Department of Surgery
In an article recently made available online ahead of print in ACS Journal Cancer, Feng Gao, MD, PhD, MPH, MS, and WashU Oncology and Duke Cancer colleagues address the changing landscape of small cell lung cancer.
Su-Hsin Chang, PhD, collaborated with WashU Cardiothoracic Surgery researchers and trainees to examine the relationship between lobe-specific lymph node sampling and long-term outcomes for non-small cell lung cancer cancer recurrence
A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Yin Cao, ScD, MPH, and a team of international colleagues conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of red flag signs and symptoms for patients with early-onset colorectal cancer.
Dr. Bettina Drake, professor in the Division of Public Health Sciences, was announced as the inaugural director of WashU’s St. Louis Confluence Collaborative for Community-Engaged Research, Teaching and Practice. Read full announcement.
Yin Cao, ScD, MPH, joined oncologists and hematologists from Siteman Cancer Center to determine if plasma proteomic signature might predict myeloid neoplasm risk. Read more
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, 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 […]
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.
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 […]
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.
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.
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 […]
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 […]
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. […]
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 […]
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. […]
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 […]
Osteoporosis drug investigated in premenopausal women to see if it reduces breast density
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Implementation Science Center for Cancer Control will benefit from researchers on Danforth and Medical campuses
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 […]
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. […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 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 […]
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 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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Yikyung Park, ScD was appointed as a Visiting Professor for 2019-2021 at the National Cancer Center Graduate School of Cancer Science and Policy in South Korea. The National Cancer Center in Korea is equivalent to the NCI in the U.S. The Graduate School of Cancer Science and Policy focuses on educating future leaders and researchers in […]
Researchers in the Division of Public Health Sciences, including Yin Cao, ScD; Graham Colditz, MD, DrPH; Chao Cao, MPH; and Yikyung Park, ScD, have published a new study in JAMA that elucidates “Trends in Sedentary Behavior Among the US Population, 2001-2016.” Sitting for long periods of time, especially while watching television, has been associated with multiple […]
The Division of Public Health Sciences welcomes new faculty member Fei Wan, PhD, as Assistant Professor. He will work with our biostatistics shared resource to collaborate on projects in the Siteman Cancer Center. Dr. Wan comes to us from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Department of Biostatistics, where he has served as Assistant […]
The 29th Annual Washington University in St. Louis Pow Wow took place on Saturday, April 20. This year’s event, hosted by the Kathryn M. Buder Center for American Indian Studies, was themed “Keep Them Sacred: Honoring Generations of Indigenous Women.” The Pow Wow is an inter-tribal gather of American Indians to dance, sing, drum, share […]
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), begins in May. This 17-week program, based on a Master of Public Health curriculum, provides community members interested in reducing health and cancer disparities with education and hands-on experience to take […]
PECaD would like to congratulate our BCaP community partner Valeda Keys on receiving the Woman of Achievement Award in Health Advocacy. She will receive the award in a ceremony on Tuesday, May 14, 2019 at the Ritz Carlton along with nine other women. She is being honored for her volunteer work as executive director for […]
Community town halls will be held on May 6 and June 10 by PECaD and Siteman Cancer Center to help address community questions about the new Siteman facility under construction at Christian Hospital’s Northwest HealthCare campus, slated to open in December 2019. These town halls, leading up to our Smart Health event on June 29th […]
Bettina Drake, PhD, MPH, associate professor of surgery, has been awarded a U.S. Department of Defense Prostate Cancer Research Program grant to study “Treatment Options and Survival of Metastatic Prostate Cancer Patients.” The project will look at a prostate cancer cohort from VA hospitals to explore the survival benefit among men diagnosed with metastatic prostate […]
The Division of Public Health Sciences welcomes new faculty member Lisa Klesges, PhD, who will join us at the level of Professor on April 1. Over the past ten years, Dr. Klesges has served as Professor of Epidemiology, Director, and Founding Dean of the School of Public Health at the University of Memphis. Previously, she […]