About Us

Program Overview

One in two men and one in three women will develop cancer in their lifetime.

Overall, cancer is the second leading cause of death (behind heart disease) in both the United States and in New Jersey. Despite declines over time in certain cancers within the state, New Jersey continues to rank among the top ten worst states in cancer incidence. Among the more than 50,000 new cases diagnosed annually, common screening-detectable cancers — such as breast, prostate, colorectal and lung cancers — account for nearly half of all new cases among both men and women in New Jersey.

In partnership with the Rutgers Cancer Institute, the New Jersey Department of Health, and healthcare and community organizations across New Jersey, ScreenNJ aims to increase screening for breast, cervical, colorectal, genetically-linked, HPV-linked, lung, prostate, and skin cancers to reduce cancer mortality rates, to reduce disparities, and to educate New Jersey residents about the importance of cancer screening, early detection, and prevention.

ScreenNJ partners with, connects, and supports healthcare provider agencies, public health agencies, and community organizations throughout the state that provide education on, refer patients to, or directly provide screening services for cancer. ScreenNJ also helps organizations initiate or expand these types of outcomes-oriented, evidence-based screening and outreach services.

Our Goals

ScreenNJ is dedicated to educating New Jersey residents about the importance of cancer screening, early detection, and prevention.

Increase access to timely cancer screening.

Reduce cancer mortality rates.

Reduce disparities in cancer screening access.

Get In Touch

Contact us today to schedule a consultation

Our patient navigation team provides personalized, healthcare services tailor to your unique needs. Get in touch today.

Meet Our Team

Learn more about the dedicated individuals that drive our mission forward in the fight against cancer.

Leadership Team

Anita Y. Kinney, PhD, RN

Director

Anita's Titles:

  • Professor, Department of Biostatistics & Epidemiology
  • Director, Center for Cancer Health Equity School of Public Health
  • Associate Director for Population Science and Community Outreach
  • Rutgers Cancer Institute
  • Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Sarah Scharf, DrPH, MPH

Deputy Director

Sarah's Titles:

  • Executive Director, Center for Cancer Health Equity
  • Rutgers Cancer Institute

Antoinette (Nan) Stroup, PhD

Assistant Director, Catchment Area Surveillance & Research

Antoinette's Titles:

  • Cancer Health Equity Center of Excellence, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Mariam F. Eskander, MD, MPH

Assistant Director, Clinical Affairs

Mariam's Titles:

  • Cancer Health Equity Center of Excellence, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Data Sciences Team

Daniel Pearson, MA, BA

Manager, Catchment Data & Surveillance

Daniel Pearson, MA, BA

Ricardo Baerga

Data Control Coordinator

Ricardo Baerga

Raven Profit

Data Analyst

Raven Profit

Monica Townsend, MPA, BS

Director

Monica Townsend, MPA, BS

Kenneth Gyan, MSN,
APRN, FNP-C

Advanced Practice Nurse

Kenneth Gyan, MSN, APRN, FNP-C

Michelle Olk

Patient Navigator, Medical Assistant

Michelle Olk

Richard Burdett

Mobile Health Unit Driver, Navigation & Logistics

Richard Burdett

Patricia Cerreto

Patient Navigator, South

Patricia Cerreto

Zeiry Flores, MPA

Patient Navigator, Central

Zeiry Flores

Ana Toro

Patient Navigator, South

Ana Toro

Binu R Jacob

Patient Navigator, Central

Binu R Jacob

Erika Brown

Patient Navigator, North

Erika Brown

Aissa Oduro, MPH, RN

Sr. Care Coordination Specialist, Central

Aissa Oduro

Masiel Guzman, MABS

Sr. Care Coordination Specialist, North

Masiel Guzman

Tiara Howard, MSSW, BA, SIFI

Tiara Howard, MSSW, BA, SIFI

Sr. Care Coordination Specialist, South

Tiara Howard, MSSW, BA, SIFI

Laura Regalado

Staff Assistant

Laura Regalado

Julissa Lituma

Patient Navigator, North

Julissa Lituma

Community Outreach and Education Team

Headshot of Ellen Indoe

Ellen Indoe, MA, MCHES®

Program Director (Community Outreach and Education)

Ellen Indoe, MA, MCHES®

Monica J. Gilles, MAS, RRT, NCTTP

Clinical Care Coordinator
Tobacco Cessation Counselor

Monica J. Gilles, MAS, RRT, NCTTP

Evelyn Fuertes, NDTR, BA

Community Outreach Coordinator, ScreenNJ

Evelyn Fuertes, NDTR, BA

Ryan Moulton

Community Cancer Control Specialist

Ryan Moulton

Gabriella Dumbrique

Community Cancer Control Specialist

Gabriella Dumbrique

Lauren Johnson

Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES®)

Lauren Johnson

Cecilia M Gomez

Cecilia Gomez

Community Cancer Control Specialist

Cecilia Gomez

Sara Mheta, Community Cancer Control Specialist

Sara Mehta

Community Cancer Control Specialist

Sara Mehta

Cancer Health Equity Team

Tamara Horn, BA

Program Coordinator

Tamara Horn, BA

Theresa Lofton

Program Coordinator

Theresa Lofton

Nicole Etienne

Marketing Coordinator

Nicole Etienne

Lorian Wilson

Events Coordinator

Lorian Wilson

Jasmine Bagner

Staff Assistant

Jasmine Bagner

Monica Rears

Financial Analyst

Monica Rears

Community Partnerships Team

Quianna Yvette Green

Staff Assistant for ScreenNJ Community Partnerships

Quianna Yvette Green

Ways to Get Involved

Take the Community Scientists Training:

The Community Scientist Training Program is a course offered by the Community Outreach and Engagement team at CINJ that trains community members to work directly with the science and research communities and foster bidirectional communication. ScreenNJ collaborates to connect the communities these individuals represent with our team of scientists to ensure that our research is reflective of the needs of these communities that we serve. Our goal is to educate and train individuals on how to effectively collaborate with research and ensure their respective communities understand the research being done that the community may ultimately benefit from. To do this, we use learning modules that cover topics like research 101, research ethics, types of research studies, informed consent, stakeholder engagement, overview of clinical trials, cancer basics, and cultural competency to ensure our Community Scientists are equipped with the knowledge and expertise to inform researchers. The program runs for a total of 9 weeks with new learning modules each week and a graduation at the end of the final session.

Trained community scientists have opportunities to engage with researchers through Science Cafes and work in progress connections, assist with ScreenNJ community grant reviews, provide program input, partner with ScreenNJ and more. Community Scientists have provided valuable feedback to researchers that shape their research efforts.

Want to be a part of bringing science and communities together?

Become a Community Ambassador:

ScreenNJ works closely with the Community Ambassador Program offered by the Cancer Health Equity Center of Excellence at Rutgers Cancer Institute is an in-kind internship program for college students, community members, and individuals who are passionate about advancing the Center’s mission of reducing the cancer burden in New Jersey. Community ambassadors will be expected to participate in community outreach and engagement initiatives, including but not limited to tabling at community events across the state, hosting virtual and in-person educational workshops on various cancer and general health topics, and working with the COE team to enhance educational materials and develop new educational materials for future use. Community Ambassadors are ongoing indefinitely, and hours per week may vary based on departmental needs.

If you want to include learning objectives, learning objectives may include:

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