Cancer Event Brings Together All Ages to Implement Community Programs

CINCINNATI—Each year, the University of Cincinnati (UC) Cancer Institute hosts a half-day retreat where bright minds gather to discuss ways the city and region can tackle cancer head on.

This year, institute director William Barrett, MD, has decided to make it a community affair, inviting people from different points in their academic and professional careers to interact with one another and develop new ideas for cancer prevention, detection, treatment, recovery and research.

The event, titled "University Retreat for Research: Cincinnati Charge Against Cancer/Multigenerational Collaboration Against Cancer,” will be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 24, on UC’s campus, in the Medical Sciences Building’s Kresge Auditorium, 231 Albert Sabin Way. There will be about 100 participants ranging from middle schoolers to retired health professionals.

"The multigenerational collaborative theme is really about making Cincinnati the smartest city in the world when it comes to cancer,” says Barrett, professor and chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology at the UC College of Medicine and a UC Health radiation oncologist. "Our plan is to have 12 groups of eight, each comprised of an 8th grader, a high school senior, a premed or pre-science student, a medical or graduate health professional student as well as an early, mid and late career physician or scientist. Each group will have time to generate ideas and will be asked to formulate a plan or program for the community to increase awareness and prevention for and detection of cancer.”

Then, each group will present their concept to the audience, made up of their families and prominent members of the community, and will receive suggestions and feedback for a chance to take the idea and make it reality within their school, laboratory, practice or the community. 

"This is unique compared to any retreat we’ve ever hosted,” says Barrett. "Hamilton County currently ranks 21st in cancer incidence and 56th in cancer mortality among Ohio’s 88 counties. Cancer affects all of us, and this is a way to pull the community together—from all ages and levels of expertise—to make a difference. We’re excited to see what innovative ideas come out of this meeting of the minds.”