How long have you been a member of AACE?
4+ years
What is your current position and where do you work?
I am an Associate Professor at the Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health at the University of Arizona
How long have you been doing research in the field of cancer education?
I have been working in the field of cancer education since 1998 when I was providing medical care for women living with HIV. Getting women to screen for cervical cancer was challenging and has been a significant part of that journey.
How did your interest in the field of cancer education begin?
Starting my medical career after medical school caring for women living with HIV changed the course of what i wanted to do for the rest of my life. Seeing young women getting infected with HIV and then progressing to die of a completely preventable cancer that we didn’t catch fast enough got me to think about a wholistic approach to cancer control starting with educating women and their families, having a family-based approach to ensure there is support at multiple levels with education empowering individuals to make informed decisions about their health.
Describe some of your research as it relates to cancer education?
My research focuses on the intersection of infectious and chronic diseases where I work on viral infection associated cancers in resource poor settings. I have been working in rural and indigenous communities for over two decades focussed on improving cancer health literacy and patient outcomes. I have examined the effectiveness of various educational interventions including patient education materials to workshops and community forums. I am particularly interested in tailoring interventions to specific populations with low literacy. I have used community-based approaches such as photovoice to understand the gaps and strengths to build on to improve cancer prevention and control. My latest research study will develop digital stories of parents who have vaccinated their children with HPV vaccine to use as educational material in pediatrician’s offices to increase HPV vaccination for young children.
What motivates you to continue to do research in cancer education?
Education is a powerful tool to empower communities, and I am committed to making a difference in the lives of families living in disadvantages communities. Health equity is important to me to ensure that every human being has a right to good health care. Improving patient outcomes through effective communication and knowledge dissemination motivates me to contribute to innovative educational strategies to advance the field of cancer education. Finally, the global burden of cancer is increasing across the world and it is critical that we use evidence based interventions that can be implemented in communities to reduce cancer related morbidity and mortality.
Do you have any advice for individuals interested in pursuing a career in cancer education?
Individuals interested in pursuing a career in cancer education should consider having a strong foundation in science and health communication, have a good understanding of cancer including the cancer biology, epidemiology and treatment. They need to stay abreast with updated research, be part of associations and organizations to build good relationships in the field. They will need to have some practical experience and get exposure to cancer education, develop interpersonal skills and finally remain passionate and committed. There will be many failures but those failures will be opportunities for learning and improving. Do not be afraid to take risks and definitely don’t be afraid to fail.