September 9, 2022

CHECK-UP coordinating the return of the WSU & Karmanos Cancer Institute Community-Engaged Research Symposium series

Hayley Thompson poses for a photo.
Wayne State professor of Oncology Hayley Thompson, Ph.D., is director of CHECK-UP and faculty supervisor of the Office of Cancer Health Equity and Community Engagement at the Karmanos Cancer Institute.

This fall, the emerging Wayne State University School of Medicine Center for Health Equity and Community Knowledge in Urban Populations (CHECK-UP) is coordinating the return of the WSU & Karmanos Cancer Institute Community-Engaged Research Symposium series. 

This year’s sessions will be held virtually and address LGBTQ, Black, racial, and Middle Eastern/North African (MENA), refugee and immigrant health equity with the goal of bringing together academic and community experts to connect, engage in dialogue and set an agenda and next steps to drive efforts toward health equity.

A core part of CHECK-UP’s mission is to advance community-based participatory research, or CBPR.  Earlier this year, CHECK-UP was awarded a one-year, $163,592 grant from the Total Health Care Foundation, in partnership with Priority Health, to launch of CHECK-UP’s Community Health Scholars Program, intended to build research capacity in diverse communities by preparing metropolitan Detroit residents to serve as partners and leaders in research through a range of roles.

The series kicks off on Wednesday, Sept. 21 at 11 a.m. with its LGBTQ Health Equity Symposium featuring both community-based and WSU faculty experts who will cover four overarching topics contributing to LGBTQ health inequities:

  • Social determinants of health   
  • Policy
  • Access and equity
  • Major health needs

The transdisciplinary effort is led by Hayley Thompson, Ph.D., director of CHECK-UP, WSU professor of Oncology, and faculty supervisor of the Office of Cancer Health Equity and Community Engagement at the Karmanos Cancer Institute.

“This is a major step forward for the CHECK-UP program,” said Thompson. “We have a good deal of support and partnership from community-based organizations, and our goal is to create ongoing workgroups that continue to address the priorities identified during the symposia.”

The second program on Black health & racial equity will be held over three evenings, Oct. 25-27 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The third program on MENA, refugee and immigrant health will be held on Nov. 1 and 2 from 5 to 8 p.m.

Students interested in volunteering with the program can apply here.

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