Abstract B147: Avanzando Equidad de Salud: Latino Cancer Health Equity Research Center
Authors: Ramirez Amelie G. , Rodriguez Derek , Despres Cliff , Jones Rebecca T. , Cancino Ramon S. , Grimes Allison C. , Gelfond Jonathan , Choi Byeongyeob , Munoz Edgar , Chalela Patricia 
Published: September 2024

South Texas (STX), spanning from San Antonio to the Texas-Mexico border, includes 25 rural counties, with 96% designated as primary care shortage areas, are notably the nation’s poorest and most medically underserved regions in the United States. Hispanic/Latinos (H/Ls) in the U.S. face challenges related to social determinants of health (SDoH), contributing to disparities in cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes. H/Ls have higher risks of invasive cancers compared to peers, emphasizing the critical need to address SDoH to mitigate cancer disparities. Addressing these causes can improve access to healthcare, promote early detection, enhance patient education, and provide culturally competent care. The Avanzando Center (AC) aims to reduce health disparities across STX with community-engaged research, training, patient assessment, and advocacy that addresses the SDoH that deter Latinos from equitable access to cancer care, prevention, early detection, treatment, and improve patients’ cancer outcomes. To achieve its mission, the AC will 1) coordinate Research Scholars on SDoH-related cancer control projects, providing leadership, mentoring, and support in SDoH screening, clinical informatics, and outreach dissemination, 2) implement the SDoH Screener to screen patients at UT Health San Antonio’s Mays Cancer Center, Primary Care Center, and clinics across STX, ensuring they receive necessary support, 3) utilize the Salud America! (SA!) Latino health communications network for community education, empowering STX community members to advocate for local system and policy changes addressing structural SDoH, and 4) provide mentoring and career development in health equity (HE) and SDoH fundamentals to enhance cancer patient care and research advancements in the community. Research Scholars are actively employing interventions for 1) adolescent and young adult cancer survivors by establishing training programs for oncology providers to ensure proper guidance on vaccinations against HPV-related cancers, 2) using technology to improve treatment adherence among Latina breast cancer patients, and 3) addressing disparities in colorectal cancer screening and healthcare access among persistently impoverished populations. These studies will result in rigorous evaluation of intervention effectiveness by addressing the specific needs of cancer patients facing barriers related to SDoH and inform policy and practice initiatives to eliminate cancer as a major health concern. In addition, training and mentoring programs will enhance the knowledge and understanding of cancer care and research professionals, while the SA! Latino HE communication program to raise awareness about SDoH and cancer HE that includes blog posts featuring resources, inspirational stories, and promotional HE tools. The efforts focused on SDoH have the potential to significantly impact cancer outcomes and reduce disparities in Latino communities, ultimately advancing HE and improving overall well-being; specifically improving cancer outcomes, survivorship, and quality of life.

Citation Format: Amelie G. Ramirez, Derek Rodriguez, Cliff Despres, Rebecca T. Jones, Ramon S. Cancino, Allison C. Grimes, Jonathan Gelfond, Byeongyeob Choi, Edgar Munoz, Patricia Chalela. Avanzando Equidad de Salud: Latino Cancer Health Equity Research Center [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr B147.