Ramzi Salloum, Ph.D., associate director for community outreach and engagement at the UF Health Cancer Institute, has been elected vice chair of the Florida Cancer Control and Research Advisory Council, or CCRAB.
Established by the Florida Legislature, the council is an advisory body that recommends solutions and policy alternatives to the Board of Governors and the state Surgeon General. Its responsibilities include creating and approving a program for cancer control and research known as the Florida Cancer Control and Research Plan and an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature.
Salloum, an expert in implementing evidence-based cancer prevention and control strategies, will serve a two-year term as vice chair alongside Erin Kobetz, Ph.D., of Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.
The Florida Cancer Control and Research Plan is released every five years, and a new one is due out in early 2026. That makes it an impactful time to step into the leadership role, Salloum said.
“There are exciting opportunities to improve cancer surveillance in the state and identify areas where we need to prioritize implementation,” said Salloum, a professor and associate chair for research and division chief for implementation science in the Department of Health Outcomes and Biomedical Informatics.
The council contains 16 elected members. Salloum has served as the UF Health Cancer Institute’s representative on the council since 2019.
The council is increasingly integrated with Offices of Community Outreach and Engagement at Florida’s National Cancer Institute-designated cancer centers, Salloum said.
“I’m looking forward to continuing collaborations across the state to reduce the burden of cancer,” he said.
