Highlighting some of the achievements and activities of University of Illinois Cancer Center members, trainees and staff in this Cancer Center Happenings collection.
NAACP State Convention
The University of Illinois Cancer Center attended the 86th Annual Illinois NAACP State Convention held in downstate Normal on September 22-24. Cancer Center member and Research Scientist Leslie Carnahan, PhD, was there along with Alieen Shen, MPH, Senior Research Specialist, and Research Specialists Monet Jones, MPH, MSW, LSW, and Osei Bekoe, MPH, all part of the Illinois Cancer Health Equity Research (I-CHER) Center, which sits within the Cancer Center in the Office of Community Engagement and Health Equity. The team shared information at the convention on the Cancer Center’s work reducing cancer health disparities, projects in the I-CHER Center, and diversity in clinical trials at the Cancer Center as part of a commitment to deliver equitable precision oncology. They also provided information about different collaboration opportunities for organizations, including research, funding opportunities for community-based organizations, and community outreach and engagement.
Chicago Latina Expo
Jeanette S. González, MSHRMD, Associate Director for the University of Illinois Cancer Center Office of Community Engagement and Health Equity, took part in a panel discussion, “Bridging Care in Chicago to Support our Breast Cancer Patients” at the Chicago Latina Expo on September 22. The panel was sponsored by Pfizer and moderated by Geraldine Luna, MD, MPH, Medical Director at the Chicago Department of Public Health. The discussion included the state of breast cancer in the Latina community, how to ensure information on breast cancer is disseminated in a culturally sensitive manner, and how to address common misconceptions or cultural beliefs about breast cancer to promote early detection and treatment.
Illinois Community Health Workers Association
University of Illinois Cancer Center member Paul Rubinstein, MD, and Jeanette S. González, MSHRMD, Associate Director for the Cancer Center’s Office of Community Engagement and Health Equity, were both presenters at the Illinois Community Health Workers Association (ILCHWA) Chicago summit on September 15. ILCHWA is a membership organization that advocates for Community Health Workers (CHWs) in Illinois. At the bilingual summit, Rubinstein headed up the hourlong session, “CHWs: Leukemia and Lymphoma Blood Cancer in the Underserved Communities,” and González led the hourlong session, “Employers: Funding Resources for Employers.” Goals of the Chicago summit and another scheduled for September 29 in Champaign are to bring CHWs, health providers and other stakeholders together for training workshops, information exchange and networking, according to the ILCHWA website.
Hyde Park 5K
The University of Illinois Cancer Center was a sponsor of the Beyond a Mammogram Hyde Park 5K to raise awareness of breast cancer early detection and research. Research Specialist Mona Strahan, MPH, part of the Cancer Center’s Office of Community Engagement and Health Equity, was at the event to talk with runners and supporters about breast cancer.