UCAN Executive Committee

Senior Community Engagement Researcher

Andy J. King, Ph.D., is an associate professor in the Department of Communication, and member of the Huntsman Cancer Institute, at the University of Utah. Dr. King’s research is focused on cancer communication, specifically on the design and evaluation of cancer control messages and on how people engage with cancer information in the public communication environment. He’s currently PI on a National Cancer Institute grant looking at how using novel approaches to monitor and evaluate public communication about colorectal cancer screening can improve future cancer communication efforts. He also serves as associate editor-in-chief of the academic journal Health Communication.

Director of Community Health

Shireen Ghorbani (she/her) leads efforts to increase access to health care and coverage as a director of community health for Intermountain Healthcare. From Peace Corps to public office to work in community health, service is an important through line for Shireen. In her professional role, she focuses on reducing Utah’s uninsured rate, community centered nutrition security collaborations, health policy, and expanding breast and colorectal cancer screening. Along with serving as the co-chair of UCAN, she currently serves as a board member for the YWCA, the Utah AIDS Foundation, and the Salt Lake Valley Coalition to End Homelessness.

HOPE

Melissa Hall, PhD, (she/her) leads the community engagement efforts in the Center for Health Outcomes and Population Equity (HOPE) at the University of Utah and Huntsman Cancer Institute. Her teaching and research focuses on community engagement, asset mapping, nonprofit organizations, anchor institution and place-based collaborations, and social impact. She recently co-edited an edition of  Metropolitan Universities Journal focused on Community Engagement at Academic Health Centers. She has been a member of UCAN since 2018.

Chronic Disease Management Integrated Care Coordinator

McKenzie Dangerfield, MHA is the Chronic Disease Management Integrated Care Coordinator of AUCH, which is the Primary Care Association (PCA) in the state of Utah. As the PCA of Utah, AUCH provides over 15,000 hours of training and technical assistance to 13 Health Centers as well as its affiliate members each year. McKenzie is involved in the development, coordination, and implementation of quality improvement training and technical assistance for chronic disease work processes within the health centers. McKenzie was a former quality improvement intern for Comagine Health where she worked on developing the Medication-Assisted Treatment ECHO program. Prior to this, she was a Medical Assistant for 8 years with both Intermountain Healthcare and the University of Utah Health System. McKenzie holds a Master of Healthcare Administration degree from the University of Utah, along with a Graduate Certificate in Business Analytics. She also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Promotion and Education with an emphasis on Emergency Medical Services from the University of Utah.

Biostatistician

Kim Herget (she/her) is a biostatistician with the Utah Cancer Registry. She works to disseminate cancer data for the state of Utah so researchers, community organizers, and policy makers have an accurate understanding of how cancer impacts Utahns and make data driven decisions. She works with researchers from around the world to help them utilize the Utah cancer data in their research projects. Her research interests include understanding trends in cancer diagnoses, cancer survival, and the impact of socioeconomic status and other demographics on both screening utilization and cancer diagnoses in our state. Kim has a master’s of statistics in sociology from the University of Utah and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Lafayette College in Pennsylvania. She has been a member of UCAN since 2009.

American Cancer Society

Allie Bain (she/her) has spent nearly all of her career working in cancer control across the country. In her current role as Associate Director of State Partnerships at the American Cancer Society, Allie works closely with partners including state cancer coalitions, state health departments and health plans to advance cancer prevention and control strategies based on evidence-based interventions and quality improvement strategies in Colorado and Utah. She also has a special interest in health equity as it relates to rural and frontier populations. In addition to her diverse experience, Allie has a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Iowa, a Master’s in Public Health, and a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from University of Colorado-Boulder.

Health Program Manager

Marie Nagata (she/her) is the Program Manager for the Breast & Cervical Cancer Screening Program at the Department of Health and Human Services. Marie has spent her entire career serving those who are less fortunate. She tirelessly works to ensure all women have an opportunity to receive cancer screening services, despite their circumstances. She works daily to address barriers to services by identifying and building partnerships in health care and community organizations. She has been a member of UCAN since 2018.

UCAN Program Specialist

Michelle Swapp, MCHES (she/her) is the Utah Cancer Action Network Program Specialist at the Department of Health and Human Services. Michelle is passionate about coalition coordination and development as well as Social Determinants of Health. She loves working with people who care about their community and wants to make Utah communities safer, healthier places for everyone.