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“I feel like a speck of dust in comparison to the size of the problems we face,” said Lisa Richardson, M.D., M.P.H., director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, during the 2024 Health District Directors’ Summit on May 1. “I don’t know the answers; that’s why we’re here together.”

During her keynote address, Richardson acknowledged that individuals do not effectively identify public health solutions, but it’s through statewide collaborations between health districts and health leaders that real impact can be achieved in regard to cancer prevention, outcomes and disparities.

Hosted by VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, in partnership with the Virginia Department of Health, the second annual summit — with this year’s theme of Conversations to Action — brought together nearly 100 leaders from 25 different health districts across the state to discuss common cancer-related issues faced by Virginians and identify potential solutions.

Katherine Y. Tossas, Ph.D., M.S., director of the Office of Catchment Area Data Analytics at Massey, gave opening remarks and an overview of the summit.

“Virginia is home to seven of the 10 counties with the highest cancer incidence and three of the 10 counties with the highest cancer mortality in the nation,” Tossas said, highlighting the importance of summits like this one.

Susan Fischer Davis, M.D., chief deputy commissioner for community health services at the Virginia Department of Health, and Robert A. Winn, M.D., director and Lipman Chair in Oncology at Massey, led a conversation on how public health institutions can collaborate through a shared agenda to improve cancer control initiatives.

“I have seen cancer as a public health issue. It travels with hypertension, diabetes and mental and behavioral health,” Winn said. “When I say ‘one team, one fight,’ I do mean it. It not only means the comprehensive cancer centers of UVA and VCU work together, but I am expecting to work with our health district directors too.”

A panel discussion followed that aimed to understand the scope and challenges of cancer in Virginia. Panelists included Kelly Fitzgerald, vice president of grassroots efforts at Alliance Group, Ltd.; Sheryl Garland, chief of health impact at VCU Health; Maghboeba Mosavel, Ph.D., member of the Cancer Prevention and Control research program at Massey; and Tossas.

“To overcome our current challenges, we need three things: our hearts, our heads and our wallets,” Fitzgerald said.

Another panel discussion brought together community outreach personnel from multiple institutions to explore statewide opportunities to enhance access to comprehensive cancer care. Panelists included L. Tiffani Collins, M.P.H., senior program manager for care coordination and navigation at Massey; Aileen Edwards-Harris, M.S.A., executive director of the Capital Area Health Education Center; Michael Gesme, M.P.A., senior program manager for outreach and engagement at Massey; Lindsay Hauser, M.S., MTTS, director of community outreach and engagement at UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center; and Teresa Owens Tyson, D.N.P., MSN, president and CEO of St. Mary’s Health Wagon.

“Cancer doesn’t know that it’s supposed to wait until you’re 45 to show up in your colon,” said Gesme, recognizing the importance of cancer screenings, but stressing the additional need for outreach initiatives that can help prevent or address certain health issues at an earlier stage.

Michael Sacco, senior project manager and processing engineer at VCU Health, led a collaborative workshop on using root cause analysis to unlock secrets to effective public health planning.

The summit concluded with a group activity using root cause analysis to employ an action planning guide to develop clear, detailed plans to address at least one key public health issue related to each specific health district region in Virginia.

In closing remarks, Winn addressed the room: “Thank you all. I’m looking forward to seeing what next year is going to look like.”

Written by: Blake Belden