2026 Achieving Health Equity in Cancer Care: Advancing Cancer Prevention in Underserved Communities

Now in its fourth year, this dynamic conference brings together experts from diverse disciplines, institutions, and specialties to explore innovative approaches to advancing health equity and improving outcomes for underserved populations. The conference features globally and nationally recognized speakers, as well as leaders from community hospitals—offering a 360-degree perspective on effective, equitable cancer care delivery.

This year's program will focus on advancing cancer prevention strategies for underserved communities. Topics will include the role of environmental exposures in carcinogenesis and approaches to reducing associated risks, as well as evidence-based strategies for tobacco cessation, nutrition, and physical activity. Bringing together researchers, physicians, community leaders and advocates, and other members of the healthcare team, the conference will foster interdisciplinary perspectives and collaborative discussions aimed at improving cancer prevention and promoting health equity.

Beyond the insights shared throughout the program, the conference provides a valuable opportunity to build community, exchange ideas, and foster meaningful collaborations among individuals committed to advancing health equity in cancer care.

This conference is designed for healthcare professionals and stakeholders across the cancer care continuum with an interest in advancing health equity, including physicians, advanced practice providers, trainees, nurses, patient navigators, social workers, and case managers. Registration is complimentary, with flexible options to participate live onsite or access the recorded program on demand after the symposium.

Presented by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and MediSys Health Network, with support from the MSK Ralph Lauren Center.

1. Discuss current and ongoing work being done in various health equity initiatives.
2. Strategize how to implement health equity programs in their own practice.
3. Describe how various institutions are tackling the same health equity initiatives.

Registration is complimentary, with flexible options to participate live onsite or access the recorded program on demand after the symposium. Those planning to attend onsite are encouraged to visit our Visiting Us page for information about accommodations, parking, directions, and other details to help plan their visit.

• Register for Onsite Participation

• Register for On Demand Access

For information regarding cancellations, please review our Cancellation Policy.

"Industry professionals" are welcome to attend Continuing Medical Education events at MSK for their own educational purposes. View our Registration Policy for Industry Professionals for more information.

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

This activity has been approved to offer the following credit types.

• AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™

• ABA Maintenance of Certification in Anesthesiology™ (MOCA®)

• ABIM Maintenance of Certification (MOC)

• ABOHNS Continuing Certification (CC)

• ABPath Continuing Certification (CC)

• ABP Maintenance of Certification (MOC)

• ABS Continuous Certification (CC)

• ABTS Maintenance of Certification (MOC)

• NYS Psychology Contact Hours

The following credits are pending approval:

• NYS Social Work Continuing Education Credit

• Nursing Continuing Professional Development (NCPD) Credit

Please note that the on demand program is eligible for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ only; no other continuing education credit types will be offered.

Conference Director

Rosa Nouvini, MD
Assistant Attending, Breast Medicine Service
Department of Medicine
Medical Director of the MSK Ralph Lauren Center & Mobile Health Unit
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Hematology/Oncology Site Director, Jamaica Hospital

Conference Planning Committee

Fiyinfolu Balogun, MD, PhD
Assistant Attending, Gastrointestinal Oncology Service
Department of Medicine
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Vicky Baudin, MPH
Program Manager, Global Cancer Research Training Program
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Christopher M. Brooks, MS
Clinical Nurse Specialist, Acute Care Services
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Joshua A. Budhu, MD, MS, MPH
Assistant Attending, Brain Tumor Service
Department of Neurology
Nicholls-Biondi Diversity Clinical Scientist Faculty Scholar
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Debyani Chakravarty, PhD
Assistant Attending, Diagnostic Molecular Pathology Service
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Ana Garcia, MPA, MS
Senior Director, Community Engagement and Health Equity
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center 

Leticia Mercado, MHA
Associate Director, Health Equity 
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

David G. Pfister, MD
Chair of Oncology, MediSys Jamaica Hospital MSK Affiliation
Attending, Head and Neck Oncology Service
Department of Medicine 
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Sabiha Raoof, MD, FACR, FCCP
Chief Medical Officer
Chair of Radiology
MediSys Health Network

Jia Llon Yee, MD
Hematologist/Oncologist 
Jamaica Hospital 
MediSys Health Network

Conference Keynote Speakers

Melissa Davis, PhD
Director, MSM Institute of Translational Genomic Medicine (ITGM)
Executive Director, MSM Center for Genomic Diversity (NHGRI)
Professor, Microbiology, Biochemistry, and Immunology (MBI)
Morehouse School of Medicine

Michael Fiore, MD, MPH, MBA
University of Wisconsin Hilldale Professor of Medicine
Lead Scientist, University of Wisconsin Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention (UW-CTRI)
General Internist and Preventive Medicine Specialist
University of Wisconsin-Madison

Conference Faculty

Francisco Cartujano Barrera, MD
Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental Medicine 
and Public Health Sciences
University of Rochester Medical Center
Assistant Director, Office of Community Outreach and Engagement, 
Wilmot Cancer Institute

Bruce Flanz, MBA
President and CEO 
Medisys Health Network - Jamaica Hospital Medical Center

Neil Iyengar, MD
Co-Director, Breast Medical Oncology
Director, Cancer Survivorship Services
Associate Professor of Hematology and Medical Oncology
Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University

Jennifer Leng, MD, MPH
Associate Attending, 
Immigrant Health and Cancer Disparities Services
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Ana Navas-Acien, MD, PhD, MPH
Leon Hess Professor and Chair of Environmental Health Sciences 
Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health

Alan Roth, DO, FAAFP, FAAHPM
Chairman, MediSys Health Network Department of Family Medicine, Ambulatory Care and Community Medicine 
Medisys Health Network - Jamaica Hospital Medical Center

Vanessa Samayoa
Patient Perspective 

Urvi Shah, MD
Assistant Attending, Myeloma Service 
Department of Medicine
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Donna Shelley, MD, MPH
Professor, Public Health Policy and Management
Co-Director of the Global Center for Implementation Science
NYU School of Global Health

Peggy Shepard, BA
Founder and Executive Director
WE ACT for Environmental Justice

Cardinale Smith, MD, PhD
Chief Medical Officer
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Mitigation of Relevant Financial Relationships

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. 
In accordance with the ACCME's Standards, identification, mitigation and/or disclosure of financial relationships is not needed for non-clinical accredited education. 

The content of this activity is non-clinical. 

Member Information

Role in activity

Nature of Relationship(s) / Name of Ineligible Company(s)

Rosa Nouvini, MD
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Usa

Activity Director, Conflict of Interest Peer Reviewer, Faculty

Non-Clinical Exception

Vicky Baudin, MPH
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Department Support (manager, assistant, etc), Faculty

Non-Clinical Exception

Leticia Mercado, MHA
MSKCC

Department Support (manager, assistant, etc), Faculty

Non-Clinical Exception

Francisco Cartujano Barrera, MD
University of Rochester Medical Center

Faculty

Non-Clinical Exception

Melissa Davis, PhD
Morehouse School of Medicine

Faculty

Non-Clinical Exception

Michael Fiore, MD, MPH, MBA
University of Wisconsin-Madison

Faculty

Non-Clinical Exception

Bruce Flanz, MBA
Medisys Health Network - Jamaica Hospital Medical Center
Usa

Faculty

Non-Clinical Exception

Neil M Iyengar, MD
Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University

Faculty

Non-Clinical Exception

Jennifer Leng, MD, MPH
MSK

Faculty

Non-Clinical Exception

Ana Navas-Acien, MD, PhD, MPH
Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health

Faculty

Non-Clinical Exception

Alan R Roth, DO
Medisys Health Network
Usa

Faculty

Non-Clinical Exception

Urvi Shah , MD
MSK

Faculty

Non-Clinical Exception

Donna Shelley , MD

Faculty

Non-Clinical Exception

Cardinale Smith, MD, PhD
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Faculty

Non-Clinical Exception

Fiyinfolu Balogun, MD, Phd
MSK

Faculty, Planner

Non-Clinical Exception

Joshua A Budhu, MD, MPH
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Usa

Faculty, Planner

Non-Clinical Exception

Debyani Chakravarty, PhD
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Usa

Faculty, Planner

Non-Clinical Exception

Ana Garcia, MPA
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Faculty, Planner

Non-Clinical Exception

David Pfister, MD
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Usa

Faculty, Planner

Non-Clinical Exception

Sabiha Raoof, MD
Medisys Health Network - Jamaica Hospital Medical Center
Usa

Faculty, Planner

Non-Clinical Exception

Jia Llon Yee, MD
Medisys Health Network - Jamaica Hospital Medical Center

Faculty, Planner

Non-Clinical Exception

Christopher Brooks, PhD
MSK

Nurse Content Expert

Non-Clinical Exception

Keith Aiello, BSN, MS, CCRN
MSKCC

Nurse Planner

Non-Clinical Exception

Christine Wilkins, PhD, MSW
MSK

Social Work Planner

Non-Clinical Exception