Student Presenter(s): Riya Sood and Beatrice Carpo
Faculty Mentor: Joerg Leheste
School/College: Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury

There is a lack of national awareness of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and HPV-related cancers due to an insufficient amount of public service announcements (PSA), written materials, and discussion of HPV in academic curricula. Furthermore, accessibility of consultation services from non-profit organizations and healthcare providers is limited [1]. In line with the World Health Organization’s goal to eliminate cervical cancer globally within the next century, it is important to start increasing awareness within our own state. An approach to reduce HPV cancer incidence should be modeled after the HIV prevention and awareness campaign used in NY State’s education system, which has proved to be successful in decreasing state-wide rates of HIV [4,5]. Examples of distribution materials include digital and print resources emphasizing the HPV associated risk tied to gynecologic cancers and the importance of HPV vaccines. Need analysis indicates resources need to be specifically targeted toward high risk and rural populations. Public data should be medically accurate and include multiple types of cancers (penis, anus, oropharynx), not just gynecologic cancer [3]. Additionally, it is important to address increasing rates of vaccine hesitancy due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the stigma of HPV as a sexually transmitted infection [2]. Information to promote vaccination for both men and women to limit the spread of HPV needs to be strictly scientific and unbiased.