3 minute read
Community Activities
2022 Walk to End Bladder Cancer
On April 20, 2022, the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (BCAN) sponsored their annual “Walk to End Bladder Cancer.”
Funds raised enable BCAN to continue offering educational and support programs, support the advancement of bladder cancer research and other initiatives.
Pictured are BCAN 2022 Walk participants Dr. Ed Trabulsi, a grateful Jefferson patient, SKCC medical oncologist Dr. Bill Tester and our SKCC GU Multidisciplinary Clinic navigator, Crystal Sypherd.
Prostate Cancer Screening and Educational Event
On November 5, 2022, members of the
Department of Urology and the Sidney
Kimmel Cancer Center participated in a community event that combined educational presentations on how basic science research informs clinical practice in prostate cancer.
Throughout the event, SKCC-sponsored prostate cancer screenings. This event was the first screening event offered by the SKCC outreach team. Moriah Cunningham, a PhD candidate in the Department of Urology
Schiewer Research lab, was the main organizer of the event. The event was held at the New
Covenant Church on Germantown Pike in
Mount Airy. Dr. Whitney Smith provided valued input from the perspective of urology.
There were more than 50 attendees, and 25 men participated in the free prostate cancer screening offered during the event. All participants received information on prostate cancer and were able to learn about the research being done for the disease to help them make more informed decisions regarding MEN’S HEALTH their health. Moriah Cunningham, PhD student (pictured above) in our Department of Urology research lab, presented information on how basic science research and community outreach are involved in helping advance our understanding of prostate cancer. Learn more about Moriah on page 8. Participants in the community outreach program at the New Covenant Church (pictured below) included assistant professor of Urology Dr. Whitney Smith; Moriah Cunningham, PhD, student and main program organizer; Dr. Charnita Ziegler-Johnson; Dr. Russ Schilder SKCC medical oncologist who directs our Phase I Drug testing unit; and Dr. Amy Leader, SKCC Associate Director of Community Integration. Dr. Matthew Schiewer (not pictured), Department of Urology Vice Chair for Basic Science Research also participated in the event.
On March 8, 2022, Dr. Weiner participated in a Men’s Health Overview program held at the Kennedy Fitness Center in Washington Township, NJ. The center is a family fitness center and is an affiliate of the Jefferson Health NJ.
On November 10, 2022, more than 100 patients were provided an educational and screening event for Prostate Cancer along with Colon, Head and Neck, Skin, Lung, and Breast Cancer.
Members involved in the prostate screening event at Asplundh Cancer pavilion included Noreen Wielgus, MSN, Nurse Navigator; Morgan Schmanek, RN, Urology nurse; Peg O’Grady, MSN, Administrative Director for Oncology; Joseph Izes, MD, Urologic Oncologist; and Patrick T. Gomella, MD, MPH, Urologic Oncologist.
SKCC Screening Van Updates
The SKCC Deitz and Watson Screening Van has been active in the Breast Cancer Screening Mission since launching in late 2021.
Through a generous donation from Janssen, the program will also now be including prostate cancer screening events through questionnaires and PSA blood testing. We have partnered with the Prostate Conditions Education Council (PCEC) to utilize their screening protocol and lab services.
The Department of Urology and the SKCC have partnered with the PCEC in the annual Prostate Cancer Awareness project since the early 1990’s. Fatuma Doka and Suzanne
Barron, our inpatient NP, along with our Urology research coordinators Olivia Dahlgren and Alex Kolesnikov, have kindly agreed to provide their technical expertise during these prostate cancer screening events. We also plan on connecting these events to our Men’s Health Program initiatives across the Delaware Valley.
The initial prostate cancer screening event on this new platform took place on November 5, 2022.
Since the early 1990’s, the Department of Urology and SKCC have partnered with the Prostate Conditions Education Council in the annual project.
Inset: Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center and Dietz & Watson Mobile Cancer Screening Unit.
Right: Urology team members Alex Kolesnikov, Fatuma Doka and Olivia Dahlgren pose by the SKCC van after a prostate cancer screening event invited by Parx Casino in Bensalem.
