Faith 'N Cancer Equity Gospel Choir Concert Series
The USC Choices Lab joined Stand Up To Cancer and the USC Norris Community Outreach and Engagement team to host a series of Gospel Choir concerts at a number of churches across Los Angeles. The grant-funded project was designed and organized by Essence Wynter, MSW. The series focuses on bringing cancer awareness to African Americans through their faith-based communities. Partner churches include Brister Baptist Church, Redeemer Missionary Baptist Church, and Hill City Church of Los Angeles. The program included video testimony by cancer survivors, a Q&A session with Dr. Chanita Hughes Halbert and Dr. Lourdes Baezconde, presentations about cancer risk and disparities, and a full hour of music.
Ralph Lauren Center opening at USC Norris
On October 9, we celebrated the official opening of the Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Prevention at the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, the first Ralph Lauren Center on the West Coast. The Center will now proudly begin serving the Los Angeles community, focused on increasing access to high-quality cancer care and addressing disparities in risk and outcomes for cancers of the cervix, breast, colon and lung. This Center is supported by The Ralph Lauren Corporate Foundation’s $25 million commitment to expand or establish five cancer centers in underserved communities across the United States. Dr. Hughes Halbert will serve as the program’s director and supervise a staff of healthcare navigators trained to support community members seeking cancer screening and treatment and address social needs to reduce barriers to care. The navigation team will work with USC Norris patients and our community clinic partners in East LA, South LA, and Chinatown to reduce cancer disparities.
Hughes Halbert and Choices Lab present at AACR
Dr. Chanita Hughes Halbert and the entire USC Choices Lab attended and presented at the 2024 AACR Cancer Health Disparities Conference in Los Angeles, September 20-24, 2024. Dr. Hughes Halbert presented a talked titled “Translational research in social determinants of cancer health disparities” as well as moderating a panel on Structural Racism: Unraveling the Complex Web from Society’s Structures to Biological Pathways. Posters on a variety of cancer disparities topics were presented by Dr. Fatimata Sanogo, Dr. Trista Beard, Diana Morales MPH, and Kelsie Campbell, MPH. Both Dr. Sanogo and Ms. Campbell were also awarded recognition as rising scholars in minority health and cancer research. Bravo!
Choices Lab speaks to men about Prostate Cancer
On September 14, Evans Pope III, a Doctor of Pharmacy candidate at USC and a research assistant in the USC Choices Lab, co-led a breakout session with Mr. Alonzo Williams (aka The Godfather of Hip Hop) at the 2024 KJLH Men’s Empowerment Summit held at CSU Dominguez Hills. The title of the session was Brother to Brother: Let’s Talk about Prostate Cancer, with about 50 individuals (mostly men) attending and participating. Dr. Kevin Lyons, MD, MPP (aka The Doctor Homie), also attended and answered specific medical questions related to prostate cancer. Evans also went live on KJLH and radio host Guy Black to discuss the event and promote cancer awareness and engagement among African American men. Great work, Evans!
USC Choices Lab out in the community
The USC Choices Lab worked with our colleagues in the Community Outreach and Engagement team at USC Norris, to host tables at community health and wellness fairs in South Los Angeles in August 2024. Staff from both teams were on hand to answer questions about cancer screenings, and promote educational materials aimed at cancer control and prevention. Thank you to Nickerson Gardens, the Housing Authority of the City Of Los Angeles, City of Compton Councilwoman Michelle Chambers, and Your Choice Insurance Services of Leimert Park, for your collaboration on these community health fairs!
Hughes Halbert and PhD student, Kelsie Campbell, present at American Cancer Society
