Download MCA Monthly Update - Minnesota Cancer Alliance

The monthly update of the Minnesota Cancer Alliance.
April 2015
Alliance Highlights
Welcome to new Program Director
Donna McDuffie, MPH, is the new Program Director for the Department of Health’s
Comprehensive Cancer Control Program, which provides leadership and staff for the Alliance.
Most recently Nutrition Coordinator in MDH’s Office of Statewide Health Improvement Initiatives,
Donna brings years of experience in strategic planning, prevention programming, and public
health practice to the position. As Nutrition Coordinator for OSHII, she provided statewide vision,
leadership, coordination and consultation expertise on effective health improvement and food
system projects like the Minnesota Food Charter, Great Trays, Healthy Eating Active Living
Minnesota, the Healthy Eating Coalition of State Agencies and the Farm to School Alliance. Prior
to coming to MDH Donna held positions with the Minnesota Department of Education, the
University of Minnesota School of Public Health and the Extension Service and the City of Saint
Paul Health Department.
Alliance's 2015 Working Meeting set for May 7
Under the banner of Make it about change, this year’s meeting takes the form of a dynamic,
interactive workshop led by Maggi Adamek. Scheduled for 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Minnesota
Humanities Center, the training session is the first in a series of events planned to strengthen
Alliance members’ confidence and skill at attacking the burden of cancer through small “p” policy,
systems and environmental change actions. If you’re a member of the Steering Committee,
participate in an Alliance network, serve on a committee, or contribute time and expertise to an
Alliance initiative, the Alliance hopes you will take time to register today. If you’re not already a
member of the Alliance, now’s the time to join and start making change happen.
Come to Rochester on May 12 to mix and learn
Plan to join Alliance members in Rochester, MN the evening of May 12 for a special presentation
on Cologuard: A Non-invasive Colon Cancer Screening Test. Dr. Seth Sweetser, of Mayo Clinic’s
Gastroenterology and Hepatology departments, will discuss this new test and its potential to
reduce barriers to being screened for colon cancer, especially in under-served populations.
Hosted by the Alliance and the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, the event starts at 5:30 p.m. and is
free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served. For more information and to
RSVP, call Renee at 507-284-2241.
Update from March colon cancer meeting
Eighty-five individuals from 30 organizations gathered for the March 4 State Colorectal Cancer
Action Planning Meeting, convened to identify next steps in Minnesota's efforts to achieve an
80% colon cancer screening rate by 2018. Following presentations by Dr. Rich Wender, chair of
the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable, and Nathan Hunkins, business and systems
development manager at Minnesota Community Measurement, participants split into three
breakout sessions to discuss access, delivery and demand for colon cancer screening. Discussion
leaders worked with participants to build on ideas generated during the Oct. 10 Colon Cancer
Roundtable. Plans call for three workgroups to be formed based on these different strategies. For
more information about the new colon cancer workgroups, contact Matt Flory at
[email protected] or call him at 651-255-8190.
Partner Updates
Health Disparities Roundtable
The University of Minnesota Medical School Program in Health Disparities Research is hosting a
Health Disparities Roundtable: Health in All Policies on April 10. The roundtable is aimed at
policymakers and health professionals. Keynote speakers are Keshia Pollack from the Johns
Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Kate Hess Pace from ISAIAH, and Ed Ehlinger,
Minnesota Commissioner of Health. Registration is required.
National Healthcare Decisions Day
April 16 is National Healthcare Decisions Day -- a day meant to inspire and educate people of all
ages about the importance of advance care planning. Honoring Choices Minnesota has compiled a
list of available online resources and local events scheduled for the day.
MNHPC 2015 Annual Conference
The Minnesota Network of Hospice & Palliative Care will host its annual conference, Joining
Knowledge, Passions and People on April 20 and 21. This year’s goal is to advance the knowledge
of healthcare professionals who provide end-of-life services, resulting in improved quality of care
for patients, families, and communities. Registration is now open.
Worth Noting
Potential effects of changing the tobacco minimum age
A new report from the Institute of Medicine considers the outcomes and implications of raising
the minimum legal age for tobacco products to 19 years, 21 years and 25 years.
Education Programs and Events
Week-long classes available in public health
The University of Minnesota’s Summer Public Health Institute begins May 26. Participants may
apply course work toward a degree program or professional continuing education. Registration
opened March 9 for U of M students and will open May 1 for the general public.
Resources and Publications
Pathways for understanding health disparities
As required by the state legislature, the Minnesota Department of Health has prepared a report
that explores the complex relationships between demographic characteristics such as race,
ethnicity, language, disability, income, education level, and housing stability and the health
quality performance data the state's clinics and hospitals have been required to report since
2009. Stratifying Health Care Quality Measures Using Socio-demographic Factors lays out a
series of recommendations designed to help the state accelerate its push toward health equity.
County health profiles now available
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has created the interactive web application
entitled CHSI 2015 that shows health profiles, including cancer deaths, for all 3,143 counties in
the United States. The application highlights social factors and the physical environment of each
county to represent the current conditions in each area.
Early diagnosis key to helping treat lung cancer
A new study explains why the early diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer are equally important
for those already exposed and those potentially at risk for the disease.
C-Change webinar now online
C-Change’s webinar, #FinishIt: Media Resources & Tools to Help Coalitions End Tobacco Use, was
recorded March 5 and is available to for online access. Slides from the webinar are also
available.
Public health impact of 80% by 2018
A new journal article highlighting the goals of the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable’s
initiative of achieving an 80% colorectal cancer screening rates in the U.S. by 2018 has been
released. The article predicts that 200,000 lives will be saved by 2018 if the 80% is goal is
achieved. Help meet these goals by signing the pledge.
Two out of 3 cancer patients survive 5 or more years
A recent study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention examines the most common
invasive cancers and their estimates for survival.
Announcements
Apply now for HealthPartners quality improvement
awards
HealthPartners is working to recognize the efforts of organizations that have improved the way
they deliver health care. They are now accepting applications for their Innovations in Health Care
Award and Preventive Care Screening Recognition Award.
Working Together is published monthly to provide Alliance members with timely information
about comprehensive cancer control topics. We invite you to share the update with colleagues,
and we invite your contributions. Brief Alliance highlights and announcements about upcoming
partner programs, events, and new resources should be submitted by the 15th of the month to
[email protected].
The Minnesota Cancer Alliance is a coalition of health organizations, community groups and
volunteers dedicated to reducing the burden of cancer for all Minnesotans. Since 2005, its
members have pursued five overarching goals: to PREVENT cancer from occurring; to DETECT
cancer at its earliest stages; to help patients ACCESS effective therapy; to OPTIMIZE quality of
life; and to ELIMINATE disparities across the cancer care continuum. The Alliance is guided by a
statewide steering committee representative of member organizations.
For additional information regarding the Minnesota Cancer Alliance, please visit our website at
mncanceralliance.org.
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