The role of Dana-Farber’s Community Benefits office is to support the Institute’s goal to reduce cancer risk among medically underserved populations. Ms. Contreras and her teamwork with city and state health departments, community partners, and Boston-based coalitions to assess and monitor the needs of local residents with respect to cancer control. They are on the front lines of supporting and collaborating on programs designed to eliminate disparities in breast, colon, and skin cancer; educate diverse populations about tobacco cessation, human papillomavirus (HPV) prevention and screening; and strengthen the support system for medically underserved populations. They are committed to making Dana-Farber’s care and research findings more accessible to everyone within and outside its walls.

Ms. Contreras is a graduate of Boston College, Simmons College Graduate School of Social Work and Suffolk University Sawyer Business School. She has been an Adjunct Faculty member in the Graduate School of Social Work at Salem State University, Simmons College and Boston College.

the American Society of Clinical Oncology Social Determinants of Health working group, and GU committee for NRG oncology. She serves as the Vice Chair of the Health Disparities Committee for Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology.

Dr. Borno’s research program consists of prostate cancer therapeutic development and cancer disparities. She serves as medical oncology co-chair for phase III clinical trials and is the principal investigator for clinical trials conducted at HDFCCC in advanced prostate cancer. Dr. Borno has an extensive research program on the promotion of equity in cancer precision medicine.

She has developed novel recruitment technologies that are clinician and patient facing to promote diversity and inclusion of racial/ethnic minorities in clinical trials. Dr. Borno used human-centered design to develop Trial LibraryTM, a patient facing clinical trial matching tool. Dr. Borno’s research has been featured in peer-reviewed journals such JAMA Oncology, Cancer, and Nature. Her work has been covered by national news outlets such as NPR, Washington Post, CBS News, Bloomberg News, and STAT News.

Dr. Borno graduated with honors in biochemistry and received her medical degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she was a Medical Alumni Loyalty Fund Scholar. She completed her internal medicine residency and medical oncology fellowship training at UCSF. She served as chief oncology fellow at UCSF and was a National Institute on Aging T32 research fellow in the Division of Geriatrics.

LTC (Retired) Rodney Palmer is currently serving as a Department of Defense Civilian employee, as a Contingency Plans Officer, Fort Lee, VA.

His professional educational includes a Bachelor of Science Degree in Marketing from Norfolk State University and a Masters Degree in General Administration from Central Michigan University.

He is an active member of First Baptist Church South Richmond, VA. He is a deacon and serves in various ministry roles (Men’s Ministry Planning Committee, Logistics Support, and Mentor).

He is married to Diveda Ann Palmer (33 years). The Palmers have two daughters: Maya (27) and Jade (25).

for two years. Presently he is a medical examiner and Medical Director at the Northside Medical Services Corporation in northeast Washington, D.C.

Dr. Davis is a member of the Executive Board of the Howard University Medical Alumni Association (HUMAA); member of the Judicial Council of the National Medical Association and serves as treasurer of the Medico-Chirurgical Society of D.C. (the local affiliate of the NMA)

Masonic Brother Davis is directly involved with Health and Wellness education as the Director (emeritus) with the MWPHGL-DC (Prince Hall Masons); serves as the Chief of Medical Services with the Imperial Medical Department of the A.E.A.O.N.M.S. (Prince Hall Shriners).  Serves as a member of the Health and Wellness Committee of the United Supreme Council-DC Southern Jurisdiction, USA, PHA.

Additionally, Dr. Davis is a thirty-three-year veteran of the United States Air Force, having served on active duty, USAF Reserve and the D.C. Air National Guard. The General is a Command Flight Surgeon with more than 800 flying hours. His assignments have included, Flight Medical Officer and Clinic Commander, USAF Clinic, Tainan, Taiwan; Chief of Aeromedical Services, Malcolm Grow Medical Center, Andrews, AFB, MD; 910^th Clinic Commander, Youngstown AFB, Youngstown, Ohio; State Air Surgeon, Headquarters DCANG, Washington, DC and finally as the National Guard Advisor to the Command Surgeon, Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, Illinois.

General Davis has received numerous awards and citations including the Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster and the Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters.

Dr. Davis is truly dedicated to the THREE M’s : MEDICINE; MILITARY; MASONRY!!!