260: Advancing Cancer Prevention, Challenging Stigma, and Leading with Purpose with Lisa Carter-Bawa, PhD, MPH, APRN, ANP-C, FAAN, FSBM

Interview with Dr. Lisa Carter-Bawa, PhD, MPH, APRN, ANP-C

Listen Here:

Highlights from this episode:

Stigma isn’t just a social issue – it directly prevents people from accessing cancer screening and care
Self-acceptance is foundational to both personal growth and showing up fully in your work
Social media isn’t just noise – it’s a powerful tool for increasing health awareness and access
Research is more effective when communities are partners – not just participants
Exposure to different cultures can reshape how you understand and practice public health

Episode 260 of Public Health Careers

Dr. Lisa Carter-Bawa is Deputy Associate Director for Community Outreach & Engagement at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Founder of Soul to Soul Leadership.

She is a cancer prevention leader, behavioral scientist, nurse practitioner, and educator whose work sits at the intersection of evidence, equity, and leadership. Over nearly two decades, Lisa has helped reshape how we approach cancer prevention – leading major research initiatives, building community-rooted programs, and advancing more human-centered approaches to care and decision-making.

Her Academic pathway starts with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) – Spalding University followed by a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) – Adult Nurse Practitioner and a PhD in Nursing Science at University of Louisville. This was followed by a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Behavioral Oncology at Indiana University. She most recently earned her Executive MPH in Health Informatics at Yale School of Public Health

In addition to her academic and research leadership, Lisa founded Soul to Soul Leadership, where she supports high-achieving leaders in reconnecting with themselves – not through reinvention, but through return.