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North Carolina

Cervical Cancer-free-NC team is working to reduce or eliminate cervical cancer through increasing HPV vaccination rates in adolescent females and Pap screening rates in women. On the vaccination front, we are gathering information on past experiences of voluntary school-based vaccination programs. Our findings will inform efforts to enhance existing school-based programs as well as to increase the number of schools providing voluntary vaccination. CCF-NC also aims to reduce barriers to screening for women who have not recently had a Pap test.

We are working on a resource manual for both providers and patients, with information on how to obtain free or reduced-cost Pap tests. We are also interviewing women not screening in the last 4 years to better understand common barriers to screening and possible solutions to overcome these barriers. Our findings will inform pilot interventions to improve cervical cancer screening in the state.

For further details on activities in North Carolina, visit CCF-NC’s website at http://www.ccfnc.org or its Facebook page. In addition, you may contact Pamela Entzel at (919) 843-8962 or entzel@email.unc.edu

Noel T. Brewer, PhD

Director, and Head of Vaccination Projects

In addition to advising on CCFA strategy, Dr. Brewer provides leads Cervical Cancer-Free North Carolina. He is Associate Professor in the Department of Health Behavior and Health Education at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. Dr. Brewer is an expert in medical decision making with an emphasis on risk communication about vaccination as well as the psychological impact of medical tests. Dr. Brewer’s Lab has done extensive work on HPV and cervical cancer prevention.

Heather K. Gates, MPH

Public Health Advisor

As CCFNC was launched, Ms. Gates served as interim Project Manager and Collaborator for the Cervical Cancer-Free NC Initiative. Through her consultancy, Hkg Public Health Projects, she provides public health vision, leadership and project support. Since she began her work in public health in the Fall of 2001, has worked in public health evaluation, project coordination, administration, and consulting roles working with North Carolina’s local public health departments, universities, and Public Health Associations since 2004.

Paul L. Reiter, PhD

Research Scientist

Dr. Reiter’s main role is to collaborate on research with CCFNC interns. He is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Cancer Control Education Program at the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr. Reiter’s research focuses on cancer control and prevention. He is particularly interested in the use of cancer screening tests and vaccination among underserved populations. Since arriving at UNC, he has focused on projects addressing HPV vaccination and screening for HPV-related cancers, from which he has numerous publications.

Jennifer S. Smith, PhD, MPH

Director, Cervical Cancer-Free America

In addition to leading Cervical Cancer-Free America Dr. Smith is Director of CCFNC screening activities, providing the initiative strategic leadership. Dr. Smith is an Associate Professor of Research in the Department of Epidemiology at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. Dr. Smith’s research over the past 15 years has focused on epidemiological studies of HPV infection and cervical cancer worldwide, with a focus on prevention via screening and prophylactic vaccines among women with limited access to care.