UTHealth Houston
Meet Project CASCADE
Enhancing Cancer Survivorship Care in the Lone Star State
Project CASCADE is a quality improvement project to help community health centers care for their patients with a history of cancer. This work is supported by the National Cancer Institute and led by a team of researchers from UTHealth Houston and the University of Kansas Cancer Center.
Why it’s needed
Most people with a history of cancer live with additional chronic conditions, which requires coordination between multiple types of medical providers. Based on our team’s previous work, we know that there is suboptimal communication between primary care and oncology, which leads to worse health outcomes for patients with a history of cancer. (1)
Project CASCADE stands for Community and Academic Synergy for Cancer Survivorship Care Delivery Enhancement. By collaborating with community health centers, we will implement a tailored, clinic-specific intervention that aims to increase screening for second primary cancers.
The facts:
The US has over 18 million cancer survivors, with an estimated increase to 22 million by 2030 (1) 
Under- and uninsured cancer survivors experience disproportionately worse health outcomes and rely on community health centers for health care.
Primary care teams experience challenges in delivering high-quality survivorship care for under- and uninsured cancer survivors.
30.2% of cancer survivors in Texas are uninsured (2)
Our Community Primary Care Partners
Get to know the community partners working with our team to enhance care for their patients that have a history of cancer
How it works
1
Implement the intervention
Working alongside the teams at our partnering community primary care clinics, we will implement the cancer survivorship care intervention known as Project CASCADE.
2
Test its effectiveness
After its implementation, we will test the effectiveness of Project CASCADE using a stepped-wedge cluster-randomized trial design.
3
Evaluate the outcomes
To evaluate the implementation of Project CASCADE, we will use an iterative, concurrent mixed-methods approach guided by the Practice Change Model.
Meet the team working to bring Project CASCADE to life
Principal Investigators
Co-Investigators
External Advisory Committee
Shelley Fuld Nasso, MPP
Patient Advocacy & Policy Advisor
National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
Research Staff
Lauren Malthaner, PhD
Research Scientist
UTHealth Houston
Carolina Salmeron, MPH
Research Coordinator
UTHealth Houston
Meryl Millett, MPH
Doctoral GRA
UTHealth Houston
William Ochieng, MPH
Doctoral GRA
UTHealth Houston
Rhiana Abbas
Biostatistician
UTHealth Houston
Alexa Poole
Quality Improvement Advisor
UTHealth Houston
Isabelle Ginavan, MPH
Qualitative Research Associate
University of Kansas Cancer Center
Katie McCallister
Program Manager
UTHealth Houston
Anita Rosas
Program Coordinator
UTHealth Houston
Loni Parrish, PhD
Qualitative Research Scientist
University of Kansas Cancer Center
Want to get in touch with Project CASCADE?
Fill out the contact form below to reach the team.
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