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- Today is HPV Awareness Day
- 2025 HPV Awareness Day Seminar Series
- Celebrating Women’s History Month
- I Wonder What Earlobes Are For? Kids Aren’t Thinking about HPV
- Empowering Communities and Strengthening Community, Culture and Conversation to Prevent HPV Cancers Seminar Series Overview
- Improving Rural HPV Vaccination
Coverage
- Wide Open Spaces: Addressing HPV Vaccination Gaps in Rural America: A Call To Action
- HPV Vaccination Roundtable of the Southeast
- Register for the Enough Book Club
- Cervivor, Inc. Champion Award Recipient: St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Team
- Partner Activities and Updates
- Current and Upcoming Events
- Congratulations to Dr. Andrea Stubbs
- Welcome New HPV Team Members to the HPV Cancer Prevention Program!
- Get Free St. Jude HPV Education Materials
- Previous St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program Monthly E-newsletters
- About the St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program
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Today is HPV Awareness Day
Today is HPV Awareness Day. This is the perfect day to share the good news about HPV vaccination. It’s cancer prevention. HPV vaccination is safe and offers long-lasting protection. Join us this week for our annual virtual seminar series celebrating HPV Awareness Day. Learn more and register at stjude.org/HAD2025.
Just last week, a new article, Trends in Cervical Precancers Identified Through Population-Based Surveillance — Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Impact Monitoring Project, Five Sites, United States, 2008–2022, was published in MMWR providing more evidence of the effectiveness of HPV vaccination. From 2008–2022, incidence of cervical pre-cancers decreased 79% and higher-grade pre-cancers of the cervix incidence decreased 80% among screened women aged 20–24 years, the age group most likely to have been vaccinated. Observed declines in cervical pre-cancers are consistent with HPV vaccination impact and support the current Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommendations to vaccinate children against HPV at ages 9-12 years with catch-up through age 26 years.
While it can
feel uncertain and even overwhelming with the current happenings related to vaccinations, we can remain true to the science that continues to confirm vaccinations are safe, prevent diseases, and save lives.
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HPV vaccination is cancer
prevention.
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2025 HPV Awareness Day Seminar Series, March 4-7
The St. Jude 2025 HPV Awareness Day Virtual Seminar Series is underway. The first seminar was completed on March 3, and there are four more upcoming seminars this week. Seminars are held daily for the rest of the week on March 4-7 from noon – 1:15 p.m. Central Time. Register here.
Seminars will be recorded, shared with registrants, and later posted to the program webpage. Email PreventHPV@stjude.org with any questions.
March 4: Promoting HPV Vaccination Policy to Prevent HPV Cancers
March 5: Realizing a Regional Plan to Eliminate HPV Cancers, Starting with Cervical Cancer, as a Public Health Concern in the Southeast
March 6: Closing the HPV Vaccination Gap and Preventing HPV Cancers from Boys to Men
March 7: Harvesting Best Practices to Prevent Rural HPV Cancers
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Celebrating Women’s History Month
In observance of Women’s History Month, we want to recognize the contributions of women like Anarcha, Betsey, and Lucy, Mary Papanicolaou, and Anne Szarewski, whose contributions have been integral in the fight against HPV cancers.
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Anarcha, Betsey, and Lucy
In the last week, a momentous occasion celebrated annually occurred. The dates of February 28 to March 1, which bridge Black History Month and Women’s History Month, signify the time period acknowledging Anarcha, Betsey, and Lucy. In 2021, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists declared this acknowledgment for all women exploited in the name of medicine.
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In the 1840s, Anarcha, Betsey, and Lucy were enslaved women who became the subjects of Dr. J. Marion Sims. Sims is known as the "father of gynecology," but these three women – and likely others – were subjected to experiments without their permission and abuse resulting in medical advances. NPR, The New York Historical Center for Women’s History, and other scholars have featured stories on these three women for whom we owe considerable gratitude for their often unrecognized contributions.
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Andromachi "Mary" Papanicolaou (1890-1982)
In the mid-1910s, Georgios Papanicolaou, MD, was conducting research at Cornell Medical College, now Cornell University. He was not a clinician, so he did not have access to human patients – except for one: his wife. For years, Mary volunteered as a subject for his experiments. She regularly laid on his examination couch so he could collect samples of her vaginal fluids and cervical cells, which he then examined under a microscope.
Reports suggest that Mary also hosted gatherings for female friends who agreed to have their cervixes sampled, providing additional subjects for her husband's research.
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After one of these women was diagnosed with cervical cancer, Georgios discovered that cancerous and precancerous cells were visible in the samples. In 1928, he presented his findings at a medical conference, sparking further research that eventually led to the development of the Pap smear test. Thanks to Mary's long-term willingness to participate in these tests, the foundation was laid for the current version of the Pap test used today. As a result of their
work, cervical cancer was able to be detected early, mortality rates drastically decreased, and thousands of lives are saved each year.
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Anne Szarewski, MD (1959-2013)
In the 1990s, Szarewski and her team enhanced the testing methods for cervical screening samples and established the connection between HPV and cervical cancer. This discovery played a key role in the development of the HPV vaccine, which helps prevent both HPV and cervical cancer. Additionally, Szarewski authored numerous books and papers to raise public awareness about reproductive health. Szarewski passed away in 2013. A tribute was published in The Lancet.
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"I Wonder What Earlobes Are For?"
Kids Aren’t Thinking about HPV.
Kids are asking these types of questions, not about HPV. The St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program’s national public awareness campaign "Their Future is in Your Hands" focuses on this simple yet powerful truth: Kids aren't thinking about HPV vaccination and that's why parents need to. HPV vaccination protects children from six types of cancer in adulthood. HPV is common and preventable, affecting nearly everyone at some point. Prioritize HPV vaccination between ages 9 and 12 for maximum effectiveness. Choosing HPV vaccination can lead to an HPV cancer-free future for children.
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Empowering and Strengthening Community, Culture and Connection to
Prevent HPV Cancers Seminar Series
The Empowering and Strengthening Community, Culture, and Connection to Prevent HPV Cancers virtual seminar series was created to explore disparities in HPV vaccination and HPV cancers among various racial and ethnic groups and discuss strategies to improve HPV vaccination coverage to prevent HPV cancers.
On February 20, the St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program hosted "Addressing HPV Vaccination Inequities and HPV Cancer Disparities in African American and Black Communities" during Black History Month. Synovia Moss, MPA, National Project Manager, Good Health Women’s Immunization Networks (Good Health WIN), National Council of Negro Women, Inc. moderated the session with presentations by Kiara Long, MPH, Program Manager, ACS National HPV Vaccination Roundtable and ACS National Roundtable on Cervical Cancer; Ashanda Saint Jean, MD, Chair of the OBGYN Health Alliance at Hospital/Westchester Medical Center Health Care Network and Clinical Associate Professor of OBGYN at New York Medical College; Andrea D. Willis, MD, Senior Vice President and
Chief Medical Officer; and Tamika Felder, Chief Visionary of Cervivor Inc. Access the recording of the seminar here.
Access previous seminars in this series through the following links:
Beyond the Numbers: Understanding HPV Vaccination and HPV Cancer Disparities among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
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Improving Rural HPV Vaccination Coverage
The St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program continues to focus on improving rural HPV vaccination coverage. On February 19, the first Preventing HPV Cancers with Rural Communities: Updates and Opportunities quarterly meeting of 2025 was held. The virtual event brought together health care providers, community leaders, and public health professionals to discuss current trends and strategies in HPV vaccination within rural settings. Progress updates towards the priority action steps to improve rural HPV vaccination coverage were shared and are also showcased in the most recent quarterly communication.
Colleagues from the American Cancer Society (ACS), Ashley Lach, Program Manager, HPV Disparities, and Christina Turpin, Director, ACS National HPV Vaccination Roundtable (HPVRT) joined the meeting to discuss ACS’ rural HPV programming and strategies. Highlights included a focus on initiating HPV vaccination at age 9, an-evidence based strategy aimed at increasing vaccine uptake and
reducing cancer incidence in rural communities, and new successful community projects, learning community models, and educational resources tailored for rural populations and providers.
Materials shared include resources from the HPVRT, information about on-demand HPV vaccination education for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians
and oral health professionals, and registration for the 2025 ACS Rural HPV Vaccination Learning Community. Additional resources are accessible on their HPV Learning Community Resource Roundup.
Please join us for our 2025 upcoming rural HPV vaccination quarterly updates meetings. These meetings will feature progress on priority action items and showcase successful efforts to promote HPV cancer prevention with rural communities. The recording
and presentation slides from the February 2025 quarterly updates meeting are available here. All meetings from noon-1 pm Central Time. Register here. Registration information is also available on our rural webpage, at stjude.org/hpvrural.
- May 14
- August 20
- November 20 (National Rural Health Day 2025)
Registration is open for the 2025 Rural HPV Vaccination Learning Community. This initiative from the American Cancer Society (ACS) and ACS National HPV Vaccination Roundtable brings together health care professionals and community leaders dedicated to increasing HPV vaccination rates in rural areas. The Learning Community offers an opportunity to collaborate, share insights,
and gain valuable knowledge to help combat HPV-related cancers in rural populations. Register here. Registration is on a rolling basis; however, the first session is on March 12 from 1 to 2 p.m. Central Time via Zoom. If you have any questions, contact Ashley Lach at Ashley.lach@cancer.org.
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Join our efforts to improve rural HPV vaccination coverage.
Visit the Preventing HPV Cancers in Rural Communities website at stjude.org/hpvrural or sign up here to receive the latest information on our rural HPV coverage efforts. Email PreventHPV@stjude.org with any
questions.
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Wide Open Spaces:
Addressing HPV Vaccination Gaps in Rural America: A Call to Action
Nearly 20% of the U.S. population—equating to 57 million Americans—live in rural communities, where they face significant barriers to accessing health care and experience poorer health outcomes. One area
of concern is the higher incidence of HPV cancers in these communities. Vaccination is key to making change. However, historically, rural areas have lagged urban counterparts by about 10% in the uptake of the HPV vaccination series.
Learn more about this project here.
About the Authors:
Christina Turpin is the Director for the National HPV Vaccination Roundtable with the American Cancer Society (ACS). Along with the ACS National HPV Vaccination Roundtable team, she leads nationwide efforts to raise HPV vaccination rates and prevent HPV cancers with the ultimate vision of ending vaccine-preventable HPV cancers as a public health problem. Christina has been with ACS for 14 years and started her career with ACS in Baltimore, Maryland before relocating home to Idaho. Prior to her current position, she focused on advancing priorities around
cancer screening and prevention, HPV vaccination, quality of life, survivorship, access to care, and health equity. Christina is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University. She resides in Boise, Idaho and enjoys spending time with her family out in the woods, on the lake, or cheering on Penn State Football.
Ashley Lach, MHA, CPHQ, joined the American Cancer Society in 2009 as an Income Development Specialist. In 2014, she transitioned out of development and into a role within the patient support pillar where she led the goals of the American Cancer Society’s mission through comprehensive, prioritized partnerships with health care systems, payors, clinics, providers, and state agencies. In 2021, Ashley transitioned to a grant funded position working on the Interventions & Implementation team where she is a program manager working on reducing HPV disparities. Ashley received her Bachelor of Arts in Communication from DePaul University and her Master of Health Administration from Ohio University. Ashley holds a basic certification of quality and safety from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) and is a Certified Professional in Health care Quality (CPHQ)
which is the gold standard from the National Association for Health care Quality.
We invite guest contributors to share information on how they are working to improve HPV vaccination in rural areas. If you are interested in contributing or learning more about our efforts to improve HPV vaccination with rural communities, please email us at PreventHPV@stjude.org.
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HPV Vaccination Roundtable of the Southeast
The Southeast Roundtable has implemented Bylaws as of December 2024. Consistent with the Bylaws, the Planning Committee has become the Steering Committee. An Executive Committee is being formed currently with nominations being due at the end of last month. We expect to announce the Executive Committee and Steering Committee members in the next Path to Prevention newsletter. In addition, a membership process has been implemented. You can join as a member here to continue to receive Southeast Roundtable communications.
Communication: Develop and implement a communication campaign and messages for the Southeastern region
"It’s Our Way Down South" is the newly released regional communication campaign developed by Southeast Roundtable members for our neighbors to promote HPV vaccination for cancer prevention. Phase 1 of campaign implementation is underway and will run through the end of April. The Implementation Team is conducting a mid-phase evaluation of 65 users who have requested access to date. This evaluation will support improvement of the campaign to better understand accessibility, co-branding, and dissemination of campaign materials. There is still time to use the materials during the first phase to help us understand how we can improve the campaign for a second phase to be launched during the back-to-school season.
To request access to the campaign materials, complete this form. Once the form is completed, you will have access to co-brand social media graphics, postcards, posters, and more through an easy-to-use software, Canva. In addition, campaign materials are shared through Box and Dropbox. If you have an upcoming event for which you would like print materials, complete this form to request print versions of the postcards and postcards to be mailed to you at no charge. Some limits may apply. Please allow 5-7 business days for receipt of print materials.
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Elimination: Develop and disseminate a plan for HPV cancer elimination in the Southeast,
beginning with cervical cancer as a public health concern
The Elimination Priority Action Implementation Team has developed a draft regional
elimination plan based on Phase 1 survey data and Phase 2 interview data with additional input from National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program (NCCCP) directors and coordinators in the southeast region to develop the regional elimination plan. Additional efforts to refine the elimination plan will be undertaken for improved flow and content. The elimination plan is on track to be shared in March 2025 and finalized by April 2025.
The St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program team members have attended events throughout the southeast region focusing on elimination of HPV cancers. Most recently, two team members joined the Kentucky Cervical Cancer Elimination Work Group to provide updates on implementation efforts across the Southeast. Our team aims to continue supporting HPV cancer
elimination throughout the Southeast and encouraging development of elimination plans as well as incorporation of elimination as a priority in state cancer plans.
Start at Age 9: Accelerate efforts to start HPV vaccination at age 9
To address the start at age 9 priority, the implementation team continues to work on developing and disseminating targeted messaging to key partners and health care providers to drive improved knowledge of the benefits of starting HPV vaccination at age 9 and encourage initiation of HPV vaccination at age 9. Throughout 2025 the implementation team will continue to provide opportunities to train providers using The Announcement Approach and sharing Unity Consortium’s 3Cs training as a valuable resource in providing strong vaccine recommendations to patients and their families.
The implementation team has reviewed resources on starting HPV vaccination at age 9 to share with Southeast providers, including case studies on the best practices for implementation of age 9 recommendations. If you have a resource you would like to include in our review,
please email it to PreventHPV@stjude.org.
Additionally, a smaller group of implementation team members have met to discuss the creation of a curriculum for medical residents which will incorporate training specifically on HPV vaccination and how to deliver a strong recommendation using Motivational Interviewing
techniques. Through an initial pilot program, this curriculum will be made available for other institutions to adapt and implement. More information will be made available as we continue to develop the curriculum.
Join the Southeast Roundtable
Visit the HPV Vaccination Roundtable of the Southeast website at stjude.org/southeast-roundtable. Join us as a member of the Southeast Roundtable here
to receive the latest information about the Southeast Roundtable. Read the latest Southeast Roundtable quarterly communication here.
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Register for the Enough Book Club
The St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program and HPV Vaccination Roundtable of the Southeast are hosting Science Alone Can’t Do It: Stories and the Fight Against Cervical Cancer. Join Chief Visionary of Cervivor, Inc. Tamika Felder for an inspiring virtual discussion with Dr. Linda Eckert, author of Enough: Because We Can Stop Cervical Cancer, on April 30 from noon-1:15 p.m. Central Time. Explore powerful survivor stories, the urgent role of HPV vaccination in preventing HPV cancers, and the barriers—political, economic, and gender-based—that have allowed this preventable disease to persist. Register here. Space is limited.
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Cervivor Champion Award Recipient: St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program
The St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program was recently awarded the 2025 Cervivor Champion Award from Cervivor, Inc. on January 23 at the Fifth Annual Cervivor Summit for
exceptional dedication and impactful work with HPV Cancer Prevention Program efforts. Cervivor, Inc., powered by Chief Visionary Tamika Felder, proudly honors outstanding individuals and organizations making significant contributions to the mission to end cervical cancer. Julia Brown, MPH, program manager and Andrea Stubbs, PhD, administrative director of the St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program accepted the award.
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Partner Activities and Updates
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International Papillomavirus Society Live Panel Event, March 4
Join the International HPV Awareness Day (IHAD) Live Panel Event on March 4 hosted by the International Papillomavirus Society (IPVS). This event offers an opportunity for clinicians, health care professionals, implementation
specialists, and patient advocates to engage with an expert panel for an interactive discussion of key challenges and opportunities around HPV awareness and related disease prevention.
This year the panel of experts is exploring the potential for inclusive approaches to HPV awareness and alliance-building between communities, as a key strategy to reduce the impact of HPV-related cancer. Register here.
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Preventing HPV Cancer through HPV Vaccination: EHR Case Studies, March 11
Join the ACS HPVRT on March 11 from 2 p.m.- 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time, for Preventing Cancer through HPV Vaccination: EHR Age 9 Case Studies, an in-depth look at how EHR system utilization and strong provider recommendations can elevate health care outcomes. Explore two real-world case studies on HPV vaccination rates and outcomes. Learn about the
building process and impactful changes. Don’t miss the chance to level up your EHR knowledge. Register here.
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Association of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Nurses: Position Paper on HPV
The Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses (APHON) acknowledges the importance of reducing missed opportunities for administering the HPV vaccine to age-eligible cancer survivors and patients with hematologic disorders. HPV vaccination with a strong recommendation significantly increases vaccination rates
Pediatric hematology/oncology nurses assess the HPV vaccination status of age-eligible patients during health care encounters. For patients who have not initiated or completed the HPV vaccine series, the pediatric hematology/oncology nurse should provide a strong recommendation for the vaccine and facilitate vaccination at the earliest available opportunity. To learn more about the impact of the Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses on human papillomavirus immunization, click here.
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Adolescent Immunization Action Week, April 7-11
Save the Date for the 2025 Adolescent Immunization Action Week on April 7-11. Last year, AIAW24 reached over 275 MILLION, largely thanks to
support and collaboration from partners. The Unity Consortium is aiming for an even greater impact with Adolescent Immunization Action Week 2025. Participate in AIAW25 to help share accurate vaccine information and motivate adolescents and young adults to stay up to date with recommended vaccines. The final AIAW25 Communications Briefing will be held on March 25, 12:30-1 p.m. Eastern Time. Register here.
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National HPV Cancer Conference, April 15-17
- Connect with like-minded people from across the country
- Share and learn from others’ experiences
- Stimulate new ideas
- Identify ways to collaborate locally and across state lines
- Develop actionable work plans to implement at home
- Unite in efforts to achieve our central goal of eliminating HPV infections in the U.S.
Register for the conference here.
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Save the Date for the VAX 2 Stop Cancer Annual Luncheon
Save the date for the VAX 2 Stop Cancer 4th Annual "A Shot at Prevention" luncheon, scheduled for April 29 at 11:30 a.m. Central Time in Birmingham, Alabama. Stay tuned for the announcement of the keynote speaker, who will be sharing their inspiring survivor story. Click here to register today!
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Arkansas 2025 HPV Summit, May 23
Immunize Arkansas is gearing up for its annual 2025 HPV Summit on May 23. This meeting will make the connection between HPV and cancer, give providers tools to talk to patients about the benefits of the HPV vaccine, and share best practices about ways to increase HPV immunization rates. To learn more or to register click here.
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Tennessee Families for Vaccines Third Annual Day on the Hill, February 4
Tennessee Families for Vaccines hosted a Day on the Hill at the state Capitol in Nashville on February 4 to go to work advocating for good evidence-based vaccine policy. Advocates from various backgrounds, including pediatrics, infectious disease, policy, and academia, joined together to learn more about how the Tennessee General Assembly works, to meet some of the state lawmakers, and to show them that Tennesseans want to be protected from vaccine-preventable diseases like measles and polio. Tennessee Families for Vaccines presented 10 pro-vaccine legislators with vaccine hero awards, to recognize their leadership in vaccine policy and
advocacy. This event was covered by WKRN, available to watch here.
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Tennessee Chapter of American Academy of Pediatrics (TNAAP) Day on the Hill, February 26
On February 26, the Tennessee Chapter of American Academy of Pediatrics hosted a successful day of advocacy in Nashville, Tennessee. Participants engaged in meaningful discussions with Tennessee Senators and Representatives, addressing critical issues impacting child health and pediatric care. The day provided an opportunity to learn about the legislative process, discuss proposed policies, and advocate directly with state leaders. Whether experienced advocates or first-time attendees, everyone had the opportunity to contribute to
advancing important conversations that support the well-being of children across Tennessee.
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2025 Statewide Annual
Tennessee Cancer Coalition Meeting, April 7-8
The Tennessee Cancer Coalition (TC2) 2025 Statewide Annual Meeting "Connecting and Conquering" will take place on April 7-8 at the Drury Inn in Franklin, Tennessee. This event will bring together organizations from across the state to discuss cancer prevention and control efforts. Register here.
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2025 Tennessee Provider Expo
The Tennessee Department of Health’s Vaccine-Preventable Diseases and Immunization Program (VPDIP) will be hosting the 2025 Immunization Provider Expo in each of Tennessee’s grand divisions:
April 2, 9:30 a.m.- 3:30 p.m. Central Time in Memphis
April 9, 9:30 a.m.- 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time in Knoxville
April 16, 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Central Time in Nashville
This year’s
theme, "Immunization Across the Lifespan," addresses the diverse immunization needs and challenges encountered at different life stages - from pregnancy and infancy to adolescence, adulthood, and older age. For more information, please email vpdip.quality@tn.gov.
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Memphis and Shelby County HPV Cancer Prevention Roundtable Mid-Year Meeting, March 18
Join us on March 18 from 9 a.m. to noon Central Time for the 2025 Memphis Roundtable Mid-Year Meeting. This engaging session will bring together members and partners to reflect on the progress made since our Annual Meeting in September 2024 and discuss the next steps in our collective efforts to prevent HPV cancers.
The meeting will highlight the milestones achieved through collaboration with Roundtable members and
local partners, showcasing our growth, impactful partner interventions, and increased community engagement. It will also provide a platform to revisit the priority action opportunities identified during the Annual Meeting, exploring actionable steps to further increase HPV vaccination rates.
Attendees will hear from leaders in HPV vaccination efforts locally and across Tennessee, while a review of TennIIS Shelby County data will offer valuable insights and resources to support vaccination efforts, including updates for VFC providers.
Complimentary lunch will be provided as the program concludes.
Register here and stay tuned for more details as we plan an engaging session to further the Memphis Roundtable mission together.
To learn more about the Memphis Roundtable, please visit stjude.org/memphis-roundtable. Read the Memphis Roundtable February e-communication here.
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Current and Upcoming Events
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Congratulations, Dr. Andrea Stubbs!
On February 12, Andrea Stubbs, PhD, administrative director of the HPV Cancer Prevention Program, successfully defended her dissertation "Faith in Action: An Evaluation of an HIV Stigma Reduction Scale Used in Faith-Based Communities" for completion of her doctoral degree from the Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences in the School of Public Health at the University of Memphis. She is set to walk across the stage and officially receive her degree in spring 2025.
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Welcome New Team Members to the HPV Cancer Prevention Program!
The HPV Cancer Prevention Program team is so excited to welcome three new team members: Samantha Wells, Nicole Williams, and Madeline (Maddy) McNee. You may hear from them and have the opportunity to work with them in the near future.
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Samantha Wells, MPH, CPH
Samantha Wells, MPH, CPH is a new program coordinator with the HPV Cancer Prevention Program. As a native of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Samantha currently resides in Little Rock, Arkansas. Prior to this role, she served as the Public Health Section Chief II within the Arkansas Department of Health's Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program.
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She is a doctoral candidate in the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) in the Health Leadership Program. She obtained both her bachelor's degree and MPH, both with a concentration in Health Policy Administration, from the University of Southern Mississippi in 2015 and 2017, respectively. She is a 2024 graduate of the Diverse Executives Leading in Public Health (DELPH) program sponsored by Morehouse School of Medicine's Satcher Health Leadership Institute and CDC. Other previous roles and honors include the 2022 American Public Health Association's Student Assembly Scholarship Award, the 2021 Arkansas Rural Health Leadership Academy, and serving as the Program Manager of the Mississippi Health Advocacy Program. She
was Certified in Public Health (CPH) by the National Board of Public Health Examiners in 2019.
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Nicole Williams, MPH
Nicole Williams, MPH joins the St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program as a program coordinator with a decade of experience leading high-impact public health initiatives across the globe and in her home state of Missouri where she led statewide programming to improve vaccination rates and health outcomes, build vaccine confidence, and reduce vaccine hesitancy across Missouri communities. As a native Missourian, Nicole is focused on evidence-based, community-driven solutions to promote HPV vaccination through enhancing HPV prevention efforts in rural communities. Nicole holds a BSc in Biological Sciences with a minor in Anthropology and a certificate in Multicultural Studies from the University of Missouri.
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She earned her Master of Public Health degree in Global Health from the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University with a concentration in Reproductive Health and Population Studies and a certificate in Complex Humanitarian Emergencies. Her leadership has been recognized through multiple speaking engagements, grant awards, and published immunization research. As a recognized leader in immunization advocacy, Nicole continues to champion innovative HPV vaccination solutions that create measurable, lasting impacts for a cancer-free tomorrow.
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Madeline (Maddy) McNee, MPH
Maddy McNee is a new program coordinator with the St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program. She is responsible for co-leading the HPV Vaccination Roundtable of the Southeast and rural HPV vaccination efforts.
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Maddy graduated from Duke University in 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in Global Health and Psychology and a minor in Spanish. She worked extensively in global health research, specifically in sub-Saharan African, focusing on HPV stigma reduction strategies, gender disparities in alcohol consumption, among other topics. She recently completed her Master of Public Health degree from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health in May 2024. Through coursework in the Population and Family Health and Healthcare Policy and Management departments, Maddy has developed a specific interest in health equity, rural health care, and health policy within the field of vaccination.
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March 7 is National Cereal Day, a day to celebrate a breakfast food that’s been popular in the U.S. since the 1800s. HPV Cancer Prevention Program team members share stories about their favorite childhood cereal.
"I have always loved cereal but hated milk. I would only eat certain cereals like
Captain Crunch or Trix and would pour more sugar in the bowl until the milk no longer tasted like milk. I’m glad to say that I outgrew this habit and now eat regular cereal like a regular person" -- Julia Brown, program manager
"When we were growing up, my friend fully believed that eating Lucky Charms gave him good luck on tests. We teased him a bit for this when we got older, but I think he didn’t outgrow his exam morning cereal ritual until sometime in college." -- Aeryn Longuevan, student intern
"I would have to say that Froot Loops were my favorite childhood cereal. The cereal itself was delicious, but what I remember most is when the movie Aladdin was released in the early '90s. The prize inside the Froot Loops box was a spoon featuring characters from the movie, and the color of the spoon would change when you dipped it in milk."– Portia Knowlton, program coordinator
"My favorite childhood cereal was Corn Flakes. I still like that." - Pragya Gautam Poudel, postdoctoral fellow
"As a kid I loved Frosted Flakes, I can still hear Tony the Tiger now, they
are Greaaat!" – Karlisa Cryer, medical content writer
"I grew up on frosted corn flakes" - Ursula Leflore, senior administrative coordinator
"Being gluten free, I am a Cheerios girly through and through! However, my all-time favorites are Froot Loops and Lucky Charms. I have fond memories of picking out all the charms from my cereal, which are the best part of course!" – Maddy McNee, program coordinator
"There was nothing like waking up to Snap, Crackle, and Pop on a school morning! The characters and onomatopoeia of Rice Krispies invokes blessed childhood memories of carefree mornings at the breakfast bar, when just a dab of sugar could make the whole day a little
sweeter." – Nicole Williams, program coordinator
"My top two cereals have always been Lucky Charms and Honey Nut Cheerios (specifically "honey nut"). I tried to be adventurous and branch out to regular Cheerios once in college, and I was very Unpleasantly surprised at how vast the difference is between the two!" – Samantha Wells, program coordinator
"I wasn’t much of a fan of cereal or milk growing up. While everyone else reached for their bowls of sugary goodness, I was more inclined to start my mornings with a buttery bowl of grits instead." – Andrea Stubbs, administrative director
"Growing up, one of my favorite cereals was Lucky Charms—mainly because of the
sweet marshmallows. I’d eat an entire bowl just to enjoy them! As I got older and went to college, there were days when I couldn’t wait to head to the café just to have a bowl of Lucky Charms." – Akeria Taylor, program coordinator
"My favorite cereal is Lucky Charms. I also like a lot of other cereals, but Lucky Charms is still my favorite." - Heather Brandt, director
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Get Free St. Jude HPV Education Materials
The St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program has created a series of HPV fact sheets that emphasize basic information about HPV vaccination and include action steps to prevent HPV cancers. Facts sheets are available for several audiences.
- Childhood cancer survivors and their families
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Access Previous Versions of the St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program Monthly E-newsletter
Did you miss one of the St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program’s monthly e-newsletters? No problem! You can access all of them online. Scroll to the bottom of the resources page to read them. For more information, email PreventHPV@stjude.org.
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About St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and cures childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. That’s why St. Jude is raising awareness on HPV vaccination, which can prevent six types of cancer caused by the virus. As the only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center dedicated solely to children, St. Jude has an important role and responsibility in increasing the number of children who benefit from HPV vaccination and reduce their risk of preventable cancers later in life.
The St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program envisions a world free of HPV cancers. Through education, promoting best practice models, and strategic partner engagement, its mission is to increase on-time HPV vaccination. On-time HPV vaccination by the 13th birthday provides safe, effective, and long-lasting protection against the most common types of HPV linked to cancers.
Learn more at stjude.org/HPV. Email PreventHPV@stjude.org with any questions.
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St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
262 Danny Thomas Place
Memphis, TN 38105
United States
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