Promoting the Next Generation of Cancer Health Equity Warriors: C-NACHE at APHA 2024

This October, C-NACHE’s Senior Project Coordinator, Carmenlita Chief, and Senior Community Program Coordinator, Jennifer Hudson, represented the Center at the American Public Health Association (APHA) Annual Meeting and Expo in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Their presentation, part of the Indigenous Efforts in Cancer session under the American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Caucus, showcased the Center’s efforts to enhance support for the next generation of Native cancer researchers and health professionals through the development of a 9-month virtual mentorship program in which an 8-member inter-institutional student cohort guides the direction of the C-NACHE quarterly webinar series while also gaining knowledge on webinars as a health education tool.

Spotlight on the NASWAC Program 

Carmenlita’s abstract, Promoting Native American Cancer Health Equity through Collaboration with Community, Academics, and Students in the Four Corners Region to Enhance Cancer Research Education and Student Mentorship, was the foundation of their presentation. It highlighted the inaugural Native American Student Webinar Advisory Coalition (NASWAC) virtual mentorship program, focusing on its creation, structure, goals, and insights from a mid-program evaluation of the 2024 cohort.

The audience engagement during the presentation’s Q&A portion underscored the session’s impact. One attendee inquired about C-NACHE’s research into environmental contaminants and cancer links. Carmenlita and Jennifer shared details about the Center’s project, Environmental Exposures from Legacy Mining as a Social Determinant of Health Linked to Kidney Cancer, led by Dr. Jani Ingram, which investigates such connections.

Building Connections and Fostering Interest 

The session also sparked interest in the NASWAC program. A young woman expressed enthusiasm for applying to the 2025 NASWAC cohort, and Carmenlita and Jennifer encouraged her to submit her application when it opens in early spring.

The team also connected with two representatives from the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) based in Minneapolis, who were intrigued by the Center’s work and its potential ties to bone marrow donation. While not a current focus area for C-NACHE, Carmenlita and Jennifer shared the story of Adrienne Chief, sister to Carmenlita and a Philadelphia positive – B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia survivor featured in a recent C-NACHE newsletter. Adrienne’s journey highlighted the challenges Native Americans face in finding stem cell matches due to underrepresentation in donor registries, resonating deeply with the NMDP colleagues.

Looking Ahead 

The APHA Annual Meeting provided a valuable platform for C-NACHE to showcase its initiatives, build connections, and inspire interest in its programs. Carmenlita and Jennifer were honored to represent the Center and the 2024 NASWAC cohort, sharing their work with a broader audience.

As C-NACHE looks ahead to APHA 2025, the team is excited to share further developments in their efforts to advance cancer health equity for Native communities. They remain committed to fostering collaboration, mentorship, and impactful research that empowers Indigenous populations in the fight against cancer.

For updates on C-NACHE’s programs and the upcoming NASWAC 2025 cohort application, follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and our website.