Renowned researcher Chanita Hughes-Halbert, PhD, joins MUSC

Hughes-Halbert Holds the AT&T Distinguished EndowedChair in Cancer Equity in MUSC’s Hollings Cancer Center and theSmartState Center of Economic Excellence Endowed Chair in CancerDisparities

 
CHARESTON, SC – January 31, 2011 – Chanita Hughes-Halbert, PhD, one ofthe country’s leading researchers in health disparities research, hasjoined the Medical University of South Carolina. Hughes-Halbert bringsextensive experience and a significant body of novel research in healthdisparities for cancer and other major diseases.

Hughes-Halbert, a professor in MUSC’s Department of Psychiatry &Behavioral Sciences, has been named to the AT&T DistinguishedEndowed Chair in Cancer Equity in Hollings Cancer Center and theSmartState Center of Economic Excellence Endowed Chair in CancerDisparities. She joins MUSC from the University of Pennsylvania whereshe was director of Community-Based Research & Health Disparities;and the Community and Diversity Initiative at the Abramson CancerCenter.

“MUSC and Hollings are strongly committed to addressing cancer equityissues in a state with an ethnically diverse population and, as aresult, marked disparities in disease and healthcare outcomes across all populations,” Hughes-Halbert said. “Hollings is one of the few cancercenters I’ve seen with disparities as such a priority.  MUSC has thepotential to serve as a national model on minority health issues.”

Hughes-Halbert said her work at MUSC and statewide will includeincorporating basic behavioral science exploring how patients maketreatment decisions; developing partnerships statewide that increaseminority access to care; improving access to technology that enhancesdelivery of care; and raising health literacy across all populations.

This Cancer Disparities Center of Economic Excellence will increaseprostate cancer screening and early detection among African-Americanmen. Despite the fact that prostate cancer mortality rates in SouthCarolina are three times greater for African-Americans than forCaucasians, African-Americans are significantly underrepresented inprostate cancer clinical trials. A common barrier to the development ofnew knowledge for medical problems affecting racially and ethnicallydiverse populations is the ability to enroll diverse patients in medical research. 

The SmartState Endowed chairs will conduct prostate cancer clinicaltrials and examine aspects of obesity and lifestyle modifications ascontributing factors to prostate cancer. They will also examine factorsthat influence the screening and treatment of African-American men. TheAT&T Foundation provided a $1 million gift to MUSC to provide freeprostate cancer screenings and treatment advice and education to 500African-Americans in South Carolina. 

Undergraduate students from the three HBCUs will participate in research intensive summer internships in the laboratories of senior prostatecancer research scientists at Hollings Cancer Center.
 
“We are pleased to welcome Dr. Hughes-Halbert as the inaugural holder ofthe AT&T Distinguished Endowed Chair in Cancer Equity. AT&T isproud to have played a part in helping bring Dr. Hughes-Halbert to ourstate and we look forward to the impact she will have. The research sheand her team will conduct through the Centers for Economic Excellencewill make a lasting difference in the lives of individuals and familiesthroughout South Carolina and beyond.” Pamela Lackey, President ofAT&T South Carolina (pictured left).

“Dr. Hughes-Halbert has conducted pioneering research in biomarker- andgenetic testing in African-American women at increased risk for cancer,particularly breast and cervical. With the recruitment of Dr.Hughes-Halbert, South Carolinians gain the expertise of one of theforemost experts in advancing knowledge about the impact of cultural and ethnic factors in cancer control and prevention.”  Thomas W. Uhde, MD,chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at MUSC.

About Hollings Cancer Center
Hollings Cancer Center at the Medical University of South Carolina is aNational Cancer Institute-designated cancer center and the largestacademic-based cancer program in South Carolina. The cancer center hasmore than $35 million in cancer research funding and more than 200people are currently participating on a cancer clinical trial atHollings Cancer Center.
Hollings offers state-of-the-art diagnostic capabilities, therapies andsurgical techniques and has multidisciplinary clinics that includesurgeons, medical oncologists, radiation therapists, radiologists,pathologists, psychologists and many other specialists seeing patientsunder one roof. Multidisciplinary care is provided for most adult andpediatric cancers. For more information please visit www.hcc.musc.edu.
 
About MUSC
Founded in 1824 in Charleston, The Medical University of South Carolinais the oldest medical school in the South. Today, MUSC continues thetradition of excellence in education, research, and patient care. MUSCeducates and trains more than 3,000 students and residents, and hasnearly 11,000 employees, including approximately 1,500 faculty members.As the largest non-federal employer in Charleston, the university andits affiliates have collective annual budgets in excess of $1.7 billion. MUSC operates a 750-bed medical center, which includes a nationallyrecognized Children’s Hospital, the Ashley River Tower (cardiovascular,digestive disease, and surgical oncology), and a leading Institute ofPsychiatry. For more information on academic information or clinicalservices, visit www.musc.edu. For more information on hospital patient services, visit www.muschealth.com.