Masonic Cancer Center announces the appointment of Dr. Rebekah Pratt as Co-Associate Director of Community Outreach and Engagement

Rebekah Pratt, PhD, has been appointed to the leadership team of the Twin Cities’ only National Cancer Institute (NCI) designated comprehensive cancer center.

Dr. Pratt will join Jen Poynter, MPH, PhD, as the Masonic Cancer Center’s Co-Associate Director for Community Outreach and Engagement. Pratt is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health and is a research member of the Masonic Cancer Center’s Screening, Prevention, Etiology, and Cancer Survivorship Program and the Program for Health Disparities Research. Poynter was named as the Masonic Cancer Center’s first Associate Director for Community Outreach and Engagement in April 2020.

“Dr. Pratt’s work on engaging the community in research represents the type of studies necessary to solve existing cancer disparity outcomes,” noted Douglas Yee, MD, Director of the Masonic Cancer Center. “Her expertise in this area will help us ensure that our research serves Minnesotans and establish bi-directional communication between researchers and our community.”

Dr. Pratt's research and interests are focused on community engagement and cancer prevention in immigrant communities. She is currently an MPI on an NCI-funded R01 exploring the use of HPV self-sampling as an approach to increase cervical cancer screening for Somali patients in primary care. 

“I am excited to be joining Dr. Poynter in co-leading the Community Outreach and Engagement Core at the Masonic Cancer Center. Community Engagement and Outreach is such an essential part of identifying and addressing the serious and persistent cancer disparities that impact many communities in Minnesota,” said Dr. Pratt. “I’m looking forward to working with the COE team in supporting their ongoing efforts to build relationships with communities, offer education and resources, impact policies, enhance community engagement, and bring community voices into the work of the MCC.”

Dr. Pratt’s appointment became effective on October 11, 2021. 

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Pratt on her new position.

About the Masonic Cancer Center

The Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, is the Twin Cities’ only Comprehensive Cancer Center, designated ‘Outstanding’ by the National Cancer Institute. As Minnesota’s Cancer Center, we have served the entire state for more than 25 years. Our researchers, educators, and care providers have worked to discover the causes, prevention, detection, and treatment of cancer and cancer-related diseases. Learn more at cancer.umn.edu