A year ago, the two chief organizers for Communities Crushing Cancer planned an event in which eight of the 10 radiology residency programs in Massachusetts participated.
Fast forward 12 months, and Somiah Almeky, MD, and Liz Lin, MD, now fourth-year radiology residents at Boston University Medical Center, are casting a wider net for the resident-led initiative aimed at raising cancer awareness and increasing screening rates. Programs from across the country are interested in the October 30 event.
“We’re trying to reach as many people as possible,” said Dr. Lin, who is a future abdominal imager. “We’ve already had interest from people in Puerto Rico and Hawaii.”
Last November, radiology residents from participating programs set up information tables for Communities Crushing Cancer in their hospital lobbies and cafeterias to attract the public. Residents served as diagnostic imaging experts and provided informational brochures that focused on cancer screening, specifically breast, lung, and colorectal. The one-day event was planned from noon to 2 p.m., and residents received protected time from their institutions to participate.
The audience was diverse, ranging from patients/community members to various healthcare workers and hospital employees. There were more than 200 total interactions during the event.
“We tailored the conversations based on the health literacy level of the individual we were engaging with, and the specific screening exams relevant to their circumstances,” said Dr. Almeky, a future interventional radiologist.
More than 70 residents participated in the first Communities Crushing Cancer. The good turnout gave trainees an opportunity to bond with colleagues while helping the public.
“The feedback we got from resident participants was overwhelmingly positive,” Dr. Almeky said. “The event proved to be a valuable learning experience not just for patients, but for residents as well, allowing them to see the value of our work in radiology in a new light. Residents also felt that they got to bond with their co-residents in a way that was unique from traditional social events. Stepping outside the reading room and coming together for a meaningful cause was truly rewarding and refreshing.”
The residents were pleased to have face-to-face conversations and hopefully leave an impact on the attendees, many of whom had family or friends in the hospital at the time.
“There were residents who said it was one of the most meaningful experiences they’ve had in residency so far,” Dr. Lin said. “As radiologists, we are not always on the front lines. Hearing that it was meaningful to them also made it more meaningful for us.”
Dr. Lin said a conversation she had with an attendee proved that the event was worthwhile.
“She told me she had lost two siblings and a mother to breast cancer,” she said. “It was an eye-opening experience for both of us to talk about differences in breast cancer treatment and outcomes after diagnosis based on how early the cancer is detected.”
This year, Drs. Almeky and Lin are working with the Radiology Health Equity Coalition (RHEC) to plan the event. The coalition is a collaborative initiative that is financially supported by several partners, including the ABR. RHEC Executive Director Carla Brathwaite said the residents are also helping spread the word about the coalition’s mission.
“The Communities Crushing Cancer task force, a consortium of residents and medical students, has done a fantastic job in planning this event,” she said. “Their dedication to patient advocacy is truly admirable. Engaging these emerging leaders in community outreach helps build trust between healthcare providers and underserved communities, which is essential for effective health communication, and for encouraging individuals to seek preventive care and adhere to recommended screenings and treatments.”
Planning and pulling off the first statewide event was a big accomplishment for the team. Members built on their volunteer experiences to create a valuable community outreach vehicle.
“I hadn’t initially envisioned something like this within radiology, but there is an important and growing role for trainees and radiologists in this space,” Dr. Almeky said. “Many of us were involved in community outreach before pursing radiology, so being able to maintain that connection while integrating it with our specialty has been worthwhile and a lot of fun.”
Drs. Almeky and Lin wrote about the event for the ACR blog with a goal of recruiting more volunteers. They want to see the event continue long after they finish their training, something that will require a new cohort of residents to take charge.
“Sustainability is a big goal,” Dr. Lin said. “We’re envisioning the Communities Crushing Cancer initiative as a series of recurring events and have a lot of ideas on how to continue building it in the future, beyond this year’s event. We don’t want to lose momentum.”
Residents or programs interested in participating in this year’s event should visit the Communities Crushing Cancer website and sign up to join the effort.
