Chris Gayer, PhD, is a Senior Program Officer for the Dissemination and Implementation team at the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). In this role, Gayer helps to facilitate the translation, dissemination, and implementation of PCORI research findings in order to increase the awareness, adoption, and use of PCORI research results by patients, caregivers, clinicians, and other stakeholders.

Prior to this role, Gayer worked as a program officer in PCORI’s Communication and Dissemination Research program. He over saw a portfolio of research initiatives aimed at improving communication and dissemination of evidence-based information among patients and their healthcare providers. Gayer has also played a leadership role in PCORI’s initiatives related to cancer, palliative care, shared decision making, and the development and use of decision aids.

Before joining PCORI, Gayer worked as research director at the Cancer Support Community, Research and Training Institute, conducting community-based research studies with a focus on cancer-related distress screening, treatment decision making, and the cancer patient experience.

Gayer received a BS in human development and family studies from Penn State University and a PhD in gerontology from the University of Kentucky.