At the moment marks the start of Black Historical past Month, an annual commemoration of the historical past, tales and accomplishments of Black Individuals. All through the month, we are going to spotlight the essential work of the PanCAN neighborhood to make equitable progress within the combat in opposition to pancreatic most cancers.
PanCAN’s mission is to enhance the lives of everybody impacted by pancreatic most cancers, however pancreatic most cancers doesn’t have an effect on everybody equally. Sure teams bear a disproportionate burden; for instance, Black Individuals usually tend to be recognized with pancreatic most cancers than every other racial or ethnic group in america.
Which means that to satisfy our mission, we want to ensure everybody – however particularly these bearing extra of the burden from pancreatic most cancers – has assist. We have to construct a future the place all individuals dealing with pancreatic most cancers will thrive regardless of who they’re.
As the primary group devoted to combating pancreatic most cancers in a complete method, PanCAN has lengthy been dedicated to centering well being fairness and eliminating well being disparities by analysis, advocacy, neighborhood engagement and affected person assist.
“PanCAN is grounded in a tradition of equality, fairness, variety and inclusion for everybody,” mentioned PanCAN Senior Vice President of Group Engagement Earnestine Walker. “Well being fairness is on the coronary heart of all the things that we do.”
At the moment, we take one other step ahead in our dedication to well being fairness with the institution of PanCAN’s inaugural Well being Fairness Committee.
The aim of the committee is to “advise PanCAN on how we will higher sort out well being inequities in pancreatic most cancers and obtain the very best well being remedies and outcomes for all,” mentioned Earnestine.
Committee members carry experience from completely different sectors, together with finance, science and drugs, media and faith. This variety in expertise is intentional, as each individual’s distinctive viewpoint and expertise provides to the dialog.
“In an effort to be sure that well being fairness is anchored in all that we do, we want the views of all people — we want illustration of the communities that we serve,” Earnestine mentioned.
The Well being Fairness Committee is charged with figuring out methods to enhance the well being of these most disproportionately impacted by pancreatic most cancers, together with racial and ethnic minority populations and rural communities.
The committee may also advise PanCAN on the event of objectives and actions inside our communities, together with selections associated to PanCAN PurpleStride in addition to advocacy and funding alternatives.
PanCAN depends on the generosity of our neighborhood to carry thrilling initiatives like this one to life. Thanks to the members of our Well being Fairness Committee for serving sufferers and households by this essential work.