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ChicagoCHEC Fellows Program
ChicagoCHEC Fellows Program
Every summer ChicagoCHEC selects a group of students from Northeastern Illinois University, Northwestern University, University of Illinois at Chicago and Community Colleges of Chicago to participate in our Fellows program. This program provides education and training to student to prepare and empower them to be future health equity champions. To learn more about this program, CHEC out our website!
Every summer ChicagoCHEC selects a group of students from Northeastern Illinois University, Northwestern University, University of Illinois at Chicago and Community Colleges of Chicago to participate in our Fellows program. This program provides education and training to student to prepare and empower them to be future health equity champions. To learn more about this program, CHEC out our website!
2021 ChicagoCHEC Fellows Research Projects
2021 ChicagoCHEC Fellows Research Projects
Increasing Cervical Cancer Preventative Measures for Trans Men
Authors: Francesca Rosen, Jesús Alfaro, Suleman Shaikh, and Temi Sodipe
Project Description: This project focuses on reducing health disparities in cervical cancer for gender minority patients. Transgender individuals face a variety of health disparities due to the stigma surrounding their identity. These include, but are not limited to, higher rates of substance abuse, depression, HIV infection, and discrimination. One specific disparity observed in transgender men is decreased rates in Pap testscompared to cis women. This is especially concerning because Pap tests are one of the primary prevention strategies in cervical cancer by detecting of pre-cancers in the cervix. With the use of these tests, cervical polyps can be removed before they become cancerous. While little data exists concerning disparities in mortality among gender minority and cis patients with cervical cancer, it is known thatlower rates of screening in a population leads to higher mortality rates.
While this topic has been greatly understudied, it has been shown that many gender minority patients feel uncomfortable in healthcare settings from fear of discrimination and misgendering from providers. This issue can be exacerbated in gynecological settings that have been tailored to cis women. Previous studies have shown that transgender patients have had to teach their provider about their identity and health needs showing a general lack of knowledge about the community in healthcare settings. Furthermore, many transgender patients have put off medical care due to fear of discrimination.
By surveying and interviewing the trans male community and healthcare providers, we hope to gain insight into what would encourage pap tests and what information providers are lacking. Using these two perspectives, we hope to be able to develop training materials for providers, a portal to help transgender patients navigate the healthcare system, and gender inclusive PSAs about Pap tests to educate the community about cervical cancer prevention.
How to Use 1-on-1 Therapy in Community-Based Support Groups to Decrease the Disparity in the Mortality Rate Between Non-Hispanic Black and White Women
Authors: Brenda Haddad, Haku Blaisdell, Vanessa Nutakor, and Darby Avelar
Project Description: Our project focuses on reducing the disparity in the breast cancer mortality rate between non-Hispanic Black women and non-Hispanic white women. We observed that the mortality rate among non-Hispanic Black women is significantly greater than that of non-Hispanic white women and reviewed the many potential factors at play, including access to cancer resources, physical activity, insurance, and social support. We spoke with multiple professionals in the field, such as representatives from Gilda’s Club and doctoral candidate Nyahne Bergeron, to get a better understanding of the emotional needs of breast cancer patients. This led us to decide to focus on implementing one-on-one therapy sessions as our intervention to reduce the disparity in mortality rate. By conducting a literature search among avariety of sources, we were able to find studies that showed how mental health can play a role in increasing or decreasing a patient’s chance of survival after a cancer diagnosis. Yet, the community support groups we saw in the Chicago area did not offer many opportunities to take part in a service like regular therapy with a professional. We believe that filling this gap could have promising results for the breast cancer community.
Mobilizing Citizen Scientists to Increase Prostate Cancer Screening Awareness in at-risk African American Men and their Families in Auburn Gresham
Authors: Kaylee Zilinger, Nancy Sahagun, Elvia Camargo, and Jason Duncan
Project Description: The objective of this research project is to address the disparities in prostate cancer incidence and mortality rates that Black men face in Chicago’s Auburn Gresham neighborhood. African American men get and die from prostate cancer at significantly higher rates than other racial groups. To address this inequity, we focused on the lack of prostate cancer screening awareness in these communities, affecting shared decision-making between patients and physicians. The lack of screening knowledge leads to low screening rates, causing African American Men to be diagnosed at a higher grade, stage, and younger age than White men. We also focused on engaging families and other social networks to maximize prostate cancer screening awareness and support within the community. For our intervention, we propose an annual Prostate Cancer Awareness Cookout in Auburn Gresham, led by Citizen Scientists and supported by the community, to engage at-risk men and their families in prostate cancer discussions and encourage men to get early screening.
Evaluating the Correlation between Obesity and Breast Cancer Mortality in African-American Communities: The Case of the Auburn Gresham Neighborhood
Authors: Dalin Eap, Tayo Omoniyi, Jorge Neira, and Kenny Cantave
Project Description: This project focuses on reducing the rate of obesity in Auburn Gresham to combat the high rates of breast cancer mortality in the neighborhood. We found that in Auburn Gresham, African-American women are drastically more likely to die from breast cancer compared to other neighborhoods and ethnic groups in Chicago. In Auburn Gresham, African-American women also have less nutritional literacy and higher rates of obesity, which is a major risk factor for breast cancer. We believe that creating after-school obesity prevention programs in Auburn Gresham will reduce the rate of obesity in the neighborhood and promote better dietary and physical behaviors - e.g. decreasing consumption of sweetened beverages. This speculated decrease in obesity and increase in nutritional literacy would be significant in preventing future breast cancer cases and lowering the breast cancer mortality rate in Auburn Gresham.
Improving Medical Training and Public Health Education of Skin Cancer in African American and Latinx Populations in the U.S. to Reduce Late Diagnosis and Decrease Mortality Rates
Authors: Angel Jimenez, Aasia Khan, Isabella Pizarro, and Ella Ramos
Project Description: This project focuses on addressing the advanced stage diagnosis and increased mortality rates of skin cancer in African American and Latinx communities. The fellows have observed that this healthcare disparity exists due to the lack of public health education and representation in medical staff. For this research study, the fellows proposed two branches of interventions: one on the physician level and one on the patient level. The physician level would involve improving medical school curricula by utilizing training clinics throughout Chicago to educate physicians on recognizing skin cancer in darker-skinned individuals. The patient level would implement the broadening of public health messaging about mitigating the risk of skin cancer through sun-safe behavior and self-skin examinations. The fellows conclude that this would result in earlier diagnosis and improved health outcomes.
Accessible Nicotine Replacement Therapy for Tobacco Cessation Treatment to Improve Lung Cancer Survivorship among African Americans Adults in West Englewood
Authors: Angel Arroyo, Sebastian Cortes, Veronica Payton, and Victoria A. Soliz
Project Description: The objective of this research project is to address the lung cancer disparity that exists within the African American community and how specifically smoking tobacco has contributed to it. Through research, there is a large division of tobacco use and mortality related to lung cancer between the South and West sides of Chicago. To combat this inequity we propose that Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) in combination with Medication Counseling for Smoking Cessation (SC) be utilized to improve lung cancer survivorship amongst African American Adults. Our project aims to address the lung cancer health inequities experienced by the West Englewood community who face distinct barriers to resources such as NRT and Counseling. Thus, we propose an intervention that involves access to care and education to support smokers on their cessation of tobacco to further improve lung cancer survivorship in West Englewood.
ChicagoCHEC LEaP
ChicagoCHEC LEaP
ChicagoCHEC Laboratory Experiences and Programs (LEaP) matches alumni of the CHEC Fellows Program to one-on-one mentored immersion experiences for a semester or summer term. To learn more about this program, CHEC out our website!
ChicagoCHEC Laboratory Experiences and Programs (LEaP) matches alumni of the CHEC Fellows Program to one-on-one mentored immersion experiences for a semester or summer term. To learn more about this program, CHEC out our website!
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