HICCC at Catchment Area Conference 2023
Community engagement experts from the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center (HICCC) presented their research at the first annual Catchment Area Data Conference, held
December 7-9, 2023 in Richmond, Virginia, hosted by Virginia Commonwealth University. The conference convened cancer center catchment area data experts and those passionate about supporting a cancer center's mission through data analysis and community engagement. Attendees at the conference shared best practices in data collection, analysis, dissemination, and utilization, while exploring policies and methodologies to advance cancer center catchment area analytics. Below, read some of the exciting research from members of the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer’s Community Outreach and Engagement team.
“Utilizing a Data-Driven Approach in the Development of Liver Cancer Education and Screening Services in New York City”
Chrystelle L. Vilfranc, PhD
This poster was given the Data Impact Excellence award, which acknowledges posters that highlight the tangible impact of data-driven research on the field of cancer care, treatment, or prevention. As the recipient of this award, Chrystelle L. Vilfranc, PhD was recognized for effectively communicating how her work on liver cancer has made a positive and measurable difference in the fight against cancer.
Vilfranc’s presentation highlighted the higher incidence rates of liver cancer in New York City as compared to the United States and showed that the HICCC catchment area is among the areas of New York City with the highest burden of liver cancer. The HICCC catchment area includes a large population of individuals from racial and economic demographics that are disproportionately impacted by liver cancer. This work emphasized that liver disease and liver cancer education and screening are essential for prevention in our catchment area.
“A Policy, Systems, and Environmental Approach to Reducing Skin Cancer Incidence and Increasing HPV Vaccination in Staten Island”
Maya Lipsman, MPH
Maya Lipsman is project director for the HICCC’s Cancer Prevention in Action (CPiA) grant for the area of Staten Island, under principal investigator Mary Beth Terry, PhD. This poster shared Lipsman’s work with key partners Ginny Mantello, MD (Staten Island Borough President’s Office) and Ana Mendez, MD (Richmond University Medical Center) to facilitate the adoption of 16 sun safety policies introducing free sunscreen, shade, signage, and trainings at community organizations across Staten Island. CPiA has also worked closely with Staten Island high schools to bring skin cancer risk reduction information to teens and involve them in a student-led social media communications campaign called “Project Sun Safe Staten Island.” Lastly, CPiA has maintained a presence at community events and held their own events to educate the public, healthcare providers, pharmacists, federally qualified and school-based health centers, and community leaders about the cancer-preventing HPV vaccination.
"A Data- Driven Approach for Addressing Cancer Health Disparities through Intervention and Community Education in and around New York City".
Kimberly Burke, MPH
The poster highlighted data that was used to characterize the cancer burden of the HICCC catchment area, including data on cancer incidence, cancer mortality, screening and risk factors. Using this data, the team identified neighborhoods with low cancer screening rates and worked with HICCC faculty, community partners and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC)s to obtain funding for two programs aimed at improving screening rates and HPV vaccination rates.
Center to Improve Chronic disease Outcomes through Multi-level and Multi-generational approaches Unifying Novel Interventions and Training for Health Equity (COMMUNITY Center)
Nicole Bayne, RN, MPH
Cancer and cardiovascular disease persist as leading causes of death in New York City and there are significant disparities in cancer incidence and cancer mortality among communities within the HICCC catchment area. Expanding on the aims of the HICCC Community Outreach and Engagement Office and working together through the NYC Cancer Collaborative, HICCC collaborated with other NYC institutions to form the COMMUNITY Center in response to the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities call to develop multi-institutional approaches to reducing multiple chronic diseases.
Launched in 2021 and led by Dr. Mary Beth Terry, COMMUNITY focuses on community-engaged, synergistic interventions and programs. Our research studies address colorectal cancer, breast cancer, sleep health and cardiovascular disease. We provide community organizations with capacity-building resources, support Early-stage Investigator pilot projects and offer grant-writing, Biostatistics, Implementation Science, and qualitative analysis resources. COMMUNITY also organizes health equity and chronic disease educational and networking events.
The COMMUNITY Center vision is to have a positive impact on community health outcomes in the NYC region.
COMMUNITY is funded by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities of the National Institutes of Health Award U24MD017250