Skip to main content
survivor and child

Cancer Health Outcomes & Control Research Program

The Cancer Health Outcomes and Control Program conducts research aimed at reducing the burden of cancer across the entire cancer care continuum. The research efforts of this interdisciplinary, collaborative program center on the themes of: 

  • Prevention and Early Detection
  • Treatment-Related Outcomes
  • Survivorship and Palliative Care

RESEARCH THEMES

The Cancer Health Outcomes and Control Program aims to achieve the goal of reducing the cancer burden through:

Establishing and further developing population and community-based resources for research into prevention and early detection

Identifying environmental, sociobehavioral and genetic factors that affect short- and long-term outcomes

Understanding the scope of and developing interventions to prevent or ameliorate adverse long-term patient-centered outcomes following cancer diagnosis and treatment

Assessing the magnitude and determinants of disparities in cancer control and outcomes associated with age, race, gender, geography and other group characteristics and developing interventions to decrease such disparities

Designing and testing healthcare practices and policies that improve access to and delivery of care to minimize the burden of cancer

Meet the Program Members

Debra Friedman, M.D., M.S. and David Penson, M.D. co-lead the Cancer Health Outcomes and Control program. The program maintains close alliances with other cancer center programs, including population science partner program, Cancer Epidemiology, and the basic and clinical science programs. Extensive collaborations with community partners—including Meharry Medical College, Tennessee State University, federally qualified community health centers and oncologists at affiliate institutions, and other academic centers—extend the program's impact in the community and foster multi-institution research.


Featured Publications

Program News

September 3, 2021

Winkfield to direct Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance

Karen Winkfield, MD, PhD, associate professor of Radiation Oncology at Wake Forest University, associate director for Community Outreach and Engagement, and director of the Office of Cancer Health Equity at Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center, has been named the new executive director of the Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance.
September 25, 2019

Effort seeks to enhance cancer screening for Hispanic/Latina women

Providing access to a culturally appropriate community health worker during breast cancer screenings may impact elements of patient care and satisfaction among Hispanic/Latina women.
September 19, 2019

New telehealth initiative aims to enhance cancer care in rural areas

VUMC is leading an effort to improve cancer care in rural areas with a telehealth initiative supported with a $3.3 million grant from the National Cancer Institute.