HONORING THE MOST CREATIVE AND IMPACTFUL COLORECTAL CANCER EDUCATION AND OUTREACH BY GI PHYSICIANS AND PRACTICES
The Service Award for Colorectal Cancer Outreach, Prevention, and Year-Round Excellence (SCOPY Award) was established in 2015 to celebrate the achievements of ACG members in community engagement, education, and awareness efforts for colorectal cancer (CRC) prevention. In 2025, we award 26 projects for the effectiveness of their messaging and tactics, as well as innovative approaches that can be accomplished at minimal cost.
Over the years, the SCOPY Awards have recognized creative, thoughtful efforts to increase CRC awareness and prevention, especially in underserved communities and populations, and this year is no exception. Several winning projects involve outreach and messaging tailored to American Indian and Alaska Native communities, one of the most under-resourced groups in the U.S., which face additional barriers to screening due to remote locations and travel challenges. A hallmark of the SCOPY Awards is recognition of projects that bring humor to CRC prevention messaging, encouraging discussions about a life-saving topic in an approachable way.
We are proud to say that the projects have leveled up each year and serve as sources of inspiration for ACG members and community initiatives. We hope you find this year’s entries to be compelling and that they inspire you to implement a CRC awareness and prevention initiative in your own community.
Learn more and be inspired by this year’s projects by visiting gi.org/SCOPY
Reezwana Chowdhury, MD, FACG Chair, ACG Public Relations Committee
Amy S. Oxentenko, MD, FACG ACG President (2024-2025)
SCOPY AWARD 2025 Winners
Alameda Health System, Highland Hospital & California Pacific Medical Center, Sutter Health
San Francisco, CA
Improving
Bowel Preparation Quality Through LanguageSpecific Video Education at a Safety-Net County Hospital
NYU Langone Health, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the NYC Colorectal Cancer Coalition (C5) Risk Assessment and Screening Committee collaborated to produce a patient education video on colon cancer screening, with the goal of having patients initiate a discussion about screening with their primary care providers. English and Spanish versions were developed and posted to Instagram toward the end of CRC Awareness Month. The video is distributed in the primary care clinics of some of the federally qualified health centers and safety net hospitals within New York City and patients are encouraged to scan a QR code during check-in and while waiting to see their primary care doctor.
Allegheny Health Network
Pittsburgh, PA
Enriching the Patient Experience
As part of a multi-channel campaign on early detection of CRC through improved access to screening and awareness of preventive measures, the Allegheny Health Network team created six distinct colonoscopy prep guides tailored to the different bowel preparation regimens assigned to the patients by their physicians and insurance coverage. This personalized approach recognizes that different preparations require different instructions and demonstrates a commitment to meeting the individual needs of each patient. They also developed animated videos for each prep style, accessible through a QR code on the printed guides, to reach patients with different learning styles or low health literacy, enhancing the patient’s experience by reducing anxiety and improving understanding.
Association of Black Gastroenterologists & Hepatologists (ABGH)
New York, NY
James Casey’s Inaugural Birthday Benefit
ABGH partnered with the wife of the late acclaimed saxophonist and CRC awareness advocate James Casey, the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, and Fight CRC to honor his legacy through a virtual campaign centered on CRC knowledge and access. The campaign featured a virtual benefit that included a live webinar—Your Health, Your Voice: Knowing the Signs of Colorectal Cancer and Taking Action—led by physicians from ABGH and joined by loved ones of Casey. Alongside this, a high-impact auction featured one-of-a-kind memorabilia and VIP ticket packages donated by Casey’s musical family—including Trey Anastasio, Dave Matthews, and members of the Grateful Dead—paired with heartfelt storytelling and education from survivors, caregivers, and clinicians. The auction raised $24,958, which was donated to Fight CRC to fund free CRC screening services for uninsured individuals, helping to eliminate barriers to early detection.
Birmingham Gastroenterology Associates, PC Homewood, AL
CRC Awareness Videos
Bringing comedy to CRC awareness and prevention, Birmingham Gastroenterology Associates, PC developed humorous videos that it shared on social media. Tactics included developing Valentine’s cards (one for each physician) with clever GI- and CRC-related love notes and a video of each physician reading them, a lighthearted video about prioritizing your health even when you’re busy, a Halloween-themed video featuring a skeleton about to be scoped, and a “Meet the Doctors” video in the style of ‘90s sitcom intros to alleviate anxiety about visiting a GI physician and having a screening colonoscopy. The videos garnered high engagement on TikTok and were picked up by media outlets including the New York Post
Bristol Bay Area Health Corporation
Dillingham, AK
Preparing For Your Colonoscopy: The First Yupik CRC Patient Education Video for Alaska Natives Living in Bristol Bay
The Endoscopy Team at Bristol Bay Area Health Corporation serves patients living in remote communities not connected by a road system, with most communities relying on snowmachines, boats, and airplanes as modes of transportation. The team recognized the need for a more efficient way to send colonoscopy preparation instructions after finding that many patients were not receiving their mail in a timely manner due to constraints with USPS mail delivery. They developed two videos to explain the prep instructions in English and in the native Yupik language spoken by patients in the Bristol Bay region. After spending many hours translating an English script into Yupik, clinic staff created a culturally appropriate and engaging video highlighting colonoscopy preparation information, how to follow a clear liquid diet, how to take the prescribed bowel prep medication, a glimpse into the endoscopy suite, and a strong testimonial from a patient who had been diagnosed with colon cancer after a positive fecal immunochemical test.
Creighton University, Yale University, UC Irvine, Brown University, and Lehigh Valley Health System
#EBGIvsCRC Colorectal Cancer Awareness Campaign
The EBGI CRC Awareness Month leads developed an engaging four-week CRC Awareness Month social media campaign focusing on dispelling myths about CRC screening and providing guidance for patients and materials for clinicians. They employed tactics like a creative supermarket photoshoot featuring clear liquid diet products, providing actionable knowledge in tweetorials identifying modifiable risk factors for CRC, and meaningful Q&A and discussions with GI experts and a colon cancer survivor who is also a physician.
Gastroenterology Associates of Baton Rouge/ GI
Alliance
Baton Rouge, LA
Get Your Rear in Gear Baton Rouge Colon Cancer Awareness 5K Walk/Run Event and Kids 1-Mile Fun Run
In partnership with the Colon Cancer Coalition, Gastroenterology Associates of Baton Rouge/GI Alliance organized a “Get Your Rear in Gear” CRC awareness run/walk and included a 1-mile fun run for kids, to get the whole family involved in CRC prevention efforts. Outreach was conducted to GI patients, patients with CRC and their family members, and the general community, yielding 550 participants. The team partnered with a local TV station to interview CRC survivors and promote the event. Seventy percent of funds raised through registration and sponsorships are spent locally on educational resources, media campaigns, and providing support to cancer services and an ostomy clinic.
Gastroenterology Associates of Kingsport and Bristol
Kingsport, TN
Colon Cancer Awareness
Gastroenterology Associates of Kingsport and Bristol proudly promoted CRC awareness through participation in a “Get Your Rear in Gear” walk/run in collaboration with the Colon Cancer Coalition, representing the largest corporate team at the event. In addition, four physicians, including ACG Governor for Tennessee Dr. Rathi Narayan, took part in two informative segments on the local news program Daytime Tri-Cities, sharing important colon cancer facts and prevention tips with the community.
Greater Brooklyn Gastroenterology Care
Brooklyn, NY
Colorectal Cancer Awareness (screen. detect. prevent)
Greater Brooklyn Gastroenterology Care participated in a radio program discussing CRC in depth, bringing reliable information and urgent messages directly into people’s homes and cars, connecting them with a wider audience. They also produced and shared a series of awareness videos, combining storytelling, facts, and calls to action, including one in Haitian Creole by Mercedes Narcisse, a Haitian American registered nurse who represents the 46th Council District in Brooklyn. These videos served as both educational tools and motivational content to encourage screening and self-advocacy.
India Home
Jamaica, NY
South Asian Colon Cancer Health Initiative (SACCHI)
The India Home team sought to bridge health disparities seen in colon cancer screening and incidence rates in South Asians in New York’s 3rd Congressional District. They hosted events for South Asian physicians, organized a South Asian local language news/TV media campaign with gastroenterologists, and created videos and brochures with informational material translated into six South Asian languages (Hindi, Bengali, Gujarati, Punjabi, Malayalam, and Urdu). Hard copies of the brochures were distributed to approximately 100 South Asian primary care physician offices in Queens and Long Island. These efforts were supported by funding obtained from Congressman Tom Suozzi (D-Long Island & Queens).
K.R. Palaniswamy, MD, FACG
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Colon Cancer Awareness Symposium – March 2025
In recognition of Colon Cancer Awareness Month, the Tamil Nadu Gastroenterologist Trust (TNGT) organized a landmark Colon Cancer Awareness Symposium in Chennai. The three-day event aimed to highlight the importance of early detection and screening for colon cancer, featuring multiple symposia to educate medical professionals using lectures and live demonstrations, a public awareness meeting with over 150 dignitaries and business leaders, and media coverage across outlets in Tamil Nadu and India
Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research & American Indian Cancer Foundation
Portland, OR
Colorectal Cancer Screening Saves Lives
This project was developed to address colorectal cancer (CRC) screening disparities in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities through a culturally resonant animated video. The video employs multigenerational storytelling, featuring a family gathering with elders, a parent, and a child discussing CRC prevention, accompanied by voiceovers from AI/AN community members to enhance relatability. The script emphasizes messages aimed at reducing fear and stigma, to normalize conversations about screening. The video was shared at community events, tribal clinic lobbies and exam rooms, and on social media.
Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research and Great Plains Tribal Leaders Health Board
Portland, OR
Creating Meaningful Colorectal Health Videos in American Indian and Alaska Native Communities
This project aimed to empower AI/AN members in Rapid City, SD, to develop and share tailored messages that resonated with the AI/ AN community to raise awareness about CRC screening and increase screening rates. The main themes were incorporating multigenerational concepts into CRC screening messaging, increasing CRC awareness and knowledge, the strength of their community through storytelling, and incorporating traditional language, traditions, and imagery in messaging. Based on community feedback, a collection of print and digital materials was created, which included three live action videos to increase awareness about CRC screening among AI/AN individuals by using culturally tailored, family-centered narratives.
Lubna Kamani, MD, FACG
Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Barriers and Challenges of Colorectal Cancer Screening in Women
Dr. Lubna Kamani is recognized for her commitment to advancing women’s health, specifically ensuring equitable and safe access to CRC screening in Pakistan. She has presented nationally and internationally on CRC facts and barriers to screening, sharing patient and female endoscopist perspectives. Keeping in mind cultural and religious beliefs, she started an “exclusive female endoscopy and colonoscopy service” at Liaquat National Hospital, Karachi. Female patients can be screened by female endoscopists in a comfortable environment without embarrassment and preserving their modesty.
Lumen GI Health Foundation
Farmington, CT
From Silence to Screening: A Community-Driven Colorectal Cancer Awareness Initiative in Gujarat, India
A team of early-career healthcare trainees, an internal medicine resident, and medical students from India aimed to address the cultural stigma around CRC screening which leads to delays in seeking care and lack of symptom awareness that delays CRC diagnosis, especially within South Asian communities. Tactics included developing culturally tailored materials in Gujarati and English, small group outreach in a public garden, a community health center session, visits to several health care facilities, and a morning yoga class where participants could ask questions about fecal occult blood testing, colonoscopy, and other CRC screening tools.
Marie L. Borum, MD, EdD, MPH, FACG
Washington, DC
A Colon Cancer Risk Reeducation Program Focused on Community Collaboration
Dr. Borum developed multiple collaborative partnerships in Washington, DC, to increase CRC awareness. One partnership was with a church in a medically underserved African American community, which involved bidirectional learning focus groups to determine baseline knowledge about CRC screening, identifying community barriers, developing educational strategies, and promoting outreach programs. Identification of barriers was the foundation for educational materials distributed at the church and a health fair which included diabetes and blood pressure screenings, which participants identified as primary drivers of their attendance.
Mayo Clinic Gastroenterology and Hepatology Fellowship Program
Rochester, MN
Your Best Shot: A Collaborative Approach to Colorectal Cancer Awareness
The Mayo Clinic fellows developed a multi-pronged strategy to share information about CRC screening and prevention, which included social media campaigns, patient education, media outreach, and a community event. The activities were designed to meet people where they are, whether at a clinic visit, scrolling social media, watching the local news, or attending a recreational event. The community event was a fundraising pickleball tournament centered around CRC awareness. The participants were engaged and had creative team names such as “MoviPrepped and Ready to Go” and “Crohnies.” The event combined health education with recreation, attracting participants across age groups and raising funds to support ongoing awareness and prevention initiatives. Through the campaign activities, social media engagement soared, patient education was directly enhanced, and community members had new and fun ways to learn about serious health topics.
Michelle L. Hughes, MD, FACG & Anne Mongiu, MD, PhD, FACS, FASCRS
New Haven, CT
Loving Your Guts: A Campaign to Improve the Colon Health of Our Community
Dr. Hughes and Dr. Mongiu collaborated with medical and surgical trainees, Yale Digestive Health leadership, primary care providers, community health groups, and Yale Teaching Kitchen physician and chef staff to provide a free virtual cooking class paired with recipes designed to highlight foods with colon health benefits, or substitutions to reduce ingredients like red meats that have been shown to increase colorectal cancer risks. The cooking class and associated recipes were designed to be simple and affordable using all SNAP-EBT friendly ingredients, addressing the challenge of “food swamps” in their community, with the idea that eating for colon health should be accessible to all. Significantly, the campaign initiated ongoing research into food deserts and swamps within Connecticut’s most socioeconomically diverse counties, laying the groundwork for targeted interventions.
A Single-center, Nonrandomized Single Arm Investigation to Assess Colorectal Cancer Screening Rates Among Incarcerated Patients
This CRC screening initiative focuses on increasing screening rates among incarcerated individuals at Rikers Island, a historically underserved population with limited access to preventive health care. This project assesses screening outcomes before and after the implementation of a structured risk assessment tool and fecal immunochemical testing (FIT). Key tactics include administering the screening tool to identify at-risk individuals, providing FIT kits, and coordinating follow-up colonoscopies for those with positive results at Bellevue Hospital. Educational materials are also incorporated to raise awareness about CRC within the correctional setting. Early data from the intervention suggest improved identification of at-risk individuals and increased CRC screening uptake, with plans to expand and further evaluate the long-term impact.
NYU Langone Family Health Center; NYU Langone Brooklyn; Ixel Cervera, MD; Leora Aquino, MD; Naveena Luke, MD; and Aasma Shaukat, MD, MPH, FACG
Brooklyn, NY
Targeted Video Educational Tool Approach to Improving Colorectal Cancer Screening Preparation and Health Disparities
This quality improvement project was implemented at NYU Langone Brooklyn Family Health Center, a Federally Qualified Health Center which serves the community of Sunset Park Brooklyn and the surrounding neighborhoods, 90.3% of whom are 200% below the federal poverty line, 75% of whom are racial and/or ethnic minorities, and 31.4% of whom are best served in a language other than English. They created a linguistically appropriate educational video on proper bowel preparation to engage their patient population based on the standard written instructions. The video is available in both English and Spanish and has closed captions to improve patient engagement and understanding for patients who are illiterate, have low health literacy, and have language barriers.
Pan African Organization for Health Education and Research (POHER)
Al Nour, Attaka, Suez Governorate, Egypt
A Pilot Study to Develop a Follow-Up Care Guide for Colorectal Cancer Survivors
This project aimed to bridge the informational gap experienced by CRC survivors during their post-treatment care by developing a follow-up care guide, tailored to colorectal cancer type (colon or rectal) and stage (I-IV) and whether patients have had surgery. The guides are intended to provide clear, personalized information on follow-up visits, symptoms to monitor, and healthy lifestyle during survivorship, based on National Comprehensive Cancer Network Survivorship Guidelines. Non-cancer participants were recruited to assess the guides’ readability, clarity and comprehensibility, analyzed across six themes: visual design, readability, clarity, appointment reminders (calendar and notes section), content relevance, and guide sizes.
Ruchir Paladiya, MBBS
Farmington, CT
Improving Colorectal Cancer Screening Access in a Safety Net Resident-Run Clinic Serving the Underserved Population of Hartford
Dr. Paladiya and his team implemented an equity-focused multifaceted intervention with a strong focus on resident education and Spanishlanguage patient engagement. Provider education included biweekly didactic sessions covering mt-sDNA eligibility, colorectal cancer surveillance guidelines, and cultural competency in screening. Their primary care clinic serves a predominantly Hispanic/Latino population, so the team highlighted and provided English and Spanish resources to eligible patients regarding CRC, CRC screening options, and QR codes for video references. They found that Spanish-speaking patients experienced the strongest gains across both outcomes, with CRC referrals and Cologuard orders increasing substantially, and African American patients demonstrated a 42.9% increase in Cologuard use, reflecting the improved uptake of non-invasive screening in a traditionally under-screened group.
Sita Chokhavatia, MD, MACG; Antoneta Lamo, PA-C;
and The Valley Health System
Paramus, NJ
Prevent Young, Protect Lifelong: Educating Younger Populations on the Importance of Colorectal Cancer Screening
Recent studies indicate that individuals born around 1990 are at double the risk of developing colon cancer and four times the risk of rectal cancer compared to those born around 1950. In response, the Valley Health System dedicated its efforts this year to raising awareness and providing education to younger individuals about the significance of CRC prevention by engaging with schools and organizing events geared toward younger audiences. These events included a Galentine’s Day for young mothers, tabling at a middle school with hands-on use of snares and prongs to remove spaghetti “polyps,” a presentation and hands-on teaching at a local high school, tabling and an inflatable colon at the local mall, and tabling outside of the Valley Hospital cafeteria which recently hired many new young staff members, many born around 1990. Children who participated in the events were encouraged to talk to their parents about getting screened using the new information they learned.
University of New Mexico Albuquerque, NM
Screening Through Storytelling: Culturally Informed Colorectal Cancer Awareness in the Navajo Nation Population
The UNM team organized a CRC awareness event within the Navajo Nation in New Mexico in collaboration with the Indian Health Service. The initiative targeted Native American adults with a focus on increasing awareness of CRC screening through culturally sensitive, family-centered engagement. They designed and distributed educational print flyers and digital infographics and developed a booth featuring CRC screening information, banners, and interactive activities. A unique element included stool emoji plastic toys and coloring stations, which attracted children and facilitated conversations with their parents. Storytelling, a culturally resonant communication style in Navajo culture, was used to explain the importance of early detection and prevention.
VA Caribbean Healthcare System
San Juan, PR
Myth vs. Reality: See the Truth
This campaign focused on clarifying the myths and the realities of CRC and was organized and staffed by a team of GI fellows, attendings, and internal medicine residents. The campaign began with a live educational segment on a prominent local radio station, NotiUno 630 in San Juan, where they discussed prevention strategies, early detection, lifestyle modifications, and the vital role gastroenterologists play in saving lives. They also hosted educational stations at the VA Caribbean Healthcare System in San Juan and developed educational content including videos, infographics, and informational flyers and banners for dissemination through social media. The campaign culminated in a major outdoor wellness event at the VA Hospital, promoting holistic well-being through interactive sessions on nutrition and physical activity, including tai chi, Zumba, and mindfulness meditation.
Veronica Jarido, MD Jackson, TN
They Prep Like Us
Dr. Jarido wrote lyrics for and performed a song promoting high-quality bowel preparation, as a musical parody of the Kendrick Lamar song, “Not Like Us.” Her creativity and sense of humor shine through the performance, which featured her dancing holding PEG solution and toilet paper, all while encouraging patients to prep well to have a successful colonoscopy. She posted the video on Instagram during March CRC Awareness Month, in remembrance of her uncle who died from colon cancer last year.
SCOPY AWARD 2025
Honorable Mentions
Allison Yang, MD, MPH; Alyssa Panayi; and Nina Baumann
New York, NY | STICK IT to Colon Cancer!
Benjamin H. Levy, III, MD
Chicago, IL | Tune It Up: A Concert To Raise Colorectal Cancer Awareness
Chanpreet Singh, MD; Deena Mohammed; and Waseem Abu Obeida, MD
McAllen, TX | Colorectal Cancer Awareness Campaign Among the Latinos Population of Edinburg in South Texas
Citrus Colorectal Cancer Foundation
Hernando, FL | Citrus Colorectal Cancer Foundation Casino Night
Cleveland Clinic FIT Initiative
Cleveland, OH | Increasing Colorectal Cancer Screening in Historically Underserved Population
Han Zhang, MD
La Jolla, CA | Colon Cancer Screening and Colon Polyps: A Simplified Guide for Trainees and Primary Care Physicians
Hartford HealthCare Digestive Health Institute
Hartford, CT | Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month 2025
Jorge Melendez Borralí, RN, BSN
San Juan, PR | Scan Me for a Smooth Colonoscopy Prep!
Kadirawel Iswara, MD, FACP, FACG
Brooklyn, NY | Colon Cancer Awareness Forum—Staten Island: A Collaborative Effort Among Military Veterans, NYPD, Elected Officials, and Healthcare Providers
Karen Simon
Oxnard, CA | Blue Hair, GIs Care
Middlesex Endoscopy Center, LLC
Middletown, CT | Spokes Spin Off Colorectal Cancer Awareness Event
Mohamed Eldesouki, MD
Newark, NJ | Inflatable Colon Roadshow: Bridging the Colorectal Cancer Screening Gap for Uninsured Newark Residents
Nazish Butt, MD
Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan | March Is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
OhioHealth
Columbus, OH | Fecal DNA Kits for the Underserved Patients of Riverside Community Medicine
Ronald Hsu, MD, FACG; Mark Wood; and Kacey Hsu
Roseville, CA | Electrify Your Awareness of Colon Cancer Prevention with Mark Wood
University Hospitals of Cleveland – North Ridgeville Endoscopy Center, LLC
North Ridgeville, OH | We Are on a Roll to Wipe Out Colon Cancer
University of California, Irvine
Orange, CA | University of California Irvine’s Check Your Colon Initiative
University of Cincinnati Division of Digestive Diseases
Cincinnati, OH | Weekend Wellness for the Professional: Colon Cancer Screening Initiative
Belkis A. Lora, RN, BSN, CGRN; Daniel A. Sussman, MD, MSPH; Frederick Soriano, RN, CGRN; Erin Kobetz, PhD; Toni Pryor
Leavitt, APRN; Annette Hernandez-Collado, RN; and Jodie A. Barkin, MD, FACG
University of Miami | Miami, FL | Magic City Blue Light Special
Vivek Jasti, MD
Columbus, OH | Colorectal Cancer Screening Outreach for the Somali Community of Columbus, OH
