Community Outreach and Engagement

The mission of Stephenson Cancer Center (SCC) is to improve patient outcomes and reduce the burden of cancer in Oklahoma (SCC catchment area) and the nation. As Oklahoma’s only NCI-Designated Cancer Center, SCC is uniquely positioned to provide statewide leadership in research, treatment, education and outreach to advance this mission.

A central resource in this effort is SCC’s Community Outreach and Engagement (COE) Core, the aims of which are to:

1. Promote research on cancer-relevant issues specific to SCC catchment area, with an emphasis on unique or unusual cancer incidence, underserved populations and cancer health disparities.
2. Engage populations, especially those underrepresented in research, in clinical studies.
3. Decrease cancer incidence and mortality rates in SCC catchment area through the development, implementation and evaluation of health policy.
4. Partner with community-based entities with aligned missions to extend the impact of SCC activities.

The COE Core coordinates and supports numerous community-based outreach and engagement activities to help accomplish these aims. More information about these activities can be found here:

• Prevention and Screening Programs
• Health and Wellness Events

The COE Core also fosters relationships with mission-aligned organizations across the state to extend the reach and impact of SCC activities. In addition, Core leadership and staff serve as a resource for SCC members interested in initiating research collaborations with community partners. More information can be found below:

• Community Engagement
• Tribal Engagement
• Advocacy and Health Policy
• Statewide Clinical Trials Network

Major partners in helping the SCC advance its mission of improving patient outcomes and reducing the burden of cancer in Oklahoma include:

• Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET)
• Oklahoma Shared Clinical Translational Resources (OSCTR)
• Oklahoma Physicians Resource / Research Network (OKPRN)

CONTACT INFORMATION

Mark Doescher, MD, MSPH
Associate Director for Cancer Prevention and Control, SCC
Director, Community Outreach and Engagement Core
Professor, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
mark-doescher@ouhsc.edu

Dorothy Rhoades, MD, MPH
Director, American Indian Cancer Research Initiatives, SCC
Co-Director, Community Outreach and Engagement Core
Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Medicine
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
dorothy-rhoades@ouhsc.edu

Community Outreach and Engagement Core
scc-outreach@ouhsc.edu

Core Staff

Heather Carter, MS
Community Outreach and Engagement Liaison

Lauri Hunsucker, MA
Program Coordinator

Stephanie Pharr, MS, CHES
Community Outreach Coordinator

Ayesha Sambo, MPH, CPH
Research Epidemiologist