beneath the surFACE Trailer

beneath the surFACE: Educating to Prevent HPV-Related Cancers

Endorsed by*:

In 2016, a multidisciplinary team of professionals from Upstate Cancer Center - including physicians, nurse practitioners, speech therapists, registered nurses, teachers, and public health advocated - launched beneath the surFACE. This innovative cancer prevention and education program focuses on raising awareness about HPV-related cancers, especially head and neck cancers while educating on the risks of tobacco use, excessive alcohol consumption, and the importance of HPV vaccination.

*The American Cancer Society is grateful to Upstate Medical University for their efforts to educate the community on the importance of the HPV vaccination. Upstate is a true partner for the Society's mission to attack cancer from every angle.

Growth and Development of beneath the surFACE

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Target Audience and Outreach

Beneath the surFACE (BTS) initially targeted middle and high school students (ages 9–18), emphasizing the link between HPV, tobacco, alcohol, and six cancers associated with HPV: cervical, anal, vaginal, penile, vulvar, and head and neck cancers.

In its early years, BTS collaborated with eight regional high schools, including Baker High School (Baldwinsville), West Genesee (Camillus), West Hill (Syracuse), East Syracuse Minoa, Jamesville-Dewitt, Manlius Pebble Hill (Dewitt), Phoenix, and Sackets Harbor. Presentations, reaching over 3,000 students, included:

Self-guided lesson plans for teachers
Student activities
Cancer prevention resources and HPV fact sheets
A documentary of the project
An art component where students transformed radiation masks into inspiring works of art, symbolizing hope and solidarity for cancer patients.

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Revitalization Post-COVID

After a temporary pause during the COVID-19 pandemic, BTS returned stronger in 2022 through a partnership with Syracuse University’s Falk School of Public Health. Key initiatives included:

Health class presentations at Nottingham High School, Syracuse
Organizing art displays of student-transformed radiation masks
Presenting at public health classes at Syracuse University
A "train-the-trainer" session for NYS Cancer Prevention in Action Network Coalition members
Collaboration with the Barnes Center at Syracuse University to increase HPV vaccination awareness among college students.

In the spring 2024 semester, Baker High School resumed BTS presentations for its health classes.

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Expanding to College Students

Recognizing low HPV vaccination rates nationwide, particularly among college students, BTS developed an educational program specifically for this demographic. In the summer of 2023, Jessica Li, a graduate student at Syracuse University, created a presentation addressing the HPV vaccine and its role in preventing six cancers. First delivered in the fall of 2023, the program received high praise, with students often expressing intent to check their vaccination status and take action.

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Ongoing Efforts and Collaborations

Beneath the surFACE continues to grow through partnerships with the NYS HPV Coalition, Onondaga County Health Department, Syracuse City School District Nursing and School-Based Health Center, and others. Together, these efforts aim to promote education, awareness, and vaccination to reduce HPV-related cancers locally and beyond.

If you would like to have several of the Program Components open in separate tabs or windows, right-click or control-click the component and select your preference.
Please be sure to complete the survey following your lesson to help us make improvements to the curriculum.

We are working on updating the beneath the surFACE presentation. If you have questions in the meantime, please email [email protected]

These materials are for educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a health care professional. Because of unique individual needs, the readers should consult their personal physician to determine the appropriateness of the information for the reader's individual situation.

mask art

Head and Neck Cancer Education and Awareness Through Art

beneath the surFACE also partnered with art classes in a unique project that educated and brought awareness. Students were allowed to take creative license in the creation of masks through their art classes and learn about Head and Neck Cancer. Canvases of the radiation masks make for a unique display of what patients might experience during their treatment. The masks were then auctioned in order to raise funds for patients of Head and Neck Cancer.

The participation and response was overwhelmingly positive from all involved. Several schools requested the presentation materials in order to teach it in their own classes. Based on these requests, we have created highly pertinent digital content that is easy to use and navigate.

Except where otherwise noted, beneath the surFACE by Upstate Medical University is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License..