UCRF Outreach

The Asheville UCRF listening session was held on January 29 at the Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) in the Thomas J. Bacon Lecture Hall. Participants included patients, UNC Asheville faculty and area health care providers. MAHEC President Dr. Teck Penland welcomed the crowd. Leading the listening session were Drs. Etta Pisano, vice dean for academic affairs at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine and director of the Biomedical Research Imaging Center, and Shelley Earp, UNC Lineberger director.

Major Themes addressed at the Asheville Listening Session

• Education and engagement  of physician and community members on
• use of cancer screening guidelines and technology for screening and treatment
• the need for collaboration in screening and treatment
• the need for consistent messaging about cancer screening and treatment
• Research on specific topics, including
• Disparities, both economic and racial/ethnic
• Ways to overcome screening barriers for different populations
• Treatment approaches for rare cancers
• Adolescent access to and participation in both primary care and cancer screening and treatment
• How to speed up the research process, particularly trial enrollment
• Role of integrative medicine in cancer prevention and treatment
• Biospecimen tissue reporting
• Replication and translation of research on how to improve delivery of services
• Primary prevention
• Prevention of recurrence
• Enhancement of services
• Coordinate screening process
• Consider role of patient navigation, including assessment of its benefit(s)
• Understanding how patient knowledge, attitudes and behaviors related to cancer prevention, screening, treatment and follow-up influence utilization of services
• Use of genetic testing in tailoring cancer treatment
• Role of insurance coverage of specific drugs and treatments in patient and physician use of different available therapies
• Ways to reduce cost of various services
• Define research in a way that is consistent with the state vision and mission of the UCRF

Other Specific Comments

• Consider revising colorectal cancer screening guidelines to encourage colonoscopies at younger ages
• Participate in NC Pediatric Oncology Consortium
• Explore mechanisms for statewide sharing of cases
• Explore ways to reach isolated individuals

Transcription

Highlights:

(l - r) Dr. Etta Pisano, vice dean for academic affairs at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine and director of the Biomedical Research Imaging Center; Dr. Shelley Earp, UNC Lineberger director; MAHEC Director Dr. Teck Penlan

(l - r) Dr. Cathy Melvin, research associate professor, Department of Maternal and Child Health and Director, UNC School of Public Health and UNC Lineberger Dissemination Core director; Walter Shepard, director, Comprehensive Cancer Program, NC Division of Public Health; Kenisha Bethea, assistant director, Comprehensive Cancer Program, NC Division of Public Health

(l - r) Dr. Etta Pisano, vice dean for academic affairs at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine and director of the Biomedical Research Imaging Center; Wilma Sherrill, UNC-Asheville; Dr. Shelley Earp, UNC Lineberger director