Community Outreach and Engagement
The University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center (UMGCCC) shows its commitment to the Maryland community by providing a team-based approach to care, innovative clinical trials, education and support services, and free cancer screenings through the Baltimore City Cancer Program (BCCP). Community Outreach and Engagement (COE) was created to further expand upon the UMGCCC's effort in promoting cancer health equity.
Our goal is to apply COE strategies to inform UMGCCC research and make an impact along the cancer continuum in the catchment area, with a particular focus on eliminating cancer disparities. The aims of COE are to:
- Describe the UMGCCC catchment area using a data-driven approach
- Conduct evidence-based and impactful cancer control activities serving those in the catchment area
- Apply COE strategies to inform research and support integration of COE throughout UMGCCC Programs
Populations We Serve
UMGCCC serves Baltimore City and the 10 surrounding counties in Central Maryland; about 5.4 million people. Our population has a high percentage of residents disproportionately impacted by cancer, concentrated areas of poverty and gentrification. About 80% of our analytic tumor registry cases come from this area.
Lung, prostate and head/neck cancers have significantly higher mortality here than nationally. Community outreach and education activities serve people in our service area.
Learn about our cancer support groups.
The Community Outreach and Engagement Core Team
Cheryl L. Knott, PhD – Associate Director
Dr. Knott is a Professor in the Department of Behavioral and Community Health and Community Health in the University of Maryland School of Public Health, Co-Director of the Population Science Program at the UMGCCC, and founding Director of the Community Health Awareness, Messages, and Prevention (CHAMP) research lab, which focuses on cancer-related disparities, particularly those impacting African Americans. Dr. Knott has more than 20 years' experience in community-based cancer control research, with a strong emphasis on eliminating cancer disparities.
Email Dr. Knott: cholt14@umd.edu
Shana Ntiri, MD, MPH – Senior Medical Advisor
Dr. Ntiri is an Assistant Professor with the Department of Family & Community Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. She also serves as Medical Director for the Baltimore City Cancer Program, a community-based initiative of UMGCCC focused on breast, cervical, and colorectal. She has a demonstrated history of working in the academic medical setting in primary care, community engagement, health disparities and cancer control research.
Email Dr. Ntiri: SNtiri@som.umaryland.edu
Leonore Okwara, MPH – Program Manager
Leonore graduated with an MPH in Epidemiology from Eastern Virginia Medical School and also serves as Program Manager for the CHAMP research lab. She has nearly 15 years of experience managing community-based programs nationwide, leading community outreach efforts, and coordinating behavioral health research focused on cancer, mental health and tobacco.
Contact Leonore: 301-405-7545; LOkwara@umd.edu
Request for Materials and Speakers
Is your organization in need of cancer-related materials or in search of speakers to present to your community?
The UMGCCC Community Outreach and Engagement team can help. Please see our Materials and Speaker request form.