Building Bridges to Better Cancer Care: PC3 Conference Showcases Citywide Collaboration

More than 100 community members, cancer survivors, advocates, researchers, healthcare professionals, and public health leaders gathered at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University for the Philadelphia Communities Conquering Cancer (PC3) City Wide Cancer Conference. Now in its third year, the event continues to showcase Philadelphia's collaborative approach to reducing cancer disparities and improving access to care.

PC3 brings together community organizations and public agencies with the city's three National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers-Fox Chase Cancer Center at Temple Health, Jefferson's Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Penn Medicine's Abramson Cancer Center. The conference theme, "Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges," reflected the initiative's commitment to addressing cancer challenges through partnership.

A New Leader, A Shared Vision

The conference also marked a milestone for Robert A. Winn, MD, who began his role as Cancer Center Director of Fox Chase Cancer Center on June 1. Delivering his first major public remarks in Philadelphia, Winn described PC3 as a model for how institutions can create greater impact by working together.

"There is more impact when there's a 'we' than when there's a 'me,'" Winn said. "When institutions come together with one purpose, we push each other to be better."

A nationally recognized leader in cancer equity and community-engaged research, Winn emphasized that no single institution can overcome longstanding disparities alone.

Turning Collaboration Into Action

That commitment to partnership was reflected in presentations highlighting PC3 pilot projects developed with community organizations and academic institutions. The initiatives addressed a range of needs, from increasing awareness of hepatitis B and liver cancer in African and Caribbean communities to supporting mothers navigating breast cancer.

For Winn, these efforts demonstrate the importance of embedding community engagement throughout cancer research and care.

"Community outreach should not be an afterthought. It should be informed by evidence, strengthened through partnerships, and measured by impact," he said. "Breakthroughs only change lives if they can actually reach people. Together, through PC3, we can move from the bench to the bedside, and into our neighborhoods and our blocks."

As Fox Chase enters a new chapter under Winn's leadership, the cancer center is helping connect healthcare systems, public health agencies, and community organizations to expand successful programs across the city.

Academic Medicine and Community Partnership

The conference also highlighted the role academic medicine can play in addressing cancer inequities. Amy J. Goldberg, MD, FACS, The Marjorie Joy Katz Dean, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, said meaningful progress depends on sustained collaboration between researchers and the communities they serve.

"PC3 is truly special because it brings leading cancer institutions together with the communities they serve," Goldberg said. "That partnership is essential, because cancer does not affect every person or every neighborhood equally."

Goldberg stressed that community voices should help shape research priorities and guide how findings are applied.

"Partnership cannot begin after a research question has already been developed," she said. "And progress cannot be measured only by scientific publications or clinical discoveries. It must also be measured by whether people experience improved access, care, and health."

Building Momentum Beyond the Conference

Throughout the day, speakers from the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, the American Cancer Society, academic medical centers, and community organizations explored shared challenges, including expanding access to clinical trials, rebuilding trust in science, and closing gaps in cancer outcomes.

As the conference concluded, participants returned to a common theme: lasting progress depends on maintaining collaboration long after the event ends.

"PC3 shows what's possible when we align our strengths, share accountability, and operate as one house with one purpose," said Winn.

By bringing institutions together around shared goals and accountability, PC3 continues to demonstrate how collaboration can advance a more equitable future for cancer care in Philadelphia and beyond.