Second-year Meharry Student Wins Third Place for CEnR Breast Cancer Study
Cristen Flewellen, a second-year Meharry medical student, was awarded Third Place in the Community Research category at the 67th Annual Meharry Student Research Day for her work with the Breast cancer Risk Assessment- achieVing Equity (BRAVE) study funded through the Meharry Vanderbilt Tennessee State Cancer Partnership (MVTCP).
The BRAVE study PIs are Lucy Spalluto, MD MPH – Vanderbilt; Maureen Sanderson, PhD MPH – Meharry; and Rebecca Selove, PhD MPH – Tennessee State University.
Ms. Flewellen discussed the impact of community-engaged research (CEnR) to assess the effectiveness of breast cancer risk assessment among six local Tennessee clinics. During her student internship she attended in-person sessions over the summer offering providers and staff resources on how to assess breast cancer risk in a younger group of diverse women so they may seek earlier treatment and have better health outcomes.
Of the experience, Ms. Flewellen said, “I am grateful for the insight and experience gained by working under the Meharry-Vanderbilt-Tennessee State Cancer Partnership. Looking forward to the next step in the medical school journey.”
