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. To monitor and evaluate the Oklahoma cancer burden and related health disparities through ongoing surveillance of cancer incidence, mortality, survival and risk factors.
2. To engage communities and tribes throughout Oklahoma to stimulate planning of SCC NCI and other cancer research and control efforts of relevance to the statewide.
3. To communicate community needs to SCC Leadership, Research Program members and the Clinical Trials Office to catalyze research addressing Oklahoma cancer burden, with a focus on high-priority cancers and issues specifically relevant to Oklahoma.
4. To implement and disseminate SCC cancer control activities and policies to reduce cancer burden in collaboration with community stakeholders throughout the catchment area and beyond.

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

Valerie Moise, MS
Community Outreach Liaison

Stephanie Pharr, MS, CHES
Senior Outreach Liaison

Carla Ponce, MM
Community Outreach Liaison

Ayesha Sambo, MPH, CPH
Research Epidemiologist