Cervical Cancer & HPV

EDUCATION

The Hicks Foundation believes that with education and access to health care all women can prevent cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is virtually 100% preventable, yet many women lack the education tools and prevention services to protect against this deadly disease. We strive to raise awareness about the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and its link to cervical cancer.
Partnerships are crucial to our work as we strive to educate Vermonters about HPV and cervical cancer. In the past three years, we have collaborated with many local, statewide, national, and international organizations including Women in Government, the global Pearl of Wisdom Campaign, The Vermont Department of Health, the Vermont Girl Scouts, Vermonters Taking Action Against Cancer – Cervical Cancer workgroup, Vermont State legislators, and many local health care professionals and service providers.

These partnerships have already ushered in many successes. By working with the Girl Scouts, we reached over 6,000 girls through educational mailings and an interactive televised HPV forum that included a medical panel comprised of doctors from our medical board, including Dr. Emmanuel Soultanakis, MD; Dr. Julia Brock MD, OB/GYN; and Dr. Wendy Davis MD.  Sharon Baade, CEO of the Vermont Girl Scout’s noted, “This is the first time a group has done something this land-breaking for cervical cancer: eradication through HPV awareness. We hope this program will grow and be a national model for the Girl Scouts.” We were thrilled when our collaboration lead to a new Girl Scout patch, the "HPV Patch: In the Know" for teenage Girls Scouts to earn by participating in education, community outreach and understanding of HPV and its link to cervical cancer.

In 2008, we launched an innovative new education program called “Mission Possible,” a series of grassroots educational gatherings that encourage dialogue about HPV and cervical cancer. See More about this program under the "mission possible" link under Programs.