LEXINGTON, Ky. — The University of Kentucky’s Markey Cancer Center is working to decrease the health disparity that Black and Hispanic communities face.

What You Need To Know

  • The UK Markey Cancer Center was founded in 1983

  • They’ve added ‘community health worker’ positions to decrease health disparities in Black and Hispanic communities 

  • Khadijah Wallace is serving in the new position

  • Wallace will do outreach to make sure people have cancer screenings set up and ensure they have transportation

The community health worker position was formed under the Kentucky Cancer Program. It’s a statewide program led by the University of Kentucky’s Markey Cancer Center and the University of Louisville’s Brown Cancer Center.

The health workers will work specifically to increase community outreach and engagement in communities of color for cancer diagnoses. Mindy Rogers serves as the director of KCP at the Market Cancer Center and wants people to know how important the added position is. 

“It’s really important to build trust, and you have to reflect the people that you’re trying to build trust with,” said Rogers.

Khadijah Wallace was chosen for the position. She’s tasked with spreading the word about cancer screenings and risk reductions. She’ll also be working with community partners like churches and nonprofits to help people set up appointments—even connecting them to transportation if they don’t have it.

Wallace said she knew the job was for her because of her mother’s cancer diagnosis. Since having the position, she’s learned many people don’t get screened for cancer until it’s too late.

“I want people to feel comfortable enough to approach me. I want to spread the word about cancer screenings and where you can go to get your screening,” said Wallace.

Dr. Lovoria Williams serves as an associate professor at UK’s College of Nursing, the associate director for health equity, diversity & inclusion for the Markey Cancer Center and adds that connecting everyone in the state to proper cancer resources is essential to eliminating the health disparity. 

“We’re wanting to address cancer from prevention, all the way through survivorship. So what we’re doing with that is that we’re applying an equity lens to everything that we’re doing to ensure that all of our approaches are touching every population in the state of Kentucky,” said Williams. 

For more information about when you should be screened and for additional resources, you can head here.

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