New York’s large and diverse population faces significant disparities in cancer incidence, diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes, fueled by health information and systems access barriers and by an inadequate evidence base, which stems from insufficient representation in research and program implementation. Inequalities in cancer screening and survival rates are associated with race/ethnicity. For example, for colorectal cancer (CRC), compared to the general population, U.S. Latinos have lower CRC screening rates (29%), are more likely to be diagnosed with advanced CRC, and have lower survival rates, and African Americans (AAs) have the highest CRC incidence and mortality. Since 2008, the PCORE (Partnership Community Outreach-Research-Education/Engagement) Core of the U54 City College of New York (CCNY)-Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) Partnership for Research, Training, and Community Outreach has addressed socioeconomic determinants of health and ethnic/racial disparities in cancer outcomes for medically underserved health disparities populations in three geographic areas: local-CCNY, CCNY’s surrounding community/Harlem, and New York City communities. Over the past 15 years, PCORE has nurtured and sustained partnerships with over 100 community- and faith-based organizations (CBOs/FBOs), occupation-based organizations, community leaders, providers, and researchers. PCORE utilizes several methodologies and approaches in its activities and programs, in its efforts to disseminate information, foster risk reduction, screening, and improved outcomes, facilitate research, and ensure program sustainability. Methods and approaches have included: a) Quantitative and qualitative needs assessments; community-engaged outreach, education, and research program development and implementation, in collaboration with CBOs/FBOs/occupation-based organizations; and b) Community and researcher capacity-building to further develop, disseminate and sustain established health promotion/cancer prevention outreach and educational initiatives, including navigation into primary care and through cancer screening; researcher-community engagement education and platforms; and provide an organizing structure that brings together academia and community. Between 2022 and 2023, PCORE reached over 5,800 individuals and navigated over 500 into breast, cervical, colorectal, prostate, and lung cancer screening. Over the next five years, PCORE will continue to bring together myriad communities, and researchers and students at CCNY and MSK, to build on our strong foundation of community-engaged approaches to develop, implement, and disseminate evidence-based cancer prevention and early detection practices, spearhead new, cutting-edge initiatives, and increase impact by translating data into policy.
Vol. 4, Issue Supplement 1, 2024April 30, 2024 PDT
Bridging Cancer Disparities: The PCORE (Partnership Community Outreach-Research-Education/Engagement) Core of the U54 CCNY-MSK Partnership
Bridging Cancer Disparities: The PCORE (Partnership Community Outreach-Research-Education/Engagement) Core of the U54 CCNY-MSK Partnership
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Banegas Ruiz LE, Rebollo Becerra GI, Lubetkin EI, Gany FM, Leng JC. Bridging Cancer Disparities: The PCORE (Partnership Community Outreach-Research-Education/Engagement) Core of the U54 CCNY-MSK Partnership. IJCCD. 2024;4(Supplement 1). doi:10.53876/001c.116814