Body
The 2025 Rural Health and Cancer Conference was held June 19 – 21, 2025, in Burlington, Vermont. Â
View the 2025 Conference Agenda (PDF)
2025 RHCC Invited Speakers
| Speaker | Session Details |
|---|---|
| Sharon Lavigne Founder – RISE St. James, St. James Parish, Louisiana | Opening Reception Keynote There Is No Justice Without Environmental Justice |
| Marquita Wenonah Lewis, PhD Assistant Director of Community Outreach and Engagement, Assistant Professor, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center | Keynote Intersections of Equity: Rural Cancer Health as a Model for Collaborative Solutions |
| Rodney Haring, PhD, MSW Chair of the Department of Indigenous Cancer Health at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center | Session 1 Addressing Challenges in Rural Cancer Care Two-Row Wampum & Rural Cancer Care Services: Building respectful parallels of sovereignty along the cancer care continuum |
| Izumi Okado, PhD Assistant Professor, University of Hawai‘i Cancer Center | Session 2 Novel Approaches to Increase Rural Cancer Health Outcomes Strategies to enhance access to cancer clinical trials in rural areas |
| Julia Maki, PhD Supervisor of Public Health Research, Washington University School of Medicine | Session 3 Increasing Screening/Prevention Services & Uptake in Rural Communities Flexibility and Persistence in the SAFESTEP Study: A partnered approach to increasing colorectal cancer screening in rural Illinois |
| Wendy Demark-Wahnefried, PhD, RD University of Alabama at Birmingham | Session 4 Survivorship in Rural Communities Going the distance to promote healthful lifestyle change among rural cancer survivors: Intervention delivery and assessment that can close the gap |
2025 RHCC Conference Sponsors
The Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships operates alongside the Office of Engagement with the mission to build collaborations between the University of Vermont and state partners for the benefit of our rural places. 
We envision a future in which all Vermont communities have an opportunity to thrive, and we believe that strong UVM-Community partnerships can play a vital role in achieving that future. To help build those partnerships, the Leahy Institute connects interested parties with a wide range of UVM resources, including:Â
Financial and technical assistanceÂ
Faculty expertise and researchÂ
Student projects and internshipsÂ
Startup and innovation programsÂ
Service and community-focused learning programsÂ
This work takes several forms including Grants, Engagement Initiatives, and Convenings. To learn more, visit the Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships website.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is the global leader and innovator in creating a world without blood cancer. The LLS mission: Cure blood cancer and improve the quality of life of all patients and their families. LLS is focused on accelerating research, providing free support, education and services, and advocating for policies to ensure access to quality, affordable care. Committed to health equity, LLS works to eliminate barriers to care and address the unique needs of underserved communities, guided by a mission that reflects the diversity of those it serves. For more information on blood cancer support, information and resources, visit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society website.
