University Times

UPMC Cancer Centers’ patient navigator outreach volunteer program has received a Silver Award from the American Cancer Society for demonstrating leadership in sharing cancer prevention and early detection information in African-American communities.

The program received the award for reaching more than 3,000 African Americans with cancer information through outreach volunteers who engaged their neighbors, family members, churches and friends to begin speaking openly about cancer and learning about screening and treatment options.

The volunteers, made up of nine African-American cancer survivors and retired nurses, delivered information on healthy behavior, cancer screening guidelines and support for survivors through churches, libraries, beauty salons and barbershops in eight predominately African-American communities in and around Pittsburgh.

Lyn Robertson, associate director of cancer control services at UPMC Cancer Centers, said, “The burden of cancer is too often greater in African-American communities. We hope that providing needed information, services and support will lead to earlier detection and treatment and, in turn, improved cancer survival in these communities.”

The program was developed by Marina Posvar, patient navigator services coordinator at UPMC Cancer Centers, and Lynda Tunon, director of patient education at UPMC Cancer Centers. It is part of the African-American Cancer Care Partnership, a program of UPMC Cancer Centers and the Center for Minority Health at the Graduate School of Public Health.

For information on the program and partnership, call 412/623-2867.