NCCC North Carolina (Durham) Chapter
I am Ashlei Tomlinson, a pre-med student at Duke University. My passions include chemistry, math, history, family, and chocolate, though not necessarily in that order. My goal is to become a doctor specializing in women’s health, as women’s health is severely underresearched and underrepresented in the medical field.
I discovered the Durham Chapter of NCCC while working in my environmental microbiology lab, and haven’t turned back since. From volunteering at our annual 5K to reading literature on the risk factors of HPV and the systemic barriers to preventive care, I’ve become an advocate for the virus’s vulnerable populations—that is, all people with a cervix.
No matter race, creed, or socioeconomic background, all people deserve access to timely vaccinations and screenings. That’s why it is our mission at the Durham Chapter to 1) raise awareness for HPV and cervical cancer in Durham and 2) inform the community about how they can access preventive care. And, if the outpouring of support in Durham has shown us nothing else, it is that we are not alone in this feeling.
Cervical Cancer Prevention in North Carolina
This downloadable fact sheet outlines the key steps to prevent cervical cancer—vaccinate early and screen regularly. Customized for the Durham chapter, it also highlights statistics that show the burden of cervical cancer in North Carolina.