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Trends in Cancer Screening among Arizona Medicaid Members: 2018 - 2024
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Dr. Gloria Coronado is an epidemiologist and cancer prevention researcher who serves as Associate Director for Population Sciences at the University of Arizona Cancer Center and Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics.
With over 25 years of experience in cancer research, Dr. Coronado specializes in developing community- and practice-based health innovations and leading disparities research across diverse healthcare settings. Her research focuses primarily on using electronic health records and risk-stratification tools to deliver targeted preventive care services—particularly colorectal cancer screening and follow-up—to high-need patient populations.
This work has fostered successful partnerships with integrated delivery systems, federally qualified health centers, Medicaid health plans, and rural practices. She has developed and tested digital tools and visual communication strategies to increase colorectal cancer awareness and screening uptake. Dr. Coronado serves as Vice-Chair of the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable and is a workgroup member of NCI's National Cancer Advisory Board.
Dr. Josheili (Joshi) Llavona-Ortiz is a T32 Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Arizona Cancer. Her current work primarily focuses on quantitatively assessing colorectal cancer screening uptake among adults 45-49. Moreover, she is participating in qualitative projects to gauge the overall interest and concerns in using AI-developed tools to address cancer prevention and control education.
She has also conducted mixed methods study to explore changes in HPV vaccination uptake and conversations, and to develop and test an intervention to increase colorectal cancer screening uptake in Puerto Rico. Her long-term research plan is to explore gaps in health communication to develop or improve existing interventions to disseminate updates to screening and vaccination guidelines.
Dr. Anna Morenz works as an internal medicine primary care physician and health services researcher at the University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson, where she teaches residents and medical students and conducts research on improving access to and quality of primary and preventive care. She focuses on addressing inequities in cancer screening and improving care transitions from acute care to primary care.
