MENURogel Cancer Center members volunteer to administer COVID-19 vaccinations at local church
Media contact: Nicole Fawcett, 734-764-2220 | Patients may contact Cancer AnswerLine™ 800-865-1125
Steven Katz, M.D., M.P.H., and Sofia Merajver, M.D., Ph.D., both volunteered at a recent event focused on Spanish speakers at the St. Francis of Assisi Church
The Washtenaw County vaccination program has been offering COVID-19 vaccines to our community by partnering with local institutions like churches or residential community organizations to sponsor events. These "pop-up" vaccination events have needed volunteers to administer shots. Rogel Cancer Center members Steven Katz, M.D., M.P.H., and Sofia Merajver, M.D., Ph.D., both volunteered at a recent event focused on Spanish speakers at the St. Francis of Assisi Church.
"I have a special interest in Latina oncology health and our research team has many studies focused on communication and decision making in precision oncology with emphasis on cultural factors. So, it has been a privilege to get out into the community and offer my services as vaccinator," says Katz.
Working to diminish inequities was a driving force behind Merajver's decision to volunteer.
"I have worked on global cancer health in South America and Africa, trying to bring effective prevention and therapies throughout impoverished, isolated, and low resourced areas," says Merajver. "Knowing there would be inequities (before they happened) in vaccination access, I embraced the chance to interact with the Latinx community of our area and facilitate their vaccinations."
Both Katz and Merajver were proud to offer their services as medical professionals to combat the ongoing pandemic. "It was great to see medical and nursing and pharmacy colleagues such as Dr. Steve Katz helping out," says Merajver.
While it was a change from their typical day, it was an impactful experience for both.
"As a research scientist and clinician, this never gets old," says Katz.