1. Community Outreach and Engagement
cancer staff

Mount Sinai Cancer Health Research Center

Mount Sinai Cancer Health Research Center

Mount Sinai Cancer Health Research Center was established with grant funding from the American Cancer Society with the goal of reducing health inequities in cancer care and lessening the burden of cancer among underserved communities across the five boroughs of New York City.

The grant aims to:

  • Develop innovative cancer care models that address social determinants of health through community-based approaches, better care coordination, and culturally appropriate patient navigation
  • Recruit postdoctoral and faculty researchers to become leaders in cancer health equity research through institutional mentorship and career enhancement opportunities
  • Broaden the network of community scientists working on practical solutions to address social factors that impact cancer health outcomes

Meet the Team

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Cardinale Smith, MD, PhD

Principal Investigator
Adjunct Professor of Medicine (Hematology and Medical Oncology), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Cardinale B. Smith, MD, PhD, is Professor of Medicine (Hematology and Medical Oncology) and Professor of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine at...

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Melissa Mazor, PhD, MS, RN

Site Principal Investigator
Co-Associate Director, Community Outreach and Engagement, The Tisch Cancer Institute

Dr. Mazor is Assistant Professor in the Division of General Internal Medicine and Assistant Director of Community Outreach and Engagement...

Research Projects

Health at Home: Integrated Cancer Screening in Community-Based Settings

Principal Investigator: Jamilia Sly, PhD
Bring cancer screening and education directly to residents of public housing developments in New York City.

A Community Navigator Pilot Intervention for Early Phase Cancer Clinical Trials

Principal Investigator: Deborah Doroshow, MD, PhD
Create an education program led by community navigators to help patients learn about early phase clinical trials.

A Language-Concordant Community Navigator-Led Supportive Intervention

Principal Investigator: Christopher Woodrell, MD
Provide supportive care in patients’ own languages and address social determinants of health that impact care.

Principal Investigators

Jamilia Sly, PhD
Jamilia Sly, PhD
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR | Population Health Science and Policy
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR | Oncological Sciences
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR | Family Medicine & Community Health
Deborah B Doroshow, MD, PhD
Deborah B Doroshow, MD, PhD
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR | Medicine, Hematology and Medical Oncology
Christopher D Woodrell, MD
Christopher D Woodrell, MD
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR | Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine

Education

Career Enhancement Program group shot

Community Integration

Community participants from varied backgrounds and experience help increase community awareness about cancer research, enhance outreach, and build trust between cancer researchers and communities. They provide insights on overcoming community challenges related to social determinants of health, such as education, finances, and housing.

The Community Scientist Program includes community members, patient advocates, and lay researchers who have personal or professional expertise in patient or community advocacy, health equity, and cancer care. Its focus is to develop practical solutions that address social determinants of health and decrease cancer health inequities.

The program connects the administrative, education, and community cores of this grant, as well as the individual research projects.

The Mount Sinai Cancer Health Research Center Community Advisory Board includes leaders in equitable cancer care in the New York City area. Coming from various backgrounds, they help identify research priorities with attention to the lived experiences of different communities, develop ways to address social determinants of health, and evaluate the Center’s research and activities.

  • Guedy Arniella, LCSW, Director, Community Health and Outreach, The Institute for Family Health
  • Karen R. Brisbon, American Cancer Society Patient and Family Advisory Council Member and Caregiver Advocate
  • Brittany Chambers, MPH, MCHES, Director of Health Equity, Center to Advance Palliative Care
  • Megan-Claire Chase, BA, Breast Cancer Program Director and Breast Cancer Survivor, SHARE Cancer Support
  • Maurice Franklin, PhD, MPA, Member, 100 Black Men of New York
  • Kistein Monkhouse, MPA, Founder and CEO, Patient Orator
  • Jay Musella, LMSW, Senior Director, Population Programs, The Institute of Family Health
  • Virgil Simons, MPA, Founder & President, The Prostate Net
  • Adriane Gelpi, Director, Cancer Prevention and Control, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

Contact Us

Melissa Mazor, PhD, MS, RN
Co-Associate Director, Community Outreach and Engagement, The Tisch Cancer Institute

Email

Nadia Zubair
Project Manager

Email