UCF Psychology Professor Recognized with Beckman Award for His Impact on Student’s Research for Breast Cancer Survivors

Psychology and art blend into lifelong impact for women with Stacie Becker’s research

By Emily Dougherty | November 25, 2024

Dr. Jeffrey Cassisi, Professor of Psychology in the College of Sciences, is a recipient of the 2024 Elizabeth Hurlock Beckman Award for his mentorship and support of Stacie Becker’s research. Becker is a master’s student studying emerging media studio art at UCF and has conducted research regarding the positive psychological impact of medical tattooing for breast cancer survivors.

The Beckman Award was founded in honor of Dr. Elizabeth Hurlock Beckman, an educator and pioneer in the field of psychology, and recognizes the influence of extraordinary professors for their work in helping a student to create a large and lasting impact on a community. Earlier this month, both Becker and Cassisi attended the Recognition Ceremony in Atlanta.

“Gail Beckman, who established the Elizabeth Hurlock Beckman Award Trust in honor of her mother, Elizabeth Hurlock Beckman, would be proud of the groundbreaking work Dr. Cassisi inspired in Stacie Becker,” said Debra Faulk, CAP®, Senior Philanthropic Specialist, Executive Director, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. “It was her intention to honor and celebrate professors like Dr. Cassini, as she believed education and mentorship is the foundation behind a student making this world a better place.”

Since the award’s inception in 2010, the Elizabeth Hurlock Beckman Award Trust has recognized 151 professors from throughout the U.S., awarding more than $3.9 million to date in support of significant contributions to society.

Cassisi shared that when Becker initially approached him with the idea of research for medical tattoos, he wasn’t familiar with the concept but was inspired by Becker’s dedication and supported her research.

“There is a multidisciplinary theme with Stacie’s research. I don’t think in my career I ever had any opportunity to really blend psychology with art,” Cassisi says. “As a faculty member at UCF and a clinical health psychologist, I am uniquely positioned to explore new research opportunities, including studying the innovative approaches Stacie has introduced to the field of supportive care in cancer.” 

It was a long road for Becker, having been turned away by many people who declined to work on this research with her. She says Cassisi was the first person to believe in her work and his partnership was a breakthrough.

“Dr. Cassisi changed my life and helped to bring medical tattooing to the forefront in the space where it deserves to be,” Becker says.

This one “yes” has given Becker the opportunity to tattoo over 600 breast cancer survivors from all over the world.

Together, they have published three peer-reviewed articles about the physical and mental impacts that medical tattooing has on its clients, its importance as a profession, and shed light on the lack of research for the impacts of this treatment for breast cancer survivors.

Becker explained her love of art since childhood and how she turned that passion into a career that ended up transforming her clients’ lives.

“I’d met my husband, and he was a tattoo artist and was really encouraging. So, once he taught me how to tattoo, we owned our studio together for several years,” Becker says. “It wasn’t until one of my long-term clients, unfortunately, was diagnosed with breast cancer and she had a surgeon who was attempting to do these tattoos. However, he wasn’t happy with his results. So, she told him that she was going to have me do it.”

Stunned by how realistic Becker’s work looked, she explained the client’s surgeon had asked to meet with her, which made her realize the need for more affordable and accessible medical tattooing.

“I provide a hybrid environment somewhere between a traditional tattoo shop and a medical office where people feel comfortable,” Becker says. “A number of my clients wouldn’t necessarily find themselves in this environment without having gone through breast cancer.”

Both Becker and Cassisi are working to make this procedure affordable to breast cancer survivors, sharing their research with insurance companies to help cover the cost of this treatment.

“Stacie is really leading the charge to have medical tattoo artists recognized by insurance companies to support their services to the patients,” Cassisi says.

Becker shared that she has teamed up with Hazelnut Productions on a documentary to help others understand the heroic journey breast cancer survivors go through and the positive mental impact of medical tattooing.

She says seeing the confidence boost clients receive from their tattooing experience has made this research journey worthwhile, and she hopes to make this treatment more readily available to change more lives.

“I usually do before and after photos for clients. Their posture is typically slumped over in the ‘before’ photos, and they don’t even necessarily want to look in the mirror when we’re trying to figure out placement. But, once we’re done, it’s like I’m watching someone come back into their body again,” Becker says.

The documentary featuring Becker’s research and clients, “Empower Ink,” premiered Friday, Nov. 22 at UCF’s Art Knight, from 6 p.m.to 9 p.m. in the UCF Visual Arts and Design building.