Women’s History Month is a time to recognize the extraordinary contributions women have made and continue to make across every field. In healthcare especially, women have been at the forefront of groundbreaking research, compassionate care, and powerful advocacy.
From advancing cancer prevention to ensuring underserved communities have access to life-saving resources, women in healthcare are shaping the present and building a more equitable future.
At Cervivor, this month is about lifting up the voices of women driving change in cervical cancer awareness, prevention, and survivorship — including the following five leaders.
“Their work reminds us that progress happens when research, advocacy, and community come together,” says Cervivor Founder and Chief Visionary Tamika Felder, who proudly calls them allies in the fight to eliminate cervical cancer.
Dr. Deanna Kepka, PhD, MPH: Advancing Prevention and Health Equity
Dr. Deanna Kepka’s work focuses on what matters most: saving lives through prevention. From increasing HPV vaccination rates to improving access to cervical cancer screening, this public health researcher, nursing professor, and award-winning leader at the University of Utah Huntsman Cancer Institute is dedicated to reaching communities too often left out of the conversation.
Through culturally responsive education and community-based programs, she works alongside underserved populations to ensure that language, access, and trust are no longer barriers to care. Her impact extends beyond borders, supporting prevention efforts across the U.S. and internationally, because prevention should be accessible to everyone.
Dr. Kepka’s work reflects the power of meeting people where they are and turning knowledge into action, moving us closer to cervical cancer elimination.
Dr. Marvella Ford, PhD: Bringing Community Voices into Research
Cancer research is strongest when it reflects the communities it serves.
Dr. Marvella Ford is helping lead that change through the Community Scientist Program at MUSC Hollings Cancer Center in Charleston, SC, which brings survivors, advocates, and community leaders directly into the research process.
By training community members in cancer science and research design, the program helps bridge the gap between researchers and the people most impacted. The result is research that is more inclusive, culturally aware, and grounded in real lived experiences.
As advocates, we know how powerful it is when patients have a seat at the table. Our voices matter. Our experiences matter. When we partner with researchers, we help move science forward in ways that truly serve communities.
Dr. Susan T. Vadaparampil, PhD, MPH: Turning Research into Real-World Impact
Behind every breakthrough is someone making sure it reaches the people who need it most.
Dr. Susan T. Vadaparampil has spent her career focused on a central challenge in cancer prevention: ensuring that scientific advances are not just discovered, but delivered to the communities needing them most. Earlier this month, her work earned her the Connie Mack Researcher of the Year Award, one of the highest honors at Tampa’s Moffitt Cancer Center.
A nationally recognized leader in cancer prevention and population science, Dr. Vadaparampil designs and leads studies that help patients, providers, and health systems better adopt life-saving innovations. Her work bridges the gap between discovery and real-world care, ensuring that breakthroughs do not stay in labs but reach everyday people.
One major focus of her research has been cervical cancer prevention, particularly increasing uptake of the HPV vaccine. Since the vaccine’s early rollout, she has explored ways to improve vaccination rates through provider education, parent outreach, and system-level solutions that make prevention more accessible.
“There are so few things where we can actually prevent cancer,” she said after the recent award announcement. “Being able to move the needle on HPV vaccination feels like a huge accomplishment for our state and for our nation.”
Beyond cervical cancer, Dr. Vadaparampil has made significant contributions to expanding access to genetic testing for inherited cancer risk. Her research examines why many eligible patients do not receive testing, from provider awareness to patient concerns, and works to develop practical solutions that increase access to this potentially life-saving information.
Her career reflects a powerful truth. Progress in cancer prevention is not just about discovery. It is about access, implementation, and impact.
Dr. Adana A. M. Llanos, PhD, MPH & Dr. Jennifer Tsui: Advancing Health Equity Through Research
Equitable access to cervical cancer care remains one of the most urgent challenges in women’s health. Dr. Adana A. M. Llanos and Dr. Jennifer Tsui are working to change that.
As Co-Principal Investigators of the ACHIEVE Study at Columbia University’s Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center and Mailman School of Public Health, they are identifying and addressing the systemic barriers that prevent many women from receiving timely, life-saving treatment. Their work focuses on turning research into practical strategies that improve access to care.
Dr. Llanos, a cancer and molecular epidemiologist, studies how social and structural factors shape cancer risk and survivorship, while mentoring future scientists to lead with equity and evidence-based prevention.
Dr. Tsui, an expert in cancer disparities and health services research, focuses on improving how care is delivered within complex healthcare systems so screenings, treatment, and prevention reach underserved communities.
Together, their work reflects the importance of integrating community perspectives into research. By connecting science with lived experience, Dr. Llanos and Dr. Tsui are helping build a future where access to cervical cancer care is not determined by circumstance, but available to all.
Moving Forward, Not Back
These five healthcare leaders remind us that progress is possible when passion meets purpose. This Women’s History Month, we honor their work and recommit to a future where prevention is accessible, care is equitable, and no one faces cervical cancer alone.
Want to connect with more inspiring, impactful experts who care? Save the date for the 2027 Cervical Cancer Summit, powered by Cervivor, Inc. Join us as researchers, advocates, survivors, and healthcare leaders come together to learn, collaborate, and move closer to eliminating cervical cancer — together.