Blog

Starting a Cancer Clinical Trials Program in a Rural Iowa Hospital

On July 13, 2021, the Iowa Cancer Consortium was pleased to host Shannon Benson, Administrator at the Iowa Oncology Research Association and Lori Pietig, Cancer Services Director at St. Anthony Regional Cancer Center for an Iowa Cancer Clinical Trials Virtual Roundtable. During the roundtable, the two Consortium members discussed how their partnership came to be.…

Catching Up on HPV Vaccines: Why It’s a Crucial Vaccine for Our Kids

Written by Nathan Boonstra MD, general pediatrician at Blank Children’s Hospital and chair of Iowa Immunizes state coalition As the COVID-19 pandemic began to unfold, a lot of medical appointments were delayed or missed for a variety of good reasons. In fact, as a pediatrician, I was recommending delaying less urgent appointments until we knew…

Sun-Safety Community Project Awardees & Special Meaning for Greene County Skin Cancer Survivor

Written by: Liz Orton Every summer since 2014, the Iowa Cancer Consortium has provided free sunscreen through our Sun-Safety Community Project program. After cancelling the 2020 program due to COVID-19, the Consortium was excited to accept applications for summer 2021 last May! This year, the Consortium distributed 62 gallons of SPF 30 sunscreen to 23…

Radon & Rentals: Iowa City First in State to Require Radon Testing & Mitigation in Rental Homes

Written by Liz Orton Delayed a year by the COVID-19 pandemic, Iowa City is ready to enact its new radon testing and mitigation policy for single-family detached and duplex rental properties beginning July 1, 2021. This policy is the first of its kind in Iowa. Stan Laverman, Senior Housing Inspector with the City of Iowa…

Engaging as an Iowa Cancer Consortium Member

Written by: Kelly Hendershot, LMSW, LSW In July 2015, I joined the staff at Gilda’s Club Quad Cities on a full-time basis. As a result of having been a group facilitator previously, I already had a good idea of how we functioned. Evidence-based, Gilda’s Club offers emotional support groups, educational programs, healthy lifestyle activities, social activities and provides important…

5 Takeaways from the 2021 Spring Meeting

Written by: Rachel Schramm The Iowa Cancer Consortium’s annual Spring Meeting was held virtually on May 10-11, 2021. The event featured a 3-hour training by our friends at the Racial Equity Institute, as well as a 2-hour member meeting. Making the best of pandemic Zoom meetings, we laughed, we cried, and we learned from one…

Cancer Health Disparities

By: Michele West, PhD; Amanda Kahl, MPH; Suzanne Bentler, PhD; and Mary Charlton, PhD The special section in the Cancer in Iowa 2021 report featured racial/ethnic cancer disparities in Iowa. This year we examined the cancer experience of Iowans according to the following racial/ethnic groups: non-Hispanic (NH) White, NH Black, other races including NH Asian/Pacific…

Compassionate Conversations with Dr. Richard Deming

There are two common themes that resonate with patients, survivors, family members and friends after a conversation with Dr. Richard Deming, Medical Director of MercyOne Des Moines Cancer Center and Founder of Above + Beyond Cancer: joy and compassion. Born from Collaboration In 2009, the MercyOne Cancer Education Series developed as a collaborative effort between…

Living Proof Exhibit is “Getting the Arts in the Hands of People Who Need It”

By: Kelly Hendershot, LMSW, LSW Art-to-Go boxes are a hallmark of Living Proof Exhibit  — more about this fabulous organization in a moment — that pre-date the pandemic, but they certainly offered a new appeal starting in March 2020. Due to increased feelings of loneliness and isolation caused by COVID-19, the boxes helped reduce stress.…

Meet Liz Orton, Outreach Coordinator

Hello, my name is Liz Orton. I am so excited to join the Iowa Cancer Consortium as their new Outreach Coordinator. Outreach, equity, and being some small part of positive change are the things that light my fire. I am so honored to be able to work in a job that incorporates these elements. My…