Alongside high-profile individuals including President Joe Biden, UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Julie Dang has been named one of the top 25 people nationally who is breaking down barriers to cancer health equity. Dang is the executive director of the cancer center’s Office of Community Outreach and Engagement.
Cancer Health magazine’s fourth annual Cancer Health 25: Champions of Health Equity award recognizes Americans who are dedicated to defining and responding to health disparities. Winners included doctors, nurses, researchers, volunteers, patient navigators, grassroots advocates and one world leader.
As a cancer health disparities behavioral scientist, Dang works to ensure that diverse and underserved populations have access to cancer prevention and intervention tailored to their culture and community. Her areas of expertise include breast and colorectal cancer screenings for Black, Latino and Native American communities. She also is committed to boosting Asian-American participation in cancer research and clinical trials, and promoting testing for hepatitis B, which can lead to liver cancer.
Dang has been awarded a five-year National Cancer Institute Mentor Research Scientist Development Award to Promote Diversity (K01). She is using the federal grant to increase uptake of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which will reduce racial and ethnic disparities in HPV-associated cancers.
