How long have you been a member of AACE?
I have been an AACE member since 2008.
What is your current position and where do you work?
I am an Associate Professor in the Behavioral Sciences & Health Education track in the Institute of Public Health, College of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, Florida.
How long have you been doing research in the field of cancer education?
I have been doing research in the field of cancer education since 2006, when I began postdoctoral training (Dr. Cathy Meade, mentor) in the Department of Health Outcomes and Behavior at Moffitt Cancer Center. My first NIH funded research study was a NCI supplement at Moffitt titled “Barbers Against Prostate Cancer.”
How did your interest in the field of cancer education begin?
I first became interested in cancer education in 2005 when I worked on a grant with the local county health department on hepatitis B vaccination. Our project was focused on the Asian American community in Tampa who were at greater risk for liver cancer because of possible undetected perinatal infection with hepatitis B.
Describe some of your research as it relates to cancer education.
My current cancer education research project titled TUNE-UP is funded by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities. The goal is to implement and test a community-based intervention to increase stool based colorectal cancer screening in African Americans. Some of my past research projects have included developing and testing a cervical cancer education program for Latina women working in agriculture called Salud es Vida and evaluating the implementation of a cervical cancer screening outreach program in Cusco, Peru. You can learn more about my research at my website, drjuan.org.
What motivates you to continue to do research in cancer education?
Certainly, being successful in obtaining grant funding is very challenging since there is so much competition, but receiving a grant is one of the best motivators to do high quality cancer education research. However, for me, what is even more important is the privilege of contributing to evidence-based public health either through testing cancer education interventions or conducting systematic reviews of the literature to see what really works to reduce cancer health disparities.
Do you have any advice for individuals interested in pursuing a career in cancer education?
The most important thing would be for such an individual to identify a mentor and seek research opportunities under the mentor’s guidance. Another way to find more about cancer education careers is to meet people in the cancer education field by attending the annual International Cancer Education Conference, or participate in our new Engagement Lounges, held virtually via videoconference.