Darwin Conwell, MD, MSc, Jack M. Gill Endowed Chair in Internal Medicine, recently accepted the Service Award for Colorectal Cancer Outreach, Prevention, and Year-Round Excellence (SCOPY).
Under the leadership of Tukea Talbert, DNP, RN, chief diversity officer at UK HealthCare, and Dr. Conwell, the University of Kentucky spearheaded important community outreach efforts to raise awareness about colon cancer prevention to Kentucky communities.
Their project, Faith Leaders/UK HealthCare Collaborative, was recognized with the SCOPY Award by the American College of Gastroenterology. UK was one of 17 groups or universities to receive the award nationally.
Throughout March 2023, the Faith Leaders/UK HealthCare Collaborative engaged with African American churches to provide important information related to colon cancer prevention.
Outreach included:
- Weekend “Dress in Blue Sunday” events promoting opportunities to “engage, educate, and empower.”
- Holistic Health Awareness Day with the UK College of Medicine Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The event included mental health and wellness resources, A1C measurements for diabetes, blood pressure checks, a guided walking tour of an inflatable colon, and produce supplied by Black Soil, a local Black-owned agriculture business.
- A Crucial Conversations panel at the University of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Hospital. The panel was moderated by Dr. Talbert and included members of the Faith Leaders team, staff and faculty at UK, and community partners.
Kentucky is a “hot spot” for colon cancer. UK is well positioned to provide exceptional cancer care for Kentucky patients. Markey Cancer Center was recently named a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center.