Improving Cancer Health in Minnesota

Dr. Nguyen Tran Receives CHAMP Partnership Development Award

Dr. Nguyen Tran, a medical oncologist, was named a 2024 recipient of the Mayo Clinic Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCaTS) CHAMP (Community Health Assessment and Improvement Measures Program) Partnership Development Award, a two-year award. Her project, in collaboration with the Cambodian American Partnership of Minnesota (CAPMN), aims to improve cancer health within underserved communities through community partnership, engagement, and research.

The project emphasizes listening to the community and building trust. In Year 1, Dr. Tran and CAPMN co-developed and distributed a survey to better understand the community’s top concerns regarding cancer prevention, screening, treatment, and intervention. The response was strong, with over 500 individuals completing the survey. Importantly, trusted community members and leaders helped lead the process. The project team met monthly to guide the work and ensure it remained grounded in the community’s needs.

The findings and lessons learned from the survey were shared at the Summit Meeting held on July 26, 2025. This summit served as an important feedback loop, offering community members and other attendees an opportunity to hear the results and learn about next steps.

Looking ahead, Year 2 of the project will focus on conducting focus groups within the community. These sessions will create space for open dialogue and collaborative discussions around potential solutions to the cancer-related concerns raised in the survey.

Dr. Tran’s project is a strong example of meaningful, community-engaged research in action centered on listening, learning, and co-creating solutions with the community. By elevating community voices and assessing the community’s needs, this work is helping to lay the foundation for long-term improvements in cancer health for underserved communities in Minnesota. More to come on the success of this partnership in Year 2 and beyond.