RWJBarnabas Health, in partnership with Rutgers Cancer Institute, is a grantee supported through the Alliance for Equity in Cancer Care, an initiative funded by the Merck Foundation, designed to make cancer care more equitable in the United States by helping patients living in underserved communities receive timely access to high-quality, culturally responsive care. Through the Alliance, RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers Cancer Institute will streamline cancer care coordination by integrating with primary care and other subspecialty care; improve patient-centered communication and engagement of care; and improve assessments. Learn more

Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey together with RWJBarnabas Health appointed Neil Palmisiano, MD, MS, as the new deputy director of Phase 1 Therapeutics for Hematologic Malignancies and co-medical director of the Office of Human Research Services at Rutgers Cancer Institute. He will also serve as the new System Leader for Leukemia for RWJBarnabas Health. Dr. Palmisianio’s previous roles include phase 1 lead investigator for hematologic malignancies, co-director for clinical operations and hematologic malignancies multidisciplinary group leader at Jefferson Health’s Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center in Philadelphia. Learn more

According to the American Cancer Society, cancer is the leading cause of death among the Hispanic U.S. population. Evelyn Fuertes, BA, NDTR, community outreach coordinator and member of the Cancer Health Equity Center of Excellence at Rutgers Cancer Institute, works to educate communities and providers about cancer prevention. During this National Hispanic Heritage Month, she shares evidence-based cancer information with this population and raises awareness about the steps that can be taken to prevent and reduce risk of disease, such as eating a well-balanced diet and limiting sun exposure. Learn more

Researchers are working to improve outcomes for Black women with breast cancer, the most commonly diagnosed cancer and leading cause of cancer death in this population, according to the American Cancer Society. Coral Omene, MD, PhD, medical oncologist at the Stacy Goldstein Breast Cancer Center and member of the Cancer Health Equity Center of Excellence at Rutgers Cancer Institute shares more on increased participation in clinical trials, which helps find better ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer, diversity in breast cancer research, and what Black women need to know. This is one of many topics highlighted by Rutgers Cancer Institute experts during breast cancer awareness month.

Visit our Breast Cancer Resource Center to learn more