Lourdes Baezconde-Garbanati, PhD, MPH, professor of preventive medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, received the “Making a Different World” award at the 6^th Biennial National Latino Cancer Summit in San Francisco on July 31. The award honors researchers or academics who examine disease causes, disparities, health policies or gaps related to the Latino community to improve awareness, prevention, treatment and care.

The conference focused on the “Latino cancer conundrum,” a reference to the disparities in research and how cancer impacts the Latino community. Attendees included clinicians, researchers and cancer advocates, who examined the latest in cancer research, treatment, prevention and best practices when working with Latino populations.

Baezconde-Garbanati, who is also associate dean for community initiatives at the Keck School and associate director for community engagement at the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, received the award in recognition of her outstanding work to reduce the cancer burden and cancer-related disparities among Latinas in the Los Angeles area.

— Larissa Puro