Community Advisory Board

The Yale Cancer Center Community Advisory Board (CAB) ensures that diverse and representative community voices guide the Cancer Center’s research, outreach, education, and clinical programs to reduce cancer burden and to promote equitable access to cancer care for all across the state of Connecticut.

The primary functions of the CAB are to:

• Advise YCC on community needs and priorities related to cancer prevention, treatment, and survivorship.
• Provide input on research studies and protocols ensuring perspective of the communities and patients.
• Guide YCC Community Outreach and Engagement team on programmatic priorities and strategies to meet the needs of our diverse catchment.
• Assist and coordinate outreach and dissemination of cancer-related information and resources in their communities.
• Promote trust and bidirectional communication between the Cancer Center and the community.

The CAB members—comprising community members, cancer survivors, caregivers, community-based organization, advocacy groups, and other individuals impacted by cancer—meet monthly to advise YCC researchers and program leaders on new and existing research and programmatic efforts. Members of the CAB are also offered opportunities to participate in local and national conferences for professional and personal development. CAB members frequently identify new partnership opportunities, recommend innovative ways to strengthen relationships across Connecticut, and expand the reach of cancer prevention and education efforts. Through this collaborative model, the YCC COE ensures that community insights are not only heard but actively integrated into the work and priorities of the Smilow Cancer Network and Yale Cancer Center—informing and improving cancer education, prevention, care delivery, and health equity.

• Al Perez  
• Alycia Santilli (co-chair), Southern State Connecticut University 
• Brienne Simmonds  
• Dawn White-Bracey, Sisters' Journey 
• Eileen Esdaile, Sisters' Journey 
• Grisel Aguilar-Cobos  
• James Rawlins  
• Jamie Belton  
• Jendayi Scott Miller, Angels on Edgewood  
• Jose DeJesus  
• Kisha Scott Miller  
• Maurice Williams  
• Melissa Lang (co-chair), Agency on Aging of South Central Connecticut 
• Natasha Ray, Healthy Start 
• Nour Al Zouabi  
• Rynasia Baldwin  
• Sean Jermaine Reeves  
• Shantana Maye-Hazel, Sister Girl Foundation  
• Teretha Brooks, Sisters' Journey 
• Teri Carson, Carson Cancer Coalition 
• Victoria Dancy  
• Wanda Taylor, Sisters' Journey  
• Zarghona Sadat