Jordyn Brown is the recipient of the 2025 Robert C. Millikan Cancer Epidemiology Award. This award is given annually to an exceptional graduate student in cancer epidemiology at UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health who is working on their dissertation, and where the Award could make an important contribution to their ongoing research, and to their careers. I have invited Jordyn to share her experience.
–Ann Millikan
–Ann Millikan
Receiving the Robert C. Millikan Cancer Epidemiology Award last year was a profound honor—one that has stayed with me as I move closer to completing my doctoral training at UNC. Although I never had the opportunity to meet Dr. Millikan, learning about his impact through Ann and others at last year’s Millikan Seminar was deeply inspiring. Hearing about his dedication to rigorous science, mentorship, and the field of cancer epidemiology prompted me to reflect not only on my own work, but on the kind of researcher – and mentor – I hope to become.
At my core, I am a cancer epidemiologist motivated by a desire to understand and reduce inequities in cancer outcomes. I was first drawn to epidemiology as a junior in college because it offered a way to ask meaningful questions: Who is most affected by disease? Why do disparities persist? And how can evidence be used to improve care? During my MPH training, I became particularly interested in women’s health and cancer disparities, with early research focused on racial differences in endometrial cancer survival. That work made clear to me that disparities are rarely driven by biology alone—they are deeply shaped by social, structural, and healthcare system factors.
During my doctoral training at UNC, my research focus sharpened around cancer survivorship and patient-centered outcomes. With the guidance of mentors across the Gillings School of Global Public Health and UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, I began examining how structural and social determinants shape the lived experiences of cancer survivors. This work allowed me to look beyond traditional clinical outcomes and focus instead on quality of life, symptom burden, and survivorship care—outcomes that matter deeply to patients but are often overlooked in research.
At my core, I am a cancer epidemiologist motivated by a desire to understand and reduce inequities in cancer outcomes. I was first drawn to epidemiology as a junior in college because it offered a way to ask meaningful questions: Who is most affected by disease? Why do disparities persist? And how can evidence be used to improve care? During my MPH training, I became particularly interested in women’s health and cancer disparities, with early research focused on racial differences in endometrial cancer survival. That work made clear to me that disparities are rarely driven by biology alone—they are deeply shaped by social, structural, and healthcare system factors.
During my doctoral training at UNC, my research focus sharpened around cancer survivorship and patient-centered outcomes. With the guidance of mentors across the Gillings School of Global Public Health and UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, I began examining how structural and social determinants shape the lived experiences of cancer survivors. This work allowed me to look beyond traditional clinical outcomes and focus instead on quality of life, symptom burden, and survivorship care—outcomes that matter deeply to patients but are often overlooked in research.
My dissertation draws on data from the Carolina Endometrial Cancer Study, an ongoing, population-based study of women diagnosed with endometrial cancer across North Carolina. Using this resource, I explore how neighborhood context, experiences of discrimination, and trust in the healthcare system influence quality of life after cancer. At first glance, endometrial cancer can seem straightforward: Black and White women develop the disease at similar rates, and survival is generally high. Yet beneath that surface is a stark inequity – Black women face nearly twice the risk of death from endometrial cancer compared with White women.
As I spent time analyzing survey data drawn from the thoughtful responses shared by study participants, I was struck by how often survivorship is shaped by forces far beyond the clinic walls. Where someone lives, whether they feel respected in everyday interactions, and how much they trust the healthcare system all influence how life unfolds after cancer treatment ends. Interpreting these findings alongside patient advocates from The Endometrial Cancer Action Network for African-Americans (ECANA) has been particularly enriching, reminding me that quantitative data are most powerful when paired with the voices and perspectives of those most affected. This work has reshaped how I think about equity and survivorship, pushing me to see cancer as an experience shaped by broader social and structural realities.
My training at UNC has also been shaped by collaborative, interdisciplinary research environments. Working alongside faculty, clinicians, and fellow trainees has reinforced the importance of team science and mentorship in addressing complex public health challenges. These experiences have helped me develop both the tools and the perspective needed to study cancer outcomes with humility, rigor, and care.
As I prepare to graduate in May 2026, reflecting on the Robert C. Millikan Cancer Epidemiology Award feels especially meaningful. Learning about Dr. Millikan’s commitment to mentorship and his lasting influence on trainees has encouraged me to think more intentionally about the next phase of my career – from doctoral training to postdoctoral research, and eventually, I hope, to a faculty role. This transition has underscored how essential strong mentorship is—not only for scientific development, but for learning how to ask thoughtful questions, collaborate generously, and center equity and integrity in research.
Dr. Millikan’s legacy serves as a reminder that impactful research is built not only on methodological rigor, but on sustained investment in people. As I move forward, I hope to carry these values with me by conducting research that is scientifically sound and socially meaningful, mentoring future trainees with intention and care, and contributing to a research community that supports diverse perspectives and voices. My long-term goal is to build a research program that advances equitable endometrial cancer care and survivorship, translating epidemiologic evidence into knowledge that can improve outcomes for all those affected by cancer.
I remain deeply grateful for the recognition this award represents and for the opportunity to reflect on the path that has brought me here. The Robert C. Millikan Cancer Epidemiology Award is not only an acknowledgment of my work to date, but a powerful reminder of the responsibility – and privilege – of contributing to a field shaped by dedicated scientists, mentors, and advocates committed to improving the lives of people affected by cancer.
As I prepare to graduate in May 2026, reflecting on the Robert C. Millikan Cancer Epidemiology Award feels especially meaningful. Learning about Dr. Millikan’s commitment to mentorship and his lasting influence on trainees has encouraged me to think more intentionally about the next phase of my career – from doctoral training to postdoctoral research, and eventually, I hope, to a faculty role. This transition has underscored how essential strong mentorship is—not only for scientific development, but for learning how to ask thoughtful questions, collaborate generously, and center equity and integrity in research.
Dr. Millikan’s legacy serves as a reminder that impactful research is built not only on methodological rigor, but on sustained investment in people. As I move forward, I hope to carry these values with me by conducting research that is scientifically sound and socially meaningful, mentoring future trainees with intention and care, and contributing to a research community that supports diverse perspectives and voices. My long-term goal is to build a research program that advances equitable endometrial cancer care and survivorship, translating epidemiologic evidence into knowledge that can improve outcomes for all those affected by cancer.
I remain deeply grateful for the recognition this award represents and for the opportunity to reflect on the path that has brought me here. The Robert C. Millikan Cancer Epidemiology Award is not only an acknowledgment of my work to date, but a powerful reminder of the responsibility – and privilege – of contributing to a field shaped by dedicated scientists, mentors, and advocates committed to improving the lives of people affected by cancer.
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