Julia Houston

Holds a Masters of Social Work (MSW) degree from the University of South Carolina. She has vast experience working in the non-profit sector with patient and cancer advocacy organizations. As founder of The Brain Tumor Awareness Organization, she developed a patient navigation tool for brain tumor patients and their caregivers. In addition, she developed a website of resources, a resource guide and a patient resource project which was distributed in the Hollings Cancer Spine and Brain Tumor Program, a NCI-Designated Cancer Center. Her ability to organize cancer advocacy organizations resulted from the utilization of technological communication platforms and engaging each stakeholder in a strategic communications campaign to navigate cancer survivors to resources for support and self-care. For over 35 years, she owned and managed small businesses and her responsibilities included marketing, sales, web development, client recruitment and retention. Ms. Houston is the Regional 1 North Coordinator of the Geographical Management of Cancer Health Disparities Program within the Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities Program of the National Cancer Institute and also the Director of the Diet and Other Lifestyle Intervention Unit (DOLIU) within the CPCP at USC. Her ability to build coalitions and engage stakeholders around health disparities is of significance to her role in CHI as Project Coordinator.