Prevent Cancer Dialogue

This activity is pending approval by the Continuing Education Approval Program of the National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health for 9 contact hours (0 hours of pharmacology).  This activity is also pending application for CHES^®/MCHES^® to receive 9 Category I continuing education contact hours (CECH) from the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. (NCHEC).

The nomination period for the 2021 Cancer Prevention Laurels Awards closed at 5:00 PM ET on Wednesday, January 20, 2021. Thank you for your submissions.

The Latin name for the Bay Laurel plant, laurus noblis, is derived from the word “to praise” or to be renowned or famous. The laurel has long been a symbol of tribute, honor, victory, merit and reward. In Ancient Rome, heroes among the athletes, generals, emperors and poets received a wreath of laurels as homage to their service and accomplishments.

The Prevent Cancer Foundation^® created the Cancer Prevention Laurels in 2003 to recognize and celebrate innovators and leaders in the fight against cancer. The awards are presented annually in partnership with the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable. View our past Cancer Prevention Laurels recipients below. 

For 2021, awards will be made in these categories to recognize work in any area of cancer prevention or early detection, especially in times of COVID:

• Cancer Prevention Laurel for National Leadership: Awarded to an individual who has shown exemplary leadership in cancer prevention or early detection at the national level in the U.S. An awardee will be an outstanding individual whose leadership and vision have inspired others to join him or her in working toward a shared goal which has made a difference in cancer screening or prevention.
• Cancer Prevention Laurel for Dedication to Community Service: Awarded to an individual who has demonstrated unwavering commitment to enhancing cancer prevention or early detection on the community level in the U.S. An awardee will be a remarkable individual who has identified and addressed gaps in meeting community needs in cancer prevention and screening. This commitment can be demonstrated through development and implementation of educational, clinical or research programs.
• Cancer Prevention Laurel for Increasing Health Equity through Innovation: Awarded to an individual or organization for innovative methods to increase health equity in cancer prevention and screening in communities across the U.S. An awardee will be an individual or organization that has identified and implemented innovations which increase health equity by improving or expanding services at the community level.

The Prevent Cancer Dialogue convenes meetings, whether virtual or in-person, on cancer screening and prevention to:

• Keep the field of cancer screening and prevention stakeholders up to date on research, policy, practice and programs.
• Disseminate timely and cutting-edge evidence-based information.
• Provide energizing opportunities for networking.

Participants take the Dialogue back to their communities and workplaces with concrete ways to enhance or expand what they already do to promote prevention practices and appropriate screening.

The Prevent Cancer Dialogue has been implemented on these levels:

Annual National Conference

The Prevent Cancer Dialogue convenes a diverse group of stakeholders and provides a welcoming environment for the exchange of ideas, information and experiences, networking, brainstorming and thoughtful discussion of strategies for cancer prevention and early detection in all communities. Experts in the field give timely and enlightening presentations on trending topics and the Q&A sessions and peer-to-peer conversations provide productive dialogue among participants. Now in its 22nd year, the Dialogue started as laser-focused on colorectal cancer screening, and, over the years, it expanded to include cancer prevention and then to include also cervical, breast and lung cancer screenings. The Dialogue also covers issues related to early detection content related to other cancers, such as prostate, oral, ovarian and skin. The Dialogue currently reaches participants from 49 states, 3 territories and several other countries. 

Dialogue for Action/Prevent Cancer Dialogue Colorectal Screening Projects in Indian Country

Since 2007, the Prevent Cancer Foundation has had the honor of working with American Indian/Alaska (AI/AN) groups to increase cancer screening, and most especially colorectal cancer screening. The Foundation first convened a Dialogue of 10 AI/AN teams in Portland, Oregon, to kick off year-long projects that they designed and planned to increase colorectal cancer screening in their respective communities. Each team received a grant of $10,000 from the Foundation. Team members included tribal council members and leaders, health directors, community workers, health care providers, tribal elders, CRC survivors and family members or representatives of state health departments. These projects were:

• Aberdeen Area Tribal Chairmen’s Health Board (now Great Plains)
• Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC)
• Black Hills Center for American Indian Health
• Cherokee Nation
• Ho-Chunk Nation
• Kaw Nation
• Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation
• Michigan Intertribal Council
• Texas Gulf Coast American Indian Alaska Native Project
• Urban Indian Health Institute

The Foundation continues to work with colleagues on cancer prevention and early detection in Indian Country. Every year, the annual national Dialogue offers content relevant to Indian Country and convenes a peer-to-peer information-sharing meeting to keep everybody up-to-date on what’s happening in cancer screening and prevention in Indian Country.             

State-Level Prevent Cancer Foundation Dialogue

From 2003 – 2008, The Prevent Cancer Dialogue was also active on the state level, thanks to funding from a five-year CDC cooperative agreement and also individual funding from some states. These year-long projects strengthened state-wide collaborations and partnerships, working within their state-level comprehensive cancer control plans to increase capacity for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening in communities across their states — whether large or small, and rural or urban. Outcomes of the projects included statewide media campaigns, the establishment of a state-specific foundation to support CRC screening in underserved communities, dissemination of tools for office-reminder systems, support for CRC legislation and culturally appropriate educational materials

The states which convened Dialogues were:

• Arizona/New Mexico
• California
• Colorado
• Kentucky
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Nebraska
• New Jersey
• New York
• Ohio
• South Carolina
• Utah
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia

Regardless of size or shape, every Dialogue features a mix of state-of-the-art presentations and interactive, dynamic “conversations” among participants. The Dialogue equips participants with concrete tools and effective strategies for use in both clinical and public health settings. At any Dialogue, there likely is a mix of these participants:

• Primary Care Physicians (Internists, Family Physicians, Osteopaths)
• Medical Specialists (Obstetrician/Gynecologists, Gastroenterologists, Dermatologists, Surgeons, Radiologists)
• Nurses and Nurse Practitioners
• Physician Assistants
• Quality Team Members in Hospitals, Insurance Companies, etc.
• Advocates and Survivors
• Patient Navigators, Care Managers, Case Managers
• Social Workers
• Health Services Researchers
• Health Educators
• Health Agency Staff on Federal, State and County levels
• Staff of Non-Profit Health Organizations
• Third-Party Payers

Poster Presentations

Join us for the next-gen Poster sessions at the 2021 Virtual Prevent Cancer Dialogue! Each presenter gives a brief overview of a community-level program in cancer prevention or screening to reduce health disparities in the community and then focuses on one element that contributes greatly to the program’s success. All presenters are then part of a facilitated discussion with the audience. Check it out!

2020 Prevent Cancer Dialogue: Prevention, Screening, Action

Poster Session Theme: Innovations in Building Sustainability for Community-Level Cancer Screening and Prevention

View posters presented at the 2020 Virtual Prevent Cancer Dialogue

The Dialogue Archives contains materials to start and continue conversations with Dialogue colleagues and in your community about cancer screening and prevention.

To learn about evidence-based interventions and collaborations in communities working on cancer screening and prevention, view the presentations, posters and other materials that were presented throughout the 2019 Dialogue.

Want to discuss new cancer screening modalities or advocacy campaigns? Download the Networking Resource Guide to network with past Dialogue professionals on a variety of cancer screening issues.

Archives

Click below to view materials and information from previous Dialogue events:

2020 Prevent Cancer Dialogue

2019 Dialogue for Action^® on Cancer Screening and Prevention

2018 Dialogue for Action^® on Cancer Screening and Prevention

2017 Dialogue for Action^® on Cancer Screening and Prevention

2016 Dialogue for Action^®: Progress and Prospects in Cancer Screening and Prevention

2015 Dialogue for Action^®: Expanding Access Through Innovation

2014 Dialogue for Action^®: Right-Sizing Cancer Screening

2013 Dialogue for Action^®: Hitting the Targets

2012 Dialogue for Action^®: Today’s Progress, Tomorrow’s Challenge

2011 Dialogue for Action^®: Prevention Now for a Healthier Tomorrow

2010 Dialogue for Action^®: Prevention Hits the Headlines

2009 Dialogue for Action^®: Harnessing the Power of Success

2018 Blogs

Cancer prevention: Seize the low-hanging fruit, then work upward, Mar. 29, 2018
This post comes from Susan Dentzer, president and CEO of the Network for Excellence in Health Innovation and one of the nation’s most respected health and health policy thought leaders and journalists. The Prevent Cancer Foundation® is excited to welcome Ms. Dentzer to moderate the closing keynote panel “Visions for the Future of Cancer Prevention” at the 2018 Dialogue for Action® on Cancer Screening and Prevention. Read more

Reducing colorectal cancer rates in Alaska, March 29, 2018
We spoke to Ms. Christensen about her work to improve colorectal cancer screening rates and the value of this conference for nurse practitioners and other primary care providers. Read more

Dialogue with Project ECHO’s Erika Harding, Feb. 22, 2018
Project ECHO’s Erika Harding will present the opening keynote address at the 2018 Dialogue for Action® on Cancer Screening and Prevention. We talked to Ms. Harding about her work at Project ECHO to bring specialized care to rural and underserved communities around the world. Read more

2017 Blogs

Leading up to the 2017 conference, Dialogue speakers and attendees will be talking about their work to improve cancer screening and prevention in monthly blog posts.

Addressing equal access to preventive care in Tunisia, Apr. 4, 2017
As a member of the Tunisian Association for Defending the Right to Health, Dr. Amna Khalfaoui plans to travel from North Africa to attend this year’s Dialogue for Action^® conference. Read about the challenges Tunisia faces in improving health care and what she’s most looking to take home with her from this year’s Dialogue in her blog post. Read more

Come to Dialogue with Aetna Foundation’s Garth Graham, Mar. 9, 2017
Garth Graham, MD, MPH, will deliver the opening keynote address at the Dialogue for Action^® conference. We talked to Dr. Graham about his work to improve health equity across the country. Read more 

Why you should attend the 2017 Dialogue for Action^®, Feb. 24, 2017
We are two months away from the 19th annual Dialogue for Action^® on Cancer Screening & Prevention. This cutting-edge conference is being held in an exciting new location, the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner, right outside Washington, D.C. Read more

 No woman should die of cervical cancer Jan. 19, 2017

In the United States, cervical cancer is becoming less common thanks to increased vaccinations, improved screening rates and better treatments. But incidence and death rates remain high among women in underserved areas across the country.  Read more

Past articles

2016

 21st Century Cures Act: Where are we now? Apr. 11, 2016

On April 6^th the Prevent Cancer Foundation kicked off our annual Dialogue for Action^®, bringing together community health leaders, government staff, oncologists, researchers, and advocates to discuss issues of cancer prevention, screening and early detection. Read more

Join Dr. Kristi Funk, breast surgeon to the stars, at the Prevent Cancer Foundation’s 2016 Dialogue for Action^® Mar. 22, 2016

While I’m known for caring for some high-profile patients such as Angelina Jolie and Sheryl Crow, my career goal is to ensure that all women, regardless of circumstance or ability to pay, are receiving high-quality breast cancer prevention, screening and treatment. Read more

A Multi-State Coalition is formed at the 2015 Dialogue for Action^® Feb. 18, 2016

Roy J. Duhé, Ph.D., is Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Professor of Radiation Oncology and Associate Director for Cancer Education at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Read more

2015

Cervical cancer screening technology comes to Rwanda Nov. 19, 2015

What do a cancer researcher from New York City and a CEO from a biotech firm in Israel have in common? Read more

Looking towards the 2016 Dialogue for Action^® conference Jul. 22, 2015

Next year’s “can’t miss” Dialogue for Action on Cancer Screening will take place April 6 – 8, 2016, at the Renaissance Harborplace Hotel in Baltimore. Read more

Technology and health disparities Apr. 16, 2015

Minorities and other underserved or vulnerable communities have often experienced both concentrated poverty and isolation from knowledge and resources, and thus we see higher rates of cancer incidences and deaths than from other populations. Read more

Highlights from Day 3 Apr. 25, 2015

The final day of the conference kicked off with a humorous and enlightening presentation by the Deputy Surgeon General of the United States, Rear Admiral Boris Lushniak, M.D., M.P.H. Last year while serving as Surgeon General, RADM Lushniak issued the Call to Action to Prevent Skin Cancer. Read more

Highlights from Day 2 Apr. 24, 2015

President and founder, Carolyn “Bo” Aldigé opened the conference today by highlighting the recent public figures who spoke publicly about taking preventative measures and getting screened on cancer prevention and early detection, including Taylor Swift, Angelina Joli-Pitt and Rita Wilson. Read more

Highlights from Day 1 Apr. 23, 2015

The 2015 Dialogue for Action^® conference on cancer screening started out with a bang. Read more

2014

Claudia Henschke to speak at 2014 Dialogue for Action^® Jan. 10, 2014

The Prevent Cancer Foundation^® is excited to announce that Claudia Henschke, Ph.D., M.D., will speak on “Lung Cancer Screening: Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going” at the 2014 Dialogue for Action^®: Right-Sizing Cancer Screening. Read more

Best ever Dialogue for Action^®! Mar. 25, 2014

The Prevent Cancer Foundation held its 2014 Dialogue for Action^® conference gathering a diverse group of cancer screening stakeholders from 33 states and the District of Columbia, nine American Indian/Alaska tribes and organizations, Japan and Israel. Read more

Join us as we continue the dialogue on cancer screening with podcasts featuring Dialogue speakers and other noted cancer professionals exploring critical issues in cancer screening.

Serving the Community with Client Navigation Services featuring Olga Lucia Jimenez, Georgia Director of Community Outreach with American Cancer Society and Lina Jandorf, a research professor at the Icahn School of Medicine in New York City.

Do you work with an underserved community or are you interested in helping eligible women get screening and follow-up for breast and cervical cancer? This podcast dives into the Client Navigation Program funded by the American Cancer Society in partnership with the Georgia Breast and Cervical Cancer Program. We hope that the lessons shared may help you start or sustain a client navigation program for your community.

Following the 2014 Dialogue, we produced four podcasts:

A Successful Health Insurance Exchange: Kentucky’s Kynect featuring David Woodmansee, Associate Director of State & Local Campaigns at the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and Audrey Haynes, Secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services for Kentucky.

Is your state one of the 17 which have state-based health insurance marketplaces? This podcast takes us down South to Kentucky as she has a unique place among southern states: she has both expanded Medicaid coverage and set up her own state-based health insurance exchange. This podcast focuses on Kynect, Kentucky’s state-based health insurance exchange highlighting their current successes and how they’re preparing for 2015 open enrollment.

How to Implement a Successful Lung Cancer Screening Program featuring Laurie Fenton Ambrose, President and Chief Executive Officer of Lung Cancer Alliance, a national nonprofit, and Andrea B. McKee, M.D., Chief of the Radiology Oncology Department at Lahey Hospital and Medical Center in Burlington, Massachusetts.

Part 2 of our podcast on lung cancer screening explores the implementation of Lahey Hospital and Medical Center’s successful lung cancer screening program with lessons that you can take back to your organization.

Everything You Wanted to Know About Lung Cancer Screening featuring Laurie Fenton Ambrose, President and Chief Executive Officer of Lung Cancer Alliance, a national nonprofit, and Andrea B. McKee, M.D., Chief of the Radiology Oncology Department at Lahey Hospital and Medical Center in Burlington, Massachusetts.

This podcast was so rich with information that we decided to use it all by breaking it into two parts! Tune in to learn all about lung cancer screening, what low-dose computed tomography is and the debate that’s underway regarding the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services coverage of lung cancer screening.

E-Cigarettes and How to Advocate for a Tobacco-Free Future featuring Cathy Callaway, Associate Director of State & Local Campaigns at the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and Erika Sward, Assistant Vice President for National Advocacy at the American Lung Association.

This podcast focuses on electronic cigarettes and tobacco-control advocacy. We’ll hear more about the public health concerns from our tobacco-control advocates as they talk about advocacy at the state and local levels.

If you have trouble listening to any of the podcasts on this page, visit our page on SoundCloud.

Looking for photos from the April 2018 Dialogue for Action^® on Cancer Screening and Prevention? Check out our photo gallery for a snapshot of the Dialogue experience.