Geographic Management of Cancer Health Disparities Program

Geographic Management of Cancer Health Disparities Program (GMaP) is funded by the National Cancer Institute’s Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities. Through a systematic and comprehensive approach, we collaborate, cooperate, share resources and information, and build capacity between researchers, trainees, outreach workers and organizations to advance research and training.

GMaP

GMaP Region 5

Region 5 serves Washington, Oregon, California, Alaska, Hawaii, American Samoa and Guam. We are a team of institutions, NCI cancer centers, organizations, community health educators, scientists and students. In our pursuit of ending cancer health disparities and making quality cancer care accessible for everyone, Region 5 has three primary aims:

  • Advance the science of cancer health disparities research
  • Promote the development of the next generation of competitive, underrepresented cancer and cancer health disparities researchers
  • Contribute to measurable reductions in cancer health disparities

National Map of GMaP Regions

Want to work with us? There are three ways to be a part of our program:

Join the Region 5 Team

Are you a trainee (graduate student - junior faculty) in cancer or cancer health disparities work? Want to support GMaP goals? Receive updates on activities and opportunities in the region? Reach out to us to learn more.

JOIN US

Become a GMaP Mentor

Mentors are an important part of our program. Sign up to be added to our list of regional expert researchers who are available to mentor our scholars and early-stage investigators.

MENTOR

Partner with GMaP

Universities, community organizations, and other minority-serving institutions can support the GMaP mission to build regional support and efficient management of cancer health disparities research, training, and outreach.

PARTNER

Programs and Funding

We are committed to strengthening our regional network by supporting the next generation of cancer and cancer health disparities researchers through various training opportunities.

We also fund disparities projects through our pilot award program.

Community Health Educators

Region 5 Community Health Educators (CHE) are funded through two of the National Cancer Institute's Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities programs.

National Outreach Network (NON)

Working from NCI-designated Cancer Centers, NON CHEs help underserved communities through the following activities:

Local Education and Outreach

  • Identify gaps and barriers to the integration of community education and outreach within the cancer center and propose strategies to resolve them.
  • Identify specific ways community education and outreach can enhance the research and outreach efforts of the cancer center grant.
  • Adapt and implement education and outreach strategies, aligned with the cancer center focus, and linked by NCI priorities and GMaP regional disparity issues.
  • Identify education and outreach resources and strategies for further testing, as appropriate.

Community

  • Develop and maintain academic and community partnerships to enable access to and delivery of culturally appropriate, evidence-based cancer information and education to underserved communities, locally and regionally.
  • Collaborate with academic, research, community and regional NCI partners to develop, implement and assess disparities-focused education and outreach efforts linked to local, regional and NCI research priorities.

NCI/GMaP Priorities

  • Increase awareness and adoption of NCI recommendations on cancer prevention, early detection and treatment through regional dissemination of information and education materials.
  • Advise and assist in message development and content for culturally-appropriate study brochures, curricula and educational materials.
  • Disseminate relevant NCI messages, materials, programs and research opportunities.
  • Assist with education and outreach activities aligned with NCI priorities and regional issues, and conducted in collaboration with NIH/NCI-supported research partners, as well as academic, regional and community partners, to increase awareness, knowledge and positive behavior among underserved communities in prevention, early detection and treatment of cancer; enhance access to cancer care services; and to promote clinical trials and/or biospecimen research participation.

Partnerships to Advance Cancer Health Equity (PACHE)

The PACHE grant requires projects address cancer research, cancer training and cancer outreach. They can optionally cover cancer education, with some PACHE partnerships focused on cancer education funding NON CHEs to conduct outreach activities that target specific communities. 

Region 5 GMaP Internal Coordinating Committee (ICC)

Alaska

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Sarah Nash, PhD MPH CPH

Cancer Surveillance Director, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium

American Samoa

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Va'a Tofaeono

Special Projects Coordinator, INSPIRE, American Samoa Community Cancer Coalition

California

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Scarlett Lin Gomez, PhD

Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics

University of California, San Francisco

Hala Madanat, PhD

Professor, Division of Health Promotion and Behavioral Science

San Diego State University

Jane Figueiredo, PhD, MSc

Director, Community and Population Health Research, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute

Cedars Sinai

Elena Martinez, PhD

Associate Director, Population Science, Disparities and Community Engagement

University of California San Diego

Lisa Goldman Rosas, PhD, MPH

Assistant Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Population Health

Stanford Cancer Institute

Annette Maxwell, Dr.P.H.

Professor, Center for Cancer Prevention and Control

University of California, Los Angeles

Sora Park Tanjasiri, Dr.P.H., M.P.H.

Professor, Department of Epidemiology, and Associate Director of Cancer Health Disparities and Community Engagement

University of California, Irvine

Lorna Rodriguez, MD, PhD

Vice Chair, Department of Surgery
Professor, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences

City of Hope

John Carpten, PhD

Professor and Chair of Translational Genomics, Director, Institute of Translational Genomics

University of Southern California

Luis Carvajal-Carmona PhD

Professor and Auburn Community Cancer Endowed Chair in Basic Science, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine

University of California, Davis

Aziza Lucas-Wright MEd

Instructor and Co-Chair, Department of Preventive and Social Medicine

Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science

Guam

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Rachael Leon Guerrero, Ph.D.

Director, Office of Research and Sponsored Programs

University of Guam

Hawaii

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Kevin Cassel, DrPH, MPH

Full Member, Population Sciences in the Pacific Program

University of Hawaii, Cancer Research Center of Hawaii

Oregon

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Charles R. Thomas, Jr., M.D.

Professor and Chair of Radiation Medicine, School of Medicine

Oregon Health and Science University

Washington

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Christopher Li, MD, PhD

Project Director, Professor and Faculty Director, Public Health Division, and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Fred Hutch

Kemi Doll, MD MSCR

Assistant Professor, Obstetrics & Gynecology

University of Washington

Clemma Muller, PhD

Assistant Research Professor, College of Nursing

Washington State University

Contact Us

Sara Cole, Regional Coordinating Director

Dr. Chris Li, Director, Principal Investigator