The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute’s Office of Community Outreach and Engagement (COE) has been named a 2025 Hometown Health Hero by the Michigan Public Health Week Partnership. This award recognizes people and organizations in Michigan working to improve the health of their communities. Leading community outreach and engagement efforts for Karmanos, COE monitors the cancer burden in the Karmanos 46-county catchment area and engages the community and Karmanos scientists in strategies to reduce the burden and improve cancer outcomes across all populations.
“Every member in the COE office is dedicated to our communities, providing opportunities for anyone to learn about cancer, the importance of screening and prevention, and training community members to be lay health educators in their own neighborhoods,” said Hayley Thompson, Ph.D., associate center director of Community Outreach and Education, faculty supervisor of COE, and professor of Oncology at Wayne State University (WSU) School of Medicine. “We are pleased to be recognized for the work we do alongside the communities Karmanos serves across Michigan.”
The Hometown Health Hero Awards took place during Michigan Public Health Week on April 9, 2025. Dr. Thompson and Brittany Dowe, director of COE, accepted the award in the Mackinac Room of the State House Office Building in Lansing. Nine individuals and organizations from across Michigan were recognized during the ceremony.
COE coordinates many initiatives within the 46 counties they serve across the state. These initiatives include training community members to educate their networks about cancer prevention and screening, teaching community members about the basics of research, convening community members to identify cancer research priorities, and building ongoing relationships between the community and Karmanos scientists. The office is organized into the following four sections:
- Catchment Area Data and Responsive Programs
- Partnerships and Policy
- Scientific Engagement and Capacity Building
- Cancer Prevention, Screening and Connection to Care
Click here to learn more about the Office of Community Outreach and Engagement.