The Office of Community Outreach and Engagement (OCOE) seeks to lower the cancer burden in Indiana by providing a bidirectional link between IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers and the community we serve, with a focus on underserved populations.
Our specific aims are:
Our catchment area covers the entire state of Indiana. Our underserved populations include:
The cancer mortality rate in Indiana is more than 10% higher than the U.S. average.
OCOE partners with the community to develop and implement our programs. Community members provide us with insights, concerns, and feedback on our programs and communications.
Informing and advising on community and cancer survivor needs, research development, and dissemination activities within our catchment area.
Advising OCOE efforts that support research development and dissemination to reduce the cancer burden of our underserved populations.
Informing our cancer center colleagues about research priorities in our catchment area and connecting researchers to community resources.
The OCOE’s annual community engagement conference showcases the programs, research, funding opportunities, and other community engagement efforts that comprise the OCOE.
Community partners will have the opportunity to meet and interact with the researchers, students, staff, and community champions that work to tirelessly realize our vision and mission.
Since 2008, Debi has served as program director for Rethink Tobacco Indiana, focusing on tobacco cessation systems change in mental health and substance abuse treatment centers across Indiana.
She’s provided education and assistance for 93 unique community mental health centers, located in 63 of Indiana’s 92 counties.
In addition, Debi oversees IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Tobacco Treatment Program, which provides comprehensive tobacco treatment to patients with cancer.
During Debi’s more than 20 years in the field of tobacco treatment, she has coordinated and developed training programs for healthcare professionals and residents across Indiana, worked on multiple research efforts, and been a leader in the state.
She holds a bachelor of science degree in respiratory therapy, as well as a National Certificate in Tobacco Treatment Practice. She’s also a trained tobacco treatment specialist (TTS) and Certified-UMass TTS Trainer.
OCOE’s mission to reduce the cancer burden reaches beyond our current state and national borders. Some of our faculty and staff are actively involved in research, education, and training through IU School of Medicine’s long-standing partnerships in Kenya.
Email: ocoe@iu.edu
Phone: 317-278-4822
Interested in collaborating with the Office of Community Outreach & Engagement on cancer awareness and research advocacy in Indiana? Use our Partnership Interest Form to let us know how we can help.
Philanthropy is essential to IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center’s efforts to find solutions that save lives. Your gifts facilitate research that sets worldwide standards for care, improving outcomes for patients in Indiana and far beyond.
To help researchers improve outcomes for cancer patients, learn more about our giving options or contact our development team today.
