“The focus of my research is to address cancer health disparities among low-income, disadvantaged Black patients who smoke. These patients make up 60% of those enrolled in our opt-out program linking them to services, No Smoker Left Behind®.  Our in-house telehealth tobacco cessation program, Courage to Quit® enrolled its 1,000 patients in 2023. 82% of patients treated are Black and show similar smoking reduction and quit rates relative to other racial/ethnic groups, closing the gap in tobacco cessation inequities. I am excited to engage with CinEQUITY and be part of its vibrant community of researchers to join forces and eliminate cancer inequities.”

“Liver cancer disproportionately affects our Hispanic and Black residents in our catchment area. Genetic predisposition loci, such as PNPLA3, may explain some of the altered incidence, but there is still much to understand about why liver cancer affects some groups more than others. I am interested in investigating whether elevated liver cancer in affected groups is correlated with suppressed levels of BNIP3 in the liver, incidence of fatty liver disease and known genetic factors, as well as dietary habits. I am excited to be part of the CinEQUITY community to learn from our community about their experiences with liver disease and their challenges, and to know how to best make a difference scientifically and clinically for their futures.”

“My research is focused on promoting cancer prevention and reducing cancer related health disparities among groups who are marginalized and underserved. I’ve worked on increasing access to tobacco cessation treatment, and other health behavior interventions, by developing culturally-relevant training curricula for community health workers, a workforce who plays a key role in addressing social determinants of health and serving as a bridge between underserved communities and the health care system. I’m excited to partner with CinEQUITY to support this community-engaged research. CinEQUITY will provide the infrastructure needed to help sustain relationships with the community, and it will be a key resource for me and my colleagues to develop and refine our research programs centered on health equity.”