NCCC State (Winston-Salem) Chapter
My name is Abigail Gawrych and I am the leader of the NCCC Chapter based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. I am originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but have relocated to Winston-Salem where I am currently attending Wake Forest University School of Medicine after completing my Bachelor in Science at Creighton University. My educational endeavors in women’s studies has fueled my professional and personal interest in obstetrics/gynecology, particularly in regard to the role that social determinants of health play in the prevention and treatment of cervical cancer both locally and globally.
The experience that really drove me to NCCC was my time in Cusco, Peru with CerviCusco, a non-profit organization that provides free Pap tests and health maintenance screenings for local and indigenous women. The widespread impact of such a preventable disease as cervical cancer was extensive and, with each woman and family I spoke to, became more personal. The stories they had entrusted with me formed the foundation of what I found to be not only a scholarly interest but passion for cervical cancer, which is when I decided to reach out to NCCC to become a part of their shared mission.
Despite the distance and location, the stories of the women in Cusco, Peru, and those that I have come to know in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, that continue to fight against cervical cancer hold many similarities. Through my work with NCCC, I want to bring forward these common themes to foster a sense of accompaniment within this community. I hope to build connections between the local community and the school of medicine to provide health screenings and informational sessions, as well as continue to tell the stories of all persons with cervical cancer to promote awareness and discussion. Forming a connection between the clinical aspects and personal experiences of cervical cancer is a major goal of mine, and one I hope to make strides towards during my time with NCCC.
