrett SB, Dohan D. Decision-making about clinical trial options among older patients with metastatic cancer who have exhausted standard therapies. Journal of geriatric oncology 2022. PMID: 35125334


  16. DeBoer RJ, Umutoni V, Bazzett-Matabele L, Katznelson E, Nguyen C, Umwizerwa A, Bigirimana JB, Paciorek A, Nsabimana N, Ruhangaza D, Ntasumbumuyange D, Shulman LN, Triedman SA, Shyirambere C. Cervical cancer treatment in Rwanda: Resource-driven adaptations, quality indicators, and patient outcomes. Gynecologic oncology 2021. PMID: 34916066


  17. DeBoer RJ, Nguyen C, Mutoniwase E, Ho A, Umutesi G, Bigirimana JB, Triedman SA, Shyirambere C. Procedural fairness for radiotherapy priority setting in a low resource context. Bioethics 2021. PMID: 34415636


  18. Nyagabona SK, Luhar R, Ndumbalo J, Mvungi N, Ngoma M, Meena S, Siu S, Said M, Mwaiselage J, Tarimo E, Buckle G, Selekwa M, Mushi B, Mmbaga EJ, Van Loon K, DeBoer RJ. Views from Multidisciplinary Oncology Clinicians on Strengthening Cancer Care Delivery Systems in Tanzania. The oncologist 2021. PMID: 34041817


  19. DeBoer RJ, Mutoniwase E, Nguyen C, Ho A, Umutesi G, Nkusi E, Sebahungu F, Van Loon K, Shulman LN, Shyirambere C. Moral Distress and Resilience Associated with Cancer Care Priority Setting in a Resource-Limited Context. The oncologist 2021. PMID: 33969927


  20. Blanchard C, Lubuzo B, Asirwa FC, Dlamini X, Msadabwe-Chikuni SC, Mwachiro M, Shyirambere C, Ruhangaza D, Milner DA, Van Loon K, DeBoer R, Mtshali P, Dugan U, Baker E, Shulman LN. Multisector Collaborations and Global Oncology: The Only Way Forward. JCO global oncology 2021. PMID: 33493021


  21. DeBoer RJ, Fadelu TA, Shulman LN, Van Loon K. Applying Lessons Learned From Low-Resource Settings to Prioritize Cancer Care in a Pandemic. JAMA oncology 2020. PMID: 32761149


  22. DeBoer RJ, Shyirambere C, Driscoll CD, Butera Y, Paciorek A, Ruhangaza D, Fadelu TA, Umwizerwa A, Bigirimana JB, Muhayimana C, Nguyen C, Park PH, Mpunga T, Lehmann L, Shulman LN. Treatment of Hodgkin Lymphoma With ABVD Chemotherapy in Rural Rwanda: A Model for Cancer Care Delivery Implementation. JCO global oncology 2020. PMID: 32678711


  23. Mutebi M, Anderson BO, Duggan C, Adebamowo C, Agarwal G, Ali Z, Bird P, Bourque JM, DeBoer R, Gebrim LH, Masetti R, Masood S, Menon M, Nakigudde G, Ng'ang'a A, Niyonzima N, Rositch AF, Unger-Saldaña K, Villarreal-Garza C, Dvaladze A, El Saghir NS, Gralow JR, Eniu A. Breast cancer treatment: A phased approach to implementation. Cancer 2020. PMID: 32348571


  24. Rositch AF, Unger-Saldaña K, DeBoer RJ, Ng'ang'a A, Weiner BJ. The role of dissemination and implementation science in global breast cancer control programs: Frameworks, methods, and examples. Cancer 2020. PMID: 32348574


  25. DeBoer RJ, Ndumbalo J, Meena S, Ngoma MT, Mvungi N, Siu S, Selekwa M, Nyagabona SK, Luhar R, Buckle G, Lin TK, Breithaupt L, Kennell-Heiling S, Mushi B, Philipo GS, Mmbaga EJ, Mwaiselage J, Van Loon K. Development of a theory-driven implementation strategy for cancer management guidelines in sub-Saharan Africa. Implementation science communications 2020. PMID: 32885183


  26. Xu MJ, Su D, Deboer R, Garcia M, Tahir P, Anderson W, Kinderman A, Braunstein S, Sherertz T. Palliative Oncologic Care Curricula for Providers in Resource-Limited and Underserved Communities: a Systematic Review. Journal of cancer education : the official journal of the American Association for Cancer Education 2019. PMID: 29264703


  27. Rubagumya F, Greenberg L, Manirakiza A, DeBoer R, Park PH, Mpunga T, Shulman LN. Increasing global access to cancer care: models of care with non-oncologists as primary providers. The Lancet. Oncology 2017. PMID: 28759361


  28. Daly B, Hantel A, Wroblewski K, Balachandran JS, Chow S, DeBoer R, Fleming GF, Hahn OM, Kline J, Liu H, Patel BK, Verma A, Witt LJ, Fukui M, Kumar A, Howell MD, Polite BN. No Exit: Identifying Avoidable Terminal Oncology Intensive Care Unit Hospitalizations. Journal of oncology practice 2016. PMID: 27601514


  29. DeBoer R, Koval G, Mulkey F, Wetzler M, Devine S, Marcucci G, Stone RM, Larson RA, Bloomfield CD, Geyer S, Mullighan CG, Stock W. Clinical impact of ABL1 kinase domain mutations and IKZF1 deletion in adults under age 60 with Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL): molecular analysis of CALGB (Alliance) 10001 and 9665. Leukemia & lymphoma 2016. PMID: 26892479


  30. Keck MK, Zuo Z, Khattri A, Stricker TP, Brown CD, Imanguli M, Rieke D, Endhardt K, Fang P, Brägelmann J, DeBoer R, El-Dinali M, Aktolga S, Lei Z, Tan P, Rozen SG, Salgia R, Weichselbaum RR, Lingen MW, Story MD, Ang KK, Cohen EE, White KP, Vokes EE, Seiwert TY. Integrative analysis of head and neck cancer identifies two biologically distinct HPV and three non-HPV subtypes. Clinical cancer research : an official journal of the American Association for Cancer Research 2014. PMID: 25492084


  31. Raizer JJ, Fitzner KA, Jacobs DI, Bennett CL, Liebling DB, Luu TH, Trifilio SM, Grimm SA, Fisher MJ, Haleem MS, Ray PS, McKoy JM, DeBoer R, Tulas KM, Deeb M, McKoy JM. Economics of Malignant Gliomas: A Critical Review. Journal of oncology practice 2014. PMID: 25466707


  32. Seiwert TY, Zuo Z, Keck MK, Khattri A, Pedamallu CS, Stricker T, Brown C, Pugh TJ, Stojanov P, Cho J, Lawrence MS, Getz G, Brägelmann J, DeBoer R, Weichselbaum RR, Langerman A, Portugal L, Blair E, Stenson K, Lingen MW, Cohen EE, Vokes EE, White KP, Hammerman PS. Integrative and comparative genomic analysis of HPV-positive and HPV-negative head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. Clinical cancer research : an official journal of the American Association for Cancer Research 2014. PMID: 25056374


  33. Parvataneni R, Polley MY, Freeman T, Lamborn K, Prados M, Butowski N, Liu R, Clarke J, Page M, Rabbitt J, Fedoroff A, Clow E, Hsieh E, Kivett V, Deboer R, Chang S. Identifying the needs of brain tumor patients and their caregivers. Journal of neuro-oncology 2011. PMID: 21311950


  34. DeBoer R, Batjer H, Marymont M, Goldman S, Walker M, Gottardi-Littell N, Raizer J. Response of an adult patient with pineoblastoma to vorinostat and retinoic acid. Journal of neuro-oncology 2009. PMID: 19506816


  35. Prados MD, Chang SM, Butowski N, DeBoer R, Parvataneni R, Carliner H, Kabuubi P, Ayers-Ringler J, Rabbitt J, Page M, Fedoroff A, Sneed PK, Berger MS, McDermott MW, Parsa AT, Vandenberg S, James CD, Lamborn KR, Stokoe D, Haas-Kogan DA. Phase II study of erlotinib plus temozolomide during and after radiation therapy in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme or gliosarcoma. Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology 2008. PMID: 19075262