A Message from the Cancer Center

Welcome to the first issue of our Community Connections newsletter! This newsletter aims to build stronger connections between the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center and the community to promote health equity.

Each edition, sent quarterly in November, February, May and August, will highlight important updates in cancer prevention, screening, early detection and survivorship; updates on the latest cancer research and educational resources; and ways you can get involved.

Featured Stories

What is Community Engagement?

What is community engagement? Watch our first episode of Engage! to find out what community engagement is and why it is important in cancer research.

Engage! is a short-form video series about community-engaged research from the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center.

Healthy Together: Cancer Community Stakeholder Retreat

On September 13, 2024, the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center hosted the Healthy Together: Cancer Community Stakeholder Retreat, bringing together nearly 60 community stakeholders from more than 25 organizations across the Cancer Center’s catchment area, the ten-county region most of the health system's patients come from. The retreat featured presentations from Cancer Center experts Syed Ahmad, MD, Melinda Butsch Kovacic, PhD, MPH and Alique Topalian, PhD, along with Community Advisory Board members Steve Sunderland, PhD, and Jada Davis. Breakout sessions allowed attendees to brainstorm strategies to reduce cancer burdens in the community, focusing on education, partnerships and reducing stigma.

The event also introduced the new P.R.A.I.S.E. Award, recognizing impactful cancer-related projects in the community.

University of Cincinnati Cancer Center launches Community Advisory Board

Research conducted at a Cancer Center needs to align with the community's unique health needs. Through Community Outreach & Engagement, Cancer Centers are tasked with connecting community insights to the research conducted and sharing evidence-based findings with the community. This is facilitated through a Community Advisory Board (CAB), which acts as a bridge between the Cancer Center and the community it serves.

Functions of a Community Advisory Board

The University of Cincinnati Cancer Center hosted its inaugural Community Advisory Board meeting in April. The CAB includes community advocates, cancer survivors and members of partner organizations. Learn more about the Community Advisory Board.

Awareness and educational resources are vital tools for reducing the cancer burden. In each Community Connections newsletter, you will receive information on different cancers, including screening information, its impact on our community, recent scientific discoveries and more.

Awareness Months:

The Cancer Center follows the American Association for Cancer Research's (AACR) list of cancer awareness months. There are no awareness months in August or December.

• January: Cervical Cancer
• February: National Cancer Prevention Month; Gallbladder & Bile Duct Cancer
• March: Colorectal Cancer; Kidney Cancer; Multiple Myeloma
• April: Esophageal Cancer; Head & Neck Cancer; Testicular Cancer
• May: National Cancer Research Month; Bladder Cancer; Brain Cancer; Melanoma & Skin Cancer
• June: National Cancer Survivor Month
• July: Sarcoma & Bone Cancer
• September: Childhood Cancer; Leukemia & Lymphoma; Ovarian Cancer; Prostate Cancer; Thyroid Cancer; Gynecologic Cancer
• October: Breast Cancer; Liver Cancer
• November: Neuroendocrine Tumors; Gastric Cancer; Lung Cancer; Pancreatic Cancer

Survivorship

There are very few conferences that focus on the adolescent and young adult (AYA) community for providers, researchers and supportive service professionals. Cancer Con is the primary conference for all members of the AYA cancer community. Alique Topalian, PhD, MPH, presented Becoming Research Ready at the Cancer Con Live event on August 15-18 in Austin, Texas.

Research Ready helps people understand the most important aspects of research such as the various types of research opportunities and the 3 P’s (Purpose, Protection and Participation). Research Ready has been used in many community settings. Recently, Dr. Butsch Kovacic and her team published a paper in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health that highlighted the program's impact in the South Asian community. Read the paper.

In the Community

Defeating Cancer through Education, Prevention and Youth Athletics

Cancer Center Co-Director William Barrett, MD, shared an innovative program called "Defeating Cancer through Education, Prevention, and Youth Athletics" at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Conference, a major cancer conference. This program leveraged the expertise of Cancer Center members and community youth basketball and life coach Sherwin Anderson to combine science education with basketball drills to engage elementary students, especially those from disadvantaged communities.

Sherwin recently joined the Cancer Center's team as a Community Liaison.

Cancer Center Members in the Community

Community Presentation by Robert van Haren, MD, MSHP

The Cancer Center maintains a Community Outreach Speakers Network made up of trained community-focused researchers and clinicians eager to connect with the community through discussion. Topics can include ways to prevent, screen for and treat types of cancer. Community groups also receive personalized resources and learn more about current and future research opportunities in top cancer areas.

To request a member of the Community Outreach Speakers Network to attend one of your events or meetings, please complete the request form.

Cancer Research Scholars Program + 513Relief Bus

The University of Cincinnati Cancer Center helps the next generation of cancer scientists find success through various educational opportunities. The Cancer Research Scholars Program (CRSP) is a cancer-focused summer program for undergraduate students. CRSP offers cancer research and career training, field experiences and community engagement opportunities. The program is funded by an R25 grant from the National Cancer Institute and is led by Melinda Butsch Kovacic, MPH, PhD.

Over the summer, 22 CRSP students gained hands-on experience both in the lab and in the community, primarily through the Hamilton County 513Relief Bus, an initiative that provides health screenings and social services to residents. Through their involvement, CRSP students helped reduce health disparities and improve outcomes in our community.

We are grateful for the hard work of our CRSP students, who are making an impact on cancer research and community health! 

Interested in being a CRSP Scholar? Applications for next summer open on November 15. Learn more.

How to Get Engaged

Connect with the Community Outreach & Engagement Team

Community Outreach & Engagement works to establish and strengthen community partnerships throughout the region by connecting members of the community and community organizations directly to researchers and clinicians at the Cancer Center. Leveraging these partnerships, together we hope to better address the cancer-related challenges in our region, and over time, reduce the overall burden of cancer.

Interested in partnering with us? Reach out to the team at CancerOutreach@uc.edu.

Meet the Team

Community Liaisons

Community Liaisons serve as health champions and educators for Reducing Your Risk and other health outreach activities. Liaisons are trained to provide education on cancer prevention and screening.

Request Educational Materials

The Cancer Center has educational flyers and other materials available. Having a health-focused event? Email CancerOutreach@uc.edu to request educational materials.

Upcoming Community Events

Upcoming Events