Ramzi Salloum, Ph.D., an accomplished cancer implementation science researcher with a focus on tobacco control, has been named associate director for community outreach and engagement at the University of Florida Health Cancer Center.
Salloum, an associate professor in the department of health outcomes and biomedical informatics in the UF College of Medicine, will be responsible for overseeing the center-wide effort to reduce the burden of cancer through research in clinical and community settings that addresses cancer prevention, screening, treatment and survivorship.
Salloum, who also serves as director of the Learning Health System Initiative at the UF Clinical and Translational Science Institute, assumes the position as Elizabeth Shenkman, Ph.D., a professor and chair in the department of health outcomes and biomedical informatics, transitions into a senior advisory role with the Cancer Center. The appointments are part of the center’s continued development as a newly National Cancer Institute (NCI)-Designated Cancer Center.
“Dr. Salloum is an innovative health economist with a passion to create a tobacco-free world,” said Jonathan D. Licht, M.D., director of the UF Health Cancer Center. “His testimony before the Alachua County Commission contributed to the development of an ordinance raising the legal age to buy tobacco to 21 in the county, which then spread throughout the state. We look forward to Dr. Salloum’s expertise in this vital leadership role as we work to improve the health of the residents of our region and prevent the occurrence of cancer.”
“We look forward to Dr. Salloum’s expertise in this vital leadership role as we work to improve the health of the residents of our region and prevent the occurrence of cancer.”
Jonathan D. Licht, M.D., Director, UF Health Cancer Center
Salloum’s research focus is cancer implementation science, which studies methods to promote the adoption and integration of evidence-based practices and policies in cancer prevention and control into routine health care and community settings to improve their impact on population health. His research focus on tobacco control also directly aligns with the Cancer Center’s efforts to prevent and control lung cancer, which disproportionately impacts the population the center serves.
“I am humbled to take on this leadership role and excited to contribute to the UF Health Cancer Center’s mission to reduce the burden of cancer in our catchment area and beyond,” Salloum said. “I’m excited about the opportunity to grow our partnerships with the community. Together, we will expand education and access to evidence-based cancer screening and prevention services to address our catchment area’s needs and eliminate disparities.”
Salloum completed master’s degrees in business administration and economics at the University of South Florida and earned his Ph.D. in economics at Wayne State University. He completed an NCI-sponsored postdoctoral fellowship in cancer care quality at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
His research in cancer prevention and control has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, Cancer Research UK, the International Development Research Centre, the Florida Department of Health and the Aetna Foundation. He is an author of more than 180 peer-reviewed publications, most of which have been in cancer prevention and control.
Salloum has served as faculty for the NCI’s Training Institute for Dissemination and Implementation Research in Cancer, and he is the recipient of three NCI-supported fellowships. He currently serves as co-chair of the Global Research Network’s Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco, and he has received numerous awards throughout his career, including the 2022 Outstanding Specialist Award from the Florida Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences.
In his new role, Salloum’s primary objective will be to promote communication between Cancer Center members and community partners across the center’s catchment area. By working closely with the center’s basic science, clinical and population science researchers, he will lead efforts to encourage community members to participate in cancer clinical trials and research studies.
By disseminating evidence-based findings into the community, the center’s research directly benefits patients and helps inform national research and treatment priorities.
Another goal is to increase participation in cancer screening and prevention programs by ensuring that people who are at risk receive appropriate cancer screening, leading to early detection and better treatment outcomes.
“I am excited to contribute to the continued success of community outreach and engagement initiatives at the Cancer Center,” Salloum said. “I’m honored to be leading a talented team devoted to advancing equity in cancer prevention and control.”
“Together, we will expand education and access to evidence-based cancer screening and prevention services to address our catchment area’s needs and eliminate disparities.”
Ramzi Salloum, Ph.D.
