Symposium to address cancer disparity in Chicago’s low-income neighborhoods
The Chicago Cancer Health Equity Collaborative (ChicagoCHEC), a National Cancer Institute-funded initiative to reduce cancer disparity in Chicago’s low-income neighborhoods, will provide a detailed look at the ongoing work of the ChicagoCHEC partnership, which is led by researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago, the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University and Northeastern Illinois University.
Dr. Robert Winn, associate vice chancellor for community-based practice and director of the University of Illinois Cancer Center, addresses the audience during the 2015 launch of ChicagoCHEC.
WHEN:
Thursday, Sept. 29
8:30 a.m – 3:00 p.m.
WHERE:
Malcom X College
1900 W. Jackson Blvd.
DETAILS:
According to data from the Illinois Department of Public Health, low-income Chicago communities that are predominantly African-American or Latino face cancer death rates up to double the national average. ChicagoCHEC seeks to transform how community engagement and research is conducted to improve health equity.
The symposium will feature key updates on progress from ChicagoCHEC; a panel of public health care providers; a town hall forum; and networking opportunities to mobilize Chicago communities in the areas of cancer survivorship, health care access and delivery, research and clinical trials, community capacity building and cancer health education.
A diverse panel of cancer survivors will discuss their journeys, including how they have accessed services and how community organizations have supported them.
Keynote speakers will include:
- Jesus Garcia, Cook County Commissioner, 7th District
- Dr. Linda Rae Murray, former chief medical officer of the Cook County Health and Hospital System and breast cancer survivor
- Roz Varon, Emmy award-winning traffic and transportation anchor for ABC7 News
ChicagoCHEC launched in 2015 with a $17 million federal grant from the NIH. The symposium marks the beginning of a series of local community events to take place in Chicago through 2017. Visit chicagoCHEC.org to register.
