Isabel Scarinci, M.Ph., Ph.D., associate professor in the UAB Division of Preventive Medicine, has been appointed associate director for globalization and cancer at the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center.The National Cancer Institute has created a new Center for Global Health, and other agencies such as the American Cancer Society have also begun to address the increasing burden of cancer worldwide. As a longstanding NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center, one of only 41 in the nation and the only one in the six-state Deep South region, UAB has many cancer research projects and other activities on the global front.
“In an effort to be more proactive in our globalization efforts, we have created this new position to expand our global footprint,” said Edward Partridge, M.D., director of the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center. “Our longstanding work in underresourced populations prepares us for this mission, and what we learn in other countries may well apply to our population also.”
Scarinci is an associate scientist at the UAB Minority Health and Research Center, Comprehensive Cancer Center, John J. Sparkman Center for International Public Health Education, Center for Outcomes and Effectiveness Research and Education, and the Center for Health Promotion. She has extensive experience in global research, currently with two funded projects in Brazil. She was most recently appointed as honorary consul for Brazil and confirmed by the U.S. Department of State.
Scarinci’s primary areas of interest are cancer prevention among low-income, minority Latinas and African-Americans, and immigrant women; socioeconomic status and health outcomes; and depression.
“She is a true leader in community-based participatory research both at home and abroad and will bring extensive experience and vision to this senior leadership position and global initiative,” said Partridge.