Our Team
Our Team
A message from the Associate Director
At the Wilmot Cancer Institute, we are committed to working with communities today to lessen the impact of cancer tomorrow. Our Community Outreach and Engagement team partners with people across 27 counties in upstate New York to accomplish that mission. Only by doing so can we achieve our vision of a world where everyone has the chance to live free from cancer.
We know cancer rates here are higher than the rest of the state and the country, and that some communities, especially rural communities and communities of color, face greater challenges. That’s why we work hand in hand with local organizations, community advocates, cancer survivors and their caregivers to share information about cancer prevention, screening, treatment, and survivorship. We listen to community voices and ensure research reflects our region’s needs. And we bring cancer prevention and control programs to the neighborhoods that need them most.
Together, we’re working to eliminate cancer disparities in our region. Whether you’re a survivor, caregiver, researcher, or community partner, your voice matters in this work. So please reach out with your comments, questions, and feedback, and join us as we lessen the impact of cancer tomorrow.
– Charles Kamen, PhD, MPH, Associate Director
Community Outreach & Engagement Team
Francisco Cartujano, MD
Assistant Director
Charles S. Kamen, PhD, MPH
Associate Director
Kristina Hawes, MS
Community Partnership Manager
Sarah Merritt, MS
Senior Regional Outreach Manager
Zhanna Kulshanova, MBA
Outreach Coordinator
Kevin Vellón
Outreach Coordinator
Emily Hayes, M.P.A.
Senior Program Manager
Community-based Staff
Hannah Farley
Cancer Services Program Director, Community Health Education
Center for Community Health
and Prevention
Cancer screenings, uninsured and underinsured community
Joyce Lucas
Community Outreach Worker
Action for a Better Community
Mindy Robinson
Community Outreach Worker
Bassett Health Care
Our Mission
Define and monitor the Wilmot catchment area’s cancer impact and community health needs
Through a robust, community-friendly, web-based tool — the Cancer Visual Analytic System (CANVAS) — we generate real-time maps of cancer incidence and mortality to guide the work done by our office and in our communities. Qualitative methods assure that community voices are in synergy with Wilmot outreach and cancer prevention interventions.
Mobilize and empower partnerships to impact community-engaged cancer research and control initiatives
Using community-academic partnership models, Wilmot COE guides Wilmot's engagement strategy and informs research relevant to the catchment area. The Wilmot Cancer Community Action Council (CCAC) and Community Advisory Boards are fundamental to this goal. The CCAC helps organize additional community engagement activities, such as community dialogues and biannual retreats, which bring together community perspectives and Wilmot scientists and leadership.
Foster community-engaged cancer research and enhance equitable participation in clinical trials
Our team, alongside our Cancer Community Action Council, works with Wilmot scientists and leaders to ensure that community voices and identified disparities guide Wilmot’s cutting-edge research. We offer pilot funds for project development and connect health disparities researchers across programs.
Disseminate evidence-based cancer control and education initiatives to promote equity and inform policies
We share scientific findings and community programs through a network of 13 cancer care locations, 5 affiliated rural cancer care locations, 11 academic partners, and 146 primary care practices.