Dr. Funmi Apantaku-Onayemi’s focus on populations’ studies - community engagement and participatory cancer research in the minority populations has spanned three decades. She was the Midwest Regional Director of the National Cancer Institute’s National Black Leadership Initiative on Cancer. During her tenure, she formed 15 coalitions in 12 Midwestern states. Many of these coalitions were housed in leading cancer control institutions. She authored several innovative cancer control programs. Three of such programs/projects are:- (1) Stay Beautiful Stay Alive – Breast Cancer Education in Beauty Salons. It won many awards and became a national best practice. It was also featured in a PBS documentary. (2) Driving to Better Health – Study of Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease in Taxi Drivers of Chicago, project was the first study of its type in the United States with other studies only in Europe and Asia at the time of its publication. (3) Embracing Life Cancer Support and Advocacy Group. It catalyzed cancer support and advocacy for Black women in the Chicago area.
Dr. Apantaku-Onayemi’s presentations on cancer (particularly breast cancer) have been on local, regional and national stages with a notable presentation at a Congressional Hearing on Capitol Hill. Under her leadership as Project Director of the UIC Center of Excellence in Eliminating Health Disparities and Principal Investigator of the UIC-Komen Beating Breast Cancer Program, an unprecedented number of Black women (12,000) were recruited in a breast cancer cultural-beliefs study in four communities of Chicago within 3.5 years. She was Chairperson of the then Lance Armstrong Foundation’s Action Plan for African American Cancer Survivorship which produced a nationally distributed Cancer Survivorship Work Plan. She has served on the Advisory Committee of Illinois Cancer Control Plan and also as a reviewer for Illinois’ cancer research funding mechanism.
Although retired, she retains an adjunct assignment at UIC where she received the Silver Circle Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2018. She continues to present breast cancer information to lay audiences as her personal dedication to the cause of reducing the burden of the disease.
1 topic · no fee, no honorarium, no mileage
Review available topics below. Use the “Request This Free Speech” button and fill out the contact form. Funmi contacts you to discuss the details of the request.
Dr. Funmi Apantaku Onayemi inspires women to overcome the fear of breast cancer based on her three decades of leadership in the field as a researcher, community networks’ operative and survivor. She demystifies the beliefs and misconceptions that have fueled paralyzing fear about the disease – paralyzing fear that has caused alarming rates of avoidable deaths.
She shares encouraging news with staggering statistics of breast cancer survivorship. Women will release the fear as they are enlightened and assured that hope has come.
Free Speakers Chicago is a pro bono speakers bureau. Since 1996, our speakers have given free presentations to Rotary clubs, libraries, schools, and community groups across the Chicago area. Browse the full list to book a free guest speaker in Chicago, or learn more about how it works.
