Personal Statement
I am Director and Principal Investigator for the New Mexico Tumor Registry, a founding participant in the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program. I also oversee subcontracts that fund both the Alaska Native Tumor Registry and the Cherokee Nation Cancer Registry. I have over forty years of experience in cancer surveillance and epidemiology, and am presently a North American representative on the Board of Directors for the International Association of Cancer Registries.
I have a strong commitment to conducting population-based cancer surveillance and research that will benefit the diverse communities of New Mexico, and strive to focus the New Mexico Tumor Registry’s activities toward reducing disparities and diminishing the burden of cancer in our state.
As a Member of the University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, I work closely with Dr. Willman and our colleagues to utilize cancer registry data to characterize the burden of cancer within our catchment area, to support scientific research, to identify opportunities for cancer control and to serve as a foundation for evidence-based policy development. For these reasons, I am uniquely well-qualified to contribute to the continued success for the University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center.