UCRF Outreach

The first listening session for the University Cancer Research Fund was held in Greenville on January 24, hosted by the Eastern NC Area Health Education Center.

Major Themes Addressed at the Greenville Listening Session:

• How to reach low income, rural residents and extend our reach far and wide across North Carolina and into underserved areas. Particularly interested in reaching individuals with information and support in meaningful, innovative, personal ways that seem relevant and likely to have an impact.
• Conduct research on how to identify and address factors beyond patients’ control that affect cancer prevalence, prevention and treatment
• Address fear and suspicion about cancer screening and treatment
• Study long-term effects of
• New pharmacotherapies
• Ongoing diagnostic imaging
• Development of other cancers as a consequence of treatment
• Increase connections and collaborations with UNC and
• Primary care physicians
• Local oncologists
• Local cancer centers
• Other comprehensive cancer centers at Duke University and Wake Forest University
• Statewide partnerships like those associated with North Carolina’s comprehensive cancer program
• Maintain and increase strength of professional relationships between local doctors and oncologists at cancer centers like Lineberger
• Learn from the experience of others in building sustainable systems for cancer prevention, control and treatment, e.g., programs like the one in Nebraska
• Make funding for pilot projects available at East Carolina University
• Explore what can be learned about service delivery by non-oncology clinicians, including ways to increase their confidence in managing complex therapies
• Conduct and engage others in more translational research, including the use of technology and its role in treatment delivery
• Consider research on work force topics, including low numbers of physicians, including specialty providers
• Build the field of research on issues related to surviving cancer
• The public can’t just take us “at our word” that UCRF money will be spent wisely; we need to demonstrate accountability and results.

Transcription

Read article about listening session in The Daily Reflector.

Highlights:

Leading the session were (l-r): Dr. Emmanuel Zervos, associate director, Leo W. Jenkins Cancer Center; Dr. Adam Asch, associate director, Leo W. Jenkins Cancer Center; Dr. Rich Goldberg, associate director, UNC Lineberger and physician in chief, North Carolina Cancer Hospital; Dr. Etta Pisano, vice dean for academic affairs at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine and director of the Biomedical Research Imaging Center; Dr. Shelley Earp, director of UNC Lineberger; Dr. Steve Willis, director of Eastern NC Area Health Education Center

Session participants included several members of the NC Legislature, patients, advocates and health care professionals

Edith Warren, NC Representative for Martin and Pitt Counties, and Tim Spear, NC Representative for Chowan, Dare, Hyde, and Washington Counties

Representative Marian McLawhorn says hello to Dr. Shelley Earp while Tim Spear looks on

(l-r) Dr. Cathy Melvin, research associate professor, Department of Maternal and Child Health and Director, UNC School of Public Health and UNC Lineberger Dissemination Core director; Gordon Cole, Chapter Coordinator, Colon Cancer Alliance - Voices of Greensboro; Lloyd Mickens