Nationally Recognized Leader in Cancer Control Joins TGH Cancer Institute

Usha Menon, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, FSBM, has been appointed as the associate director of community outreach and engagement at the TGH Cancer Institute. Menon is a nationally recognized expert in behavioral science and cancer prevention, bringing decades of experience in developing culturally tailored, evidence-based interventions to improve cancer screening and outcomes among vulnerable populations. Her new role underscores the growing partnership between Tampa General and USF Health to deliver transformational cancer care and drive scientific discovery.

Key Takeaways:

• Usha Menon will lead efforts to deepen community partnerships, enhance outreach, and expand access to cancer care across Tampa Bay as the associate director of community outreach and engagement at the TGH Cancer Institute.
• Menon brings over 25 years of experience in developing culturally tailored, evidence-based interventions to improve cancer screening and outcomes among vulnerable populations.
• The TGH Cancer Institute is the first hospital in Florida to open a clinical command center for real-time situational awareness and has elevated its digital care coordination center to utilize artificial intelligence (AI) and analytics.
• The academic health system's commitment to growing and developing its team members has been recognized by Forbes magazine, ranking Tampa General in the top 3 for national reputation in Florida in 2022.
• In 2023, Tampa General provided a net community benefit of approximately $301.8 million in the form of healthcare for underinsured patients, community education, and financial support to community health organizations in Tampa Bay.
• The TGH Cancer Institute is certified by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer Accreditation and by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) for meeting the strict standards required by the society's Quality Oncology Practice Initiative (QOPI) program.

Statistics:

• Menon has been leading a 4-year, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)-funded initiative deploying the Mo-Bull Nurse Medical Clinic to underserved areas in the Tampa Bay area, providing mobile primary care while training the next generation of nursing professionals.
• The TGH Cancer Institute is one of the few Florida cancer centers backed by academic medicine and ranks among the top 10% cancer centers in the nation.
• Tampa General is the highest-ranked hospital in Tampa Bay, with six medical specialties ranking among the top 50 in the nation and five additional medical specialties ranked among the top 10% best hospital programs in the United States.
• In 2024, Tampa General was the nation's No. 1 adult solid organ transplant center.

Sources:

• PRNewswire: "Cancer Institute names Usha Menon, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, FSBM as associate director of community outreach and engagement"
• Tampa General Hospital: "TGH Cancer Institute Names Usha Menon, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, FSBM as Associate Director of Community Outreach and Engagement"
• Tampa General Hospital: "About Tampa General Hospital"