Workgroups

Workgroups are formed as appropriate to address specific issues related to implementation of the New Mexico Cancer Plan 2007-2011. Membership in workgroups is open to NM Cancer Council members as well as the public. Current workgroups include:

  • Albuquerque Cancer Coalition — A coalition of cancer support agencies, hospital treatment centers and governmental agencies uniting to inform the community of resources, to educate, to advocate and to meet the needs of cancer patients and their families. For more information contact Debbie Putt at (505) 925-0365 or Blaire Larson at (505) 259-9583.
  • Colorectal Cancer Workgroup — This workgroup’s focus is to promote the prevention and control of colorectal cancer in New Mexico. This workgroup formerly operated under the Clinical Prevention Initiative, a partnership of the New Mexico Department of Health and the New Mexico Medical Society but has been reconvened as a workgroup of the NM Cancer Council. For more information contact Fred Pintz at fpintz@cybermesa.com.
  • Native American Workgroup — This workgroup will identify the needs of Native American populations to provide guidance to the NM Cancer Council regarding NM Native American cancer issues and how the Cancer Plan’s goal areas may better relate to these issues.  For more information contact Michele Suina at msuina@salud.unm.edu.
  • Policy/Advocacy Workgroup — This workgroup develops and evaluates the process for communication of legislative proposals that support the New Mexico Cancer Plan to all Council members for endorsement. This workgroup also addresses policy/advocacy issue related to the Council’s priorities. For more information contact Eileen Goode at egoode@nmpca.org.
  • Public Relations (PR) Workgroup — The PR workgroup oversees communication and membership goals for the Council.  Tasks include: increasing awareness and utilization of the NM Cancer Plan 2007-2011, promoting the Council as a vehicle through which individuals and organizations collaborate, guiding membership recruitment and retention, creating member orientation and mentorship opportunities, compiling member information and utilizing collateral materials to promote membership benefits.  For more information contact Robyn Viera at qtrmoon@unm.edu.
  • Rural Issues Workgroup – A community-based workgroup whose mission includes supporting the goals and activities of the NM Cancer Plan 2007-2011; supporting the production of the CRC White Paper and raising the awareness for Survivor Care Plans; advising the NM Cancer Council on the challenges, barriers and needs of New Mexico rural areas as they relate to cancer services.  For more information, contact Mary Ann Buckley at mbuckley@grmc.org.
  • Survivorship Workgroup — A group of individuals and organizations working to further the Council’s survivorship priority of raising awareness of Patient Care Plans and Treatment Summaries and promoting the use of these plans to the oncology community and among cancer survivors.  For more information contact Dava Gerard at dgerard@phs.org or Fran Robinson at frobinson@sjrmc.net.