Community Cancer Control Specialists

Landscape of Smith Rock at sunset.

Connecting cancer research and education throughout Oregon communities

The Knight Cancer Institute Community Cancer Control Specialists are part of Knight Community Outreach and Engagement (COE) and serve four Oregon regions. The specialists facilitate partnerships between the Knight Cancer Institute and their communities and implement cancer prevention and control activities in alignment with the Oregon Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan.  Aligned with the Knight Cancer Institute’s efforts to ensure reach to Oregon’s largest ethnic group (Hispanic and Latino individuals), two of the specialists are bilingual in English and Spanish.

Our goals

  • Build on the strengths and resources of Oregon communities to respond to cancer-related needs
  • Disseminate culturally responsive, evidence-informed cancer education
  • Adapt and implement cancer prevention and control programs to promote health equity and address cancer health disparities 
  • Develop, maintain and sustain trusted and collaborative relationships throughout the state

Who we work with

The Community Cancer Control Specialists collaborate with private and public community-based organizations and agencies to address cancer-related needs. This includes schools, health departments, health care providers, and non-profit organizations. We are available to talk about how we can support your organization.

Please fill out the Project Assistance Program consultation form and someone from our team will reach out within 1-2 weeks to discuss next steps.  

Our team

Carina Garcia

Counties served: Baker, Malheur, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa

Carina's role is to build relationships between community members and community-based organizations, researchers, and private or public agencies to address cancer-related needs in rural Eastern Oregon. Prior to joining OHSU, Carina worked in a variety of settings conducting community engagement in areas such as public health and urban planning. Carina has experience in providing and tailoring culturally responsive community education, community-engaged research, and qualitative research. She is passionate about expanding accessibility and resources to rural communities and advancing health equity.

Connect with Carina at garcicar@ohsu.edu

Blanca Flores

Counties served: Gilliam, Hood River, Sherman, Wasco

Blanca supports the collaboration between community members and community-based organizations, researchers, and private or public agencies to address cancer relater needs in the rural Columbia River Gorge. Prior to joining OHSU, she led many projects throughout the Columbia River Gorge that helped connect & better serve community partners & programs to its community members by identifying barriers and creating solutions. She helped develop & implement programs such as Bridges to Health Pathways Program, Breast Health for Strong Families, SOMOS (Serving Oregon Migrants by Offering Solutions) & other health related projects based on social determents identified in her communities. Her long-term goal in joining OHSU is to help identify barriers and bridge the gap between the organization and community needs, specifically for the most vulnerable. 

Connect with Blanca at garcicar@ohsu.edu

Sarah Swanson

Counties served: Coos, Curry, Douglas

Sarah supports the collaboration between community members and community-based organizations, researchers, and private or public agencies to address cancer relater needs in the rural South Coast region. Prior to joining OHSU, Sarah worked as Grant Management Specialist for a tribal government, as well as a grant and scholarship coordinator for a charter school working to establish community and regional partnerships that support student success post-high school, securing more than $250,000 in student scholarship funds. Additionally, she has worked as a prenatal educator and doula since 2014, authoring a chapter in a parenting book and presenting on topics in parenting as podcast guest. She also taught Anatomy and Physiology at a regional community college and university in Southern Oregon. Sarah is passionate about supporting rural organizations to advance research and outcomes in areas that are otherwise underserved or lack access to healthcare resource networks. Supporting programs in prevention and early detection in rural Oregon communities is a primary goal in her work.

Connect with Sarah at garcicar@ohsu.edu

Camilla Dohlman

Camilla leads the Community Cancer Control Specialist team and acts as the program manager for the statewide comprehensive cancer control plan. Her team works to center community perspective in cancer prevention and control activities and to build capacity for cancer prevention in Oregon's rural communities. Camilla also leads the multi-institutional Community Belonging Measurement Project, a community-engaged research study which involves the development and adoption of a measure of belonging and resilience in Central Oregon. Leveraging her expertise in program development, human-centered design, and community-engaged research methods, Camilla is highly skilled at bridging gaps between communities and researchers to achieve positive health outcomes. She is committed to building asset-based, equitable, and sustainable partnerships, particularly in rural and under-resourced areas.

Connect with Camilla at dohlman@ohsu.edu

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