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Representatives from VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer and the VCU School of Public Health, as well as dedicated cancer advocates and patients from Virginia, were heavily involved in this year’s Science of Community Outreach and Engagement Alliance’s second annual conference in Oakland, California.

The conference, supported by funding from the National Cancer Institute, was co-chaired by Kim Rhoads, M.D., M.S., MPH, who joined Massey in July 2025 as the associate director of community outreach and engagement, as well as Kimlin Ashing, Ph.D., of City of Hope. The focus of this year’s conference was on sharing best practices for community outreach and engagement (COE), increasing community capacity and training future leaders.

In addition to co-chairing the conference, Rhoads moderated two panel discussions: one on characterizing the catchment area and the structural issues that underpin the burden of cancer and one on how to leverage artificial intelligence for COE efforts. She also led a session on COE leadership and participated in a separate panel discussion regarding examples of alternative funding sources and current funding opportunities.

The co-chairs did an outstanding job building on the inaugural conference, which was led by Vanessa B. Sheppard, Ph.D., member of the Cancer Prevention and Control research program at Massey, and Folakemi Odedina, Ph.D., of the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center.

During this year’s conference, Sheppard moderated a panel discussion titled “Diversifying the COE Funding Portfolio in Challenging Times: Funder Perspective” and co-led a breakout session on the fundamentals of COE.

Monica Baskin, Ph.D., the deputy director for research at Massey, delivered an overview of the inherent challenges of COE initiatives and future directions for the field, and she participated in a presentation on contract negotiation tips related to academic institutions and cancer centers.

Nancy Valencia-Rojas, M.S.P.H., a community engagement and research coordinator at VCU, presented a poster titled “From Outreach to Recruitment: The Role of Community Engagement in Connecting Latina Women to Clinical Research,” highlighting the successful COE-driven recruitment approach implemented through a grant-funded partnership between VCU and La Casa de la Salud. Sheppard serves as the site principal investigator of this multi-site NCI-funded RO1 grant from Georgetown University. The study is aimed at expanding access to genetic counseling and testing for Latina women at risk for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer through culturally tailored outreach and education efforts.

Antonio Villa, M.D., M.P.H., director and founder of La Casa de la Salud, joined a national panel called “The Impacts of Federal Changes on Community Partners,” where he shared the challenges community organizations face due to evolving federal policies. He also offered recommendations on how to strengthen partnerships, adapt to change, explore new opportunities and ensure that community organizations can continue their essential work.

“This was an extraordinary space to elevate community voices, share our experiences and learn from other COE leaders,” said Villa. “We are grateful for the opportunity to represent our community, bring back valuable insights to strengthen our outreach and research efforts, and expand our network by establishing new connections.”

Among the conference attendees were representatives from NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers across the country, including the University of California, San Francisco, the University of Kentucky, and the Mayo Clinics in Minnesota, Florida and Arizona. The conference, in addition to providing valuable discussions on current issues impacting COE programs, offered specialized training opportunities for cancer advocates, who received certificates recognizing their dedication to advancing cancer access for all communities.

“It has been amazing to see the response from researchers and community members for this conference,” Sheppard said. “Importantly, our vision for strong collaboration across cancer centers is providing opportunities for multi-site collaboration and sustainability of best practices. Funding from the NCI and support from our cancer centers led to this year’s success.”

Through this experience, Massey, the VCU School of Public Health and La Casa de la Salud reaffirm their shared commitment to strengthening academic-community partnerships and addressing persistent cancer disparities in the communities they serve.

This was repurposed from an article originally published by the VCU School of Public Health.

Written by: Maggie Christ, Nancy Valencia-Rojas and Blake Belden