By Johari Tello
Johari Tello is a double master’s student at Purdue University studying the history of medicine and public health. Alongside her graduate studies, she works in a hospital setting, where her experiences with patients and healthcare systems continue to shape her academic and advocacy work. A former Cervivor intern, she is the founder of Cervivor University Purdue — a student-led initiative dedicated to expanding cervical cancer education and awareness across campus.
In honor of National Women’s Health Week (May 10 to 16, 2026), we asked her to share how she found purpose in personal family loss and tackling the gaps in women’s health education.
I first learned about Cervivor Inc. and Tamika Felder in the fall of 2024, during my junior year at Purdue University. I was enrolled in a History of Women in America course taught by Wendy Kline, Ph.D., a professor whose classes I had been taking since my freshman year. Dr. Kline is one of those educators who doesn’t just teach material; she creates an environment where curiosity feels natural and where personal experiences are just as valuable as the readings themselves.
During that semester, we spent time on the history of cervical cancer, including the development of the Pap test, the work of Georgios Papanikolaou, and ethical discussions surrounding Henrietta Lacks. One day, Dr. Kline showed us a documentary about five women and their experiences with cervical cancer. After the film, she focused on one story in particular, Tamika Felder’s.
Then we opened the floor for discussion.
The documentary that Dr. Kline showed Johari’s class features Cervivor’s founder Tamika Felder (top right).
That’s when something hit me that I haven’t been able to shake since. In a room of about 60 women — college-educated, engaged, and thoughtful — only about three people could clearly explain what cervical cancer was. Maybe 10 had undergone a Pap test or screening, but most didn’t actually know what it was for. I was one of them.
It became painfully obvious: There was a serious gap in the education we were receiving.
A Family Story Rewritten
That moment didn’t just stay in the classroom — it followed me home. Growing up, the death of my paternal grandmother was something that quietly lingered in the background of my life. She passed away before I was born, so everything I knew came from my father’s memories. He always told me she had died from ovarian cancer, and because I had heard that it could be hereditary, it left me with a sense of uncertainty about my own future.
After that class, I went home and started talking with my family about what I had learned. That’s when my father paused and said something that shifted everything: His mother had actually passed away from cervical cancer, not ovarian cancer.
What followed was one of the most meaningful conversations my family has had. My father grew up in a small, semi-rural town in Jalisco, Mexico, where access to healthcare was limited. The nearest public hospital was about an hour away, and barriers like cost, transportation, and trust meant that many women didn’t seek formal medical care.
With the help of my sister, who is a nurse, and the information I had just learned in class, we were able to talk openly about what cervical cancer is, how it develops, and how preventable it can be with proper screening and vaccination.
That conversation replaced uncertainty and stigma with understanding. It gave us clarity — and, in a way, peace. Instead of something we avoided talking about, my grandmother’s story became something we could learn from.
For me, it reinforced just how powerful — and necessary — education is.
Why Cervical Cancer Education Matters for Young Adults
The gap I saw in my classroom wasn’t just academic; it had real consequences. College is often the first time people are fully managing their own healthcare. It’s when they begin to understand their bodies more independently, ask questions, and make decisions about their health.
It’s also when key preventive measures begin, like the Pap test at age 21 and the HPV vaccine recommended beginning at ages 11 to 12 (and available from age 9 through 45). But if students don’t understand what these measures are for — or why they matter — they’re less likely to prioritize them. Also, removing stigma early can shape health outcomes for a lifetime.
Closing this gap matters now more than ever. It’s not just about more information — it’s about more accessible, relevant education that meets people where they are. Bringing cervical cancer education to college campuses creates space for students to learn, ask questions, and engage in conversations that are too often missing from traditional education.
Building Cervivor University at Purdue
After that initial class, I couldn’t stop thinking about what I had seen and learned. The following semester, I took another course, History of Patient Voices, taught by Dr. Michelle Labonte. For a major project, I chose to focus on Cervivor and the history of cervical cancer, particularly the stigma surrounding it and how that stigma has shaped both public perception and medical treatment.
For months, I immersed myself in research. The more I learned, the more inspired I became by the work Tamika and Cervivor were doing. Eventually, I decided to take a leap of faith. I reached out to Dr. Kline and asked if she could connect me with Tamika. She gladly did.
Dr. Kline was a guest on the Cervivor Podcast in February 2025 after the publication of her book, Exposed: The Hidden History of the Pelvic Exam.
When I contacted Tamika, I shared how I had learned about her story, my personal connection through my grandmother, and my concerns about the lack of education I had witnessed. Then I pitched an idea: starting a collegiate chapter of Cervivor at Purdue.
She loved it.
Last summer, I had the opportunity to intern with Cervivor, working closely with Tamika on developing what would become Cervivor University Purdue. That experience was incredibly formative. I was able to learn directly from patients, advocates, medical professionals, and public health experts. Hearing their stories and understanding the broader impact of this work made everything feel even more urgent — and more possible.
Creating Community and Impact on Campus
Our first semester has already been incredibly meaningful. We’ve built a strong and supportive community of students, many of whom are future healthcare professionals. We’ve hosted events that bring both awareness and compassion into the conversation, like making Valentine’s Day cards for cancer patients at local hospitals and clinics in the Lafayette area.
We’ve also welcomed inspiring guest speakers like Cervivor Ambassador Tiera Wade and AYA cancer survivor and Stupid Cancer founder Matthew Zachary, who shared their stories and offered insight into what effective advocacy looks like. These moments have helped our members see how education can translate into real impact.
Beyond our events, we’ve started building an online community to expand our reach and continue these conversations outside of meetings.
Looking Ahead: Expanding the Movement
Looking ahead, our short-term goal is to expand our outreach both on campus and in the greater Lafayette, Indiana, community, with a stronger focus on education and accessibility.
Long-term, I hope Cervivor University Purdue can serve as a model for other universities, encouraging students across the country to start their own chapters and join this movement.
I’ll also be staying at Purdue to pursue my master’s degrees in the history of medicine and public health, which will allow me to continue growing this organization and deepening its impact.
What started as a single classroom moment has turned into something much bigger. It showed me how powerful education can be — but also how dangerous it is when that education is missing.
Cervical cancer is preventable. The tools are there.
Now it’s about making sure people actually have the knowledge to use them.
If you’re interested in starting a Cervivor University chapter at your school, we’d love to hear from you — reach out at [email protected].
Watch the moment that Johari announced Cervivor University Purdue at the 2026 Cervical Cancer Summit Powered by Cervivor, Inc.
