Addressing cancer burdens in our communities

Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center works with the communities we serve to address their specific cancer burdens. Together, we tailor strategies proved that focus on all areas of cancer, from prevention through survivorship. With our community partners, we are solving problems that contribute to health disparities and providing resources to help people make a difference in their communities.

Our evidence-based interventions include:

Wellness Rx programs help communities reduce the risk of cancer occurring and reoccurring. The programs focus on cancer prevention and risk reduction by promoting healthy behaviors, raising awareness and improving the community cancer knowledge.

Body and Soul promotes fruit and vegetable consumption, which is shown to decrease cancer risks in Black communities.

Pool Cool focuses on teaching sun safety habits at public pools with the goal of decreasing the risk of melanoma. The program combines education and activities for children, parents and pool staff.

Wellness Rx Education and Food Distribution addresses health issues that communities have identified as priority concerns and provides access to healthy food options.
Screen and Genes programs focus on increasing awareness of early detection screenings and identifying genetic risk.

The Friend to Friend Cancer Series brings people together with Mayo Clinic physicians to learn how to reduce cancer risk through early detection screenings. The organic discussions address barriers to screening and provide a safe space for people to share their experiences.
Cancer Champions expands survivorship support and resources to the community for those who have had cancer diagnoses.

Survivor to Survivor improves the quality of life for breast cancer survivors through peer support education and health promotion.
Through training programs and guided conversations, Cancer Advocates increases cancer awareness in communities through advocacy activities and supporting community voices.

The Community Outreach and Engagement Cancer Advocacy Training Program for Communities is a training program that teaches the basics of cancer, from prevention to survivorship, and advocacy skills. Trainees participate in a two-day program that includes lectures from cancer experts and skills-building activities. Trained advocates have the opportunity to lead and assist with our evidence-based interventions.

Cancer Conversations are community discussions led by subject matter experts, survivors and caregivers on different cancers. The conversations highlight cancer risk factors, screening updates and available research studies.
To ensure representative participation in cancer clinical trials, the Community Clinical Trial Champions program promotes greater awareness, access and long-term support for research participation.

The Community Scientist Program is a research training program for community members. The goal is to incorporate community members in research, not just as participants but as direct collaborators and partners. Community scientists become equal members of the study team. They provide input on study design and help report results. Community scientists help us develop creative approaches to solve important problems, such as cancer care equity and the prevalence of certain cancers in specific communities.

Community Engagement Studios provide an opportunity for researchers to work directly with community members, patients, caregivers and other individuals to get meaningful insight into their research. Researchers gain a better understanding of the impact research has on the community, while community members get to hear firsthand about research that will impact others with similar lived experience. Community Engagement Studios create a stronger bi-directional relationship between researchers and the communities they serve. To learn more, email us at [email protected].
Social Determinants of Health Navigation addresses cancer disparities by prioritizing how we address nonmedical circumstances that can affect health, such as education, income, employment and access to healthcare.

FindHELP is the largest network of free and reduced-cost social assistance in the United States.

Partner Collaborations provides opportunities to engage partners through conversation and outreach activities geared toward resources that impact people in the places they live, learn, play and pray.