Medical College of Wisconsin
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Community Engagement

Cancer Focus Awarded Projects

The awarded projects support promising cancer-focused research in the Milwaukee area, demonstrate clear relevance and importance to the communities involved in the project, encourage sustainable, authentic community-academic partnerships, and seek to advance understanding about how community engagement can be done in complex research settings. These awards are a collaborative effort of the Community Engagement Core and the Cancer Center at the Medical College of Wisconsin and are funded by the Research and Education Program Fund, a component of the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment and by the State of Wisconsin Tax Check off Funding.

Awarded Projects

Explore the awarded projects for this seed grant opportunity.
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Community Based Colorectal Cancer Education for African American Men

Community Based Colorectal Cancer Education for African American Men

Project Start Date: January 1, 2017

Project End Date: June 30, 2018

Award Amount: $50,000

Goal Statement: Reduce African American male colorectal cancer death rate to 14.5 per 100,000 (Healthy People 2020’s target) with 15 Black men educating their peers on cancer prevention, screening options, and support systems for more relatable prevention education mixed with behavior change theory.

Co-Principal Investigators:

  • Staci Young, PhD (Associate Professor, Center for Healthy Communities & Research in the Department of Family & Community Medicine)
  • Darryl Davidson, MS (Men's Health Manager, City of Milwaukee Health Department)

Additional partner:

  • Marques Hogans (Public Health Educator, City of Milwaukee Health Department)

Collaborators:

  • The Milwaukee Men’s Health Referral Network
  • Milwaukee Barbershop Health Initiative
  • George Sanders Fathers Resource Center
  • Walnut Way Conservation Corps – Men’s Wellness Initiative
Exploring Barriers, Facilitators, and Cultural Considerations Related to Colposcopy Adherence

Exploring Barriers, Facilitators, and Cultural Considerations Related to Colposcopy Adherence

Project Start Date: January 1, 2017

Project End Date: June 30, 2018

Award Amount: $50,000

Goal Statement: By identifying barriers and cultural considerations related to colposcopy adherence, we will develop culturally-oriented strategies to increase adherence and add to research highlighting race, education, and economic-based disparities in adherence.

Co-Principal Investigators:

  • Leslie Ruffalo, PhD (Assistant Professor, Center for Healthy Communities & Research in the Department of Family & Community Medicine)
  • Maria Barker (Multicultural Programs Manager, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin)

Additional partners:

  • Melissa DeNomie, MS (Program Coordinator, Center for Healthy Communities & Research in the Department of Family & Community Medicine)
  • Karen McHugh, LPN (Colposcopy Program Coordinator, Waukesha Family Practice Center).

Collaborator:

  • Anna Witt, MD (Colposcopy Program Director, Waukesha Family Practice Clinic)

Understanding Clinical Research Disparities

Understanding Clinical Research Disparities

Project Start Date: January 1, 2017

Project End Date: June 30, 2018

Award Amount: $50,000

Co-Principal Investigators:

  • Ryan Spellecy, PhD (Ursula von der Ruhr Professor of Bioethics, Associate Professor, Center for Bioethics and Medical Humanities, Institute for Health and Society)
  • Mikel Holt, BS (Founder, Black Research Organization

Additional partners:

  • Cancer Center
  • House of Grace Ministries