A Message from the Cancer Center

Welcome to the August issue of our Community Connections newsletter!

Building a healthier community means working together. This newsletter is our way of strengthening the bond between the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center and you. Sent out every three months, each issue will bring you the latest on:

In this issue, you can:

Featured Stories

What Community Engagement Can Look Like

Watch our fourth episode of Engage! to hear real examples of what community engagement can look like.

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

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.

National Cancer Awareness Months

Awareness Months: Turning Knowledge into Action

Each quarter we look back at recent cancer awareness months. This edition highlights June and July. August does not have a nationally designated cancer awareness month, but it is a great time to schedule checkups, stay up to date on screenings and share reliable information with family and friends.

June was National Cancer Survivors Month: Survivorship begins the day of diagnosis and continues for life. That means survivors include people living with cancer and those who have completed treatment. In the U.S., the number of cancer survivors is projected to surpass 22.1 million by 2030. Many face ongoing needs such as lingering side effects, additional health concerns, and questions about preventing a second primary cancer.

The Cancer Center’s Survivorship and Supportive Services Program brings together a multidisciplinary team to connect survivors with the resources they need to thrive at every step of their journey. The program is led by Elizabeth Shaughnessy, MD and Alique Topalian, PhD, MPH, both of whom are cancer survivors themselves, who are dedicated to developing innovative, rewarding and beneficial treatments for all survivors.

Learn more about their work and stories in our blog.

July was Sarcoma and Bone Cancer Awareness Month: Sarcomas are rare cancers that start in bone or in soft tissues like muscle, fat or blood vessels. They can occur at any age. Some types are more common in children and teens, while most soft-tissue sarcomas are diagnosed in adults. Risk can be higher with certain inherited conditions or after prior radiation, but many people develop sarcoma without a known risk factor.

Early signs include a new or growing lump, swelling that does not go away, deep or persistent pain, pain at night or with activity, or a bone break after a minor injury. Diagnosis usually involves imaging and a biopsy. Treatment is tailored to the sarcoma type and stage and may include limb-sparing surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, targeted therapies or immunotherapy. At the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center, a multidisciplinary sarcoma team coordinates care and connects patients with clinical trials. If you notice a persistent lump or unexplained bone pain, talk with your doctor.

Community Advisory Board (CAB) Co-Chair Spotlight

Get to know Artemio Castro and Steve Sunderland

At the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center, community voices play a powerful role in shaping how we understand and respond to cancer in our region. That’s the goal of our Community Advisory Board (CAB), to ensure our work reflects the real needs and lived experiences of the communities we serve.

We recently spoke with CAB Co-Chairs Artemio Castro and Steve Sunderland to learn more about their personal journeys, what drives their passion, and the impact they hope to make through the CAB.

Artemio Castro

Originally from Puerto Rico, Artemio earned a degree in chemical engineering and spent 35 years at Procter & Gamble, retiring as vice president of R&D. He is a prostate cancer survivor, and his wife is a breast cancer survivor, both detected early. Artemio serves on the board of Reach Out Lakota, a food and clothing pantry for Butler County residents. He and his wife, Myra, supported the Vallas Invisibles (Invisible Fences) study (PI: M. Butsch Kovacic), funded by a CCTST Community Health Grant in partnership with the pantry. The study surveyed more than 50 Spanish-speaking women about barriers and facilitators to breast cancer screening and co-designed a Breast Cancer Health Champions training program led by and for Spanish-speaking women. On our Community Advisory Board (CAB), Artemio reviews research proposals, helps plan awareness efforts starting with prostate cancer this fall, and works to make clinical research easier to understand for patients. works to make clinical research easier to understand for patients. He believes his research background, paired with personal experience, can help drive programs that serve the community, especially in early detection and cancer research. When asked about why he believes the CAB is important, Artemia said, “To develop better treatments faster, we need greater participation in clinical research.”

Steve Sunderland

Steve came to Cincinnati as a UC college dean. Near retirement, cancer affected his family, and the confusion around finding the right treatments led him into community advocacy focused on patient navigation. After learning about navigation research that was not yet used locally, he invited national leaders to Cincinnati. When local systems did not adopt it, he helped launch a community program that has operated for nine years, placing navigators in churches and community centers, especially in neighborhoods with large life-expectancy gaps. As CAB co-chair, Steve keeps navigation front and center to build trust and ensure people feel welcomed and supported across care and research. Reflecting on the CAB’s role, he said, “The CAB is a pioneering effort… the recognition of the community as a viable partner is a fabulous contribution to health care and health justice.”

Together, our co-chairs reflect the heart of the CAB, bridging lived experiences and community voices to help improve outcomes for all.

CRSP Scholars Summer 2025

With the support of the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center, the University of Cincinnati has launched its first-ever cancer-focused undergraduate summer research program, the Cancer Research Scholars Program (CRSP). This initiative is designed to provide undergraduate students with hands-on experience in cancer research while encouraging them to explore careers in cancer care and research. A unique aspect of the program is its integration of community engagement, requiring scholars to participate in outreach events through a partnership with the Hamilton County 513Relief Bus.

Now in its fourth year, CRSP welcomed its largest cohort yet—26 students from 15 universities and colleges across the country. These scholars conducted research in 21 Cancer Center labs and presented their findings to faculty, staff, and physicians at the conclusion of the program. Three students, Emma Dalton, Andrew Stiles, and Raivath Mukherjee, received Excellence Awards for their outstanding poster presentations at the 2025 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Scientific Symposium.

Beyond the lab, scholars participated in 11 community outreach events to promote cancer prevention and screening. Notably, scholar Sarah Nazzal took part in four of these events, personally engaging with more than 100 community members throughout the summer.

In the Community

Prostate Cancer Awareness The Black Walnut Film Screening

In honor of Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center will host two free community events focused on prostate cancer awareness and action.

“The Black Walnut” is an award-winning film that highlights the challenges men face when it comes to prostate cancer. Following the viewing of the film, attendees will enjoy dinner and join a panel discussion on prevention, treatment, and how we can work together to improve care and outcomes.

Register by September 9^th to enter the Early Bird Raffle. Must be present to win.
To register, scan the QR code (on the flyer) or visit: uofcincycancer.center/BlackWalnutEvent. You may also call (513) 558-7826 to register.

Email canceroutreach@uc.edu with any questions!

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? Complete this form to request educational materials or Cancer Center participation in your event.

Upcoming Community Events

Upcoming Events