LGBTQ+ Cancer Care & Research Program

Welcome to the

LGBTQ+ Cancer Care & Research Program

Where to Find Us

We work to improve prevention, screening, treatment, support, and outcomes for LGBTQ+ individuals.

At Perlmutter Cancer Center, our physicians and staff work to provide an inclusive and welcoming environment for patients who have been diagnosed with cancer and who identify as LGBTQ+, including those who are asexual, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender diverse, two-spirit, queer, or intersex. We strive to provide equitable care to all patients and are mindful of the particular needs of people from LGBTQ+ communities, especially those who have multiple minoritized identities. We customize our approach to best serve their individual needs. Furthermore, because a cancer diagnosis affects more than just the patient, we also seek to provide a welcoming and supportive environment for families and caregivers.

Through partnerships with community organizations and providers, our program’s goal is to better understand and address disparities impacting LGBTQ+ communities along the cancer continuum to provide greater access to prevention, screening, treatment, and survivorship services. In addition, we actively conduct research to advance understanding of cancer disparities in LGBTQ+ communities, which can help close the gaps in care, as well as improve LGBTQ+ representation in current and future . We actively engage with our partners to ensure that community members are involved with research design, conduct, and the sharing of research findings.

Patient and Family Advisory Council

Our program’s initiatives are guided by our Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC)—LGBTQ+ patients with a current or past cancer diagnosis and their family members. PFAC members provide feedback and input on gaps in care, program design, research proposals and protocols, and any training and practices needed to build a more welcoming environment for LGBTQ+ communities at Perlmutter Cancer Center.

For more information, or if you are interested in joining our PFAC, please email PCCLGBTQ@��ɫtvLangone.org.

Cancer Prevention and Treatment

Through Perlmutter Cancer Center, we offer breast cancer, lung cancer, skin cancer, and cervical cancer screenings. We are working to make cancer screenings more equitable and accessible for LGBTQ+ identifying individuals.

Kiara St. James, a Black woman of trans experience and cancer survivor, shares her experiences at Perlmutter Cancer Center, where she found "more nuanced" care.

We actively partner with healthcare and social service programs that are LGBTQ+ affirming, as these partnerships help us improve cancer screening services for these communities and help connect them with welcoming and inclusive primary care services. We also provide educational lectures and one-on-one meetings with community organizations.

If you identify as LGBTQ+ or represent a community organization that is LBGTQ+ affirming, feel free to email our program coordinator, Alexandr Trifonov, at Alexandr.Trifonov@��ɫtvLangone.org for assistance with accessing our care and services.

Training Programs for Staff and Faculty

Faculty and staff at all Perlmutter Cancer Center locations have received training in best practices for the use of gendered and gender-neutral language, the importance of pronouns and how to use them, how to engage in questions about sexual orientation and gender identity, and how to help a patient’s family and caregivers feel welcome.

These training topics were developed from an internal survey of Perlmutter Cancer Center providers and support staff that helped identify gaps in attitudes, knowledge, and practices toward LGBTQ+ patients who were diagnosed with cancer. We then developed a training program to improve our understanding of the disparities and issues surrounding LGBTQ+ cancer care, create a more inclusive environment, and better understand how to receive and respond appropriately to feedback.

LGBTQ+ Staff and Faculty Task Force

Established in 2022 as an advocacy resource, Perlmutter Cancer Center’s LGBTQ+ Staff and Faculty Task Force focuses on identifying opportunities and implementing changes that improve care for patients, and advancing equitable environments for patients, faculty, and staff members. The task force, which comprises members from diverse identities and roles within Perlmutter Cancer Center, amplifies different perspectives, ideas, and experiences that all help promote the group’s goals and objectives.

For more information about the task force, please contact its co-chairs: Alexandr Trifonov at Alexandr.Trifonov@��ɫtvLangone.org, and Rachel Monahan at Rachel.Monahan@��ɫtvLangone.org.

Data Collection

Beginning in late 2024, Perlmutter Cancer Center patients will be able to choose to list their pronouns, sex assigned at birth, sexual orientation, and gender identity as part of their electronic health records, including their . This data helps providers tailor their care; it also helps efforts to include more LGBTQ+ patients in clinical trials, providing them greater access to advanced or novel treatments, as well as improving knowledge on the unique concerns and needs of LGBTQ+ individuals participating in clinical trials.

Research and Publications

We actively engage in research studies that seek to improve understanding of the disparities impacting LGBTQ+ communities along the cancer continuum, from prevention and screening to treatment to end-of-life care. Many of these research studies are done in conjunction with community advisory boards, made up of community members of diverse backgrounds and identities. Community-based participatory research like this helps to identify research topics viewed as important to the community and uses such knowledge to advance the goal of improving health outcomes and elimination of health disparities.

Contact Us

For more information about our program, screening services, opportunities to partner, or for assistance with obtaining care, please call Alex Trifonov at 646-501-5319 or email him at PCCLGBTQ@��ɫtvLangone.org.

Our Leadership

Jason D. Domogauer, MD, PhD

Director, LGBTQ+ Cancer Care and Research Program | Radiation Oncology

Dr. Domogauer (he) is a radiation oncologist and director of the LGBTQ+ Cancer Care and Research program. He also serves as director of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Department of Radiation Oncology.
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Alexandr Trifonov

LGBTQ+ Cancer Care and Research Program Coordinator

Alex Trifonov, who uses the pronoun he, has held several roles at ��ɫtv Langone, including serving as the Russian-speaking patient navigator and advocate for the Stamp Out Cancer Brooklyn program. Alex, who moved to the United States from Uzbekistan in 2014, is committed to advocating for health and access to proficient care for LGBTQ+ community members.
Megan Haseltine, LMSW

Administrative Director of Patient Screening and Navigation Programs, Perlmutter Cancer Center

As administrative director, Megan Haseltine (she) oversees the administration of Perlmutter Cancer Center’s community-based cancer navigation programs and cancer screening initiatives. Previously, she worked for the New York State Department in multiple roles and at community-based organizations. She is a New York State–licensed social worker and served as adjunct faculty at the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College.
Rachel Nelson, MPA

Assistant Director, Strategic and Operational Initiatives, Perlmutter Cancer Center

In her role, Rachel Nelson (she) focuses on improving the patient, staff, and provider experience. Previously, Rachel worked at Mount Sinai West as a project manager, where she was involved in several aspects of improving practice and hospital operations.
Abraham Chachoua, MD

Associate Director, Cancer Services, Perlmutter Cancer Center | Thoracic Oncology, Medical Oncology

Dr. Chachoua (he) was inaugural director of the LGBTQ+ Cancer Care and Research Program.
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Gwendolyn P. Quinn, PhD

Vice Chair of Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Dr. Quinn (she) is a health psychologist with a research focus on patient–provider communication; ethics; and quality of life issues, primarily those related to reproductive health among adolescents and young adults with cancer; access to care issues for sexual and gender minorities; uptake of genetic services; and decisions relating to the use of assisted reproductive technology.
Marina Stasenko, MD

Gynecologic Oncology

Dr. Stasenko (she) is a gynecologic oncologist who cares for people who have cancer and other diseases of the female reproductive tract. She specializes in robotic minimally invasive surgery and fertility-sparing surgery, and has a research interest in improving cancer care for the LGBTQ+ community.
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Kevin Moore, RN

Assistant Director, LGBTQ+ Clinical Services

As assistant director, Kevin Moore (he) oversees the system-wide initiative to advocate for and educate on the clinical and cultural needs of LGBTQ+ patients. He has co-written several hospital policies for both patients and staff regarding the needs of transgender and nonbinary people. He is currently pursuing his combined master of science in nursing (MSN) and doctor of nursing practice (DNP) in nursing leadership from Rutgers University.

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