The Office of Research and Innovation in Internal Medicine (ORIM) is proud to serve its community through “Pathways to Prevention: Exploring Social Determinants of Health in Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer,” a two-year grant initiative totaling nearly $409,000.
Funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) of the National Health Institute (NIH), Pathways to Prevention is dedicated to uncovering how social factors such as income, education, and access to health care influence early-onset colorectal cancer, with a particular focus on rural communities in Kentucky and Georgia. The goal is to use these insights to drive earlier diagnosis, timely treatment, and improved survival rates among the most vulnerable populations.
ORIM’s Assistant Director for Population Science Justin Moore, PhD, MPH, advanced the mission of Pathways to Prevention by engaging directly with the community, advocating for cancer screening and health education during Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month through outreach events at local churches. Internal Medicine Chair Darwin Conwell, MD, MSc, FACG, also attended, actively supporting the initiative as he engaged with the congregation. They were joined by UK HealthCare’s Chief Health Disparities Officer Tukea Talbert, DNP, RN, CDP.
An important component of Pathways to Prevention’s mission and Dr. Talbert’s role is connecting UK HealthCare's efforts to address health disparities with the University of Kentucky’s efforts and connecting those teams to the community to improve our impact and research.
This program has earned accolades in the form of two American College of Gastroenterology-SCOPY (Service Award for Colorectal Cancer Outreach, Prevention & Year-Round Excellence) Awards. ACG’s SCOPY recognizes programs that demonstrate outstanding creativity and commitment to spreading the potentially lifesaving message of the importance of colorectal cancer screening and prevention.
With colorectal cancer remaining one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in the United States, claiming nearly 53,000 lives in 2024 alone, ORIM’s combined endeavors in scientific research and community outreach are essential to promoting health equity and saving lives across the region.
Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R21CA301113. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.