Where a person lives in the United States significantly influences both the quality of
the cancer care they receive and their treatment outcomes. With a growing mortality gap
between patients living in urban and rural areas and a distinct struggle for patients in rural
communities to afford their care, implementing thoughtful, targeted outreach in rural areas has
never been more important.

In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with 2026 ACCC Innovator Award winner Theresa W.
Gillespie, PhD, MA, FAAN, Professor and Associate Director for Community Outreach and
Engagement at Winship Cancer Institute, about her program's Embedded Community Staff
model, which provides funding to community partners that hire local individuals who are deeply
familiar with their communities, their needs, and their resources.

"It's a beautiful partnership. The people in the communities have the knowledge and superb expertise of their own community, and then we can provide the funding and oversight." –

Theresa W. Gillespie, PhD, MA, FAAN

Guest: Theresa W. Gillespie, PhD, MA, FAAN

Professor and Associate Director for Community Outreach and Engagement
Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University
Atlanta, Georgia

Resources:

• ACCC 43rd National Oncology Conference

• 2026 ACCC Innovator Winship Cancer Institute

• Local Staff, Lasting Impact: A New Model for Rural Cancer Prevention

• Primary Care Meets Cancer Prevention: Insights From Sanford World Clinic – Ghana

• From Fatigue to Function: Redefining Rural Cancer Care Through Exercise Oncology

• Shared Solutions for Rural Oncology: Insights Across the Americas