Patrick Tomko

Background

About Patrick Tomko

At The Ohio State University’s Center for Tobacco Research (CTR) and within the Cancer Control Program, my research is dedicated to advancing our understanding of how behavioral health risks, such as alcohol and tobacco use, influence physiological recovery and survivorship outcomes. My work is particularly focused on populations experiencing health disparities, including those in Appalachian regions, where substance use and cancer burden intersect. I have a background in exercise physiology, muscle health, and clinical assessment, and plan to integrate physiological, behavioral, and public health approaches to examine how modifiable risk factors impact cancer treatment recovery, muscle quality, and overall survivorship trajectories. This aligns closely with the mission of CTR and the Tobacco Centers of Regulatory Science (TCORS) to inform policy, prevention, and treatment strategies related to tobacco and co-occurring substance use.