Category: Uncategorized

Go all in with alliums (Links to an external site)

Garlic, onions, leeks, shallots: If you’re looking to infuse a dish with some piquancy, all of these vegetables will do the trick — and all of them are alliums. “Alliums are fundamental in adding depth, complexity and flavor to a vast array of dishes. They are often the foundational ingredient in many cuisines around the […]

Danielle Schulte receives the Wellness Champion Fund Award

Danielle Schulte a Grant Specialist for the Division of Public Health Science has received the Wellness Champion Fund Award for her project titled Boosting Wellness One Day at a Time. The Wellness Champion Fund awards startup funds for projects that promote innovative, personalized solutions for unique work groups. The HR Well-being team is focused on enabling healthy minds and bodies using […]

What to Know About the Simple Blood Tests that Screen for Multiple Cancers

Female health care provider with curly hair discussing with a patient while using a tablet.

In his latest For Your Health column, Dr. Graham Colditz features insight from Dr. Aimee James on multi-cancer detection tests. These screening tests may one day help reliably detect multiple cancers with a simply blood draw. “It’s not news that cancer screening is important. Recommended screenings can catch cancer early when it’s more treatable – […]

Your Disease Risk

Did you know… #YourDiseaseRisk is a helpful tool to assess your risk and help prevent diseases such as lung cancer. Learn more

Kick off the new year with bright citrus fruit

Bright citrus fruits.

Piling your plate with cheerful citrus fruits will bring a load of color and a heap of nutrition to even the grayest winter day. Plus, if adopting healthier habits is on your to-do list for 2024, adding more citrus is one of the easiest, most affordable ways to accomplish your goal. “A new year means […]

Oat-so-good: So many reasons to opt for oats

A colorful assortment of fruits and oats displayed in bowls, creating a vibrant and healthy snack option.

Oats and oatmeal have enjoyed a resurgence in recent years, as overnight oats and granola bowls turned trendy seemingly out of nowhere. But Yin Cao, ScD, MPH, associate professor of surgery at Washington University School of Medicine, points out that humans have been incorporating oats into their diets since the Paleolithic era. “Packed with complex […]

For Your Health – A simple, healthy boost to winter comfort foods

Whole grain penne, olive oil, tomato, basil and feta cheese, garlic on a wooden board.

It’s the time of year when we’re drawn to comfort foods. As the days get shorter and hats and coats take center stage in the closet, many of us seek out dishes that warm us up.  While comfort foods vary, they commonly include casseroles, soups, stews and noodle dishes, among others. They’re often familiar foods […]

Epigenome’s role in cancer revealed in new study (Links to an external site)

In new research led by scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, researchers have delved into the workings of the epigenome across 11 cancer types and revealed important roles for this regulatory system of the genome in the way cancer forms, grows and spreads.

Beryne Odeny, MD, MPH, PhD: Eliminating Inequities  

Beryne Odeny, MD, MPH, PhD, is a physician-implementation scientist and a passionate health equity advocate in global health. She recently joined the Division of Public Health Sciences as an assistant professor of surgery this July. Odeny earned her medical degree from the University of Nairobi in Kenya, and both her MPH and PhD in Implementation Science from […]

Red flags indicate risk for early-onset colorectal cancer (Links to an external site)

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have identified four important signs and symptoms that signal an elevated risk of early-onset colorectal cancer. These red flags may be key to earlier detection and diagnosis of early-onset colorectal cancer among younger adults. The number of young adults with colorectal cancer has nearly doubled in recent years.

New IARC Brief Highlights Benefits of Single Dose HPV Vaccine

A new brief from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) adds further momentum to movements recommending a single dose of the HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine.  Originally recommended as a three-dose series when first approved and made widely available, the CDC currently recommends two doses of the HPV vaccine for 9 – 14 year […]

Researchers Seek to Improve How Patients and Care Teams Make Decisions (Links to an external site)

The Center for Collaborative Care Decisions (CCCD) is home to a team of researchers and community collaborators with an admirable mission: to improve the quality of health decisions and advance health equity. Led by members of the Division of Public Health Sciences at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, the Center engages patients and the public using clear communication, quality evidence and patient-centered goals of care.

Toriola named Danforth WashU Physician-Scientist Scholar (Links to an external site)

A group of people sitting on a bench.

Adetunji T. Toriola, MD, PhD, a professor of surgery in the Division of Public Health Sciences at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, has been named a William H. Danforth Washington University Physician Scholar. He is the second physician-researcher named as part of the School of Medicine’s new Physician-Scientist Investigators Initiative, which supports pioneering physician-scientists whose work already has transformed their fields.

For Your Health – 4 Healthy Eating Tips That Can Lower the Risk of Cancer

July 5, 2022 It’s likely no surprise to read that what we choose to eat and drink can have a large impact on our health, including our risk of cancer.  Practically from the time we can sit up at the kitchen table, we’re reminded of the importance of eating our vegetables.  And although some of the messages […]

For Your Health: Young adults, keep eating your vegetables (and other great advice)

If you’ve finally reached that age when you’re officially an adult and starting to branch out on your own for work, school or another adventure, you’ve likely received a lot of advice from the older adults in your life. Some of it you may have sought out. Most of it, probably not. And, yes, as […]

In the News: Information on Colon Cancer – Screening & Prevention

With the surprise and tragic news that the actor Chadwick Boseman had passed away of colon cancer at age 43, there’s been a spotlight on the disease as people look for information and answers. While colon cancer is a disease that many people have heard of, they may not know a great deal about it. […]

In Memory of Dr. Leon Ashford

PECaD would like to remember and celebrate the life of Leon E. Ashford, PhD, a prostate cancer survivor and longtime member of the Disparities Elimination Advisory Committee, the Prostate Cancer Community Partnership, and the Prostate Cancer Coalition, who passed away in March at the age of 90. Dr. Ashford was a fierce champion of prostate […]

COVID-19 and Cancer Disparities Virtual Town Hall

On Thursday, May 14th, PECaD held a Virtual Town Hall to address COVID-19 and Cancer Disparities. The event was a great success, with over 100 people in attendance and many important questions asked and answered, like: “question,” “question,” and “question.” For answers to these questions and more, you can view the event in full below. […]

Breaking Barriers: Inaugural Physician Education Event Was a Success

On Friday, February 28th, PECaD hosted “Breaking Barriers: Reducing Disparities, Increasing Access,” an education event for doctors, nurses, and other care providers focused on reducing breast cancer disparities. The event emphasized the role providers can play in reducing breast cancer disparities in the St. Louis region. Participants provided an overview of the barriers to breast […]

PECaD Working with Mammography Van

PECaD has started working with the Siteman Mammography Van at screening sites to provide breast cancer education to women. Through this partnership, PECaD staff are able to reach women who have not scheduled a mammogram to answer their questions, help dispel any concern they have around cancer screening, and assist them with getting a mammogram […]

New Research – Breast Cancer Screening: Priorities and Attitudes of Diverse Women under 50

In December, Ashley Housten, OTD, MSCI, assistant professor of surgery in the Division of Public Health Sciences and Siteman Cancer Center, presented her research project, Breast Cancer Screening: Priorities and Attitudes of Diverse Women under 50, to the Breast Cancer Community Partnership (BCaP). Her project compares the intersections and differences between how racially and ethnically […]

Breaking Barriers: Upcoming Provider Education Event

PECaD, The Breakfast Club Inc., Hatz4Hearts, and the Pink Angels Foundation will be hosting a healthcare provider education event on February 28 from 2:00-5:00 pm in the Paul Detrick Atrium of Christian Hospital. The event is titled “Breaking Barriers: Reducing Disparities, Increasing Access,” and will focus on the role providers can play in reducing breast […]

PECaD Faculty and Staff Present at 2019 International Cancer Education Conference

PECaD faculty and staff attended the 2019 International Cancer Education Conference in Salt Lake City from September 18-20. In a panel discussion, Dr. Bettina Drake presented “Community-based Prostate Cancer Education and Screening,” Dr. Vetta Sanders Thompson presented “Education to Support Community-based Participatory Cancer Research,” Marilyn Wilson presented “Community Outreach and Education Strategies: The Effectiveness of […]

Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Advocacy Video

In our last newsletter, we reported that PECaD staff and community partners were filmed for a Susan G. Komen Center for Public Policy advocacy video about barriers to care during breast cancer treatment. The video, featuring PECaD coordinator Marilyn Wilson and two of our community partners, Dr. Nicole Robinson and Chantelle Nickson-Clark, is now available. […]

Successful 5th Annual East St. Louis Smart Health Event!

The Program for the Elimination of Cancer Disparities (PECaD) at Washington University in St. Louis and Siteman Cancer Center held their fifth annual Smart Health Community Education Event in East St. Louis, IL on Saturday, August 24th. More than 40 participants, volunteers, health experts, and health fair vendors took part in the event. Smart Health […]

Community Research Fellows Training Program Graduation

Congratulations to the 27 graduates of the fifth cohort of the Community Research Fellows Training (CRFT) program, a community training program offered through the Program for the Elimination of Cancer Disparities (PECaD). A certificate ceremony was held on August 22nd for the trainees and their families. The event included a silent auction of photos taken […]

New Breast Cancer Resource Guide

In development with our community partners, PECaD has created a new guide to the resources available to breast cancer patients and healthcare providers in the St. Louis area. The guide was created in response to concerns among Breast Cancer Community Partnership members that many patients and providers were unaware of all the resources available and […]

Politi Awarded Three-Year, $1.2 million AHRQ R18 Grant

Mary C. Politi, PhD, was awarded a three-year, $1.2 million Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) R18 grant titled “Implementing a Breast Reconstruction Decision Support Tool in Diverse Practice Settings.” The project is a multi-site study using an evidence-based tool called BREASTChoice that was previously developed and tested at Siteman Cancer Center and implementing […]

PECaD Welcomes New Staff

PECaD would like to welcome two new staff members to the team! Krystal Johnson, MSW is a Public Health Research Coordinator with PECaD. Krystal was born and raised in Saint Louis, Missouri and attended Southeast Missouri State University where she attained her Bachelor’s of Social Work. After Graduation, Krystal began working at Amanda Luckett Hopewell […]

CRFT Alumni ENGAGE in New Project

Two alumni of the Community Research Fellows Training (CRFT) program have recently started working on a project called ENGAGE with researchers at Washington University in St. Louis, the University of Illinois-Chicago, and the University of Pittsburgh. ENGAGE is a pilot project that will focus on community-based methods of promoting self-management and community participation among adults […]

PECaD Held Two Town Hall Meetings in North County, Will Hold Three More Town Halls in East St. Louis and North County

PECaD recently held two town hall meetings in north St. Louis County to give the public a chance to discuss their hopes, concerns, and questions with Washington University physicians and researchers at Siteman regarding the new facility under construction at Christian Hospital’s Northwest HealthCare campus (anticipated to open in early November). More than 25 people […]

Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Advocacy Video

Representatives from the Susan G. Komen Center for Public Policy visited St. Louis the week of July 7th to film an advocacy video about barriers to care during breast cancer treatment. The video featured PECaD coordinator Marilyn Wilson and two of our community partners and breast cancer survivors, Dr. Nicole Robinson and Chantelle Nickson-Clark. The […]

Another Successful Smart Health Event!

The Program for the Elimination of Cancer Disparities (PECaD) at Washington University in St. Louis and Siteman Cancer Center held their second annual Smart Health Community Education Event in north St. Louis County on Saturday, June 29th. More than 140 participants, volunteers, health experts, and health fair vendors took part in the event. Smart Health […]

Park Appointed to NIH Study Section

Yikyung Park, ScD, was appointed to the NIH Cancer, Heart, and Sleep Epidemiology Panel A (CHSA) study section. As a member of the study section she will help review grant applications submitted to the NIH focused on epidemiological research on environmental, behavioral, genetic, epigenetic, and molecular risk factors in cancer, cardiovascular disease, and sleep in […]

New Faculty Ashley Housten, OTD, OTR, MSCI, MPA and Michelle Silver, PhD, ScM

The Division of Public Health Sciences is excited to welcome two more new faculty! Ashley Housten, OTD, OTR, MSCI, MPA and Michelle Silver, PhD, ScM both begin as assistant professors of surgery on July 1st. Dr. Housten comes to us from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, where she has served […]