Volume 1 Issue 5 - December 2022
On behalf of the entire COE team, we would like to wish you happy holidays and a wonderful end to 2022. We look forward to working together to reduce the cancer burden come 2023—Happy Holidays and Happy New Year 2023 in advance.

You are receiving this newsletter due to your expressed interest in cancer community outreach & engagement. We are growing our distribution list. Please forward this to others who may be interested.  Moving forward, the newsletter will be archived on our website for easy access. 
 
To subscribe/unsubscribe, please email coe@unmc.edu

We hope you enjoy this edition!

COE News and Updates
Clinical Trials True Stories
COE has highlighted two touching Clinical trial stories. Donna and Michele share their stories and journey toward fighting cancer and how clinical trials are beneficial. Read the full stories HERE

For more information about clinical research being conducted at the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, contact: Rachal Brantley (402) 559-8287, Rachal.Brantley@unmc.edu or Jennifer Messick (402) 559-4232, Jennifer.Messick@unmc.edu
Listening Session Summary Report
The Office of Community Outreach and Engagement at the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, in collaboration with the Nebraska Cancer Coalition (NC2) and the Nebraska Comprehensive Cancer Control Program, is conducting a statewide cancer community health needs assessment. As part of the process, cancer centers, and community organizations throughout the state were asked to help recruit cancer patients/survivors and caregivers to participate in a series of listening sessions. The listening sessions used a structured facilitation guide and poll questions to solicit participants’ perspectives about the cancer journey and provide specific feedback on colorectal cancer screening awareness and participation. Click below to view the report:
COE Speakers Bureau
(Find an expert to speak to your community group)
Are you looking for a speaker for your organization, club, group, or classroom? The Speakers Bureau provides resources to community groups across Nebraska including experts to give presentations on cancer-related topics. The FPBCC faculty and staff volunteer their time to share their interests and expertise with private and public organizations, coalitions, academia, and community groups in Nebraska.

We can work with your institution to customize an event that best suits your interest area(s), including webinars or Zoom-style presentations.
Requestors include but are not limited to:
  • Community Organizations
  • Healthcare Organizations
  • Public Health Departments
  • K-12 schools and universities

Speakers available range from:
  • Oncologists, Surgeons, Radiologists)
  • Cancer researchers
  • Cancer survivorship specialists
  • Social Workers and Dietitians
Advisory Boards
Community Advisory Board
With every edition, we are honored to highlight our CAB members and their work to reduce the cancer burden in the State of Nebraska. The CAB members are carefully selected and invited to be on the advisory board that helps inform and create a bidirectional relationship between COE and the community.
Kylie Dockter is the executive director for Team Jack Foundation and has successfully helped raise over $8.7 million for childhood brain research. 

In collaboration with the TJF Board, Kylie has helped create and execute the development of a pediatric brain tumor program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Children’s Hospital & Medical Center in Omaha, NE. 
Team Jack has committed $6.5 million to this program to ensure kids in the Midwest have access to the best care possible when diagnosed with a brain tumor.

She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism: Public Relations in December 2009 from the University of Nebraska at Kearney with a minor in Political Science.
Ann Yager is currently an active volunteer for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) and also previously served on the Board of Directors for Susan G. Komen Great Plains Affiliate.
 
She received her Bachelor of Science in Radiation Therapy Technology from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and her Masters in Healthcare Administration from Clarkson College.
 
She has worked at Nebraska Medicine for 35 years in various positions, currently the Radiation Oncology Director and Department Administrator for Nebraska Medicine and UNMC. Ann is also an 11 year cancer survivor.
Events and Outreach Activities
In a day of education for the community, Dr. Watanabe-Galloway gave a presentation about cancer screening at Omaha Women’s Health & Wellness Conference in LaVista, Nebraska on October 7, 2022. The picture shows her with other panelists.
Pink Lotus Project had their annual Pink Pancake event at Clair Memorial to provide pancakes, health information, and vendors selling items for Breast cancer awareness. Nebraska Medicine/UNMC was present to provide health information to the community. 
My Sister's Keeper's, 22nd Annual Celebration of Life Luncheon was held on October 30th. The purpose of this event is to honor those who lost their battle with breast cancer and celebrate those who are still thriving. During the candlelight portion of the program, all breast cancer survivors were asked to join the stage.  The Keynote Speaker was Dr. Robin Lally, the Bertha L. Pankratz Professor of Nursing and Distinguished Scientist at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing. Dr. Lally is also a member of the Fred & Pamela Buffet Cancer Center.
Partner News and spotlight
Radiation Therapy now available in Grand Island


HASTINGS — With the recent installation of a state-of-the-art linear accelerator, the Morrison Cancer Center (MCC) in Grand Island is now able to provide radiation therapy on-site.
Dr. Randy Duckert is the radiation oncologist for MCC in Grand Island and Hastings. Dr. Duckert has around 25 years of experience in radiation oncology.

MCC in Grand Island offers medical and radiation oncology, plus social work, nurse navigation, occupational therapy, nutrition counseling, pharmacy, and specialty surgery consults.
“MCC is a one-stop shop for cancer patients and a place where patients are treated like family,” said David Jones, MCC Director. “Providing several services in one location means patients receive a continuum of care with everyone working together toward better health.”
Because MCC provides the same type of comprehensive services in Hastings, the providers and staff are accustomed to working together with the patients and families to meet all of their needs, Jones said.

Providers at MCC in Grand Island include Dr. Duckert; Dr. M. Sitki Copur, Medical Director; Dr. Soe Min Tun; and Leslie Robbins, APRN. 
NC2 on Conquering Cancer Together (2023)
The Nebraska Cancer Coalition with a vision to "Conquer Cancer Together" has released its calendar of activities for 2023. See Below:
COE Sponsored Webinars
Cancer in Nebraska 2022: A Year in Review
Wednesday, December 14, 12p-1p (CST)

In 2020, cancer surpassed heart disease as the leading cause of death in Nebraska, according to data from the CDC. In addition, Nebraskans are at higher risk of developing cancer than the overall U.S. population. In 2022, more than 11,000 new cancer cases and more than 3,500 cancer deaths are expected among Nebraskans.

The most common types of cancers in Nebraska are female breast, prostate, lung, colorectal, and melanoma of the skin. The most common cancer-related causes of death are lung, female breast, prostate, colorectal, and pancreas.
There is also a growing population of cancer survivors in Nebraska,  with an estimate of over 100, 000 as of January 1, 2022.

Please join Laura Schabloske and Tamara Robinson as they take a deeper dive into the most recent cancer data for Nebraska,  share exciting highlights from the past year and provide a preview of what we have planned for 2023.

You are receiving this newsletter due to your expressed interest in cancer community outreach & engagement. We are slowly growing our distribution list. Please forward to others who may be interested.  Moving forward, the newsletter will be archived on our website for easy access. 
 
To subscribe/unsubscribe, please email coe@unmc.edu

We hope you enjoy this edition!