“This is the only cancer that can be eliminated. Who doesn’t want to do that?”

Dr. Isabel Scarinci didn’t beat around the bush when it comes to the end goal of Operation Wipe Out. The young organization has led efforts across the state to raise awareness about cervical cancer + how it can be prevented.

From vaccinations to screenings, the organization wants to educate people in Alabama and empower others to spread the word.

“The way we launched Operation Wipe Out is that it’s not one organization. We want it to belong to everybody. We want people to take that and do this education in their church or wherever.”
Dr. Isabel Scarinci

That’s the goal at the heart of the organization’s annual summit, which is set for its third year. Here’s what you need to know before you attend:

What: Operation Wipe Out Summit
When: Friday, Jan. 9, 2026 | 10AM-2PM
Where: MacQueen Alumni Center Ballroom | University of South Alabama | 100 Alumni Drive, Mobile, AL 36688
Details

The deadline to register is Dec. 22 and space is limited to 150 attendees. There is no cost to attend, but registration is required.

Keep reading to learn more about Operation Wipe Out + what to expect from the annual summit.

Cervical cancer prevention

How one Alabama woman’s story can motivate you to help wipe out cervical cancer

Scarinci teamed up with Nancy Wright at the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) to launch Operation Wipe Out, seeing it take off in less than three years.

The organization has a plan to “eliminate cervical cancer as a public health threat by vaccinating against HPV and expanding access to cervical cancer screening and follow-up.”

“We don’t want the grant money, we don’t want to distribute funds, we don’t want to be in control or in charge. We just want to empower so that people can go forth and do more.”
Nancy Wright, MPH, Director, Cancer Prevention and Control, Alabama Department of Public Health

Operation Wipe Out provides educational resources that anyone can take from its website so people can help educate their communities.

That’s the theme of the organization’s educational material. They focus on three key pieces of the equation including:

HPV vaccination
Regular screening
Follow-up appointments

“We don’t abandon them in the middle of the process, we’re able to help them all the way through. That alone makes it our responsible to join efforts + spread the word. No one gets left behind, no one doesn’t have access to these services… It’s just about making sure everyone knows.”
Nancy Wright, MPH, Director, Cancer Prevention and Control, Alabama Department of Public Health

This partnership led to Alabama becoming the first state in the country to put together a plan on cervical cancer. And the rest of the country is noticing.

“That’s the Alabama I want to portray. I think other states are coming to us for guidance and advice which is great but I really want us to show the nation that here in Alabama, we come together. It’s not about money, it’s about will and we’re going to do it. We are doing it.”
Dr. Isabel Scarinci

Last year, the Wall Street Journal wrote an article about how our state is leading the charge to eradicate cervical cancer.

While it’s too soon to see any kind of numerical impact on cervical cancer in Alabama, it’s clear Operation Wipe Out is pushing the state in the right direction.

“For the first time especially in Public Health, people are coming to us. We’re not used to that. Usually we’re trying to share a message and people may or may not be listening. This attention and notoriety that comes from being the first state in the nation to have a plan and launch a comprehensive effort like this, to try to reach everybody across the state.”
Nancy Wright, MPH, Director, Cancer Prevention and Control, Alabama Department of Public Health

Wipe out cervical cancer in Alabama—join these local students on a mission

Operation Wipe Out Summit 2026

When the organization hosted its first summit, it was all about putting a plan together to truly launch Operation Wipe Out.

Last year, they hosted another summit in Birmingham, expecting roughly 50 people to show up. But they eventually had to cut off the registration at 150.

This year, the summit is moving to Lower Alabama for the first time. And with just over four weeks to go, the summit already has nearly 100 people registered.

“This is a statewide effort. Everyone that’s a partner is involved in its success. Let’s talk about what folks in the vaccine promotion are doing and what other agencies are doing because Operation Wipe Out is just an umbrella for all of us to make the message easier and more understandable.”
Nancy Wright, MPH, Director, Cancer Prevention and Control, Alabama Department of Public Health

The University of South Alabama volunteered to host the event in partnership with UAB and ADPH. The day will include:

Keynote speaker Jennifer Pierce, MD
Cervical Cancer Elimination Pillars panel
HPV Vaccination Southeast Roundtable

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Wright will speak, giving an update on Operation Wipe Out, while Scarinci is slated to host the panel which will include focus on vaccinations, screenings and follow ups along with representation from non-profit Laura Crandall Brown Foundation.

“The goal for the panel is to highlight the partners but also show the audience how each one is working their pillar. It’s not only vaccination, it’s not only screening.”
Dr. Isabel Scarinci

Scarinci said these summits are like a family reunion but they also give partners the opportunity to catch up what has worked + what hasn’t when it comes to spreading the word about cervical cancer prevention.

Currently, the main goal of the summit is to keep people engaged and continue to build off the momentum of the last three years.

“This has been the most rewarding aspect of my career… I myself feel empowered by this message. After all this time, we can stop a cancer and hopefully in the future we can stop others. And if the only thing that’s in the way is knowledge, that’s something I can do and be part of that change.”
Nancy Wright, MPH, Director, Cancer Prevention and Control, Alabama Department of Public Health