January 2024 News & Updates

Welcome to the January issue of the UF Health Cancer Center’s Office of Community Outreach & Engagement (COE) newsletter!

We are thrilled to announce that through UF President Ben Sasse’s strategic funding initiative, a $1.5 million grant was awarded to launch a mobile mammography initiative, called “Expanding Access to Breast Cancer Screening in North Central Florida.”

Additionally, below you will find details on how we are continuing our work in the community during Cervical Cancer Awareness Month.

Data Highlight

Research Highlight: HPV self-collection

Rahma S. Mkuu, Ph.D., a health outcomes and chronic disease researcher in the department of health outcomes & biomedical informatics in the UF College of Medicine, led a study focusing on cervical cancer disparities in Black women. Black women are more likely to die from cervical cancer and have higher rates of type II diabetes. Having diabetes itself does not significantly predict cervical cancer rates, but race does for people with diabetes.

The first piece of the study was conducted in Florida with OneFlorida+ data to determine whether Black women with type II diabetes have a significantly higher risk of being diagnosed with cervical cancer than white women. Data shows that people with diabetes have a higher risk of being diagnosed with late-stage cancers and higher rates of late-stage cancers.

The second part of the study was conducted by interviews with 29 Black women with diabetes living in areas of low socioeconomic and high socioeconomic vulnerability. The team recruited 30 women in these high vulnerability areas and asked them about HPV self-collection tests to determine the acceptability of self-collected screening in this group.

The results indicated that the women would feel comfortable and had a high preference for it, but they felt they needed more instruction or were nervous about completing the tests correctly.

In the fall, Dr. Mkuu hopes to hold focus groups to develop educational materials on HPV self-collection to enhance self-efficacy for collection. The team hopes to conduct future studies for self-efficacy funded by the UF Clinical and Translational Science Institute Precision Health Program.

Team Highlight: Laura Parra

Laura Parra, M.P.H., CHES, is the community programs specialist with COE. Her main role is establishing, developing and managing relationships with key stakeholders in the UF Health Cancer Center catchment area. She also assists in building community-based programs that address the cancer-related needs of local residents and actively engages in community events, where she collaborates with and oversees community health workers to educate community members about breast, cervical, colorectal and skin cancer.

Laura was recently accepted to be part of Cedars-Sinai's 2024 Community Outreach and Engagement Training Program. This 10-week program is designed to provide comprehensive training and education for community health educators to gain skills to effectively represent their cancer centers.

Outside of work, Laura enjoys bouldering and free climbing at the local indoor rock-climbing gym! If she could only eat one food for the rest of her life, Laura would eat pasta.

Project CONTINUITY

The purpose of the COE’s Project CONTINUITY is to increase evidence-based cancer screenings, including cervical, colorectal and breast. Since it began, Project CONTINUITY has used its partnerships to extend health care services and increase the reach of screenings and health education through community outreach and engagement and clinical navigation services.

The team of clinical community navigators ensures high-quality care by partnering with health care providers and clinics. Our navigators increase capacity and provide tailored support to reduce barriers to care through community-based clinics, language services, transportation and at-home screening tests, all while helping individuals establish free and accessible primary care services.

To access Project CONTINUITY’s services, call 352-359-5184.

UF Mobile Outreach Clinic

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Sharing the Harvest

On Nov. 18, the New Beginning Christian Worship Center and the Willie Mae Stokes Community Center in Micanopy hosted Sharing the Harvest, an exceptional event that provided hot Thanksgiving meals to local residents.

Community members were educated on colorectal cancer screenings and eligibility for the iFOBT testing was determined on site. Team members from the ALEX: Your Virtual Health Assistant study also attended, promoting colorectal cancer screening through the innovative mobile application.

Children Beyond Our Borders health fair

On Nov. 18, the clinical community navigation team participated in the last quarterly Children Beyond Our Borders health clinic of 2023 with the UF Mobile Outreach Clinic and Equal Access Clinic. More than 80 patients were seen, with 59 patients receiving cancer screening services. 3D Mobile Mammography provided 29 screening mammograms for eligible women and a representative from the Florida Department of Health's Florida Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program provided same-day application approvals for patients who were uninsured.

PromoteUP coordinators were present to speak to and consent eligible patients interested in the tobacco cessation study as an expanded service to increase access to research participation and promote diverse representation.

Upcoming Events

Stay Connected

Sign up for the CONNECT registry to stay updated on research studies and learn about upcoming community events.