Cancer Health Equity NOW

Join us for a conversation about the barriers and facilitators for accessing colorectal cancer screening in rural Washington and Alaska. We're excited to be joined by Parth Shah, PharmD, PhD, with Fred Hutch Cancer Center and Jalisa Ingram (Diné), MA and Claire Siekaniec, Msc, RD, with the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium. We'll talk about the similarities across our states, how people are making colorectal cancer more accessible, and what we can learn from each other. Listen to the episode to learn more!

Welcome to Season 6 of Cancer Health Equity Now! In this episode, hosts Jessica Lopez-Ramirez and Lluneli Marin-Gomez talk with OCOE team members Dr. Jean McDougall, Staff Scientist, Snowy Johnson, Community Health Educator for Indigenous Populations, and Katie Treend, Community Benefit Manager, about their work to find, understand, and share cancer data.  Join us to learn more about the cancer burden, the impact of cancer across Washington State, and the stories behind the numbers. We explore how data, local knowledge, and peoples lived experiences help us understand the communities we serve and guide cancer prevention efforts.   Learn more about cancer burden in the United States About State Cancer Profiles and in Washington state Cancer InFocus - Washington Learn more about the Fred Hutch Office of Community Outreach and Engagement

Welcome to Cancer Health Equity Now! In our final episode of Season 5, Snowy Johnson and Lluneli Marin are joined by Amanat Narwal, a student from Mount Vernon who is passionate about public health in her community. Join us for an inspiring conversation about how youth are engaging in their communities, the stories and challenges along the way, and the future of public health. Read about the health fair in Mount Vernon, WA Learn more about the Fred Hutch Office of Community Outreach and Engagement

What do we know about cancer trends in Latino communities? In this episode, we are excited to have a conversation with Ysabel Duron from The Latino Cancer Institute, Dr. Amelie Ramirez from University of Texas Health, San Antonio, and Gladys Arias from the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. Join us as we dive into our lived experiences and talk about cancer trends that impact Latino communities in Washington, California, and Texas. We hope that this conversation strengthens our shared efforts and provides insights into community-led initiatives that are making a difference. University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio: If you're interested in learning more about the conference Advancing Cancer Research for Latinos and All Populations , please visit Advancing Cancer Research for Latinos and All Populations | Long School of Medicine For more information on Salud America visit their page at The Salud America! Mission for Latino Health Social media: @SaludAmerica American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network: Learn more about their advocacy work at fightcancer.org or juntoscontraelcancer.org For information on screenings, symptoms, resources and the ACS 24/7 helpline, visit cancer.org The 24/7 Helpline can help answer any cancer-related questions in English or Spanish: 800.227.2345 The Latino Cancer Institute Learn more about The Latino Cancer Institute and register for the free Latino Men's Health Forum (Virtual), please visit www.latinocancercareinstitute.org Social media: @thelatinocancerinstitute

Join us for Episode 4 of Season 5! We are lucky to be joined by Cat Banobi and Lluneli Marin-Gomez who share their stories and talk about the reality of being a young first-generation professional in public health. This conversation offers insights for anyone following a similar path and may resonate with others navigating the public health workforce for the first time.  Learn more about HANC and The Legacy Project:  Legacy Project social media:  TikTok, BlueSky, Instagram, Facebook  HANC Website: https://www.hanc.info/ Learn more about the Office of Community Outreach and Engagement

In this episode of Cancer Health Equity Now, Snowy Johnson and Annavey Skenandore share exciting updates from the Indigenous Cancer Health Equity Initiative and CANOE Partnership: Cancer Awareness, Navigation, Outreach, and Equitable Indigenous Health Outcome.  They are joined by Dr. Lonnie Nelson, a descendent of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and a lead researcher for the U19 cooperative agreement research program. Join us as Dr. Nelson shares about his story, his work, and how he integrates Indigenous practices into his research.

In this episode, we are fortunate to be joined by Dr. Luis Manriquez, Family Physician and Director of Health Equity at WSU- Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine in Spokane, and Dr. Raj Sundar, Family Physician and District Medical Director at Kaiser Permanente in Seattle. We hope you enjoy this conversation about social determinants of health, how care coordination can support patients through all aspects of care, and our hopes for our communities.

In Season 5, Episode 1 of Cancer Health Equity Now, hosts Jessica Lopez-Ramirez and Cithlali Chavez Mendoza are joined by Li Velasco, LUNAA Program Manager at Nuestras Raíces Centro Comunitario, and Dr. Elizabeth Swisher, gynecologic oncologist at Fred Hutch/University of Washington Cancer Consortium. In honor of Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, this episode focuses on raising awareness about prevention and HPV vaccination while addressing the cultural barriers that often hinder these important conversations. Together, they share valuable insights on making cervical health education more accessible and culturally relevant. To learn more about Dr. Swisher's groundbreaking research on cervical cancer prevention, visit Swisher Lab. For more information on the community programs and leadership initiatives at Nuestras Raíces Community Center, visit Nuestras Raíces. And to dive deeper into the 2022 study on disparities in cervical cancer screening, you can read the full study here.

In Season 4, Episode 9, we have a special episode in honor of Native American Heritage Month. Annavey Skenandore and Snowy Johnson from OCOE's Indigenous Cancer Health Equity initiative sit down with Dr. Dornell Pete – Citizen of the Navajo Nation and Assistant Professor at Fred Hutch – to talk about the journey of navigating western academia and research as well as balancing values and maintaining culture in these spaces. For more background information you can check out Dr. Pete's research website to learn more about her work with the ABID Study.  

¿Cuánto sabe sobre ensayos clínicos? En este episodio de Cancer Health Equity NOW, hablamos con Andrea Suzuki, Navegadora de Pacientes de el Centro de Cancer Fred Hutch, y Lucy Echevarría, Especialista Bilingüe en Ensayos Clínicos del Instituto Nacional del Cáncer.   Únase a nosotros para conversar sobre preguntas comunes sobre los ensayos clínicos. Podemos aprender juntos y compartir recursos.   Si le gusta lo que escucha, ¡déjenos un comentario! ¿Tiene alguna idea para un futuro podcast de Cancer Health Equity NOW? Háganoslo saber enviándonos un correo electrónico a [email protected] 

How much do you know about clinical trials? In this episode of Cancer Health Equity NOW, we talk with Andrea Suzuki, Patient Navigator at Fred Hutch, and Lucy Echevarria, Bilingual Clinical Trial Specialist with the National Cancer Institute.   Join us as we have a conversation about common questions and misconceptions about clinical trials, learn together, and share resources.   If you like what you hear, please leave us a review! Do you have idea for a future Cancer Health Equity NOW podcast? Let us know by emailing us at [email protected].

In Season 4, Episode 7, we have a special episode in honor of Pride Month. Annavey Skenandore, Snowy Johnson, and Daniel Padron from OCOE sit down with Dr. Triplette – Medical Director of the Lung Cancer Screening Program and Living Tobacco Free Services Program, as well as Associate Professor with the Cancer Prevention Program at FHCC (to name a few of their roles) – to talk about Dr. Triplette's pilot study and insights around disparities in sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) data collection and bias faced by LGBTQ+ patients receiving cancer care. For more background information you can check out this Fred Hutch article Cancer and the LGBTQ+ community that explores some of the topics in this episode and insight into the work that Dr. Triplette is involved in at the Hutch.

It's May and skin cancer awareness month! In this episode of Cancer Health Equity NOW, hosts Kayla Kenyon, Deeya Chandran, and Jessica Lopez-Ramirez talk about sun safety with Lauren Bineau, Community Education Program Manager at Cancer Pathways.  Lauren shares about the Sun Safety, Education, and Training (SUNSET) project, and we delve into the importance of sun protection, practical tips for sun protection, and culturally inclusive approaches to skin cancer prevention.

It's Women History Month! In this episode of Cancer Health Equity NOW, hosts Aden Afework and Jessica Lopez-Ramirez speak with Dr. Garnet Anderson, biostatistician and clinical trialist at the Fred Hutch Cancer Center, about her involvement as a Principal Investigator in the Women's Health Initiative. Since its launch in 1992, the Women's Health Initiative has been monumental in shaping our understanding of women's health, current medical practices, prevention recommendations, and policies. We are excited to share this conversation about the history and future of women's health research.  Article Link: Women's Health Initiative continues on at Fred Hutch | Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center

It's Cervical Cancer Awareness Month! In Season 4, Episode 4, hosts Daniel Padron and Cithlali Chavez Mendoza speak with guests from the Fred Hutch Cancer Center, Washington State Department of Health (DOH), and Yakima Health District Breast, Cervical, and Colon Health Program (BCCHP). This episode focuses on raising awareness about cervical cancer, including the role of HPV in cervical cancer, overcoming barriers to screening, and the importance of resources like the Breast, Cervical, and Colon Health Program (BCCHP). If you are interested in learning more about the BCCHP program, please visit: https://doh.wa.gov/you-and-your-family/illness-and-disease-z/cancer/breast-cervical-and-colon-health-program

In this episode of Cancer Health Equity NOW, we talk with Dante' Morehead and Ben Young, members of the BACPAC team. BACPAC is a community of patients, partners, advocates, and researchers brought together with the mission of improving prostate cancer care for Black and African-descent men through community-based research and advocacy. In this episode we talk about some of the amazing projects they are working on, their recent symposium, and ways to be involved in the Early Detection Advisory Board.

This episode is a discussion of workforce development and the importance of representation when it comes to health equity for American Indian/Alaska Native communities. OCOE's Snowy Johnson is joined with Tee Benally, Senior Research Coordinator at Seven Directions, for a storytelling session on their pathways and experiences in public health as Native women from different reservation communities.

Welcome Back! We are excited to kick-off Season 4 with a conversation with two community partners doing powerful, caring, and life altering work in Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho. In this episode, we talk with Anne Johnson, Director of Community Care with Spectrum Center Spokane and Caryn Bothman, Founder of Tough As Nails. How is their work impacting individuals and communities across Eastern Washington? What does a day in the life look like? And what books do we want everyone in the country to read?  Listen in and find out! "Things that make you feel affirmed and happy in your identity; to us that is a moment of Joy. Joy is an act of resilience, an act of resistance." - Anne Johnson, Spectrum Center

Join us for our last episode of Season 3 and welcome some new faces to the OCOE team! For episode 7, we welcome Jamie, Jean, Liz, and Sara to the team as we delve deeper into the unique perspectives that shape and support health equity work at the Hutch. Much to discuss!

Let's celebrate National Nurses Week! In this episode we sit down with Arlyce Coumar, MN, RN, OCN and Jennifer Lynch, RN, BSN, BMTCN to talk more about what oncology nurses do and address misconceptions about the role of nurses in healthcare. You will learn more about the hats nurses wear within their roles as educators, patient advocates, and policy advocates. Arlyce and Jennifer provide a perspective that is unique to their experience as nurses and nurse educators.

We sit down with Cecile Greenway CMS Regional office to discuss the fears and misconceptions we hear from communities that we work with who are historically marginalized and are medically disadvantaged. Join us as we take the opportunity to highlight the important role that Medicaid plays in the lives of millions of people when it comes to accessing healthcare here in the United States.

Welcome to colorectal cancer awareness month! For Episode 4 of Season 3 we highlight the importance of colorectal cancer screening and have a candid conversation about the disparities in cancer care access and the work being done to combat inequities. We are so excited and inspired by our conversation with Dr. Rachel Issaka, gastroenterologist and clinical researcher at Fred Hutch Cancer Center focused on decreasing colorectal cancer mortality; and Anita Mitchell, founder of Colon Stars and nationally recognized advocate for patient rights. With their expertise in clinical settings, research, and community-based perspectives, Dr. Issaka and Anita provide key insights on ways to support those impacted by colorectal cancer.  Q: What's the best colorectal cancer screening test - FIT (Fecal Immunochemical Test) or Colonoscopy? A: Dr. Issaka says: "I want to lead with it doesn't matter ultimately which one you choose per se; what does matter is that you pick a test, and you get screened."

"The decisions being made in Olympia have a bigger impact on your life than those being made in Washington D.C.". For episode 3, we welcome Jeff Ketchel, executive director of Washington State Public Health Association (WSPHA), to our discussion on how rural health policy impact our public health landscape and why it is important to include diverse voices in our policy asks. Join the conversation and get involved! For more information on WSPHA's Legislative Education Day, please follow this link: https://www.wspha.org/legislative-education-day 

Episode 2 of Season 3 invites representatives from Latino/a/x Community Based Organizations; Iris Navarro Diaz de Leon of 'El Centro De La Raza' in Seattle and Jennyfer Mesa of 'Latinos En Spokane'. Our conversation begins with discussing the development/creation of each organization and programs; the discussion then moves through topics such as what Latinx population(s) each organization are serving, the different health barriers being experienced, and how they are navigating these barriers.

The OCOE is back! We're here for season 3 of Cancer Health Equity NOW! For season 3 premiere, we sit down with staff from all three branches in Seattle, Sunnyside, and Spokane to reflect on our previous health equity work and future aspirations. Join us as we meet our new members of the team, talk about our health disparities work, and future direction of our team! :)

For S2 Ep. 10 We are excited to present you with our first episode to come from the Spokane Office of Community Outreach and Engagement. Our Community Health Educator in our Spokane office had the opportunity to interview the Spokane Regional Health Districts' Health Officer Dr. Frank Velazquez. We will get a(n) insight into the work of Dr. Velazquez as a Health Officer in Spokane; and there will be a portion of the episode where Daniel and Dr. Velazquez will get to discuss topics such as gaps in access to cancer care in Spokane, collaboration efforts amongst organizations in Spokane, and the feasibility of a sustainable Mobile Mammogram Program in Spokane. Enjoy!

It is quite uncommon for three National Cancer Institute (NCI) Comprehensive Cancer Centers to form a partnership that addresses cancer health disparities among populations with the highest cancer burden, however, the Community Outreach and Engagement teams at Duke Cancer Institute, UNC Lineberger, and Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist take on this incredible challenge by forming the Southeastern American Indian Cancer health Equity Partnership (SAICEP). Join us in this 9th episode as OCOE welcomes Drs. Stephanie Wheeler, Tomi Akinyemiju, and Ronny Bell to share knowledge on how they collaborate as SAICEP to understand and address the cancer-related health needs of American Indian communities within their catchment areas.

For Episode 8, the OCOE welcomes a discussion with Dr. Wendy Barrington, Inaugural Director for the Center for Anti-Racism and Community Health (ARCH Center) at the University of Washington and Dr. Rachel Chapman, Associate Professor of Anthropology and Global Health at the University of Washington. We take a deep dive into a discussion on the numerous systemic mechanisms such as historical trauma, white supremacist ideologies, and other social/racial injustices that have a profound impact on health equity, the medical industrial complex, and society. Also, what role can the ARCH Center play in positioning itself to affect change? So much to unpack! Trust us on this one.  Let's get started!

In Episode 7, OCOE welcomes the new Community Health Educator, discuss our thoughts and experiences with Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR), and our new efforts in Spokane, Washington. We are excited about our continual growth as OCOE and we want to share with you how CBPR contributes to our success and discuss some misconceptions about OCOE.  

In Season 2 Episode 6, we have the privilege to sit down with Martha Zuniga, Deputy Director for Entre Hermanos as she shared her own journey with cancer and her efforts to reduce disparities in the community, especially for those who are underrepresented. She addresses the inequities that continue to negatively affect Latinx communities when it comes to accessing health care and preventative health services.

In Season 2 Episode 5, we explore cancer care in Washington State through the eyes of Community Health Workers. We are thrilled to be joined by board member, Rana Amini, of the Washington State Community Health Workers Association. She gives perspective on current cancer inequities seen in her area as well as best practices for public health professionals to engage with underserve populations. Join the conversation!

"Not only is our relation with our relatives back home or the people we serve but it's also having the responsibility of being accountable to the environment." For Episode 4, we welcome back Dornell Pete (Diné), PhD(c), and Dr. Marc Emerson (Diné) to continue the discussion on how Indigenous relationality benefits their work to have a holistic lens in working with the community in research. Through this holistic lens, Dornell and Dr. Emerson share how the extraction of resources on Indigenous lands impacts the health of their communities.

In Season 2 Episode 3, we are excited to sit down and discuss the importance of patient and community advocacy, and what it means to have the expertise of these powerful voices at the table when it comes to research and cancer-health equity. For this special episode we sat down with survivors and advocates: Bridgette Hempstead, founder of Cierra Sisters; Diane Mapes, Writer/Journalist for Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (and Twitter influencer); and Ben Young, Director of Marketing and Grants for the Communities of Color Coalition. Each shared their own cancer journeys, lived experience, and their expertise on health equity, cancer care, and what it means to truly engage with the patient community. The most critical component of community-engaged outreach and research is the COMMUNITY itself.

Relationality is a core value among American Indian and Alaska Native (Indigenous) communities and is embedded in who they are as Indigenous people. Indigenous relationality in research involves developing and maintaining relations with the people, community, and the land. In this first part of Episode 2, Dr. Marc Emerson (Diné), assistant professor in the department of Epidemiology at the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, and Dornell Pete (Diné), doctoral student in epidemiology at the University of Washington and an epidemiologist at Urban Indian Health Institute, leads us in a compelling discussion about how learning and practicing relationality benefits their research and work as Indigenous researchers. 

The OCOE is back! We're here for Season 2 of Cancer Health Equity NOW! For our season premiere, we sit down and address the issues surrounding the diagnosis and treatment of Multiple Myeloma and breakthroughs in medicine and research as we look to address the health inequities with this rare cancer. Dr. Andrew Cowan will break down the condition of Multiple Myeloma and the disparities that exist. Our special guest, Kristin Alana, a talented artist here in Seattle will discuss her journey as a patient with Multiple Myeloma and her experience as an African American woman dealing with the disease. Join us as we talk disparities, terrible fashion choices, and… "cornflakes" vs "cancer?" Interesting… Season 2! Let's go!

The Cancer Health Equity NOW! Season 1 Finale is here! Our staff and faculty are on deck for our finale, as we reflect on the various moments from Season 1 and check-in with your OCOE staff to discuss our favorite moments, lessons learned, and more! It has been a great ride with many positive changes along the way including the addition of new team members and newer strategies to address health equity in cancer care and prevention! Find out more about what the future holds for the Office of Community Outreach and Engagement. See you for Season 2!

The OCOE invites you to engage in conversation around policy! Policy changes in government can have some of the largest and broadest public health impacts, and we're interested in seeing how it relates to health equity in Washington State. Dante' Morehead continues to host and is accompanied by Dillon van Rensburg (CHE for Rural Populations) to share experiences with policy in rural-designated counties. In addition, we are joined by esteemed Senator Emily Randall (26th district legislator) who will share her story becoming a legislator, give details as to how we can get involved in future policy changes, and draw attention to current senate bills 5228 and 5229!

In this special episode, Program Manager and Tribal Liaison for the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance,  Ursula Tsosie, MSPH talks with Leona Swamp, Wolf clan from the Akwesasne Mohawk Nation and Executive Director of ASESHATE:KA'TE Grief Services, a Non-Profit Organization focused on helping Indigenous people process their grief in a safe and supportive environment, while also incorporating traditional teachings. Leona leads us in a discussion about the impacts of unresolved grief and intergenerational trauma on Indigenous people. The lasting and profound impact caused by the government's treatment of Indigenous people has never been appropriately addressed and our discussion today will shed some light on this topic. 

How can we increase diversity in STEM, public health, or the health care workforce? What can we do to create more pathways for underrepresented students and educators to explore careers in science and/or medicine? In this Episode, the OCOE discusses these issues from the perspectives of our experts Dr. Jeanne Chowning, Kate Ceronsky, RNP, our own Community Health Education Manager-Hallie Pritchett, MPH, and a promising student/intern Roberto Ramirez on how increasing diversity, creating these pathways, and engaging students and teachers on these issues can help to improve health equity and address cultural/racial gaps that exist in healthcare and beyond!

The Fred Hutch COVID-19 Clinical Research Center (CCRC) was one of the first establishments in the nation to focus work on treating and preventing the virus. Now that there are vaccines and new treatments, there is still work to be done in ensuring underserved communities have equally successful outcomes from studied interventions. How do we promote COVID-19 clinical trials to communities that typically would not have access to participation like this? Dr. Rachel Bender Ignacio, MD MPH, Dr. Alex Lankowski, MD, and CHE Liszet Bigelow, MSW join us to talk about what the CCRC is working on to fight the COVID-19 Pandemic and how we can address vaccine and treatment hesitancy from those most affected.

American Indian and Alaska Native (Indigenous) populations continue to face cancer health disparities. Misrepresentation in data and a health care system focused on illness rather than prevention are some of the major contributions to these cancer health disparities. What does building trust and relationships with an Indigenous community organization look like? Kris Rhodes, MPH and Myra Parker, PhD, MPH joins us to highlight some of these issues and to discuss why building trust and relationships are essential in working with Indigenous communities in cancer prevention.

What should "Anti-Racism" look like through a health equity and research lens? And what role can diversity, equity and inclusion play? In Episode 5, we reflect on the lessons learned from the year 2020 when it comes to health equity and systemic racism. Dante' Morehead sits down with Dr. Michelle Andrasik, Dr. Wendy Barrington, and Dr. Paul Buckley to reflect on how these issues affect African American/African descent populations; and the roles that diversity, equity, and inclusion can play in moving us forward in research, health equity, and we also discuss COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among BIPOC communities.

Our current cancer screenings are a great tool in detecting cancer at an early stage, with a heavy focus on heterosexual and cisgender populations. Genya Shimkin (she/they) is the CEO and creator of the Q Card Project, which provides queer youth a simple communication tool designed to improve communication between patients and their medical providers. Genya joins us to bring awareness to LGBTQIA+ cancer inequities and how current cancer screenings and education campaigns can be more inclusive of the queer and trans community.

With an immediate shift and "pivot" to more virtual work, how can health educators make the same difference in the communities that they serve? For this Episode, Dante' sits down with health educators Lisa Scheib, Katarina Lauderback and Dillon van Rensburg to discuss the role of health education and their perspectives on health education during the COVID-19 pandemic. The team discusses current projects, support for cancer patients, and addresses COVID-19 disparities that exist during these unprecedented times.

Representation within public health research and our health care system is needed to tackle cancer health disparities. Join us for our second episode as we introduce and engage in our topic with our Indigenous colleagues and community champions from the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA). Learn more about the həliʔil Program, an Indigenous lung cancer screening and tobacco cessation program, and the Indigenous Patient Navigator of SCCA. Get to know some of our Indigenous colleagues within Fred Hutch and SCCA! To donate to our PPE Drive for Indigenous communities, please visit: http://engage.fredhutch.org//site/TR?px=1843738&pg=personal&fr_id=1574

The Office of Community Outreach & Engagement is excited to launch our podcast series entitled: "Cancer Health Equity NOW" Join us for the first episode as we introduce you to our incredible team, learn more about our interesting personalities, discuss our roles, talk about the work that we do in addressing health inequities, the history of our office, our goals, missions, and values.  Get to know a little bit more about the team!  "Better Outcomes for Everyone"