Newswise — New Brunswick, N.J., February 16, 2021 – Anita Kinney, PhD, director of the Center for Cancer Health Equity at Rutgers School of Public Health and Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, has been elected as the 2021 president-elect of the American Society of Preventive Oncology (ASPO), a multi-disciplinary society that is committed to serving as an advocate for cancer prevention and control research. In this role, she will serve a two-year term prior to serving as president of the society.
Dr. Kinney, who is also associate director for Population Science and Community Outreach at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, director of ScreenNJ, a statewide cancer screening program, and a professor of Biostatistics and Epidemiology at the Rutgers School of Public Health, has been an actively funded investigator in the area of cancer prevention and control for more than 25 years. Her research focuses on behavioral, ethical, social and care delivery genetics research, bringing a combination of behavioral science, clinical, and epidemiologic perspectives to address health inequities and unsolved cancer prevention and control problems in diverse populations and settings. In her roles at Rutgers Cancer Institute and Rutgers School of Public Health, Kinney leads initiatives focused on reducing the cancer burden in New Jersey and beyond through community outreach and engagement activities, research and policy-related work, with a particular focus on vulnerable populations and reducing cancer health disparities.
“At Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Dr. Kinney’s expertise has further enhanced our community engagement and outreach, population and disparities research, and prevention and screening efforts, taking care of the communities we serve ,” notes Rutgers Cancer Institute Director Steven K. Libutti, MD, FACS, senior vice president, Oncology Services, RWJBarnabas Health. “Her knowledge and passion for helping reduce the cancer burden and health disparities make her a tremendous asset to the American Society of Prevention Oncology.”
“Dr. Kinney’s skills as a researcher and community advocate, situate her perfectly to lead this organization,” said Perry N. Halkitis, PhD, MS, MPH, dean of the Rutgers School of Public Health. “Dr. Kinney uses a social justice and health equity lens to improve our understanding of cancer risk and outcomes.”
“I am deeply honored to have the opportunity to take on this leadership role and serve our members who are committed to preventing cancer and improving cancer outcomes. I look forward to advancing the ASPO mission in this role which is to foster the development of investigators and other professionals involved in cancer prevention and control, and the exchange and translation of scientific information to reduce the cancer burden. I look forward to supporting the ASPO mission in this role,” notes Kinney.
Kinney has substantial leadership experiences including directing large randomized clinical trials focusing on cancer health equity that have developed and implemented effective interventions to promote cancer risk assessment and screening in average-risk and high-risk populations, translated genetic discoveries into clinical and public health practice, changed health policy and improved outcomes in cancer survivors outcomes. She has published over 150 peer-reviewed publications, mentored over 50 students, postdocs and junior faculty, and built cancer population science research infrastructure at several NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers.
As an active member of ASPO since 1995, Kinney has served the organization in several leadership roles, initially serving on the Junior Members Organizing Committee and as an abstract reviewer. Additional ASPO leadership roles include conference chair (2010), director at large, chair of the Nominating Committee, and chair of the Survivorship SIG Committee. She is currently a senior editor of ASPO’s scientific journal, Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention.
About Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey
As New Jersey’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, Rutgers Cancer Institute, together with RWJBarnabas Health, offers the most advanced cancer treatment options including bone marrow transplantation, proton therapy, CAR T-cell therapy and complex surgical procedures. Along with clinical trials and novel therapeutics such as precision medicine and immunotherapy – many of which are not widely available – patients have access to these cutting-edge therapies at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey in New Brunswick, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey at University Hospital in Newark, as well as through RWJBarnabas Health facilities. To make a tax-deductible gift to support the Cancer Institute of New Jersey, call 848-932-8013 or visit www.cinj.org/giving.
About Rutgers School of Public Health
The Rutgers School of Public Health - New Jersey’s leading academic institution in public health - is committed to advancing health and wellbeing and preventing disease throughout New Jersey, the United States, and the world, by preparing students as public health leaders, scholars, and practitioners; conducting public health research and scholarship; engaging collaboratively with communities and populations; and actively advocating for policies, programs, and services through the lens of equity and social justice. Learn how the Rutgers School of Public Health is "keeping the ‘public’ in public health,” by visiting them at https://sph.rutgers.edu.
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