scholarly journals Addressing Cancer Health Disparities in the Pacific Peoples of Hawai‘i, Guam, and the US Associated Pacific Islands Through Pacific-Focused Research Capacity Building

2020 ◽  
pp. 155-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachael T. Leon Guerrero ◽  
Neal A. Palafox ◽  
Margaret P. Hattori-Uchima ◽  
Hali R. Robinett ◽  
Carl-Wilhelm Vogel
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Research ◽  
Health Disparities ◽  
Graduate Students ◽  
Pacific Islands ◽  
Research Training ◽  
Research Capacity ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cancer Center ◽  
Cancer Health Disparities ◽  
The Us

Sociocultural, geographic, and biologic factors contribute to cancer health disparities (CHDs) in Indigenous Pacific peoples (IPPs) in Guam, Hawai‘i, and the US Associated Pacific Islands (USAPI). IPPs experience a greater burden of CHDs that are associated with late-stage diagnosis and poor survival outcomes compared with majority populations in the United States. A 16-year partnership between the University of Guam (UOG) and University of Hawai‘i Cancer Center (UHCC) aims to advance health equity in Guam, Hawai‘i, and the USAPI through cancer research, training, and outreach. Investigators at collaborating institutions study issues of regional and cultural relevance in IPPs, including breast, cervical, liver, and oral cancers and use of tobacco and betel nuts (Areca nuts). Junior faculty with IPP ancestry or those who are focused on CHDs in IPPs receive mentorship and career development opportunities, academic fellowships are provided for graduate students, and Pacific Island communities are engaged through a participatory development process. The partnership has generated more than 90 peer-reviewed publications, more than 100 abstracts, and 11 grant awards. Thirty graduate scholars from under-represented minorities have been trained, including two who are now UOG faculty and are conducting independent research, contributing to the partnership, and mentoring scientists of tomorrow. Participatory community engagement has contributed to the passage of significant cancer prevention and control legislation in Hawai‘i, Guam, and Saipan. Research capacity at UOG has increased significantly, and research at UHCC has expanded to address issues unique to IPPs. Graduate students from under-represented minorities are pursuing careers in cancer research. A regional research infrastructure has been established to support team science, and research findings are informing public health policy and planning.

scholarly journals Advancing Cancer Health Equity in Pacific Islanders: A 15-Year Investment in Cancer Research, Training and Outreach in Guam, Hawaii and the U.S. Associated Pacific Islands

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement 2) ◽  
pp. 17s-17s
Author(s):  
N. Palafox ◽  
R. Leon Guerrero ◽  
H. Robinett ◽  
J. Peterson ◽  
D. Ward ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Research ◽  
Health Disparities ◽  
Pacific Islands ◽  
Research Training ◽  
Research Capacity ◽  
Pacific Islanders ◽  
Betel Nut ◽  
Cancer Health Disparities ◽  
Cancer Research Training ◽  
The U.S

Background: Pacific Islanders (PI) in Guam (GU), Hawaii (HI), and the U.S. associated Pacific Islands (USAPI) experience greater cancer health disparities compared with majority populations in GU, HI, and the U.S. continent. Social determinants including geographic, socio-cultural, and economic factors are barriers to health and health care, leading to late stage diagnosis and poor survival outcomes. PIs are also highly underrepresented among cancer researchers. Aim: The University of Guam (UOG)/University of Hawaii Cancer Center (UHCC) partnership aims to grow cancer research capacity at UOG, develop cancer health disparities research at UHCC focusing on Pacific Islanders (PI), raise awareness of cancer and cancer prevention in GU, HI and the USAPI, and increase the number of cancer and biomedical scientists of PI ancestry in the U.S. Methods: An infrastructure comprised of five principal investigators and approximately 30 participating faculty, administrative staff, and community and scientific advisory members, supported by funds from the National Cancer Institute and the partnering institutions, has provided 15 years of support for cancer research, training, and outreach designed to reduce cancer health disparities and advance health equity among Pacific Islanders in GU, HI and the USAPI. Results: Fifteen collaborative research projects have been funded through the partnership. Many of these projects have focused on the prevention of unhealthy lifestyle behaviors that lead to increased cancer risk. Prepilot, pilot and full research projects address cancer health disparities of regional relevance and global importance, notably breast, cervical and oral cancers as well as tobacco and betel nut use. A betel nut cessation intervention, the first of its kind, shows promising quit rates. This research has resulted in over 80 publications, 100+ abstracts, and 9 grant awards. The partnership has recruited and trained 26 underrepresented graduate scholars in cancer health disparities, including two scholars who have since joined UOG's faculty and are now independently conducting research, participating in the partnership as investigators, and mentoring tomorrow's scientists. UOG faculty and early stage investigators continue to receive mentorship and career development support. Outreach activities have contributed to the introduction and passage of significant cancer prevention and control legislation in Guam and Saipan. Outcomes are communicated through the partnership's Website, social media, and community reports and seminars. Conclusion: The partnership has significantly increased research capacity at UOG and cultivated interest in cancer research among underrepresented minority students at the partnering institutions. A regional research infrastructure has been established, and research findings are informing public health policy and planning. Resources have been leveraged to address PI cancer health disparities in GU, HI, and the USAPI.

Prostate Cancer Research Training in Health Disparities for Minority Undergraduates

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Flora A. Ukoli ◽  
LaMonica Stewart ◽  
M. Sanderson ◽  
Z. Chen ◽  
L. Dent ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prostate Cancer ◽  
Cancer Research ◽  
Health Disparities ◽  
Research Training ◽  
Cancer Research Training ◽  
Prostate Cancer Research

Burden-sharing: the US, Australia and New Zealand alliances in the Pacific islands

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanne Wallis ◽  
Anna Powles
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Pacific Islands ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
The United States ◽  
Burden Sharing ◽  
Military Capability ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Security Challenges ◽  
The Us

Abstract One of President Joseph Biden's foreign policy priorities is to ‘renew’ and ‘strengthen’ the United States' alliances, as they were perceived to have been ‘undermined’ during the Trump administration, which regularly expressed concern that allies were free-riding on the United States' military capability. Yet the broad range of threats states face in the contemporary context suggests that security assistance from allies no longer only—or even primarily—comes in the form of military capability. We consider whether there is a need to rethink understandings of how alliance relationships are managed, particularly how the goals—or strategic burdens—of alliances are understood, how allies contribute to those burdens, and how influence is exercised within alliances. We do this by analysing how the United States–Australia and Australia–New Zealand alliances operate in the Pacific islands. Our focus on the Pacific islands reflects the United States' perception that the region plays a ‘critical’ role in helping to ‘preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific region’. We conclude that these understandings need to be rethought, particularly in the Pacific islands, where meeting non-traditional security challenges such as economic, social and environmental issues, is important to advancing the United States, Australia and New Zealand's shared strategic goal of remaining the region's primary security partners and ensuring that no power hostile to their interests establishes a strategic foothold.

scholarly journals Recent Canadian neurosurgery graduate employment outcomes

2015 ◽  
Vol 42 (S1) ◽  
pp. S18-S19
Author(s):  
MK Tso ◽  
JM Findlay ◽  
SP Lownie ◽  
MC Wallace ◽  
BD Toyota ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Full Employment ◽  
Research Training ◽  
The United States ◽  
Employment Outcomes ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Career Changes ◽  
Exact Test ◽  
Neurosurgical Society ◽  
The Us ◽  
Time Position

Background: The American Board of Neurological Surgeons (ABNS) made persons beginning neurosurgical training in Canada after 1997 ineligible for ABNS board exams and certification in the United States (US). We set out to track employment outcomes for graduates who are “ABNS ineligible.” Methods: Graduates from Canadian neurosurgical programs who began training from 1998 to 2008 (ABNS ineligible) were followed regarding their employment status (n=143). Data was obtained from public-domain websites and direct connections though Canadian Neurosurgical Society (CNSS) members. Association between pursuit of research during residency (MSc, PhD, or ≥ 2 years of non-degree research) and full employment was determined by Fisher’s exact test. Results: 60% and 26% of graduates currently have full-time staff positions in Canada and the US, respectively. “Underemployment,” defined as failure to secure a full-time position in neurosurgery despite a desire to do so (including locums, additional fellowship positions, unemployment and career changes) is currently seen in 12% of graduates, with 20% having been underemployed at some point within 5 years of graduation. Pursuit of research during residency was significantly associated with obtaining full employment (94% vs. 73%, p=0.011). Conclusions: Underemployment is a significant issue in recent neurosurgical graduates from Canadian training programs. Research training during residency appears strongly associated with obtaining full employment.

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