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Community Outreach and Engagement

The Community Outreach and Engagement program promotes and facilitates community-facing research and activities for Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University through programmatic initiatives across the state of Georgia.

Network of interconnected blocks (stock image)

Overview

Community Outreach and Engagement (COE) has been a fundamental activity of National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Cancer Centers since the initiation of the Cancer Centers program in 1971.

However, in an effort to ensure that cancer centers are closely tied to the communities they serve, NCI reinforced expectations that NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers will integrate community-focused cancer priorities in all Center research programs, including basic, translational, clinical, and population sciences, through Community Outreach and Engagement programmatic initiatives

The aims of the program's efforts are:

  • To assess and define the cancer burden and priorities of the community served by the cancer center (termed catchment area), which for Winship, is the entire state of Georgia.
  • To communicate, facilitate, and promote the integration of these priorities in cancer research within Emory and through bi-directional exchange of ideas with community partners, patients, and stakeholders.
  • To disseminate evidence-based interventions and promote policy impact and translation to catchment area, nationally and globally.

Program Focus

To fulfill our commitment to foster community-engaged research and disseminate best practices to reduce the cancer burden in Georgia, the Community Outreach and Engagement program:

  • Engages with key stakeholders, including researchers, healthcare providers, educators, community members, advocates, and our Community Advisory Board for input, advice, and guidance
  • Supports and facilitates community-academic partnerships through community-engaged research
  • Disseminates evidence-based interventions and programs that promote healthy lifestyles, increase screening and early detection, or improve access to clinical trials
  • Advocates for public policy and promotes systemic changes that advance healthy equity and cancer prevention and control in Georgia

Catchment Area

As Georgia's sole NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, our catchment area is the entire state of Georgia, comprised of 159 counties that are home to more than 10.62 million residents.

Assessment data

The Winship Community Outreach and Engagement program has conducted a comprehensive assessment of the cancer burden throughout the state of Georgia, including excess cancer cases and deaths; cancers associated with risk factors such as obesity and tobacco use; rates of adherence to evidence-based interventions that reduce cancer risk (e.g., HPV vaccination) or detect cancer early (e.g., lung cancer screening), and highlight the needs of special populations in Georgia, including those living in rural areas, and people living with HIV.

The following data highlights the state's cancer burden and Winship's priorities for cancer prevention, research and control.

Community Engaged Research

Community engagement in cancer research enhances scientific responsiveness to Georgia's needs, fostering collaboration and ethical discovery, a top priority for Winship. We have developed and curated a number of helpful resources for community engaged researchers and partners.

Georgia Cancer Summit

The Georgia Cancer Summit convenes public health professionals, healthcare providers and advocates, researchers, and community organizations engaged in cancer research, control, and prevention. Co-hosted annually with various community partners and organizations, the event serves as a platform for collaboration and knowledge exchange.

Community Advisory Board

The Community Outreach and Engagement program's Community Advisory Board, chaired by former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, has as its primary role to advise program leadership on the cancer-related needs of Georgians and provide input on Winship's research agenda from the perspective of the community. The 20-member advisory board consists of community leaders and stakeholders representing the state of Georgia.