Culture and Communication

The Global Culture and Communication (C&C) Program strives to support the cure of childhood cancer globally with culturally appropriate approaches to research, education and community engagement.

The program seeks to empower pediatric hematology-oncology clinicians to work with families and communities to establish trust, improve communication and provide empathetic and culturally sensitive care. 

Program Initiatives

C&C works toward its goals through the following efforts: 

• Education. C&C offers evidence-based methods of approaching care with inclusive consideration of how perception, belief and knowledge affect patient- and family-centered pediatric cancer care. 
• Research. C&C seeks to identify barriers to treatment adherence and patient-centered communication that may inform the care of children with cancer worldwide. 
• Interventions. Through community engagement, C&C works with research sites to develop community-based, culturally appropriate interventions to increase patient-centered care and team capacity. 
• Network. C&C engages communities to connect leaders and learners toward embracing the unique cultural differences that professionals in pediatric oncology face, propelling a collaborative approach to care. 

Our Team

Dylan Graetz, MD, MPH

Director, Culture and Communication Program

Assistant Member, St. Jude Faculty

Full Bio

Shayla Lawrence, MPH

Project Coordinator, Culture and Communication Program

Full Bio