The University of Kansas Cancer Center

The 2024 Accelerate Cancer Education (ACE) program wrapped up last week with a high school poster forum! ACE is The University of Kansas Cancer Center's summer research program specifically designed for high school students living in Wyandotte County, Kansas and Jackson County, Missouri. Along with the students enrolled in the ACE program, high schoolers who participated in research at the University of Kansas Medical Center this summer were invited to present posters. Learn more about the ACE program at KU Cancer Center ➜ https://bit.ly/3zMROZ9.

For most Americans, walking into a doctor’s office is a simple, if mundane, experience. They talk to the people at reception, fill out their paperwork and see their doctor. But for people who don’t speak fluent English, a doctor’s office can quickly become a difficult place to navigate. Many of the languages spoken in Kansas come from Central and South America. Latinos are a very diverse group in Kansas, said Mariana Ramirez, LCSW, director of the JUNTOS Center for Advancing Latino Health at the University of Kansas Medical Center. In Wyandotte County alone, there are Latinos who have been in the state since the construction of the railroads the 1800s. They speak English at a college level, own businesses and have multigenerational bilingual families, she said. On the other end of the spectrum, there are people who only recently immigrated and may not even speak Spanish, but a language native to their country of origin, making the health care system that much more difficult to navigate. Learn more via the latest edition of Kansas Medicine Science Magazine ➜ https://bit.ly/3ybUC79.

This summer, The University of Kansas Cancer Center launched the CAREERS in CLINICAL RESEARCH PROGRAM (C-CLEAR Program). This groundbreaking initiative is designed to introduce college students in the region to the dynamic and impactful field of clinical research. The eight-week immersive program, spearheaded by Joseph Hines, II, MPH, senior director of research operations at KU Cancer Center, provides pre-medical students with a comprehensive, hands-on introduction to careers in clinical research. The inspiration for the C-CLEAR Program comes from Hines’ personal journey. “I grew up in a small, rural, agricultural town in South Carolina, where our main crops were tobacco and cotton,” Hines said. “But my dream was to become a doctor.” Read more on the JCERT blog ➜ https://bit.ly/3y97oDe. #ClinicalTrials

We are so grateful to Outpacing Melanoma for their continued support of The University of Kansas Cancer Center! Recently, the team presented $100,000 to KU Endowment, which was raised at this year's Annual Outpacing Melanoma 5K. These funds will help KU Cancer Center in continued melanoma research, education and clinical care through the Richard A. Klover Melanoma Fund. To date Outpacing Melanoma has given over $1 million to the melanoma program at KU Cancer Center! #SkinCancerAwareness #MelanomaAwareness #OutpacingMelanoma Masonic Cancer Alliance

Peggy Johnson has been named chair of The University of Kansas Cancer Center's Community Advisory Board (CAB). Ms. Johnson is the executive director and chief operating officer of the Wichita Medical Research and Education Foundation. The CAB includes community members and organization leaders from across the state of Kansas and western Missouri, KU Cancer Center’s catchment area. The Board is comprised of individuals representing a diversity of cancer experiences, skills, community connections, geographic locations and demographics. Learn more ➜ https://bit.ly/3SaTEii.

The University of Kansas Cancer Center and The University of Kansas Health System were honored to be the presenting sponsors for the first annual Hitched Helping Hands - Wish Upon a Wedding Benefit! Hitched Helping Hands is a group comprised of Kansas City event and wedding vendors committed to helping those in our community, and their first annual event raised funds for Wish Upon A Wedding, a nonprofit organization providing weddings and vow renewals for couples facing serious illness or a life-altering circumstance. The University of Kansas Health System and The University of Kansas Cancer Center were honored with the with the Helping Hands award, accepted by breast oncologist and researcher, Dr. Anne O’Dea. Congratulations to the Hitched Helping Hands team on an incredible event and inspirational evening, raising much needed funds for cancer patients and others struggling with serious illnesses in our region!

The Masonic Cancer Alliance, the outreach arm of The University of Kansas Cancer Center, awarded a community grant to The White Ribbon Project, a Colorado-based foundation with a mission to reduce the stigma of lung cancer while increasing awareness and screenings. The grant focused on increasing lung cancer screenings at the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas in Pittsburg, Kansas, and includes 11 other screening locations in southeast Kansas. Learn more:

Join us for the University of Kansas Medical Center's Immune Cell Effector Therapy (ICE-T) Symposium on July 27th! The agenda covers topics like bispecific antibodies, CAR-T therapies with a focus on indications and the role of collaboration in managing complex therapies. The program aims to explore the foundational aspects of cell and gene therapy, navigating the landscape of bispecific antibodies in hematologic malignancies and beyond, shaping the future of oncology. It provides a platform for professionals to discuss current trends, challenges, and collaborative efforts in advancing oncology and hematology. Registration is free for healthcare workers. Learn more and register ➜ https://bit.ly/4arlldc. #KUBloodCancer #Immunotherapy #CART

The University of Kansas Cancer Center's Gary Doolittle, MD participated in the National Cancer Institute (NCI)'s virtual roundtable conversation titled "Improving Cancer Outcomes - Bringing Research to Rural Communities" as part of the White House Cancer Cabinet Community Conversations series. This series provides updates on progress to advance Cancer Moonshot priority actions and receive input on efforts still needed to deliver on Cancer Moonshot goals. "Working in rural healthcare can be isolating. We found success in helping to build a strong community of practice across the state to assist rural areas with extra support." - Gary Doolittle, MD, medical director of the Masonic Cancer Alliance, the outreach network of KU Cancer Center Watch the full conversation here ➜ https://bit.ly/3xSsB4i. #CancerMoonshot #EndCancerAsWeKnowIt #Every1HasARole

"I wear my 'Stick it to Cancer/I Fight With Stick' bracelet in honor of my high school classmate and life-long friend Mark Sutton, who died of glioblastoma in 2014. Mark’s nickname was 'Stick' because he was always very slender. He was an exceptional person, and a great athlete who had an infectious laugh and was one of the nicest people you could ever meet. The bracelet is a daily reminder of the importance of what we do in the cancer center and why we must succeed in defeating this God-awful disease." - Dr. Roy Jensen, vice chancellor and director of The University of Kansas Cancer Center #GBMDay #DefeatGBM #KUCCBrainCancer