Participating in Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in Washington, D.C. means one thing – taking the fight to save lives from CRC to Capitol Hill and advocating for increased access to screening and research to improve outcomes.
Last week, AGA joined our partners at the national advocacy organization, Fight Colorectal Cancer (Fight CRC) and partners in the colorectal cancer community for several events in our nation’s capital. The goal was to destigmatize talking about gut health and CRC, and to collaboratively develop solutions that will improve and increase access to CRC screening.
Fight CRC working lunch
Former AGA president, Dr. David Lieberman and fellow AGA member and FORWARD graduate Dr. Fola May served as facilitators for the coalition of public and private leaders assembled by Fight CRC. The group is working to develop an action plan to further equitable CRC screening and lower the number of lives impacted by CRC. Among the participants were insurers, industry, federal agencies, healthcare providers, retail businesses and patients.
White House Cancer Moonshot colorectal cancer forum
In partnership with President Biden’s reignited Cancer Moonshot initiative, we joined Fight CRC and other advocacy and industry leaders in the colorectal cancer community for the Cancer Moonshot Colorectal Cancer Forum, hosted by the White House.
Dr. May participated as a panelist during the forum and discussed how we should address disparities in CRC.
Right: Former AGA president Dr. David Lieberman (center) poses with Anjee Davis, president of Fight CRC (left) and Simone Ledward Boseman, CRC caregiver and the late Chadwick Boseman’s wife (right).
In addition to Dr. Lieberman who attended on behalf of AGA, fellow AGA members Drs. Austin Chiang, Swati Patel and AGA FORWARD Scholar Rachel Issaka were also in attendance. We are appreciative of the opportunity to be included in these important discussions with the Administration and partners in the CRC community as we work together to reduce the burden of CRC and save lives.
I 💙 our GI docs! We did it! You all rock and thanks to @MollyFightCRC for taking the photo! @drfolamay @AustinChiangMD @IssakaMD @swatigp pic.twitter.com/6ukERsd1Be
— Kathleen Teixeira (@KathleenTeixei2) March 11, 2023
Fight CRC United in Blue rally on the National Mall
It’s become an annual tradition for us to join Fight CRC’s United in Blue rally and blue flag installation on the National Mall, and this year was no different. We joined industry and patient advocacy groups in the CRC community to raise our voices about the need for screening, research and advocacy to improve colon cancer outcomes.
The rally included inspiring calls to action and CRC testimonials from individuals who have been personally impacted by the disease, including Rep. Donald Payne, Jr. (D-NJ), who lost his father to CRC and who personally underwent screening, which led to the discovery of 13 polyps.
Dr. Manish Singla from Capital Digestive Care spoke on behalf of AGA and provided encouragement and reminder for patients and providers.
Our work is just beginning: let’s work together to encourage screenings for colorectal cancer and save lives. Join us as we remind everyone that 45 is the new 50.
