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Office of Healthcare Delivery and Collaborative Engagement

About

The Office of Healthcare Delivery and Collaborative Engagement (HDCE) supports CCR clinical research teams in making their studies more inclusive and their engagements with partners more effective. The HDCE’s initiatives aim to improve patient experience, reduce barriers to participating in clinical trials and increase access, reach and participant representation in NCI’s intramural clinical research program by leveraging the NCI’s extensive community-based cancer research partnerships. The HDCE seeks to bolster CCR’s commitment to inclusion in clinical trials and contributes to NCI’s efforts to ensure that clinical trials are accessible and benefit all populations

We recognize that overcoming barriers to clinical trials participation among populations underrepresented in clinical research and/or experience health disparities will require intentional efforts, meaningful engagement and collaboration. As CCR  seeks to deliver the highest quality care for all patients with respect, compassion and dedication, HDCE will focus on three strategic priority areas: data-driven practices, meaningful partner engagement, and the implementation of evidence-informed practices, to increase equitable representation and inclusion in cancer clinical trials.  

Staff

Associate Director

Brenda A. Adjei, Ed.D., M.P.A., directs CCR’s institutional efforts to monitor and improve the accessibility of NCI’s leading clinical research program to all patients seeking care.  She works collaboratively with patients, caregivers, clinical team members, clinical and community partners to tailor and collaborate in the implementation of evidence-informed initiatives that result in the delivery of optimal and quality cancer care for all populations.

Dr. Adjei’s prior scientific leadership and community engagement experience in NCI disparities research programs include the NCI Community Cancer Centers Program (NCCCP), National Outreach Network (NON), and the NCI Community Oncology Research Program’s (NCORP) Cancer Care Delivery and Disparities Integration components. Previously, as a Senior Scientist/Program Director in the NCI’s Healthcare Delivery Research Program within the Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, she worked on collaborative initiatives that addressed social risks in cancer care, as well as the implementation of surgical, immigrant health, cancer control equity, and multisectoral structural interventions.

Dr. Adjei received a B.S. from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, an M.P.A. in Health Services Management from New York University, an Ed.D. in health education and behavioral sciences from Teachers College, Columbia University, and post-doctoral training at the State University of New York at Downstate in health disparities and community-engaged research.

Brenda Adjei
Associate Director
Brenda Adjei, Ed.D., M.P.A.

Program Staff

Jessica Byrne, M.P.H., Referral Networks Program Manager, establishes relationships with external clinical partners and institutions to promote awareness of and strengthen patient referral networks to CCR clinical trials. Jessica previously worked in the CCR’s Office of the Clinical Director in the Neuro-Oncology Branch (2000–2005) and the Radiation Oncology Branch (2005–2009) as a Patient Care Coordinator and Clinical Program Administrator, respectively. Jessica spent four years in Ireland working in higher education at Trinity College Dublin School of Medicine and University College Dublin. While with the Northwell Health System in New York, she also worked on Delivery System Reform Incentive Program (DSRIP) projects focused on community and patient engagement. Jessica has a B.S. from the University of Delaware and an M.P.H. in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention from George Washington University.

Katrina Makres, M.P.H., Health Science Program Analyst, applies her skills in health equity research and practice to support CCR’s efforts to expand and improve the accessibility, reach, and inclusion in CCR clinical trials. She supports data-driven projects focused on advancing our understanding of the patients that CCR serves, in particular patients’ experience and catchment area analyses. Katrina joined HDE in July 2023 as a Cancer Research Training Award Fellow. She received her B.S. in Biology and her M.P.H. with a concentration in Health Equity from the University of Maryland. Katrina’s past research experience focused on understanding the impact of community sentiment regarding racism on health outcomes and analyzing mental wellness program data with local law enforcement organizations. In her free time, Katrina likes to read, hike and hopes to one day visit every national park in the US.

Melayshia McFadden, Ph.D., M.S.C.R., Clinical Trials Engagement Program Manager, coordinates HDE’s strategic community engagement initiatives. She will establish partnerships in response to identified healthcare delivery barriers and develop strategies to assess progress related to community engagement metrics and clinical trials participation.

Dr. McFadden’s post-doctoral and translational research experience at the Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina and Morehouse School of Medicine, include employing innovative methodologies and nanoparticle-mediated therapeutic approaches for ovarian cancer treatment. With a passion for community engagement, she organized numerous outreach events to raise awareness of clinical trials, communicated complex scientific data effectively to diverse audiences, and provided education and screening services to medically underserved populations. Melayshia holds a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences and Masters of Science in Clinical Research from Morehouse School of Medicine.
 

Jessica Byrne
Referral Networks Program Manager
Jessica Byrne, M.P.H.
Katrina Makres
Health Science Program Analyst
Katrina Makres, M.P.H.
Melayshia McFadden
Clinical Trials Engagement Program Manager
Melayshia McFadden, Ph.D., M.S.C.R.

Events

2024 SPEAKER SERIES: “The Role of Patient Advocates in Advancing Inclusive Clinical Research”

The Center for Cancer Research’s (CCR) Office of Healthcare Delivery and Collaborative Engagement (HDCE) is launching a three-part webinar series to highlight the role of patient advocacy and engagement in advancing inclusive clinical research. Engaging patient advocates in clinical trials can contribute to and enhance the quality of clinical trials by identifying ways to reduce access barriers, promote participation and representation among participants from different age, sex, racial and ethnic groups, and geographic regions, as well as address issues salient to clinical trial participants.

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Ivis Febus-Simpayo

Using Culture and Personal Experience to Enhance Inclusive Cancer Research

CANCELED    Monday, December 16, 2024, 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Ivis Febus-Sampayo is a two-time breast cancer survivor that was diagnosed at the young age of 38 while raising two small boys. Most recently she retired as the Chief Officer of Diversity and Inclusion at SHARE Cancer Support. Today she continues her work as a patient advocate focusing on health disparities.

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Katie Coleman

Patients As Partners

Monday, September 16, 2024, 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Katie Coleman, Patient Advocate, will discuss her experience as an oncology patient, her journey to advocacy, and her engagement in clinical cancer research.  Her presentation will highlight the opportunities for patient engagement, use of social media, and sharing one’s perspectives for the benefit of future patients.  

Watch video

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Wenora Johnson

The Importance of Patient Advocates in Research and Clinical Trials

Monday, August 19, 2024, 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Wenora Johnson, patient/research advocate, will discuss her journey, perspective, and experience as an oncology patient advocate and lived-experience expert. Her presentation will highlight opportunities to engage patient advocates as an integral part of successful clinical research.