Cervical Cancer Series | Introduction to Cervical Cancer Prevention

Donna Williams, DrPH, MPH, MS
LSU Health New Orleans and Tulane

Dr. Williams serves as Director of the Louisiana Cancer Prevention and Control Program.  She is a professor at LSU Health New Orleans School of Public Health and Associate Director for Community Outreach and Engagement for the LSU LCMC Health Cancer Center. She received her doctorate in public health from Tulane University and has over 30 years of experience in research and cancer control.

Shalini Kulasingam, PhD, MPH
LSU Health New Orleans and Tulane

Dr. Kulasingam serves as associate director of population science at the Tulane Cancer Center and Louisiana Cancer Research Center (LCRC). In dual her role, she collaborates with cancer population health researchers across LCRC’s partner institutions: Tulane University, LSU Health New Orleans, Xavier University of Louisiana, and Ochsner Health. Previously at the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health, Kulasingam served as a member of the Masonic Cancer Center’s Screening, Prevention, Etiology, and Cancer Survivorship (SPECS) Program. Her research primarily focuses on the prevention and control of cervical cancer, with a particular emphasis on human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and screening strategies. Through her work, she has significantly influenced cervical cancer screening and prevention policies globally. Notably, she contributed to Australia’s adoption of the HPV vaccine, positioning the country to eliminate HPV as a public health issue within the next two decades. Her research has also examined cancer screening in Canada, Singapore, and several African nations. Beyond her focus on HPV, Kulasingam has applied her expertise in mathematical modeling to address other public health challenges, including collaborating with the Minnesota Department of Health and the Governor’s office during the COVID-19 pandemic to analyze transmission dynamics and inform policy decisions. Kulasingam earned her PhD in Epidemiology from the University of Washington, along with an MPH from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a BA from Bryn Mawr College.

Allison Caston MSN, RN
AmeriHealth Caritas Louisiana

Allison Caston MSN, RN is a Quality Performance Specialist with experience in healthcare project planning and implementation, nursing leadership, and currently serves as a subject matter expert for cervical, colorectal, and breast cancer screening initiatives. She focuses on improving preventive care quality and health outcomes across Louisiana.