COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT ? ABSTRACT Karmanos Cancer Institute (KCI) is the largest cancer research and care network in the state of Michigan. Headquartered in the city of Detroit, the KCI catchment area covers 46 of Michigan?s 83 counties, an area that is home to 6.7 million residents. KCI?s mission is to lead in transformative cancer care, research and education through courage, commitment and compassion. Dr. Hayley Thompson (PSDR), Associate Center Director for Community Outreach and Engagement, leads KCI?s efforts in support of this mission. Under her leadership, KCI has expanded its Community Outreach and Engagement (COE) efforts through the Office of Cancer Health Equity and Community Engagement (OCHECE). OCHECE?s activities are guided by a cancer surveillance strategy that captures data across four distinct catchment area regions that are diverse across race, ethnicity, and rurality. Activities are further guided by a participatory research approach in which community stakeholders are actively engaged in research prioritization, implementation, and dissemination. In 2016, OCHECE worked with range of community partners to establish Michigan Cancer HealthLink, a network of Cancer Action Councils (CACs) organized as neighborhood-based and population-driven groups of cancer survivors, caregivers, and advocates who have been historically excluded from meaningful research collaborations. The CAC infrastructure has provided a mechanism for community stakeholders to dialogue with researchers and inform the public relevance of KCI research across the Cancer Center?s four research Programs (Tumor Biology and Microenvironment, Molecular Imaging, Molecular Therapeutics, and Populations Studies and Disparities Research). These strategies of surveillance and engagement ensure that KCI research and outreach are aligned with the cancer burden in the catchment area.
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