Jan R. Cloyde Legacy Awardee Reflection Letters

Victoria Rodriguez, PhD, MSW, MPH - American Society of Preventive Oncology 50th Annual Meeting in Denver, CO

Attending the 50th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Preventive Oncology (ASPO) was an incredibly meaningful and enriching experience that will significantly inform both my research trajectory and professional development. This milestone meeting offered a unique opportunity to reflect on the progress made in cancer prevention and control over the past 50 years, while also reinforcing the work that still needs to be done to address disparities across the cancer continuum. In particular, the keynote session focused on HPV and cervical cancer over the past 50 years was extremely informative for my own research focus on gynecologic cancers. Additionally, the session focused on early onset cancer was very informative and related to my current postdoctoral work focused on women with early onset gynecologic cancers.

A highlight of my experience was presenting preliminary qualitative work from my postdoctoral research on gynecologic cancer survivorship among young women diagnosed before the age of 50. This was the first opportunity that I’ve had to present my work more broadly and get feedback and insights from leaders of the field. Engaging and discussing with other cancer researchers about these preliminary findings provided valuable feedback that will strengthen the ongoing analyses and inform the development of future manuscripts. It was also reaffirming for me and my own identity as a researcher to see so much interest in this topic and the recognition that these findings are incredibly important and significant.

Beyond my presentation, the conference created numerous opportunities to build and deepen professional connections. I engaged with researchers, clinicians, and trainees (both old and new relationships) in discussions on my research trajectory and professional development. Networking and building relationships such as these are instrumental at this point in my career.

I also contributed to the conference with my involvement in the Cancer Disparities Special Interest Group (SIG) Leadership Council. As a SIG we organized and hosted a breakfast session focused on cancer disparities both globally and within the U.S. as well as organized poster awards for work focused on cancer disparities. Serving as a poster judge allowed me to engage critically with emerging research and supporting trainees in refining their work. Additionally, connecting in-person with other members of the SIG was very helpful and reinforced the relationships and works in progress that we currently have together.

Overall, attending this conference has left me reenergized and motivated to advance my work in gynecologic cancer disparities and survivorship. The knowledge gained, feedback received, and connections established will directly inform my ongoing research, support the dissemination of my findings, and contribute to my long-term goals of becoming an independent investigator committed to achieve health equity in gynecologic cancer outcomes.