Dear Leaders in Cancer Community Health, This June we observed Pride Month, the annual global celebration marking the progress the LGBTQIA community has made in pursuit of dignity, visibility, and acceptance. Over the years, Pride has evolved from an event commemorating the landmark 1969 Stonewall Inn uprising to become a joyful declaration that everyone has a right to live and love as they see fit. Yet, with all of the advances made toward equal opportunity for all, we must hold the festivities alongside a deepened commitment to ending inequities in every stage of life—including health care. Historically, members of the LGBTQIA population have been medically underserved—especially when it comes to preventive care such as lung cancer screening. Therefore, we must continue to look for ways to identify and share best practices for meeting the needs of this particular patient group. This is why I am thrilled that LUNGevity co-hosted a Twitter chat with the National LGBT Cancer Network on June 24 (details later in this newsletter). It was an excellent opportunity to network while discussing how we can make the healthcare space a welcoming one for all who seek help. As Marsha P. Johnson once said, there is “no pride for some of us unless there is liberation for all of us!” As we come together to honor how far we have come as a community, let us also remember to continue moving forward for a healthier tomorrow. Sincerely, Jeanne M. Regnante Chief Health Equity and Diversity Officer jregnante@lungevity.org Resources*New* Early Detection and Screening Health Literate MaterialsLUNGevity believes that health literacy is an essential part of achieving health equity. This is why we are reviewing all our educational materials to produce a library of health literate fact sheets and mini booklets for your use and for use with trusted community partners. There has been no publicly available health literate educational material for lung cancer screening, but now there is! The health literate version (6th grade level) of these materials was IRB approved and included user testing by a robust US representative patient sample. Please check back as the Spanish versions will be posted in July/August. I am interested in your review and use these materials. We would like to highlight your case studies in the future. LUNGevity and Family Reach Join Forces to Assist Patients with Lung Cancer in NeedA new partnership announced by LUNGevity Foundation and Family Reach aims to relieve the financial anxiety and potential high cost of care of a lung cancer diagnosis through financial planning. The collaboration will give families affected by lung cancer access to pro-bono consulting through the Family Reach Financial Treatment Program for issues such as including debt consolidation, in-kind support for transportation, housing counseling, and food insecurities. What Patients with Cancer Should Know About the COVID-19 VaccineWith multiple COVID-19 vaccines now available, there still remains a need for education among patients with cancer—as well as their oncologists and caregivers—as to how the vaccine will affect them and what they need to know. To address these concerns, LUNGevity Foundation has compiled COVID-19 frequently asked questions, available in both English and Spanish, that patients should review with their cancer doctor. ─These resources are health literate as translated by Health Literacy Media─ News You Can UseLUNGevity Introduces Health Equity CouncilIn February, LUNGevity Foundation announced the formation of the LUNGevity Health Equity Council. The group’s main objective is to guide LUNGevity Foundation to ensure that all communities at risk for lung cancer have the same opportunity for best-case outcomes and treatment, irrespective of their geographic location, socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, age, or marginalization in society. The council consists of oncology researchers, community leaders, patient advocates, pharmaceutical company representatives, and providers from high-risk geographic areas in the US. The members were selected for their expertise on a range of lung health topics as well as their lived experiences within their respective geographic/cultural communities. Visit the LUNGevity website to meet the accomplished members of the Health Equity Council. LUNGevity Foundation Launches LUNGevity Community ChampionsThis May, LUNGevity Foundation introduced a new way to recognize health equity best practices and the people who create them: the Community Champions. Part of the organization’s health equity and diversity initiatives, the program highlights community leaders whose work in engaging at-risk communities with lung cancer programs can inspire others. We are proud to announce Drs. Karriem Watson and NFN Scout as our first two Community Champion honorees for the months of May and June. Recognized by his peers for his advancement of community health sciences, Dr. Watson serves as the Associate Director of Community Outreach and Engagement for the University of Illinois Cancer Center. A member of LUNGevity’s Health Equity Council, Dr. Watson is also the Associate Executive Director of the Mile Square Health Center, which has the distinction of being among a handful of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in the United States that has a direct affiliation with an academic medical center. UI Health Mile Square has 13 sites across Illinois and serves over 40,000 patients annually. Scout, MA, PhD – June Community Champion Scout is the Executive Director of the National LGBT Cancer Network and the principal investigator of both the CDC-funded LGBTQIA+ tobacco-related cancer disparity network and Out: The National Cancer Survey. He is also a member of the Health Equity Council. A highly sought-after public speaker, Scout regularly works with both governmental and private cancer groups to address the increased lung cancer risks within the LGBTQ population while lessening the incidences of health care disparities. In addition to his work at the Network, Scout is an active contributor to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), where he is the Co-Chair of the Sexual and Gender Minority Research Office Work Group as well as a member of the Council of Councils. Pride Month Twitter ChatDid you miss our Pride Twitter Chat featuring NFN Scout that we co-hosted on June 24? You can access the highlights of our “LGBTQIA Community and Lung Cancer” event by visiting our Twitter page (@LUNGevity) and following the conversation using the hashtag #LGBTQIALungCancer. Thank you to all who joined us to share ideas, best practices, and stories about disparities in the diagnosis and care for this population.
|