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November News & Updates ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
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November 2023 News & Updates
Welcome to the November issue of the UF Health Cancer Center’s Office of Community Outreach & Engagement (COE) newsletter! This is the last issue for 2023; look for our next issue in January.
COE was busy in October during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Below you will find details on how we are continuing our work in the community during Lung Cancer Awareness Month.
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Data Highlight
Lung cancer is among the most prevalent cancers in our 23-county catchment area, with about 11,500 new lung cancer cases every year. That represents about 15% of all cancer cases in the area each year.
COE is reducing the burden of lung cancer in our area through collaborations with researchers to enhance access to cessation services and novel treatments. We are working with UF Health providers to enhance patient screenings and partnering with communities to offer smoking cessation resources and increase awareness of the local lung cancer burden.
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Research Highlight: Tobacco cessation
Tobacco smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Quitting smoking can help people live longer, healthier lives. The PromoteUP study is a smoking cessation study that will compare three treatments among 1,322 adults from UF Health primary care clinics.
The first treatment (above left) is the cognitive behavioral smoking cessation mobile phone app iCanQuit. The app uses self-paced modules that help patients cope with smoking urges and encourage behavioral changes based on personal values. In the second treatment (above center), the iCanQuit app is combined with Motiv8, an automatic financial rewards system based on decreasing smoking levels in participants measured by breath tests. The third treatment (above right) is free phone counseling with trained coaches through the Florida Quitline.
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Team Highlight: Ramzi Salloum, Ph.D.
Ramzi Salloum, Ph.D., is associate director for community outreach and engagement at the UF Health Cancer Center. His research focuses on the implementation and dissemination of evidence-based practices, especially in cancer prevention and control. He is a renowned tobacco control researcher with funding from leading agencies. Dr. Salloum’s favorite season is summer because it allows him to travel and spend more time with his family. He starts off a good day by listening to Fields of Gold by Sting with his kids. In addition, he loves traveling, exploring new places in Florida, the U.S. and internationally
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Project CONTINUITY
The purpose of the COE’s Project CONTINUITY is to increase evidence-based cancer screenings, including cervical, colorectal and breast. Since its initiation, Project CONTINUITY has forged partnerships to amplify the impact of cancer screening initiatives. The team is intensifying community activation through outreach and enriching health education.
Through dedicated clinical navigation services, Project CONTINUITY brings care directly to communities by reducing barriers and linking community members to providers and researchers dedicated to reducing the burden of cancer in our catchment area.
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By the Numbers
Here's a look at COE activities in October. |
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Partnership Highlight
The COE collaborates with a variety of community health organizations. |
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Children Beyond Our Borders
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Children Beyond Our Borders Inc. is a nonprofit whose mission is to improve the quality of life and provide sustainable access to education for vulnerable students in the U.S. and Latin America.
Project CONTINUITY partners with Children Beyond Our Borders to co-host clinics that provide cancer screenings and navigation services, working closely with the UF Mobile Outreach Clinic and Equal Access Clinic, two community partners.
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Event Highlights
Check out some highlights of recent events that COE participated in. |
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CCCIF Forum
The COE team attended the Cancer Center Community Impact Forum (CCCIF) on Oct. 11-13 in Miami along with 73 other COE teams from across the country. COE heard from various teams about the work they are doing at their institutions and learned how to implement their strategies at UF.
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Cancer Survivorship Summit
U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a breast cancer survivor, hosted the Cancer Survivorship Summit on Oct. 16, featuring First Lady Dr. Jill Biden. UF Health Cancer Center Director Jonathan D. Licht, M.D., was a panelist and COE provided cancer education and health resources for attendees.
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CAB meeting
At a recent meeting, the UF Health Cancer Center's Community Advisory Board (CAB) provided feedback on community priorities to UF Health Cancer Center leadership and researchers. The group also discussed updates to the CAB bylaws. In addition, the meeting focused on enhancing community representation with the addition of new members on the CAB.
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MASS Program Wildwood
On Oct. 21, House of Prayer in Wildwood hosted a breast cancer awareness event in partnership with MammoLink & The Beautiful Gate Inc. MASS Program. Women were educated on breast cancer and informed about access to care. Project CONTINUITY conducted screenings for women to receive mammograms on the 3D mobile mammography bus.
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Women's studies RFA
This fall, the Cancer Center offered a new request for interventional treatment trials focused on addressing the needs of women with cancer. Citizen Scientists and COE reviewed the proposals and are working with investigators to promote community-engaged research.
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Tobacco cessation at AHEC
Ramzi Salloum, Ph.D., associate director for community outreach and engagement at the Cancer Center, presented on new technologies for tobacco cessation at the 15th Annual Rural Tobacco Summit on Oct. 25 presented by the Area Health Education Center (AHEC).
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Thesis Defense!
Research Assistant Selena Ortega is a student in the UF Master of Science in Medical Sciences program with a concentration in health outcomes and implementation sciences. She defended her thesis on Oct. 16. For her thesis, she conducted a systematic review that aimed to determine the barriers and facilitators to cervical cancer screening uptake for Latina women.
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Upcoming Events
Children Beyond Our Borders
When: Saturday, Nov. 18 | 8 a.m.-12 p.m.
Where: Parkview Baptist Church | 3403 NW 13th St., Gainesville, FL, 32609
When: Jan. 27 | 8 a.m.-12 p.m.
Where: Parkview Baptist Church | 3403 NW 13th St., Gainesville, FL, 32609
More information.
Chomp Melanoma
When: Saturday, Nov. 18 | 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Where: HealthStreet | 2401 SW Archer Road, Gainesville, FL, 32608
Learn more.
MASS Program
When: Saturday, Dec. 10 | 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Where: Marion Oaks Seventh Day Adventist Church | 3201 SW 143 Place Road, Ocala, FL 34473
Learn more.
UF Health Cancer Center Research Showcase
When: Jan. 31 | 3-8 p.m.
Where: Reitz Union Grand Ballroom
Learn more.
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Stay Connected
Sign up for the CONNECT registry to stay updated on research studies and learn about upcoming community events.
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