Tampa Bay Community Cancer Network

03/16/2026

Hosted by Sara Kavanaugh and Dr. Marleah Dean Kruzel, a new webinar series called "Previvor Perspectives" will focus on conversations with and for people living with hereditary cancer risks. The first session will be held virtually via Zoom on Sunday, March 22, 2026 at 7:00pm Central/8:00pm Eastern and will highlight general education about Lynch Syndrome and hereditary cancer risks with featured panelists Dr. Tuya Pal and Katie Lang from Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Participants are encouraged to submit general questions when registering. Personal medical questions cannot be addressed.

Register for free: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/oYwBX46tSGqBmq2qCeV_Rw #/registration

03/13/2026

In a recent interview with "The American Journal of Managed Care", Dr. Kathrin Dvir discussed the different significant disparities to accessing breast cancer screenings and outlined meaningful strategies to help close the gaps. Click to watch the interview:

Kathrin Dvir, MD, MSc, concludes by highlighting the importance of outreach, education, and trusted messaging to improve breast cancer screening adherence.

03/12/2026

Nathanael Stanley and his graduate student mentees, Anusha Parajuli and Aarya Satardekar, represented Moffitt and COE at the recent Catchment Area Data Conference presented by AACI.

Aarya Satardekar won a 1st place award for her poster and presentation titled "Racial Disparities in Cancer Service Gaps in Florida: Comparing Diagnostic and Treatment Access in Counties Within and Outside NCI Cancer Center Service Area"

Anusah Parajuli presented a poster titled "Using Spatiotemporal Analyses and Demographic Benchmarking to Evaluate Expansion in Cancer Center Outreach"

Nathanael Stanley presented a poster titled "Using Community Engaged Systems Science to Inform Food Service Delivery Among Hollywood Food Coalition's Community Exchange Program: A Case Study for Informing Complex Systems within the Cancer Care Continuum"

Congratulations and great work to Nathanael, Anusha, and Aarya!

03/11/2026

Join the Project COURAGE team for a virtual session about this novel community outreach program being held in the communities you serve. Join us in the fight against ovarian cancer, through access to prevention and illumination of hereditary cancer risks.

Thursday, March 19, 2026 | 12:00pm - 12:30pm EST | Virtually via Zoom; registration required: https://moffitt.zoom.us/meeting/register/NRoPAInUQnqK3_d3AHOmsg

For more information or questions, please email us at COURAGE.COE@moffitt.org

03/09/2026

Join us on Saturday, March 14, 2026 for "Empowering Women: Breast Cancer Awareness and Screening Event", a health education event focused on breast cancer awareness and prevention in collaboration with MammoLink.

Experts will be present to provide reliable information and answer your questions about breast health, screening guidelines, risk factors, and early detection.

We will also be offering mammograms, and individuals without insurance are welcome to attend. Our goal is to ensure everyone has access to education and screening services, regardless of insurance status.

Take charge of your health, early detection saves lives!

03/05/2026

🏆 Our very own Dr. Susan Vadaparampil was recently honored with the prestigious "Senator Connie Mack Researcher of the Year" award 🏆

Along with being the Associate Center Director of Community Outreach and Engagement at Moffitt Cancer Center, Dr. Vadaparampil is also the principal investigator on a broad portfolio of grant-funded research initiatives, such as ACT WONDER2S and HPV MISTICS. Dr. Vadaparampil is dedicated to bridging communication and understanding between community engagement and research sciences.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Susan Vadaparampil for this well-earned achievement!

03/04/2026

✨ Thank you for making the 2026 HELPS Summit a success! ✨

We’re excited to share that over 115 people joined us for this year’s virtual event. Your engagement, energy, and commitment to HPV prevention and awareness.

A special thank‑you to our incredible speakers — Dr. Anna Giuliano, Tamika Felder, Dr. Heather M. Brandt, Jo Thomas APRN, FNP-BC, ACHPN, Dr. Erin Kobetz Kerman, and Dr. Susan Vadaparampil — for your insightful and thought‑provoking presentations. Your expertise inspired meaningful conversations and new ideas for the year ahead.

We also want to recognize our amazing Watch Party hosts — Dr. Erin Kobetz Kerman (University of Miami), Dr. Janice Krieger (Mayo Clinic), and Dr. Julie Rathwell (Moffitt) — for bringing people together and helping create a shared experience across locations.

📸 Swipe to see moments from the day!

Together, we’re building healthier, stronger communities.

See you at the next HELPS Summit!

03/03/2026

Presented by the PHSU-MCC U54 partnerships Outreach Core, Dr. Brian Gonzalez will be presenting "Improving Sleep in Cancer Survivors". The presentations will be conducted via Zoom and offered in English and Spanish on Friday, March 13, 2026.

English event will be held on March 13 at 1:00pm. Click to register:
https://redcap.aws.moffitt.org/surveys/?s=CNKXM9PTHAXTFJ7K

Spanish event will be held on March 13 at 2:00pm. Click to register: https://redcap.aws.moffitt.org/surveys/?s=F4LH3KP3AYT3HLLA

Both events are free and open to the public!

02/26/2026

🔎 February is Cancer Prevention Awareness Month—a reminder that prevention works when communities engage.

Take a moment to explore our 2020–2025 Outreach Impact Infographic and see how many events we completed, how many individuals we reached, and how our prevention efforts have grown over the past five years.

02/25/2026

⭐ Program Leaders shed light on the importance of Community Engagement ⭐

The Office of Community Outreach and Engagement (COE) hosted its annual community advisory board (CAB) retreat on Wednesday, February 18. The meeting, attended by nearly 50 participants, including research program leaders: Dr. Tiffany Carson (Health Outcomes and Behavior), Dr. Peter Kanetsky (Cancer Epidemiology), Dr. Joe Kissil (Cancer Biology and Evolution), and Dr. Paulo Rodriguez (Immuno-Oncology). A 45-minute panel discussion, moderated by Ms. Shirley Anne Smith, Senior Institutional Giving Officer of Moffitt's Foundations, was the highlight of the meeting, helping to foster open dialogue about the value of community engagement across research disciplines.

Others notable attributes of the annual meeting were dedicated time for community advisors to network with one another, advisement from COE's Assistant Center Director, Dr. Vani Simmons, of important center news, updates, and announcements; followed by a reflection on the collective progress made over the past year and the vision of the CAB moving forward as provided by COE's Associate Center Director, Dr. Susan Vadaparampil.

Closing out the meeting was a brainstorming session grouped by identified community needs - cancer prevention education, early detection and screening, and survivorship - of which community advisors reconvened to identify a community activity (to be fully sponsored by COE) that they can collaboratively work on to address the need, align resources, and achieve a set goal.

If you are or know of a community leader residing in Brevard, Desoto, or Seminole counties who is committed to addressing the cancer burden in your community by advancing cancer prevention education and research, we welcome you to join the Tampa Bay Community Care Network (TBCCN)!

Interested? Email us at COE-office@moffitt.org

02/24/2026

Ahead of colorectal cancer awareness month, our recent Patient Researcher Forum (PRF) brought together patients, caregivers, clinicians, and researchers for an ongoing conversation about colorectal cancer, the patient experience and the impact of research in our community.

Hosted by Dr. Stuart Maudsley, alongside the Patient Family Advisory Program under the guidance of Ms. Jacqueline Beaushaw, the PRF creates a space where community, patients and caregivers along with faculty researchers and clinicians can connect, share insights with and inspire one another.

We are especially grateful to Mrs. Danni Gallagher for sharing her powerful story as a survivor. Thank you also to our clinical and research presenters - Drs. Julian Sanchez and Clement Gwede, and Dr. Dolapo Anyanwu, the inaugural postdoc presenter.

To learn more about colorectal cancer, including risk factors, screening, symptoms and treatment, visit: https://www.moffitt.org/cancers/colorectal-cancer/

02/19/2026

🌎 Think Global, Act Local 🌎

6 years ago, nearly 200 people from across Florida came together on International HPV Awareness Day with a common goal: eliminate HPV-related cancers, starting with cervical cancer.

Help the movement grow and join us this year on March 4, 2026! Register for the HELPS Summit and learn how we can move the needle forward: https://moffitt.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_5gIZsqeHQX-1B6e9eP6SLw #/registration

Special thank you to our 2020 partner American Cancer Society and International Papillomavirus Society - IPVS for all the work you do!