USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center
An NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center
Community Tools and Resources
Tamale Lesson
The Tamale lesson is an educational video on cancer screening and HPV vaccination developed by a multidisciplinary team from the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, the USC School of Cinematic Arts, the Department of Preventive Medicine, and the Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center. It utilizes story telling to convey important life saving messages on cervical cancer screening. Developed with funding from the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
Es Tiempo
A stunningly beautiful campaign, that utilizes the natural environment as a cue for women to screen against cervical cancer and get their children or themselves vaccinated against the Humanpapillomavirus. Es Tiempo is a multi-faceted campaign produced in partnership with USC Norris, the Keck School of Medicine, the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, the Designmatters Program at the Art Center College of Design, and the Center for Health Equity in the Americas. The campaign is displayed in the Boyle Heights area when the purple jacaranda trees bloom between April – June. To learn more about the campaign go to: https://designmattersatartcenter.org/proj/es-tiempo/ and check out the cervical cancer tool kit for more information about cancer screening and HPV vaccinations.
Toolkits
Cervical Cancer Tool Kit:
The office of Community Outreach and Engagement (COE) developed this toolkit in partnership with the Center for Health Equity in the Americas (CENHEALTH), targeting Latina women in both Spanish and English. This toolkit contains basic information on cancer screening and HPV vaccinations.
Prostate Cancer Tool Kit:
This toolkit has been developed for audiences interested in raising awareness about prostate cancer prevention among minority groups. This may include health and prevention advocates who work within the community of interest.
Clinical Trials Manual:
This toolkit has been developed for audiences interested in raising African American and African Nationals awareness, recruitment, and retention in clinical trials. Our goal is to provide insightful and historically considerate information to raise awareness of clinical trials within the black community.
What to Know About Cancer Screenings as An African American:
The office of Community Outreach and Engagement(COE) developed this brochure in partnership with Stand Up To Cancer(SU2C) to provide demographic specific screening information to the African American Community
Trojans Adelante Physical Activity, Wellness and Cancer Education Program
Originally, this program was launched as “USC Adelante (Move Forward): Exercise classes for cancer survivors” by Dr. Kimiko Yamada (Physical Therapy Faculty) and the USC Norris leadership. The program was first housed at the LAC+USC Wellness Center from 2014 through May of 2018, and, at the Hazard Park Recreation Center (City of Los Angeles, Dept. of Recreation and Parks) from August 2018 and on. In response to ongoing participants’ need assessments, the program has evolved over the years reaching over 410 participants.
The program welcomes approximately between 15 to 20 participants at any given time, for a one-hour weekly class. The program is free for anyone to join – including, but not limited to, USC Keck, Norris and LAC+USC Medical Center’s patients, caregivers, family members, as well as members of the community. Given COVID-19, the program has temporarily transitioned to a virtual platform utilizing Facebook and Instagram under the name TrojansAdelante. Classes are led by faculty, staff, volunteers and graduate students from the Keck School of Medicine. The program has also further expanded their outreach and welcome residents of El Sereno, Boyle Heights, Pico/Union and Lincoln Heights areas, among others. For more information regarding the program, contact Rosa Barahona at barahona@usc.edu.
Free Food Distribution Program
In January 2019, the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, spearheaded by the Trojans Adelante program and the American Heart Association, established the “USC Adelante/A Tu Salud Food Distribution Partnership Program”, to address food insecurity, a major barrier that our patients, caregivers and residents around the hospital have faced.
From January 2019 through February 2020, we served over 1,640 people. We hosted 14 monthly fresh produce distribution events as well as a “Mesa de la salud” (Health booth) for USC programs, clinical research studies and local nonprofits to offer information on their services and resources that could benefit the attendees.
Once impacted by COVID-19, the food distribution program was expanded in partnership with the American Heart Association, YMCA, White Memorial Hospital, Clinica Romero, Keck Medicine of USC, and the Keck School of Medicine. The food is available 5 days a week (Monday through Friday) at the YMCA Weingart in Boyle Heights from 10-2 PM. Additionally, COE volunteers and staff drop off food once a week for seniors who are unable to leave their homes or have transportation issues. Individuals need to sign up by calling the YMCA at (323) 260-7005 for food delivery. Packaged food can also be picked up on-site. For further information, please contact Dulce Acosta at darias@usc.edu.
Jennifer Diamond Resources Library
When Jennifer Diamond was diagnosed with appendiceal carcinoma, a rare form of appendix cancer, she and her family found it extremely hard to access information about her disease. After Jennifer passed away at age 30, her parents—Alice and Harvey Diamond—vowed to help others by providing resources to cancer patients and their families. On June 5, the Diamonds’ promise was realized at USC Norris with the formal opening of the Patient Education and Outreach Center and Jennifer Diamond Cancer Resource Library. The library is the sixth of its kind to be funded by the Jennifer Diamond Foundation, a fundraising and outreach organization created by Jennifer during her illness.
“What we have here is a promise to Jennifer from myself,” said Harvey Diamond at the opening celebration. “She asked me to do something positive for people who have cancer and their family members and the community. This library is a gift from us, from our foundation; and we hope that everybody enjoys these peaceful surroundings.”
The library is housed at the Patient Education and Outreach Center, a state-of-the-art cancer resource facility of the Cancer Center devoted to patients, their families, and community members seeking information about cancer. With support from the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Cancer Information Services, the center also performs outreach activities and conducts informational programs relevant to the communities it serves. The Diamond family was involved in the planning of the library every step of the way. They helped choose the calming décor and commissioned a relaxing water fountain created by sculptor John Sorojev. The serene music that plays in the center was recorded by Harvey Diamond. Please contact Mary Alto at Mary.Aalto@med.usc.edu for more information.
Patient Education and Community Outreach Center
The Patient Education and Community Outreach Center provides space for patients and their families to utilize computers, obtain educational information, read some books and articles on the latest scientific findings, participate in talks and patient centered activities, and enjoy a place of calm and respite when coming in for appointments. Please contact Carolina Aristizabal at Caristiz@usc.edu for more information.
The Patient Perspective Series
The Patient Perspective Series is a year-round program of lunchtime events featuring cancer survivors who are authors, artists, academics, and motivational speakers. The series, which includes presentations such as The Survivor Art Series, My Uncertain Life, In The Next Room, The UNSPEAKABLE Series, and The Survivor Author Series, is designed to destigmatize cancer, mentor cancer patients in the community, and educate and inform the public. Topics such as doctor-patient communication, the financial toxicity of cancer treatment, cancer survivorship, and post-traumatic growth have been addressed from the distinct perspectives of cancer survivors and presented along with up-to-date health care information provided by medical experts. Patients, families, faculty, staff, students, and the community at large are invited to attend.
The Patient Perspective Series is offered at no cost to the public. If you are interested in learning more about this series, please contact volunteer library coordinator Mary Alto at Mary.Aalto@med.usc.edu or (818) 635-5483.