New HSC researcher recognized for work in health-care disparity for black men
Folakemi Odedina, Ph.D., a professor of pharmaceutical outcomes and policy, began her dual appointment in January with the UF College of Pharmacy and the College of Medicine’s department of urology.
A University of Florida researcher in health-care disparities began the new year with career accomplishments firmly in hand: two new University of Florida appointments and national recognition for exceptional leadership efforts in her work.
Folakemi Odedina, Ph.D., a professor of pharmaceutical outcomes and policy, began her dual appointment in January with the UF College of Pharmacy and the College of Medicine's department of urology. Only weeks before coming to UF, Odedina received the inaugural Association of Black Health-System Pharmacists and American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Leadership Award for her global efforts in prostate cancer prevention in black men. ABHP-ASHP teamed up to establish the new award, which recognizes individuals who are exemplary in their efforts to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in health care.
"African-American men are twice as likely to succumb to prostate cancer as their white counterparts," said Johannes Vieweg, M.D., chairman of the department of urology in the UF College of Medicine. "Under Dr. Odedina's leadership, we hope to close this gap, starting with the state of Florida."
In her acceptance speech in December at the 44th ASHP/ABHP clinical meeting, Odedina — who had just returned from weeks of work in Africa — described her passion for reaching underserved populations of black men at risk for prostate cancer. "I am restless because of what I see," Odedina said. "Behind every statistic is the tears, is the agony — and the problems that are going on with the individual and their families."
Odedina emphasized the importance of finding out the community needs first, before a researcher begins seeking grants, funding or publication. She challenged her colleagues to "change the face" of their efforts to improve health-care disparities by making the community an equal partner in their work.
As the director of community outreach at the newly established UF Prostate Disease Center, she continues her commitment to eliminating health disparities throughout Florida. Her goal is to promote prostate cancer risk reduction and early detection behaviors among black men. Odedina looks to the support of black businesses such as barber shops, and also community pharmacies to reach black men in their own neighborhoods.
"Community pharmacies have long hours with easy access for patients. Pharmacists should be leaders in patient education, and should be dialoguing with other health professions," Odedina said.
As a 2006-07 Fulbright Scholar, Odedina conducted Nigeria's first national research assessing how Nigerians report cancer data. She received a bachelor's degree in pharmacy from the University of Ife in Nigeria, and in 1994 she earned a Ph.D. from the UF College of Pharmacy.