Tampa Bay Community Cancer Network

02/19/2026

🌎 Think Global, Act Local 🌎

6 years ago, nearly 200 people from across Florida came together on International HPV Awareness Day with a common goal: eliminate HPV-related cancers, starting with cervical cancer.

Help the movement grow and join us this year on March 4, 2026! Register for the HELPS Summit and learn how we can move the needle forward: https://moffitt.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_5gIZsqeHQX-1B6e9eP6SLw #/registration

Special thank you to our 2020 partner American Cancer Society and International Papillomavirus Society - IPVS for all the work you do!

02/18/2026

Do You or Someone You Know Smoke Ci******es?
📱 Join the Libre Del Ci******lo Research Study and help shape a smartphone app designed to support smoking cessation in the Hispanic/Latino community!
✅ Hispanic/Latino adults
✅ Currently smoke ci******es
✅ Read & write in Spanish
✅ Own a cell phone
💲 Participants receive $30 for sharing their opinions and experiences.
📞 Call: 813-745-1905
📧 Email: libredelcigarrillo@moffitt.org

💙Help us spread the word and support healthier communities! 💙

~ ~ ~

Publicación para Redes Sociales (Español)
🚭 ¿Fumas ci*******os o conoces a alguien que fuma?
📱 ¡Participa en el estudio de investigación Libre Del Ci******lo y ayuda a mejorar una aplicación móvil diseñada para apoyar a la comunidad Hispana/Latina a dejar de fumar!
✅ Adultos Hispanos/Latinos
✅ Actualmente fuman ci*******os
✅ Leen y escriben en español
✅ Tienen teléfono celular
💲 Los participantes reciben $30 por compartir sus opiniones y experiencias.
📞 Llame al: 813-745-1905
📧 Correo electrónico: libredelcigarrillo@moffitt.org

💙 ¡Ayúdanos a compartir y apoyar comunidades más saludables! 💙

02/17/2026

Associate Center Director of Community Outreach and Engagement Susan Vadaparampil engaged in meaningful conversation with "The American Journal of Managed Care" at the Institute for Value-Based Medicine event in Tampa, Florida, and discussed the impact of mistrust on clinical trial participation and how health care workers can help bridge these gaps.

Click here to view the interview: https://www.ajmc.com/view/overcoming-mistrust-to-improve-clinical-trial-enrollment-susan-vadaparampil-phd-mph

View part 1 to learn more about barriers to clinical trial enrollment: https://www.ajmc.com/view/linking-community-screening-programs-to-cancer-centers-boosts-trial-diversity-susan-vadaparampil-phd-mph

Patient navigators, community health workers, and/or peer advocates serve as trusted community resources for patients, Susan Vadaparampil, PhD, MPH, says.

02/12/2026

On behalf of the COE at Moffitt Cancer Center, we are excited to share that Project COURAGE, a new community outreach program focused on ovarian cancer education and genetic risk awareness, is now being offered to residents in Manatee and Sarasota counties.

The program includes a 1-hour long, evidence‑based workshop designed for women ages 18+. It provides:
✔️ Education on ovarian cancer, risk factors, and prevention
✔️ Personalized genetic risk assessment
✔️ Discussion with experts in gynecologic oncology and genetic counseling

Project COURAGE is made possible by the generous support of the The Gail Baird Foundation, honoring the legacy of Gail Baird through the advancement of ovarian cancer research and prevention.

Our next workshop will be held at the Manatee County Public Library System:
📍 Manatee County Central Library: 1301 Barcarrota Blvd W, Bradenton, FL 34205
🗓️ February 25, 2026
⏰ 6:15 PM – 7:30 PM
👉 RSVP Appreciated: https://www.moffitt.org/calendar/?trumbaEmbed=view%3Devent%26eventid%3D196623611

We invite community partners, organizations, and service providers to share this opportunity with the people you serve. If your group would benefit from hosting a workshop, we would love to collaborate with you.

For questions or to schedule a session for your organization, please contact Kristina Inman at COURAGE.COE@moffitt.org

02/11/2026

The Office of Community Outreach and Engagement's Support for Community Organization Research Engagement (COE-SCORE) is pleased to announce the 2025 Moffitt Catchment Area Research Enhancement Support (M-CARES) grant awardees. Congratulations to Drs. B. Lee Green, Brandon Blue, and Jennifer Permuth!

Drs. Green and Blue will be partnering with Multiple Reasons on their project, “Artificial Intelligence for Widespread Awareness, Research and Education (AWARE): Establishing the Framework for Tailored AI Tools for Multiple Myeloma.” Dr. Jennifer Permuth will partner with Health Choice Network on her project, “Empowering Medical Providers for Optimal Workforce Education & Referral in Pancreatic Cancer (EMPOWER-PC).”

The M-CARES pilot grant mechanism is generously supported by a philanthropic donation from Ms. Loretta Lee, to support research pilot projects that seek to eliminate cancer health disparities and enhance health equity in our catchment area. Priority is given to applicants who propose to partner with community organizations and to engage community collaborators throughout all phases of the research. To learn more about applying for or partnering on the M-CARES mechanism, email COE-SCORE@Moffitt.org.

02/05/2026

📣 Registration is now open! Join us on March 4 for the 2026 HPV HELPS Summit, a FREE, virtual event open to healthcare professionals, public health researchers, patient advocates, survivors, and anyone interested in learning about state-wide efforts to eliminate HPV-related cancers in Florida. Join us for a 2-hour webinar with insightful discussions, this year's summit will highlight:

💡 Efforts and lessons learned from initiatives to eliminate cervical cancer in other states
💚 A survivor's perspective, lived experience, and advocacy work
📝 A focused discussion on Florida's Cancer Plan, with particular attention to cervical cancer and control across the state

👉 Click to register: https://moffitt.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_5gIZsqeHQX-1B6e9eP6SLw

02/04/2026

Registration is still open for the February 18th Patient Researcher Forum focused on colorectal cancer. The event is taking place in SRB on the Moffitt Magnolia campus, with an online option as well.

The Patient Researcher Forum fosters an intimate conversation between Moffitt patients and caregivers with faculty researchers and clinicians. This program will feature a patient perspective, and presentations by Drs. Julian Sanchez and Clement Gwede and postdoc Dolapo Anyanwu.

These events are open to all. Please register to attend: https://www.moffitt.org/calendar/?trumbaEmbed=view%3Devent%26eventid%3D194092097

02/03/2026

We wrapped up January with our 4th event. It was a pleasure collaborating with MCR Health and the City of Bradenton, Florida - Government, and we are always grateful to have the Moffitt Screening Units out in the community. These efforts help promote cancer awareness, provide free screenings, and increase access by meeting community members where they are.

We were pleased to have over 50 organizations participate by tabling, sharing resources, and offering additional health screenings.

Special thanks to Kay Yow Cancer Fund for making this event possible!

Thank you as well to our sponsors: Tropicana, Florida Department of Health (DOH) in Manatee County, Chambers Medical Group, and Czaia Law.

As always, early detection saves lives!

01/27/2026

We were excited to celebrate our COE-SCORE Community Scientists last week for their time and contributions to the 2025 pilot grant reviews. Last year, the Community Scientists reviewed 50 applications across the Moffitt Catchment Area Research Enhancement Support (M-CARES), George Edgecomb Society (GES) and Miles for Moffitt Team Science mechanisms. Their input provided valuable contributions to the grant review process. We look forward to welcoming them back to the grant review process this year.

If you are a researcher and want to engage the Community Scientists further, or if you are a member of the community who would like to get involved in the future, contact COE-SCORE@moffitt.org.

01/21/2026

Moffitt’s Community Health Implementation Plan turns community priorities into action.

Developed by leaders in our Office of Community Outreach and Engagement (COE), the plan builds on findings from Moffitt’s 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) and guidance from our community advisory boards.

Our work focuses on four priority areas:
🤝 Prevention, Education & Outreach
🩺 Access to Screening & Early Detection
🙌 Health for All
💙 Survivorship

Together with our partners, we’re advancing equitable, community-driven solutions across our 23-county catchment.

To view the implementation plan, visit:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BRfgUuOnriJYR49QIgZFP1Lrl1iS1hUo/view?usp=sharing

01/08/2026

Join us and our community partners MCR Health and the City of Bradenton, Florida - Government at our final Kay Yow Cancer Fund community screening Health Expo event on Saturday, Jan 31

A Moffitt Cancer Center expert will be onsite to provide cancer prevention education and resources about early detection, screening, and research advancements

🩺 Cancer screenings
👩‍⚕️ Dental, vision, blood screening
🎵 Live music
🩹 Wound Care screenings
💉 COVID testing, education, and vaccines
✅ And more!

This is a fantastic opportunity to prioritize your health with convenient, accessible screenings and valuable information.

For more information or if you are interested in being a vendor for the event, please email Esperanza Gamboa - egamboa@mcr.health

01/06/2026

In 2025, our Office of Community Outreach & Engagement partnered with organizations across Florida to bring cancer education, prevention, and support directly into communities.

This StoryMap highlights where we went, who we reached, and how collaboration with trusted partners shaped our outreach throughout the year: from healthcare summits and neighborhood celebrations to opportunities that invited patients into our cancer center to see the science behind their care.

✔️ 849 completed outreach events
📍 290 locations across 24 counties
🤝 43,000 people reached
🗣️ 3 different languages (English/Spanish/Haitian/French-Creole)

We invite you to explore this impact story and see how shared effort leads to meaningful reach and lasting community connections :

https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/2e9e349910e84fc0b8ba2e933e6c88f8