On May 7, Duke medical students Angelina Nasthas and Rebecca Zasloff, members of the HNS&CS ENT Interest Group, partnered with Dr. Osazuwa-Peters to support a pilot initiative called LIDERES, part of Project CHECKERS (Community Head and NEck Cancer Knowledge, Engagement, Research, and Screening).
LIDERES (Latino Initiative for Delivering Education and Raising Engagement on Screening for Head & Neck Cancer) was hosted by El Centro Hispano—the largest Latino-led organization in North Carolina—serving communities across Durham, Wake, Orange, and surrounding counties in the Triangle and Piedmont regions.
As part of the Promoters Academy, El Centro Hispano’s ongoing community health worker training program, Angelina and Rebecca led a two-hour workshop in Spanish focused on head and neck cancer awareness and early detection techniques.
The LIDERES project is also sponsored by the American Head and Neck Society, which honored it with the 2025 AHNS Community Service Award. This partnership with El Centro Hispano will continue through additional workshops and educational sessions in the future.
Community Engagement is the fourth pillar of the HNS&CS mission. Our Community Engagement program is a crucial component in connecting with people of all walks of life in our community and beyond.