How long have you been a member of AACE?
Since 2021.
What is your current program of study and which institution do you attend?
Doctorate student at Virginia Commonwealth University in the Healthcare Research and Policy Program.
How did your interest in the field of cancer education begin?
My interest in cancer education began 5 years ago when I noticed anecdotal trends of early onset late-stage colorectal cancer diagnoses within my own community. Despite my curiosity, I was unable to find much literature about Middle-eastern American communities and cancer outcomes. This sparked my interest and fueled my decision to obtain my PhD in Health Policy and focus on the disaggregation of data to better represent communities and to better understand the cultural implications of structural inequity on disenfranchised groups.
Describe some of your research as it relates to cancer education.
I am working on a project in collaboration with Virginia State University to leverage NCI screening intervention, Screen to Save (S2S), to develop and test an enhanced mobile health S2S intervention culturally tailored for Black/African-American men. Additionally, my dissertation work is interested in investigating possible cancer disparities experienced by the South West North African (SWANA, otherwise known as Miccle-Eastern) community.
Do you have any advice for individuals interested in pursuing a career in cancer education?
My advice would be to find a strong group of mentors that can guide you through the various facets of cancer education. Reach out to people, use your networks to build relationships with other cancer researchers. I am eternally grateful to the mentorship that continues to guide me through my career.