Meet the leader of the Rogel Cancer Center's Community Outreach & Engagement Program

The Rogel Cancer Center’s Community Outreach and Engagement team has a strong focus on meeting cancer awareness needs and education throughout the State. 

In early 2026, Rachel Bergmans, Ph.D., MPH, was named as administrative director of the COE team. We sat down to get to know her better and what her goals are in her new role.

What brought you to the Rogel Cancer Center’s Community Outreach and Engagement team? 

I was drawn to COE because of its mission to advance health equity, foster community partnership, and create measurable impact across Michigan. My career has been shaped by interdisciplinary collaboration in public health, and I’m excited to contribute to Rogel’s efforts in reducing cancer disparities and building relationships statewide.

How would you describe your professional journey before joining COE? 

My background is in epidemiology and public health, with research spanning integrative medicine, social determinants of health, chronic pain, mental wellbeing, and community engaged science. I’ve worked across a variety of environments, from academic collaborations in Madison, Wisconsin, and Ann Arbor, Michigan, participatory programs with veterans and lupus advocates, to educational and health-focused initiatives in Thailand and Zambia.

What motivates you in your work? 

I’m motivated by the opportunity to connect people and ideas across disciplines, and by helping center lived experience in research and outreach. I believe meaningful impact is built through clear vision, data-driven approaches, shared metrics of success, and valuing diverse perspectives.

What are your goals for your first few months at COE? 

My main goal is to listen and learn from the team and our partners, understand COE’s strengths and opportunities, and build a foundation for collaboration. I want to help address immediate community concerns, support authentic partnerships between researchers and individuals with lived experience, and lay the groundwork for our next phase of growth.

What do you enjoy outside of work? 

Outside of work, I enjoy practicing yoga, creative writing, and spending time outdoors. I’m inspired by storytelling, both through health research and in everyday life.

Learn more about Dr. Bergmans by listening to the Chronic Pain Reset Podcast, episode 58:  Better Together, A Community Based Approach.