Wellness House Presents
Equitable Cancer Care Summit: From Community Engagement to Community Impact
Building a More Responsive and Equitable Cancer Care Ecosystem
Date & Time
Friday, February 5, 2027
9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Location
Simpson Querrey Biomedical Research Center
303 East Superior Street
Chicago, IL 60611
Save the Date
Equitable Cancer Care Summit 2027
Friday, February 5, 2027
9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Simpson Querrey Biomedical Research Center
Chicago, Illinois
Presented by Wellness House in partnership with Northwestern Medicine and the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University.
About the Summit
From Community Engagement to Community Impact
Meaningful progress in cancer care depends on how well our systems respond to the people and communities they serve.
The 2027 Equitable Cancer Care Summit brings together healthcare professionals and community leaders to explore how stronger connections across the cancer care ecosystem can translate into lasting improvements in care.
Through promising practices and interactive discussions, participants will consider what it takes to reduce fragmentation and build a more responsive system that better connects people with the care and support they need.
Featured Keynote Speaker
Tracy Battaglia, MD, MPH
Professor of Medicine
Yale School of Medicine
Associate Director, Community Outreach
and Engagement, Yale Cancer Center
A nationally recognized leader in cancer care delivery and patient navigation, Dr. Battaglia brings extensive experience advancing health equity through community-engaged research and collaborative approaches to care.
Drawing on her research and national leadership, she will examine how the field can move beyond helping patients navigate fragmented systems toward creating systems that are better connected, more responsive, and easier to navigate.
Her keynote will offer a framework for rethinking how healthcare and community organizations work together to create meaningful change.
2027 Summit Program
Program Highlights
Keynote Address
From Silos to Ecosystems: Building Responsive Cancer Care Through Navigation, Community Partnership, and Collective Impact
Tracy Battaglia, MD, MPH Yale School of Medicine | Yale Cancer Center
An examination of the evolving science and practice of oncology navigation, with a focus on strengthening connections across health systems and community settings.
Spotlight on Promising Practices
Ideas Taking Shape in Practice
Hear how leaders across the cancer care ecosystem are translating stronger connections into meaningful improvements in care.
From Referral to Connection
Gladys Rodriguez, MD Northwestern Medicine
Exploring how stronger referral pathways and connections across care settings can help patients access the services and resources they need.
From Engagement to Impact
Dario R. Roque, MD Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine
Examining how community engagement and collaboration can translate into meaningful improvements in cancer care.
Multidisciplinary Panel Discussion
Building a Connected Cancer Care Ecosystem
Healthcare and community leaders will examine the opportunities and challenges involved in creating a more coordinated cancer care ecosystem, including how organizations can strengthen relationships and improve continuity across settings.
Interactive Breakout Sessions
Where Ideas Become Conversation
Participate in focused discussions exploring practical challenges and opportunities to advance more equitable cancer care.
SESSION 01 | ACCESS
Moving Beyond Availability to Meaningful Access
Exploring what makes cancer care and supportive services genuinely accessible to the individuals and communities they are intended to serve.
SESSION 02 | NAVIGATION
From Navigating Silos to Connecting the Cancer Care Ecosystem
Facilitated by Dr. Tracy Battaglia
An interactive discussion exploring how organizations can reduce fragmentation and build a more coordinated cancer care experience for patients.
SESSION 03 | PARTNERSHIP & IMPACT
Turning Collaboration into Sustainable Change
Considering how partnerships can produce lasting improvements in care delivery and community impact.
Networking and Collaboration
Continue the Conversation
Connect with physicians, clinical leaders, researchers, healthcare professionals, and community partners working to advance equitable cancer care throughout Chicagoland.
Join Us
Be Part of the Conversation
Friday, February 5, 2027 | 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Simpson Querrey Biomedical Research Center
303 East Superior Street
Chicago, IL 60611
Free to Attend | Registration Required
We invite healthcare professionals across clinical, research, and community settings to join us for a day of shared learning and meaningful discussion about the future of equitable cancer care. Register using the form below.
To Register:
Equitable Cancer Care Summit 2027
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