Current Oncology | Interview with the Author of the Cover Article—Dr. Shannon Salvador
We had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Shannon Salvador, who is the corresponding author of the cover article published in Volume 32, Issue 11 of Current Oncology (ISSN: 1718-7729). Here, she will share insights into her academic journey, research focus, and the motivation behind her recent work.
“HPV Testing, Self-Collection, and Vaccination: A Comprehensive Approach to Cervical Cancer Prevention”
by Shannon Salvador on behalf of an Advisory Committee of Federal and Provincial Experts in Support of Reducing Cervical Cancer Incidence and Advancing Equitable Healthcare for All
Curr. Oncol. 2025, 32(11), 594; https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol32110594
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1718-7729/32/11/594
Dr. Shannon Salvador is a gynecologic oncologist working at the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal, QC. She completed her medical training at the University of British Columbia with residency in obstetrics and gynecology and subspecialty training in gynecologic oncology. She also earned an MSc in epidemiology and clinical research from Stanford University. Currently serving as the President of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology of Canada (GOC), Dr. Salvador’s work is deeply rooted in implementation science and health equity. Her expertise centers on utilizing technology and evidence-based medicine to dismantle barriers for under-screened individuals, ensuring that life-saving screening is accessible to all populations.
The following is an interview with Dr. Salvador:
1. Could you please briefly introduce the main research content of the published paper?
This paper provides a comprehensive, evidence-based roadmap aimed at reversing the rising incidence of human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cancers, with a primary focus on achieving the elimination of cervical cancer. Despite cervical cancer being almost entirely preventable, it remains the fastest-growing cancer in Canada, highlighting a significant gap between our clinical capabilities and current healthcare delivery.
Our report outlines a multi-level strategy focused on four critical pillars:
- Optimizing Vaccination: Addressing suboptimal national coverage—currently at approximately 64%—by advocating for the 90% target through expanded funding, public education, and the adoption of evidence-based single-dose schedules for youth;
- Transitioning to Primary HPV Screening: Moving the standard of care from cytology-based Pap smears to primary HPV DNA testing, which offers superior sensitivity for detecting precancerous lesions;
- Implementing Self-Collection: Validating and integrating self-sampling as a tool to dismantle systemic barriers—such as geographic isolation, clinical trauma, or lack of primary care access—that disproportionately affect under-screened and marginalized populations;
- Strengthening Data Systems: Emphasizing the requirement for robust, population-based registries to monitor vaccination uptake, identify under-screened individuals, and ensure a seamless pathway for follow-up and care.
Ultimately, the paper argues that elimination is only achievable through a coordinated, system-wide approach that integrates clinical innovation with equitable access.
2. Could you tell us a little bit about your current research?
My current research is rooted in implementation science, with a specific focus on optimizing outreach strategies for marginalized and geographically isolated populations. We are drawing significant insights from successful international models, such as Australia’s experience, where large portions of the population live outside major urban centers.
Like Canada, these regions face logistical barriers to traditional clinic-based screening. My work investigates the most effective methods for integrating HPV self-collection as a primary tool to dismantle these barriers, ensuring that individuals can access high-sensitivity screening regardless of their proximity to a major medical hub. A major component of this research involves evaluating the infrastructure required for robust, population-based databases. These registries are essential for longitudinal patient tracking, ensuring that individuals who screen positive are seamlessly connected to follow-up care and that our prevention efforts are measurable and sustainable across diverse demographics.
3. How do you evaluate research trends in this field, and what advice would you give to early career researchers who are interested in this research area?
We are currently seeing a paradigm shift from purely clinical research to implementation science and health equity as the primary drivers of progress. The trend is moving toward “precision public health”—using high-sensitivity tools like HPV DNA testing and self-collection kits to reach specifically those who have historically been left behind. We are also seeing a much stronger emphasis on the economic modeling of prevention, proving that the upfront cost of elimination strategies is far outweighed by the long-term health system savings.
For early career researchers in policy change and advocacy, my advice is to embrace radical collaboration. Policy change is not achieved in a vacuum; it requires working across multidisciplinary teams—oncologists, nurses, pharmacists, and community leaders—as well as bridging the gap between research and advocacy groups.
4. Why did you choose Current Oncology as a platform for publishing your work, and how was your experience? Would you consider publishing your future research in Current Oncology?
We chose Current Oncology because this article was part of a dedicated Special Issue: “Action and Impact: Prevention and Screening Strategies Contributing to the Elimination of Cervical Cancer”. This provided a unique opportunity for our paper to be presented within a collection of research specifically focused on the elimination of cervical cancer, with a significant highlight on the unique challenges and opportunities within the Canadian system.
The journal’s broad readership was a key factor, as it allowed our research to reach a multidisciplinary audience—including surgical and medical oncologists, primary care providers, and oncology nurses—who are all essential to a successful national prevention strategy. Finally, the speed of the peer-review and publication process was outstanding. The rapid turnaround meant the paper was available almost immediately to support urgent advocacy efforts and inform policy discussions when the evidence was most needed. Given this high level of professional collaboration and the tangible impact of the publication, I would certainly consider Current Oncology for my future research.
5. How do you think the open access way of publishing impacts authors?
For researchers focused on health equity and implementation science, the open access model is transformative. It removes financial barriers for community stakeholders—patient partners, advocacy groups, and health workers—who are essential to the elimination effort. Since our research emphasizes community-led solutions like HPV self-collection, the data must be accessible to those outside of traditional academia. Open access empowers community leaders and patient advocates to read the evidence directly and use it as a tool for self-advocacy. By democratizing science, we accelerate the transition from the research page to real-world engagement, ensuring that those most impacted by healthcare inequities have the facts needed to drive change from the ground up.
6. In your opinion, which research topics will be of particular interest to the research community in the coming years?
I believe AI and digital health will fundamentally transform cancer screening from a passive process into an active, predictive system. In the coming years, I expect the research community to focus on utilizing artificial intelligence to optimize registries by identifying high-risk individuals and predicting where targeted interventions are most needed. This includes streamlining the delivery and tracking of HPV self-collection kits through digital platforms, which is vital for the significant portion of under-screened individuals who currently lack primary care providers and need a direct link to the health system. Furthermore, digital databases will allow for real-time monitoring of vaccination rates and clinical outcomes, facilitating more agile, evidence-based policy-making to ensure our elimination strategies remain effective. Ultimately, the goal is to ensure these technological advancements are implemented equitably so that progress in digital health translates directly into reaching our global cervical cancer elimination targets.