Synergies, partnership outcomes, and lessons learned: A qualitative evaluation of cancer center—coalition engagement
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Nine National Cancer Institute (NCI)-Designated Cancer Centers received supplemental funding to expand community outreach and engagement (COE) activities through a partnership with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-funded comprehensive cancer control coalitions. This article reports on an evaluation of these awards focused on organizational relationship synergies and partnership outcomes. METHODS: NCI, COE, and coalition representatives co-designed the evaluation, which involved document review and 18 semi-structured interviews with 16 COE and 19 coalition representatives. AI-generated interview transcripts were dual-coded in NVivo 20/R1. RESULTS: The funding generated a diverse collection of projects and partnerships. COE-coalition synergies and lessons learned were evident in the following domains: infrastructure, community and partner engagement, data monitoring, and intervention implementation, evaluation, and dissemination. Outcomes of this funding initiative were evident in the following domains: strengthened partnerships, expanded knowledge, improved health or healthcare programs and policies, and thriving communities. CONCLUSIONS: Fostering COE-coalition partnerships created opportunities to leverage synergies and build capacity for engagement across multiple domains, contributing to enhanced trust and implementation of interventions across the cancer continuum. The findings provide examples and lessons about synergistic opportunities for cancer centers and coalitions to capitalize on. Successful collaborative relationships were based on identifying shared goals and complimentary expertise and roles, sharing of financial and other resources, and a commitment to authentic and open dialogue. While modest and short-term, supplemental funding can strengthen organizational relationships and promote effective collaboration on community-facing activities; it can also lead to improved research engagement and translation of evidence to practice.
Source: UNC Libraries
DOI: 10.17615/ccz9-9t04
Authors: Dee, Craig, Mendoza, Jason A, Briant, Katherine J, Sittig, Kelly Wells, Chavez, Sarah, Thompson, Hayley S, Wangen, Mary, Borrayo, Evelinn A, Bruegl, Amanda, Lipman, Paula Darby, Villalobos, Aubrey, Drake, Bettina, Kikuchi, Kara, Purvis, Lisa, Parker, Myra, Wheeler, Stephanie B, Beebe-Dimmer, Jennifer, Lowery, Jan, Johnson, Selisha Snowy, Leeman, Jennifer
Institution: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Language: English
Subfield: General Health Professions
Field: Health Professions
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7160432975