Community Outreach and Engagement

The Meyer Cancer Center's Community Outreach and Engagement program is dedicated to serving the needs of all patients who come to our center from near and far.

We define our primary catchment area as the geographic area where more than half of our cancer patients reside. Our center provides cancer services throughout our catchment area in partnership with NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.

Our priority neighborhoods were identified by cross-referencing NYP hospital admission data, established outreach programs, and neighborhood cancer burden.

Prostate Cancer | PCPeer Program

PCPeer is a New York State Department of Health grant-funded peer education program with the goal of providing personalized education around prostate cancer and screening to men in Brooklyn and other boroughs of New York City. Our peer health educators are trained to deliver information about the prostate itself, prostate cancer in general, prevention, and screening in group or 1:1 scenarios. We also provide patient navigation services which encompass everything from screening, diagnosis, treatment, and addressing any barriers to care.

Our peer health educators can provide the following at no cost to you:

• Group Prostate Cancer Education Sessions

• 1 on 1 Prostate Cancer Education Sessions

• Referrals for prostate-specific antigen screening test or prostate cancer screening shared decision making as is appropriate

• Referral for patient navigation services from screening, diagnosis, treatment and addressing any barriers to care regardless of insurance

For more information, please feel free to contact us at 646-962-2976 or dor7012@med.cornell.edu

Breast and gynecologic cancer Research Awareness for Vital Education (BRAVE) aims to educate the public and bring awareness to women's cancers through community-based education and provider accessibility.

Health education program and user-centered research on perception and access to clinical trials in low-income neighborhoods. This study was developed by the Office of Community Outreach and Engagement (OCOE) and it aims to deliver a health education program to community residents and raise awareness about women’s health and clinical trials.

This workshop aims to raise awareness about gynecologic cancers (cervical, uterine, endometrial, ovarian, and breast cancer). The workshop helps women understand the importance of screenings, early detection, and clinical trials in cancer care. Each session covers essential screening tests, symptoms, and case studies to give a clear understanding of these cancers.

Duration: 2 hours (in person). Participants must complete brief pre and post surveys.

Study population. Eligible participants for this study span three groups in English and Spanish:

1) community residents 18 years of age and older (women and men)

2) women diagnosed with breast or gynecological cancers 18 years of age and older

3) participants will be recruited through organizations and primary care practices located in or servicing adults residing in MCC's high-priority neighborhoods. Brooklyn, Bronx, Manhattan, and Queens.

Compensation: $20 Virtual visa-gift card

For more information, please feel free to contact Vrushali Thakkar at vct4002@med.cornell.edu or Claudia Duarte at cld4006@med.cornell.edu for more information.

The Blood cancer Research Initiative Developing Greater Engagement with Community Providers and Patients or BRIDGE Program aims to increase the enrollment of a diverse blood cancer patient population onto clinical trials at New York-Presbyterian Queens and NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital.

The BRIDGE Program’s multipronged approached has 5 areas of focus:

• Community: Raising awareness and education about blood cancers and clinical trials

• Navigation: Clinical treatment decision support by trained patient navigators

• Screening: Assessing health-related social needs and providing linkages to community resources

• Providers: Educating the oncology and non-oncology clinical workforce about the latest in blood cancer treatment and clinical trials

• Resources: Providing financial support to patients to offset excess costs for participating in clinical trials

Our outreach endeavors include tabling at health fairs and facilitating education workshops with physicians, as well as Art Wellness and Wisdom; a community workshop designed to combine health education and art therapy. This unique workshop allows participants to engage in paint art therapy while also having the opportunity to learn about our program, blood cancers, and clinical trials. It provides a safe and relaxing environment that promotes wellbeing and encourages pertinent health-related conversations.

If you’re interested in having us at your next health fair or hosting a blood cancer or clinical trial presentation or Art Wellness and Wisdom workshop, please reach out to Leana Laraque at lel4006@med.cornell.edu or call 929-470-9410.

You can also visit our website at https://bridgeprogram.weill.cornell.edu/