Community Outreach and Engagement

Linda Mermelstein

Linda Mermelstein, MD, MPH

  • Associate Director, Community Outreach and Engagement, Stony Brook Cancer Center

Stony Brook Cancer Center 
Lauterbur Drive
Stony Brook, NY 11794

The Office for Community Outreach and Engagement is the bridge between our local community and Stony Brook Cancer Center.

The primary goal of our office is to reduce the cancer burden and disparities in our local community of Suffolk and Nassau counties. To accomplish this goal, Stony Brook cancer research and administrative programming is guided by the unique needs and attributes of the community. This community perspective is developed by engaging our community partners and stakeholders as well as gathering information from available surveys and other local measures.

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Specific Aims

  1. Surveillance: Define the cancer burden on Long Island (LI) and perform ongoing monitoring and dissemination of this information to Stony Brook Cancer Center scientists, clinicians and community-based stakeholders.
     
  2. Prevention Education and Screening: Provide evidence-based cancer control, education and screening services to the LI community to reduce the overall cancer burden and disparities among specific communities and engage community members and organizations on LI in this process. Learn more about prevention and screening.
     
  3. Engagement: Engage in bi-directional communication with stakeholder groups to inform, develop and implement policies and programs for prevention, early detection and treatment to reduce cancer morbidity and mortality on LI; to inform cancer research; and to disseminate evidence-based findings.
     
  4. Catalyzing Research: Catalyze expanded novel and high-impact cancer research across basic, translational, clinical and population science, to address LI’s cancer-specific burden and reduce cancer disparities.
Specific Aims Infographic

Stony Brook Cancer Center's Catchment Area: Nassau and Suffolk Counties on Long Island

Map showing areas of Long Island Cancer Centers coverage.

The SBCC is located on Long Island (LI) in Suffolk County, NY, which is a densely populated island approximately 118 miles long and 23 miles wide. While geographically the island has a total population of approximately 7.8 million people, locals refer to Long Island as solely consisting of Suffolk and Nassau counties, excluding the two New York City boroughs of Queens and Brooklyn. These two boroughs are physically located on the western tip of the island and administratively are part of NY City (Manhattan) and are distinct from the two Long Island counties. 

Travel times from areas within Nassau and Suffolk to Manhattan frequently exceed three hours due to lengthy distances to the eastern parts of the island and very heavy traffic congestion on the western part of the island. Moreover, Suffolk and Nassau counties are more suburban and even agricultural (eastern part) compared to the highly urban NY City. This geographical layout lends itself to the convenient location of SBCC for the approximately three million residents of Nassau and Suffolk Counties, particularly, Suffolk.

Community Partnerships

The Stony Brook Cancer Center’s Office for Community Outreach and Engagement routinely partners with local and national organizations to further its mission of addressing the cancer burden on Long Island. 

Below are a few of the agencies we frequently partner with:

  • Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators (AONN)
  • American Cancer Society
  • Cancer Services Program of Suffolk and Nassau Counties
  • Latina Sisters
  • Long Island Health Collaborative
  • Long Island Navigators Network (LINN)
  • Mobile Healthcare Association
  • NYS HPV Coalition
  • Suffolk County Department of Health Services Cancer Prevention and Health Promotion Coalition
  • Public Libraries
  • Faith Based Organizations
  • School Districts
  • Local Assemblypersons, Legislators, Congressmen and Senators

Accomplishments

Publications and Presentations:

  1. Ding, Z., Deng, J., Mermelstein, L., Nemesure, B., Osborne, T., & Wang, F. (2025). Demographic disparities, temporal trends, and geographic patterns of HPV vaccination on Long Island, New York: A comprehensive analysis of immunization registry data (2012–2023). Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics, 21(1), 2487383. https://doi.org/10.1080/21645515.2025.2487383
  2. Ji, H., Elangbam, M., Qiu, Y., Bamrah, J., Zhang, W., Pawar, A., Thakur, C., Chen, F., & Wang, Z. (2025). Arsenic disrupts H3K9me3 and H3K27me3 balance by biasing PRC2.1 and PRC2.2 activity via PALI1 inhibition in carcinogenesis. International Journal of Biological Sciences, 21(9), 4069–4080. https://doi.org/10.7150/ijbs.115605
  3. Nemesure, B., Wood, S. K., & Mermelstein, L. (2025). Utilization of complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine practices among US adults with and without a diagnosis of cancer. Supportive Care in Cancer, 33(7), 582. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-025-09627-y
  4. Seno, A., Bi, Z., Polin, L., Liu, Z., Qiu, Y., Zhang, W., Pawar, A., Thakur, C., Seno, M., Wang, Z., & Chen, F. (2025). Genome-wide mapping of arsenic-activated Nrf2 reveals metabolic and epigenetic reprogramming in induced pluripotent stem cells. Redox Biology, 86, 103773. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.redox.2025.103773
  5. Thakur, C., Saran, U., & Chen, F. (2025). Editorial: The impact of specific environmental exposures on breast, lung, and colon cancer: Advancing public health strategies for enhanced outcomes. Frontiers in Public Health, 13, 1483915. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1483915
  6. Mermelstein, L., Payne, J. B., Martillotti, R., Mock, K. O., Moyer, A. E., Bily, L., Caravella, G., Grimaldi, J. M., Jadotte, Y. T., Phillips, J. P., Scarbrough, K. H., Francois, J., & Nemesure, B. D. (2025). Black Men’s Prostate Cancer Knowledge, Attitudes, Beliefs, and Access to Health Information. American Journal of Men’s Health, 19(6), 15579883251377306. https://doi.org/10.1177/15579883251377306
  7. Veintimilla, A., Chen, J., Nemesure, B., Mermelstein, L., & Trask, A. (2025). Assessing the Attitudes, Knowledge, and Beliefs of the Hispanic Community Regarding Skin Cancer. International Journal of Research in Dermatology, 11(6), 579–611. https://doi.org/10.18203/issn.2455-4529.IntJResDermatol20253297
  8. Wang, Z., Bi, Z., Bamrah, J., Qiu, Y., Zhang, W., Almutairy, B. S., Ji, H., Haley, J. D., Thakur, C., & Chen, F. (2025). Nrf2 Drives Epigenetic Reprogramming and Acts as the Master Regulator of KLF4 Expression and Activity in Arsenic‐Induced Transformation. Advanced Science, 12(40), e00221. https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202500221
  9. Wang, Z., Thakur, C., Bi, Z., Qiu, Y., Zhang, W., Ji, H., Venkatesan, A. K., Cherukuri, S., Liu, K. J., Haley, J. D., Mao, X., Meliker, J., & Chen, F. (2025). 1,4‐Dioxane Induces Epithelial‐Mesenchymal Transition and Carcinogenesis in an Nrf2‐Dependent Manner. Journal of Extracellular Vesicles, 14(5), e70072. https://doi.org/10.1002/jev2.70072
  10. Zhang, W., Wang, Z., Fu, Y., Thakur, C., Ji, H., Bi, Z., Qiu, Y., Elangbam, M., Haley, J., & Chen, F. (2025). Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AHR) Suppresses Arsenic (As3+)-Induced Malignant Transformation by Antagonizing TOX Expression. International Journal of Biological Sciences, 21(6), 2747–2761. https://doi.org/10.7150/ijbs.107268
  11. Grimaldi, J. (September 2025). Fostering Relationships from Focus Groups to Community Health Workers [Breakout Session]. Cancer Center Community Impact Forum, Raleigh, NC, United States.
  12. Thakur, C., Qiu, Y., Bamrah, J., Svenson, D., Pawar, A., Wang, Z., & Chen, F. (September 2025). Histone code rewriting in mdig-deficient triple negative breast cancer cells drives metastasis-promoting transcription [Poster and Presentation]. Breast Cancer Symposium, Port Jefferson, NY.
  13. Ding, Z., Deng, J., Mermelstein, L., Nemesure, B., Osborne, T., & Wang, F. (January 2025). Trends and Patterns of Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Rates on Long Island [Poster Presentation]. Catchment Area Data Ex Conference (CAD-EX), San Diego, CA.
  14. Trask, A., Caravella, G., Ryan, M., Keburia, K., Hughes, M., & Oakley, M. (April 2025). Creation, Dissemination, and Evaluation of an HPV Toolkit: For Colleges, By Colleges [Poster Presentation]. National HPV Conference, Indianapolis, IN.
  15. Veintimilla, A., Chen, J., Nemesure, B., Mermelstein, L., & Trask, A. (August 2025). Assessing the Attitudes, Knowledge, and Beliefs of the Hispanic Community Regarding Skin Cancer [Poster Presentation]. Medical Ethics Symposium, Stony Brook, NY.
  16. Veintimilla, A., Chen, J., Nemesure, B., Mermelstein, L., & Trask, A. (August 2025). Assessing the Attitudes, Knowledge, and Beliefs of the Hispanic Community Regarding Skin Cancer [Poster Presentation]. DermLink Scholars Virtual Conference.
  1. Caravella, G., Grimaldi, J., Bily, L., Dineen, P., Martillotti, R., Mock, K., Moyer, A., Mermelstein, L., Payne, J., Scarbrough, K., & Nemesure, B. (December 2024). Recruitment of Males from Underserved Communities in Prostate Cancer Research: Reflections and Recommendations. International Journal of Men's Social and Community Health, 7(2). https://doi.org/10.3138/ijmsch.2024.0119
  2. Malik, S., Mock, K. O., Martillotti, R., Caravella, G., Zhou, X., Mbamelu, M., & Scarbrough, K. H. (December 2024). HPV Vaccines Among University Students: Understanding Barriers and Facilitators of Vaccine Uptake. Vaccines, 12, 1385. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines12121385
  3. Mastrogiacomo, C., Courtepatte, A., Moyer, A., Preece, C., Thompson, P., & Stopeck, A. (October 2024). Willingness of Women at Increased Risk of Breast Cancer to Participate in Prevention Trials. JCO Oncology Practice. https://doi.org/10.1200/OP-24-00487
  4. Atchade, A., Williams, J., Mermelstein, L., & Nemesure, B. (April 2024). Unraveling the Complexities of Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer: A Perspective on Dietary and Microbial Influences. Frontiers in Public Health, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1370108
  5. Martillotti, R., Mock, K., Patel, D., Moyer, A., Mermelstein, L., Scarbrough, K., Caravella, G., Bily, L., Grimaldi, J., Dineen, P., Phillips, J., Houghton, K., & Nemesure, B. (March 2024). Racial disparities in colorectal cancer: A qualitative study of barriers to care, knowledge, and screenings. [Poster Presentation]. 45th Annual Meeting & Scientific Sessions of the Society of Behavioral Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
  1. Dineen, P., Orduna, L., Hansen, S., Tejeda, A., & Alejo, R. (2023). The Socioeconomic Impact of Mobile Mammography. Journal of Oncology Navigation & Survivorship, 14(2), 39–45. https://www.jons-online.com/issues/2023/february-2023-vol-14-no-2?view=article&artid=4821:socioeconomic-impact-mobile-mammography
  2. Nemesure, B., Scarbrough, K., & Mermelstein, L. (2023). Racial Disparities in Prostate Cancer Stage at Diagnosis Persist Despite Community Affluence. Research and Reports in Urology, 14, 305–312. https://doi.org/10.2147/RRU.S371838
  3. Nemesure, B., Scarbrough, K., & Mermelstein, L. (2023). Does Community Affluence Improve Survival of Colorectal Cancer? AJPM Focus, 2(4), 100144. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.focus.2023.100144
  4. Scarbrough, K., & Craigg, D. (March 6, 2023). Vaccination: A Snapshot of Rates, Perceptions, and Health Literacy on a Public Northeastern University Campus. [Poster Presentation]. Stony Brook Renaissance School of Medicine 17th Annual Women in Medicine Research Day, Stony Brook, NY, United States.
  5. Scarbrough, K., & Craigg, D. (March 22, 2023). Vaccination: A Snapshot of Rates, Perceptions, and Health Literacy on a Public Northeastern University Campus. [Poster Presentation and Talk]. American College of Preventive Medicine Annual Meeting 2023, New Orleans, LA, United States.
  6. Payne, J., Martillotti, R., Mock, O., Francois, J., Moyer, A., Bily, L., Caravella, G., Grimaldi, J., Jadotte, Y., Mermelstein, L., Phillips, J., Scarbrough, K., & Nemesure, B. (April 26, 2023). A Qualitative Study of Black Men’s Prostate Cancer Attitudes, Beliefs, Barriers to Care, and Access to Health Information. [Poster Presentation]. Society of Behavioral Medicine 44th Annual Meeting, Phoenix, AZ, United States.
  7. Caravella, G., & Grimaldi, J. (October 2023). Establishing Focus Groups in Underserved Communities: It’s All About Trust. [Poster Presentation and Breakout Session]. Cancer Center Community Impact Forum, Miami, FL, United States.
  8. Malik, S., Zhou, X., Martillotti, R., Mock, K., Caravella, G., Mbamelu, M., Caxaj, L., & Scarbrough, K. (November 2023). HPV vaccines among college students: Understanding barriers and facilitators of vaccine uptake to increase health equity. [Oral Presentation]. American Public Health Association Annual Meeting and Expo, Atlanta, GA, United States.

Nemesure, B., Scarbrough, K., Mermelstein, L. (2022, May 23). Racial Disparities in Prostate Cancer Persist Despite Community Affluence & Access to Quality Healthcare [Poster Presentation]. NYC Epidemiology Forum Conference. 

  1. Comprehensive Cancer Control Program, Community Cancer Prevention Projects (2021 & 2022)
    Supported by the NYS Department of Health and Health Research, Inc., the purpose of this funding is to support local interventions to address the burden of cancer in communities and across the state. Stony Brook Cancer Center’s Office for Community Outreach and Engagement hosted a virtual educational event, presented by Clare Moran, DNP, for local primary care providers about understanding and caring for survivors in the primary care setting. In 2022, COE partnered with the Tisch Cancer Institute at Mount Sinai to cohost a virtual workshop for breast cancer survivors that provided exercise, nutrition, and other healthy strategies for caring for themselves.
  2. Cancer Prevention in Action (2021–2024)
    Cancer Prevention in Action (CPiA) is a NYS Department of Health program supporting local cancer prevention and risk reduction interventions. Stony Brook Cancer Center has been awarded this grant to support skin and HPV-related cancer prevention in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Goals include promotion of sun safety, reduction of UV exposure, and increased awareness of HPV vaccination. CPiA will educate communities on cancer prevention interventions as well as support cancer prevention policy adoption through partnerships with local businesses, schools, elected officials, health care providers, and community organizations. This project is supported with funds from Health Research, Inc. and New York State.
  3. Mobile Health Innovation Collaborative (2022)
    Stony Brook Medicine’s Mobile Mammography Unit received a $25,000 award that includes a nine-month collaboration with the team at Harvard Medical School on a project to increase the effectiveness of the mobile program by conducting a thorough evaluation of the program’s impact in the most underserved zip codes on Long Island.
  4. Pink Aid (2022)
    Pink Aid Long Island is funding a pilot program that will provide round-trip transportation, utilizing an UBER Health app, to Stony Brook Mobile Mammography sites on Long Island's east end for uninsured/underinsured Suffolk County patients being screened for breast cancer. Pink Aid provides compassionate support, critical resources, and emergency financial assistance to underserved breast cancer patients and their families.
  5. Presidential Mini-Grants for Departmental Diversity Initiative
    Awarded internally, the Presidential Mini-Grants for Departmental Diversity Initiative is designed to foster new projects, test ideas, and determine what may be the seeds of growth for the University. In 2022, members of COE’s Nicotine Cessation Workgroup were awarded a mini-grant to support their project, “Partnering with Suffolk County Shelters to Reduce Tobacco Use and Exposure: A Pilot Initiative.”
  1. Miriam and David Donoho Academy of Clinical and Educational Scholars (2021–2023)
    Dr. Barbara Nemesure, Director of the Cancer Prevention and Control Program
    Founded in 2014 by a generous donation from Drs. Miriam and David Donoho to enhance the educational mission of Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University. Membership in the Academy of Clinical and Medical Educators signifies outstanding contributions to the educational mission of the School of Medicine.
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