Dr. Vanessa B. Sheppard, a leading health disparities researcher at Virginia Commonwealth University, is working to address inequalities in breast cancer outcomes for Black women. Her innovative “Sisters Informing Sisters” intervention pairs newly diagnosed Black breast cancer patients with Black survivor-coaches to improve patient engagement and treatment adherence.
“Studies show differences between how information is delivered from physicians to patients of color,” Sheppard explains. “Physicians tend to give more information to their white patients, less to their Black patients.”
The program aims to empower patients to ask more questions and make informed decisions about their care. Early results show increased uptake of recommended therapies among participants.
As associate director for community outreach at VCU Massey Cancer Center, Sheppard focuses on engaging underrepresented populations in clinical research. She emphasizes the importance of community partnerships in shaping studies.
“I do believe that if any place can do health equity research right – knowing that you have to understand and eliminate disparities to achieve that equity – it’s VCU,” Sheppard says.
Her work was recently recognized with the American Cancer Society’s 2022 Researcher of the Year Award.
See “VCU health inequities researcher uses her hard-earned influence to support others” (March 8, 2023)
