The Partnership for Native American Cancer Prevention (NACP) is a collaboration between Northern Arizona University and the University of Arizona Cancer Center, funded through the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI). Partnerships to Advance Cancer Health Equity (PACHE) U54 mechanism.
The mission is to alleviate the unequal burden of cancer among Native Americans of the Southwest through research, training, and community outreach programs in collaboration with the communities we serve.
There are several primary Core components, including Research, Outreach and Education. Dr. Francine C. Gachupin is the UA Outreach Core lead.
Research Core
Cancer research projects that address the needs of the Native American communities and that build research capacity at NAU are solicited through a request for applications each year and are selected based on their relevance to Native American cancer health concerns. Current research projects focus on stomach cancer, cervical cancer, and breast cancer.
Education Core
Native Americans are the most underrepresented racial/ethnic group among physicians and scientists. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number one cause of death among Native Americans is cancer. This is in contrast to the majority population for which heart disease is the number one killer. Arizona has 21 federally recognized tribes and Native Americans back up 5% of the population. Thus the state’s universities are ideally positioned to train a greater number of Native Americans for biomedical careers. It is anticipated that this can be an effective approach to addressing cancer health disparities in Native American communities.
The goal of the training program is to increase the number of Native American students entering careers in cancer research and healthcare. Programs will be implemented to increase the numbers of entering freshmen and tribal and community colleges in our programs, and an undergraduate training program will be implemented to prepare students to enter graduate research and professional programs.
Outreach Core
The specific aims are to:
- Increase University of Arizona Cancer Center (UACC) and Northern Arizona University (NAU) researchers’ and students’ knowledge of Native Americans’ cancer burden, current cancer control programs, cancer-related needs, and health care systems to enhance institutional capacities to design sustainable, relevant cancer research and prevention programs.
- Enhance skills and competency of NACP-supported students and investigators regarding best research practices when engaging in research with tribal communities.
- Offer an innovative dissemination academy to students and investigators designed to augment their abilities to apply and translate NACP research results through enhanced health care services and community-based education activities.
- Contribute to the National Cancer Institute’s National Outreach Network (NON) and collaborate with NACP’s Community Advisory Committee (CAC) to develop, prioritize, implement, and evaluate requested cancer-related activities to benefit Native American communities.
The Outreach Core is sponsoring
Indigenous Cancer Prevention Webinar Series
Cancer in Native American Children
Click here to View Video
April 26, 2024 | 1:00 PM (AZ)*
Katherine Whitney, MSN, CPNP-PC, CPHON, Indian Health Service (IHS)
*Join via Zoom or in-person 655 N. Alvernon Way, Rm 252, Tucson, AZ 85711
Health Equity: Addressing Psychosocial Oncology Concerns of Native American Patients to Improve Health Outcomes
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March 26, 2024 | 12:00 PM (AZ)
Sheila Hammer, MSW, LCSW, Assistant Clinical Professor, Northern Arizona University Department of Social Work
Northwest Tribal Comprehensive Cancer Program
CLICK HERE TO view video
October 30, 2023 | 11:00 AM (AZ)
Eric Vinson (Cherokee Nation), Project Director, Northwest Portland Indian Health Board
Improving AI/AN Cancer Surveillance and Mortality Data in the U.S.
CLICK HERE To view video
September 25, 2023 | 11:00 AM (AZ)
Melissa Jim
Cancer Lifeline: A Cancer Support Resource
Click here to view video
April 5, 2023 | 1:00 PM (AZ)
Joseph Yurgevich
Through The Lens of the American Cancer Society (ACS)
CLICK HERE TO SEE VIDEO
February 27, 2023 | 1:00 PM (AZ)
Shayna Diamond
Reclaiming Our Tobacco Through Tobacco Policy: Passing of the Navajo Niłch' Éí Bee Ííná — Air is Life Act of 2021
CLICK HERE TO SEE VIDEO
November 8, 2022 | 11:30 AM (AZ)
Hershel Clark, MPH
Salish Cancer Center of The Puyallup Tribe of Indians
CLICK HERE TO SEE VIDEO
October 24, 2022 | 1:00 PM (MST)
Dr. Craig Peterson and Marjorie Matheson
Radiation Exposure Compensation Act
CLICK HERE TO SEE VIDEO
March 9, 2022 | 1:00 PM (MST)
Shannon Williams, Health Promotion Programs Manager, North Country HealthCare
A Modern-Day Indigenous Women’s Journey Towards Cancer Prevention
CLICK HERE TO SEE VIDEO
February 18, 2022 | 11:00 AM (MST)
Kellen Polingyumptewa, Program Coordinator for the Hopi Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program
Prevention So That The People May Live
CLICK HERE TO SEE VIDEO
November 17, 2021 | 2:00 PM (Arizona)
Richard Mousseau (Oglala Sioux), Program Coordinator, Community Health Prevention Programs
Kelley Le Beau (Cheyenne River Sioux), Program Manager, Honor Every Women/Great Plains Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program
Gina Johnson (Oglala Sioux), Program Manager, Palliative Care – Living Well with Serious Illness, Approaches to COVID-19 Testing, and Stand Up to Cancer Projects
A Conversation About Selected Cancers in Indian Country and Cherokee Nation
CLICK HERE TO SEE VIDEO
November 10, 2021 | 12:00 PM (Arizona)
Sohail Kahn has worked closely with the Cherokee population as an Epidemiologist, Director of Health Research
Understanding Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) Through Personal Experience
CLICK HERE TO SEE VIDEO
April 30, 2021
Jackie Slowtalker, MPH, (Navajo), Community Health Research Educator for the Partnership for Native American Cancer Prevention (NACP)
Two-Row Collaborations: Indian Health Services, Rural Safety Net Providers, and the Cancer Care Continuum
Click here to SEE VIDEO
February 25, 2021, 2:00pm (AZ)
Rodney C. Haring, PHD, MSW, Director, Roswell Park Center for Indigenous Cancer Research
From Data to Cancer Prevention Activities in Urban American Indian and Alaska Native People
Click here to see video
November 4, 2020
Dornell Pete, MPH, UIHI Epidemiologist, Amy Poel, UIHI Epidemiologist, Ashley Pohlenz, AICAF Senior Program Specialist
American Indian Cancer Foundation Initiatives Addressing Cancer Burdens in Indian Country
Click here to See Video
Wednesday October 7, 2020
Misha Loeffler (Bay Mills Ojibwe), Cancer Equity Coordinator, American Indian Cancer Foundation and Wyatt Pickner MPH (Hunkpati Dakota), Research Manager at the American Indian Cancer Foundation.
HPV and Cervical Cancer: Current Research Findings in AIAN Women and CDC Recommendations
Click here to See Video
Thursday April 9, 2020
Kristen Natonie, Graduate Student – University of Arizona
Quality of Life Among American Indian Cancer Survivors,
Survivorship Issues, NACES, & Recommendations for Interventions
Click here to See Video
March 11, 2020
Dr. Linda Burhansstipanov, MSPH, DrPH, Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma
Cancer Among Alaska Natives
Click here to see video
February 12, 2020
Sarah Nash, PhD, MPH, CPH
Cancer Trends in Indian Country
Click here to see video
November 25, 2019
Dr. Jennifer Erdrich, Turtle Mountain Chippewa
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For information on the NACP, please contact:
Francine C. Gachupin, PhD, MPH | University of Arizona, Family & Community Medicine | Professor
1601 N Tucson Blvd, Ste 32 | Tucson, AZ 85716
520.621.5072 | fcgachupin@arizona.edu
Jackie Slowtalker, MPH | University of Arizona, Family & Community Medicine | Community Health Research Educator
655 N Alvernon Way, Suite 228 | Tucson, AZ 85711
520.621.5920 | jslowtalker@arizona.edu
Julie Armin, PhD | University of Arizona, Family & Community Medicine | Assistant Professor
655 N. Alvernon Way, Ste 228, Office 226K | Tucson, AZ 8571
(520) 626-4166 | jarmin@arizona.edu