Three Award-Winning Presentations Spotlighted at the Summit on Cancer Health Disparities

The Summit on Cancer Health Disparities (SCHD), a three-day continuing medical education (CME) conference, tackled discussions on bridging the equity gap in cancer care and delivery, concluding with recognition for three standout poster presenters.

Held in Seattle, Washington, from April 25 to April 27, 2025, SCHD brought together researchers, clinicians, and healthcare leaders committed to eliminating cancer disparities. This CME-accredited oncology event featured 36 poster presentations out of 58 accepted abstracts submitted by researchers from top-tier U.S. institutions, each addressing real-world solutions to systemic barriers in global cancer care.

In addition to five oral abstract sessions, the conference showcased a dynamic array of poster discussions focused on topics such as health equity in cancer, global oncology, rural healthcare delivery, and emerging technologies in cancer treatment. While all presentations contributed to vital conversations about advancing equity, a few particularly exceptional contributions were honored by Binaytara.

Poster presentation session at SCHD25

Meet Our SCHD25 Poster Presentation Award Winners

1. Dr. Marvella Ford

Dr. Ford is a tenured professor and Vice Chair of Inclusive Excellence in the Department of Public Health Sciences at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), where she is the Associate Director of the Office of Community Outreach and Engagement at the NCI-designated Hollings Cancer Center. She completed her undergraduate training at Cornell University and her graduate and postdoctoral fellowship training at the University of Michigan.

Dr. Ford leads several federally funded cancer disparities-focused research grants, including an NCI Partnerships to Advance Cancer Health Equity (PACHE) U54 grant titled “South Carolina Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities (SC CADRE)” with Dr. Judith Salley from South Carolina State University.

She has authored/co-authored more than 120 peer-reviewed scientific papers. She co-edited the 2017 and 2020 editions of Advances in Cancer Research volumes titled “Cancer Disparities” and “Cancer Health Equity,” respectively, and has published nine book chapters.

At SCHD25, she presented her work on ‘The SC AMEN Program for Black Men: The SC AMEN Program: Testing a Centralized Patient Navigation Intervention for Prostate Cancer Screening in Black Men.’

Dr. Ford presenting her work at SCHD25

2. Dr. Kevin Chang

Dr. Chang was born and raised in Santa Rosa, California, in the north of the San Francisco Bay Area. He attended UC Berkeley, where he received his B.A. in Molecular and Cell Biology with a minor in Bioengineering, then completed a M.S. at UCSF with a focus on medical imaging. He moved out to the Midwest for his medical degree at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine before returning to California for his residency at USC / Los Angeles General Medical Center. His career goal is to pursue a fellowship in Hematology and Oncology, and he has a professional interest in improving outcomes for vulnerable populations.

At SCHD25, he presented his work on ‘Using Virtual Interdisciplinary Geriatric Oncology Review (VIGOR) Rounds to Identify Interventions for High-risk Older Adults with Cancer.’

Dr. Chang presenting his work at SCHD25

3. Dekozlymn Anderson, DNP, APRN, FNP-C

Anderson is a registered nurse affiliated with the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP). She presented her work, "The Development of an Intervention to Enhance the Adoption of Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Survivorship Care Plans Using Implementation Science," at the Summit on Cancer Health Disparities 2025 (SCHD25). The study was subsequently published in the International Journal of Cancer Care and Delivery.

This work focuses on developing strategies to improve the adoption of survivorship care plans for patients who have undergone hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). By applying principles of implementation science, the study aims to bridge the gap between evidence-based practices and their integration into routine clinical care, ultimately enhancing long-term outcomes for HCT survivors. Through her contributions, Anderson demonstrates a commitment to advancing survivorship care and addressing the complex needs of patients recovering from HCT.

How Were The Top Poster Presentations Recognized?

The poster session was judged by three esteemed faculty members and physicians: Dr. Manisha Bhattacharya, Dr. David Aboulafia, and Dr. Siddhartha Yadav. The judging criteria were based on a 12-point scale, where scores of 1–3 indicated "Satisfactory," 4–6 "Good," 7–9 "Excellent," and 10–12 "Superior."

Posters were evaluated on appearance, organization and flow, clarity of content, and overall quality of presentation. In addition to the visual and structural aspects, judges placed significant emphasis on the presenter’s ability to explain the content clearly, demonstrate subject knowledge, respond to questions, and communicate effectively in an accessible way.

The winning posters received total scores ranging from 42 to 46, reflecting consistently high marks across all categories. Judges praised Dr. Kevin Chang’s poster in particular for its “great layout and very polished talk that followed the poster beautifully.”

After receiving the award, each presenter reflected on the impact of SCHD25 and how the conference supports and elevates their work in advancing cancer health equity.

Testimonials from Abstract Awardees

Dr. Ford:

"The Binaytara Cancer Health Disparities Conference was an amazing event. It was great to hear from cancer experts in the basic, clinical, and population sciences to learn more about the strategies they are using to improve cancer health outcomes for all people. It was also helpful to hear the perspectives of community members who are thriving because they have benefited from cancer research."

Dr. Chang:

"It was very inspiring to hear all the different ways that leaders in this field continue to advocate for and build towards a future where the incredible advancements we have made in cancer care can be made available for all of our patients. One particularly key point for me is the importance that this work is not silo'ed away in our respective domains, but rather the more physicians, researchers, policymakers, etc, and especially the communities we serve are present at the same table, the more likely we are to find solutions that can meaningfully impact our patients."

Join Our CME Conferences Advancing Cancer Equity and Innovation

In addition to major national conferences such as the Summit on Cancer Health Disparities (SCHD), we also organize regional conferences that bridge the gap between community practice and research advancements. These conferences not only highlight emerging treatments and management updates across various cancer types but also promote the adoption of medical innovations into everyday clinical practice.

These educational meetings are designed to be inclusive and interdisciplinary. Therefore, we invite all oncologists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, pharmacists, trainees, and researchers to explore and register for our upcoming CME/ACPE-accredited conferences. By leveraging interdisciplinary collaboration, evidence-based education, and community practice inclusion, we can systematically close the gap in cancer care and transform patient outcomes.