The Office of Minority Affairs (OMA)
Eliminating the unequal burden of cancer for racial and ethnic minorities (i.e., people of color) and the medically underserved is the vision of OMA. Through health promotion and advocacy, education & community outreach, improving access to, use, and quality of care, workforce diversity, policy and research OMA supports comprehensive wellness for populations affected by cancer – cancer survivors (those in active treatment and beyond), caregivers and the broader community.
Health Promotion & Advocacy
OMA has collaborated with the Tennessee Department of Health, Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program and others to introduce the Witness Project® in Nashville/Davidson County and surrounding areas. Employing breast and cervical cancer survivors as advocates and “witnesses” the project encourages women of color and medically underserved women to be screened. The project also provides necessary supports to women without financial means to ensure receipt of screenings and care.
Community Education
OMA as part of a team of academic institutions, including Fisk University and Meharry Medical College hosts a weekly radio program to raise awareness about health disparities, including cancer. Focused on finding solutions to community health challenges, the program brings together leading experts from across Nashville, the state, and nation to talk about and make health happen. The program entitled, Health Watch: a Pathway to Better Health, airs Thursday evenings from 6:00-7:00pm on WFSK 88.1 FM, Fisk University.
OMA provides cancer education workshops and forums, along with planning and implementing cancer prevention, cancer awareness and minority health awareness month programs for survivors and their families, healthcare professionals, public health professionals, researchers, legislators, and communities. For a list of some partner organizations, see our Community Partners page.
Local, State and National Outreach
OMA collaborates with numerous local, state, and national partners around issues of cancer and health disparities policy, cancer research (including clinical trials), cultural competence, public health leadership and survivorship. For a list of some partner organizations, see our Community Partners page.
Workforce Diversity – Practicum & Internship Opportunities
OMA provides undergraduate and graduate students field study opportunities in cancer and health disparities including: community education and health promotion, partnership and community development, survivorship (particularly socio-cultural and psychosocial dimensions), cultural competence, and health policy. Practicum and internship requirements are met through individualized and team assignments, professional mentoring, and experiential activities, including working with community partners, and cancer-related initiatives at the local, state, or federal level.
Research
VICC-OMA is committed to ensuring the cancer-related needs of affected populations are considered in research, including clinical trials. OMA collaborates with researchers in research design & methods, participant accrual and retention, and study implementation, especially community-based participatory research focused along the cancer continuum. OMA also initiates cancer-related research and presents research at local, state, and national conferences.
