9th Annual SCOPY Awards - 2023

HONORING THE MOST CREATIVE AND IMPACTFUL COLORECTAL CANCER EDUCATION AND OUTREACH BY GI PHYSICIANS AND PRACTICES

The College takes tremendous pride in the GI community’s commitment to colorectal cancer (CRC) prevention and to embracing patient education and advocacy in their local communities. Since 2015, ACG recognizes highly creative, innovative, and impactful CRC awareness efforts by ACG members with SCOPY Service Award for Colorectal Cancer Outreach, Prevention & YearRound Excellence.

The judges awarded a total of 17 SCOPY Awards to an exceptional group of CRC awareness champions. Many of this year’s initiatives involve local outreach and meeting the needs of underserved members of their communities, which has been a key tenet of the SCOPY Awards since its inception. We recognize our applicants’ commitment to CRC awareness and prevention, and the time and effort they have dedicated to these important projects.

Three judges (recognized on the next page) reviewed the remarkable efforts and selected this outstanding group of winners. Importantly, this booklet also recognizes and commends the many submissions deserving an Honorable Mention. The passion and dedication of ACG members to communicate the vital message of CRC screening and prevention is evident in every initiative.

Learn more and be inspired by this year’s projects by visiting the ACG website at gi.org/SCOPY

We thank everyone who committed their time and energy to envisioning, planning, and delivering these CRC awareness programs.

Very Truly Yours,

Tauseef Ali, MD, FACG Chair, ACG Public Relations Committee

Daniel J. Pambianco, MD, FACG ACG President (2022-2023)

SCOPY AWARD Judges

Tauseef Ali, MD, FACG Chair, ACG Public Relations Committee; Chief, Gastroenterology Section, SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital; Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Oklahoma; Oklahoma City, OK

Rashmi Advani, MD, ABOM-D Assistant Professor of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; Director of Bariatric Endoscopy, Mount Sinai South Nassau; New York, NY

Daniela Guerrero Vinsard, MD Assistant Professor, University of Minnesota; Minneapolis, MN

2023 SCOPY AWARDS ARE PRESENTED WITH SUPPORT FROM ABIVAX

2022 2023

SCOPY AWARD Winners

Best Coordinated Awareness Campaign by a Health System

Temple University Hospital

Philadelphia, PA

The Philly Colon Crusade: Powered by Temple University, Health System, Multidisciplinary Colon Cancer Awareness Outreach in North Philadelphia

Through a collaborative effort by the Gastroenterology and Oncology departments at Temple University Hospital, The Lewis Katz School of Medicine and Fox Chase Cancer Center were able to organize multiple events throughout the month of March, including a Diversity Dialogue series “Colon Cancer Killed Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman),” FIT kit distribution provided by Advancing Colorectal Cancer Equity through Systemic Screening (ACCESS) grant, and a Facebook Live Q&A. These events were covered by local media outlets, including The Philadelphia Inquirer, ABC News, and NBC News. With help from the Latino Medical Student Association, a colon cancer screening informational video was created and translated into Spanish, Korean, Vietnamese, and Mandarin.

Best Coordinated Community Awareness Campaign & Health Intervention

Bristol Bay Area Health Corporation

Dillingham, AK

Endoscopy Program Revitalization Project in Rural Alaska & Colonoscopy Prep Care Packages

The Bristol Bay Area Health Corporation conducted two campaigns to meet the needs of their community, which primarily consists of Alaska Natives. They addressed the challenges of increased CRC risk and difficulty accessing care due to transportation limitations by revamping their endoscopy program with colonoscopy reminder letters and FIT kits for patients who were past due for screening. They also developed a colonoscopy “dry bag” including items such as soft adult wipes, bottled water and apple juice, broth packets, tea, Jell-O, mints, a glass mug, a plastic straw, and reading material to aid patients in their colonoscopy prep and make them feel more comfortable. These kits were designed for patients who must travel long distances to get screened and must complete the bowel prep away from home.

Best Coordinated Social Media Campaign by

GI Fellows & Residents

EBGI CRC Awareness Month Chairs Michelle Baliss, DO; Aileen Bui, MD; Romy Chamoun, MD; Frances Lee, MD

#EBGIvsCRC Colorectal Cancer Awareness Campaign

Evidence-Based GI (EBGI) Social Media Ambassadors launched a two-week CRC social media awareness campaign, with the first week delivered in English and the second week delivered in Spanish with culturally relevant adaptations. Their campaign included a video busting common CRC myths, live TwitterSpace conversations, a crossword and Wordle puzzle with answers related to CRC screening, a Twitter thread with infographics and links to clinical information, and “Flashback Friday,” where they invited CRC survivors to share their stories during live conversations.

Best International Effort

Vishwa M. Dayal, MD, DM

Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, Bihar, India

Colorectal Cancer Awareness

Dr. Dayal led the organization of a community health session in Patna, India, about colorectal cancer and the importance of screening in prevention of colorectal cancer. The event included speeches in the local language of Hindi by faculty and residents and offered a Q&A segment for attendees. A bilingual flyer in English and Hindi about CRC was also distributed and encouraged to be shared with attendees’ friends and relatives. Local media coverage also amplified the reach of the CRC screening and prevention message.

Tied for the Win!

Best Multilingual Patient Outreach

Alicia Gorin, MS; Caesar Ferrari, BS; Julia Gonzalez Engle, BS; Ann Rutter, MD, MS, FAAFP & Micheal Tadros, MD, MPH, FACG Albany Medical College, Albany, NY

Empowering Colorectal Health: An Integrated Multilingual Educational Approach to Colonoscopies

This group from Albany Medical College developed a comprehensive suite of resources in both English and Spanish, considering their community’s linguistic diversity. Video resources included providerfocused videos to empower PCPs with a memorable framework for counseling patients when using an open access system. Their patient-centric videos simplify the colonoscopy procedure, clarifying its steps and emphasizing its crucial role in maintaining colorectal health. They also created a patient-friendly pamphlet and flyers to address misinformation about colonoscopy.

Alex Zhornitskiy, MD; Bao Sean Nguyen, MD; Christine Shieh, MD & Ronald Hsu, MD, FACG University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA

Lost in Translation No Longer: Expanding Patient Education Materials on Colorectal Cancer Screening to Ten Different Languages

UC Davis fellows, under the leadership of Dr. Ronald Hsu, initiated a quality improvement (QI) study aimed at providing translated CRC educational materials to patients, assessing patient understanding of the material, and increasing FIT testing longitudinally at a local free clinic serving almost exclusively non-English speaking patients in Sacramento. They developed a translated infographic based on an educational flier on the ACG CRC Community Education Toolkit, which was created with assistance from licensed medical translators with UC Davis Translation Services in 10 different languages: Spanish, Ukrainian, Russian, Punjabi, Hindi, Tagalog, Chinese (Traditional), Chinese (Simplified), Hmong, and Vietnamese.

Best Spanish Language Multi-Channel Colorectal Cancer Awareness Campaign

Latino Colorectal Cancer Indiana Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN

Methods to Increase Colorectal Cancer Awareness in the Latino Population of Indianapolis

Researchers from Indiana University implemented a media campaign, led by Eleazar Montalvan-Sanchez, MD, and Thomas Imperiale, MD, to improve colorectal cancer screening among the Latino population living in Indianapolis. A television campaign was conducted with the assistance of Telemundo, consisting of five-minute talks that addressed the most common questions and fears associated with the colonoscopy procedure using simple language for the audience. They also conducted a radio campaign with the assistance of local Latinx journalists and created a webpage for patients. They found that searches for the term “cancer de colon” increased during the campaign period compared to the previous year.

Best Screening Initiative with Nurse Navigation

FIT Intervention Team

Brown University/Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI

Patient Navigator Pilot to Improve Completion of FIT in Primary Care

The FIT Intervention Team adopted a two-pronged screening program in their clinic, which primarily consists of uninsured and underinsured patients, with FIT testing triaging patients to colonoscopy. They implemented a dedicated culturally competent, language congruent patient navigator to improve the yield of screening FIT. This involves initial distribution of FIT kits to patients and subsequent weekly outreach attempts with personalized assistance. The patient navigator documents any barriers to compliance, and guide patients through the instructions, and offer to schedule a telehealth visit with the patient’s PCP to discuss further. This program significantly improved their FIT kit completion rate.

SCOPY Clever & Creative Award

Gastroenterology Associates

Kingsport, TN

Door Decorating Contest for CRC Month

Gastroenterology Associates in Kingsport, TN, showed their CRC awareness and prevention enthusiasm by holding a door decorating contest in their offices. More than 20 doors were decorated with inventive designs and photos of the creative tactic were shared by ACG Governor for Tennessee Rathi Narayan, MD, FACG, on Dress in Blue Day in March.

SCOPY Consistent Creativity & Commitment Award

Allegheny Health Network

Pittsburgh, PA

We Have Your Back

The Allegheny Health Network (AHN) and Highmark Health engaged in opportunities for colorectal cancer awareness, outreach, and prevention through local radio and television interviews, an article in Highmark Health’s digital magazine, translated patient materials, Saturday screening colonoscopies, social media promotion, and community education sessions. They also created posters for colorectal cancer promotion which were distributed to 525 GI, PCP, and cancer care practices. The posters included a QR code that directs patients to their “It Can’t Wait” campaign.

SCOPY Good Works Award

Trupti Shinde, MD Crystal River, FL

Citrus Colorectal Cancer Foundation

Dr. Shinde created the Citrus Colorectal Cancer Foundation, a nonprofit organization in Citrus County, Florida. Through the foundation, she holds awareness events and provides patient education materials to her community. A key component of the organization is to provide emotional, mental, and financial support to CRC patients and their families. This includes support groups for CRC patients, as well as a support group for patients for the management of ostomy.

SCOPY Inspiration & Impact Award

The Faith Leader/UK Healthcare Collaborative University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY

The Faith Leader/UK Healthcare Collaborative For Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, the Faith Leader/UK Healthcare Collaborative sponsored numerous events to engage and educate Black and Brown communities, spearheaded by Darwin L. Conwell, MD, MS, FACG. Each weekend in March, an outreach event was sponsored at a different Black/African American church. This culminated in a Holistic Health Awareness Day with UK Healthcare’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, in partnership with faith leaders and a Crucial Conversations Panel with faith leaders and doctors. Their event activities included health and wellness resources, A1C and blood pressure checks, and a tour of an inflatable colon.

SCOPY Making CRC Awareness Fun Award

Association of Black Gastroenterologists and Hepatologists

Bustin’ a Gut — An ABGH Community Medutainment Event

ABGH held the Bustin’ a Gut community “medutainment” (medical education and entertainment) event where gastroenterologists and comedians broke the ice and got rid of the “ick” factor by getting folks comfortable about talking about digestive health. The event featured comic MC Dave Helem, ABGH member and GI expert MC Dr. Ed McDonald, ABGH co-founder Dr. Adjoa Anyane-Yeboa, and three Chicagobased comics taking the stage. This event was primarily geared towards those residing in South Side, Chicago, a predominately Black community, and over 200 people registered. Participants heralded the event as an overwhelming success, a unique and entertaining approach to medical education, and a great event for family and loved ones to learn more about their digestive health.

SCOPY Screening Excellence Award

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso and University Medical Center of El Paso El Paso, TX

Southwest Coalition for Colorectal Cancer Screening (SuCCCeS)

The Southwest Coalition for Colorectal Cancer Screening Program (SuCCCeS) is an indigent care program to increase colorectal cancer screening and build a sustainable screening, diagnosis, and treatment network for colorectal cancer prevention. The program uses community health workers known as promotoras to educate patients, and the team developed a suite of materials, including flip charts and videos, for the promotoras to use for outreach and education at clinics and various community settings (health fairs, food banks, religious institutions, schools, adult learning centers). If participants have a family history or positive FIT test, they are eligible for a no-cost colonoscopy through the program.

SCOPY Scoping the CEO & Leading by Example Award

Joan Culpepper-Morgan, MD, FACG & Mr. Georges Leconte

New York, NY

NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem CEO Shares Colonoscopy

Experience on Video to De-Stigmatize Lifesaving Procedure

Dr. Culpepper-Morgan partnered with Harlem Hospital CEO Mr. Georges Leconte, an African American man, to make a video to destigmatize the colonoscopy process. He was filmed start to finish and engaged in a conversation with Dr. Culpepper-Morgan about the importance of colon cancer screening for Black men. The video ran on Harlem Hospital’s intranet for the entire month of March and was shared with several media outlets including CBS Morning News, The Amsterdam News, Becker’s Healthcare, and Manhattan Times, and was shared extensively on social media.

SCOPY Service Award

LSU Health Shreveport

Shreveport, LA

Cutting Out Cancer

Physicians and medical students of Ochsner LSU Health conducted a campaign to educate employees of local barbershops and salons so they could serve as spokespersons and community health navigators in the city. The barbers and stylists were educated about colorectal cancer, populations that are most affected, methods and benefits of screening, important basics of colonoscopy, affordability of screening, and resource availability. These establishments are often community hubs and places where patrons engage in casual, respectful conversation, opening the door for a conversation about CRC to help destigmatize screening.

SCOPY Staying Strong & Scoping On Award

Sita Chokhavatia, MD, MACG &

The Valley Hospital Ridgewood, NJ

Increasing Colorectal Cancer Awareness with a Focus on Underrepresented Communities in Bergen County, New Jersey

The Fast Track Screening Colonoscopy program was established for patients who were not willing to have a colonoscopy because it required an additional appointment. The program allows eligible patients to forego the initial consultation, instead speaking with an APP who can confirm eligibility and send a bowel prep prescription to their pharmacy and walk them through the prep. Recently, the program reached its 1,000th colonoscopy! To help promote colonoscopy screening and prevention, The Valley Hospital conducted a series of community events, including lighting up two campuses blue, informational tables, in-person and Zoom lectures, and outreach to local churches with FIT kit distribution.

SCOPY AWARD

HONORABLE Mentions

’ “80% in EVERY Community: Improving Colorectal Cancer Screening Rates Among Refugees and Recent Immigrants,” Sheena Bhushan, MD; Ruben Ruiz Vega, MD; Ange Mele, MD; Nivedha Balaji, DO; Tariq Odeh, MD & Jawad Ilyas, MD; Northeast Georgia Medical Center; Gainesville, GA

’ “Awareness Campaign Regarding Prevention and Early Recognition of Colorectal Cancer,” Gastroenterology Department, Medical Unit II, Dr. Ruth KM Pfau Civil Hospital; Karachi, Pakistan

’ “Bridging Medicine and Music - Colon Cancer Awareness 2023,” Ronald K. Hsu, MD, FACG; University of California Davis School of Medicine; Davis, CA

’ “Caring for Caregivers: Colorectal Cancer Awareness in a Vulnerable Population,” Mayo Clinic Rochester; Rochester, MN

’ “CUHK Jockey Club Multi-Cancer Prevention Programme,” Joseph Sung, MD, PhD; Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

’ “Colon Cancer Awareness,” Muhammad Anis Memon, MD & Methodist Digestive Health; Mansfield, TX

’ “Colon Cancer Awareness: An Information Document,” Tamil Nadu Gastroenterologist Trust & Apollo Hospitals; Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

’ “Colon Cancer Awareness and Colonoscopy Educational Booth,” Reno VA Endoscopy Unit; Reno, NV

’ “Colonoscopy Saturdays - Program to Provide Free Diagnostic and Screening Colonoscopies to Economically Disadvantaged Adults,” Subhankar Chakraborty, PhD & The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center; Columbus, OH

’ “Colonprepnow.com,” Virginia Mason Medical Center; Seattle, WA

’ “Colorectal Cancer Awareness, Dress in a Blue Day,” Nazish Butt, MD; Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre; Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan

’ “Colorectal Cancer Awareness Through Community,” Mayo Clinic Gastroenterology & Hepatology; Rochester, MN

’ “Colorectal Cancer in Africa: Patient Education Series - Conversations with Gastroenterologists to Raise Awareness in the Community,” Akwi W. Asombang, MD, MPH, FACG; Massachusetts General Hospital; Boston, MA

’ “Colorectal Cancer in Africa: Multi-disciplinary Team Approach to Management,” Pan-African Organization for Health, Education and Research; Massachusetts General Hospital, World Gastroenterology Organisation Training Center Lagos, Laparoscopic Surgery Society of Nigeria, Nigerian Society for Colorectal Disorders, African Association of Future Gastroenterologists

’ “Colorectal Cancer: The Indian Perspective,” Peter Bhandari, MD; Lenox Hill Hospital/Northwell Health; New York, NY

’ “Engagement Events to Raise Awareness of CRC Screening,” Mohammed Khorshed Alam Mazumder, MD; UH Geauga Medical Center; Chardon, OH

’ “Fast-Track Colonoscopy,” Carepoint Health; Hoboken, NJ

’ “Fox News Interview: Get Screened. & Improving Outreach through Memes and Reels: Screening is Forever and Scope It Out 5K,” Ali Khan, MD; The George Washington University; Washington, DC

’ “GI Blue MD - A PSA For CRC Screening,” Seth A. Gross, MD, FACG; NYU Langone Health; New York, NY

’ “’Happy Colonoscopy!’ Reel,” Gastro Health; Miami, FL

’ “Improve Adherence to Colorectal Cancer Screening Recommendations for First-Degree Relatives of Patients with Advanced Adenomas,” UC San Francisco Division of Gastroenterology; San Francisco, CA

’ “Improving Colorectal Cancer Screening Rates for an Underserved Population in a Resident-Led Primary Care Clinic,” Riverside Community Medicine Colorectal Cancer Screening QI Group; Columbus, OH

’ “Inaugural Powered by U 5K Run to Spread Colon Cancer Awareness in the Community,” Baylor Scott & White Central Texas; Temple, TX

’ “Initiative for Artificial Intelligence Enhanced Colorectal Cancer Screening,” Los Angeles General Medical Center; Los Angeles, CA

’ “LEAD FROM BEHIND,” Colorectal Cancer Alliance; Washington, VA

’ “Light the Capitol Blue - Colorectal Cancer Awareness Rally,” Ronald Hsu, MD, FACG; Stony Anderson MD, MACP & University of California Davis School of Medicine; Roseville, CA

’ “March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month,” Sarwar Khan, MD; Dargai Malakand, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

’ “Mount Sinai Colon Cancer Awareness Month - Get Your Rear in the Clear!,” Mount Sinai Hospital Department of Gastroenterology and Endoscopy; New York, NY

’ “NYU Langone Health Employee Colon Cancer Screening Awareness Initiative,” NYU Langone Health; New York, NY

’ “Partnership with Local Organizations Improves Colorectal Cancer Screening Rates,” Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Get F.I.T. to Stay Fit CRC Screening Project; Amarillo, TX

’ “POR FAVOR, Say YES to a Test!” Digestive Health Institute Cooper University at Willingboro; Willingboro, NJ

’ “The 2023 Annual Get Your Rear in Gear Colon Cancer Awareness 5K Run/Walk,” Gastroenterology Associates; Baton Rouge, LA

’ “Tune It Up: A Concert To Raise Colorectal Cancer Awareness,” Benjamin Levy, III, MD & UChicago Medicine; Chicago, IL