Moffitt Cancer Center Leader Named to National Cancer Advisory Board
TAMPA, Fla. — Susan Vadaparampil, Ph.D., M.P.H., associate center director of Community Outreach, Engagement and Equity at Moffitt Cancer Center, has been selected to serve on the National Cancer Advisory Board. The board, which consists of 18 members, is chosen by the president of the United States. Her term will run through March 2024.
“This is a tremendous opportunity and honor. One of my most important roles at Moffitt is to maximize the impact of our center in reducing the cancer burden for the community we serve. This appointment on the National Cancer Advisory Board will allow me to bring this same perspective to the field of cancer research at a national level,” said Vadaparampil.
The National Cancer Advisory Board and the President’s Cancer Panel are the only advisory bodies at the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Health and Human Services whose members are appointed by the president. The primary role of the National Cancer Advisory Board is to advise the secretary of Health and Human Services, the director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), and ultimately the president on issues affecting the National Cancer Program and NCI operations. The board also reviews and recommends grants and cooperative agreements following technical and scientific peer review.
Vadaparampil joined Moffitt in 2003. Her research seeks to improve uptake and dissemination of new advances in cancer prevention and early detection into the clinic and community. She currently leads studies on genetic counseling and testing for inherited cancer susceptibility, breast and cervical cancer prevention/early detection, and reproductive health among adolescent and young adult cancer patients. Community collaboration and an emphasis on health equity are foundational to her research, education and outreach efforts. Since 2018, Vadaparampil has served as Moffitt’s first associate center director of Community Outreach, Engagement & Equity (COEE). This area places health equity at the forefront of Moffitt’s research and outreach efforts by facilitating ongoing and bidirectional exchange of information and ideas between institutional leadership, faculty and the community we serve.
Vadaparampil’s academic training includes a Bachelor of Health Science Education from the University of Florida, a Master of Health Science Education with a concentration in Community Health from UF, a doctorate in Health Behavior from Indiana University and a Master of Public Health with concentration in Epidemiology from Johns Hopkins University. She was recruited to Moffitt following postdoctoral training at the NCI.
About Moffitt Cancer Center
Moffitt is dedicated to one lifesaving mission: to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer. The Tampa-based facility is one of only 51 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers, a distinction that recognizes Moffitt’s scientific excellence, multidisciplinary research, and robust training and education. Moffitt is a Top 10 cancer hospital and has been nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report since 1999. Moffitt’s expert nursing staff is recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center with Magnet® status, its highest distinction. With more than 6,500 team members, Moffitt has an economic impact in the state of $2.4 billion. For more information, call 1-888-MOFFITT (1-888-663-3488), visit MOFFITT.org, and follow the momentum on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.