Rate My Professor Kristen McCarter

Dr Kristen McCarter is a Senior Lecturer and clinical psychologist in the School of Psychological Sciences, School of Science, College of Engineering, Science and Environment at the University of Newcastle, Australia. She earned a Doctor of Philosophy and a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) from the University of Newcastle. Her research specializes in improving health outcomes for priority populations through lifestyle interventions targeting preventable risks, with a focus on smoking cessation among individuals with severe mental illness and head and neck cancer patients. During her PhD, embedded in the NHMRC-funded Eating as Treatment (EAT) study—a randomized controlled trial led by Professor Amanda Baker—McCarter led a practice change intervention that enhanced implementation of best practice clinical guidelines for oncology dietitians across four Australian radiotherapy departments. She subsequently contributed to the TREAT pilot trial, funded by the Hunter Cancer Research Alliance and Agency for Clinical Innovation. From 2018 to 2021, she coordinated an NHMRC-funded Quitlink study evaluating a smoking cessation intervention using peer workers and tailored Quitline support with combination nicotine replacement therapy, achieving significantly higher quit rates published in the Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry.

McCarter has authored 36 peer-reviewed articles and a book chapter titled 'Treating Comorbid Substance Use and Psychosis' in Clinical Introduction to Psychosis (2020). Notable publications include 'Eating As Treatment (EAT): a stepped-wedge, randomized controlled trial...' (2019), 'Interventions to improve screening and appropriate referral of patients with cancer for psychosocial distress: systematic review' (2018), and 'Smoking cessation care among patients with head and neck cancer: a systematic review' (2016). She has secured approximately $620,000 in research funding across 25 grants. Awards include the NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence Best Publication Award (2022), Supervision Excellence Award from Hunter Cancer Research Alliance (2020), PhD Research Award (2016), Faculty Medal (2012), and several scholarships. She leads the Smoking and SMART Research Group, serves on the SMART Recovery Australia Research Advisory Committee, developed a SMART program for young people, and collaborates with Quit Victoria and Mind Services Australia. The Quitlink intervention is implemented by Quitline services in multiple Australian states, supporting over 30,000 people annually.