Principal Investigator: Lina Jandorf, MA
Department(s) or Division(s)
Population Health Science and Policy
Center for Behavioral Oncology
Description
The Minority Outreach, Recruitment and Education (MORE) Core of The Tisch Cancer Institute (TCI) was developed to support our commitment to both our communities and our cutting-edge research efforts. Focusing on East and Central Harlem, MORE is devoted to the needs of our neighborhoods and to supporting the mission of The Tisch Cancer Institute. Our outreach efforts currently focus on reducing health care disparities through increased screening efforts, focusing on breast, cervical, lung, skin and colorectal cancer. Recruitment efforts include educating community members as well as patients about the role of clinical research and how they might participate. Through our education efforts, we seek to bring cancer educational programs to community members. All of the work of MORE is supported by lay health advocates; community members trained to educate and enlist their peers in our outreach, recruitment and education efforts. Recruiting Participants: Participants are currently being referred for several studies within the MORE Core.
Co-Investigator: Lina Jandorf, MA
Department(s) or Division(s)
Population Health Science and Policy
Center for Behavioral Oncology
Description
The Mount Sinai Health System (MSHS) Mobile Mammography Program will function as a distinctive model of mobile breast screening outreach and education, coupled with screening events and services (such as patient navigation) throughout the five boroughs of New York City. The program will couple group-based, culturally targeted education and outreach with (1) digital breast tomosynthesis full field mammography; (2) the newest Mammography Information System, which will make our intake and follow-up communications available in the many languages of our target populations; and (3) provides continuous quality monitoring software. The van will be operational in the Fall of 2018.
The Mobile Mammography Program will coordinate efforts closely with the TCI Cancer Community Outreach Program as well as work with internal partners across MSHS, which includes 300 community clinics and numerous outreach programs and initiatives within our target populations conducted through multiple departments and programs. Van locations will include community and faith-based organizations, centers, health clinics, and storefronts.
MSH will contract with the New York State Department of Health Cancer Services Program (CSP) to ensure screening and follow-up for uninsured clients.
To learn more, call 1844-EZ Mammo (1844-396-2666) or
Visit our Mobile Mammography webesite
The Witness Project® of Harlem
Principal Investigator: Lina Jandorf, MA
Department(s) or Division(s)
Population Health Science and Policy
Center for Behavioral Oncology
Description
The Witness Project® of Harlem (WPH) represents a culturally sensitive educational effort that requires collaboration with the church, a powerful and far-reaching institution in the African American community. This program has been modeled after the Witness Project® developed by Dr. Deborah Erwin and her associates (then) at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. The Witness Project® is a culturally competent breast and cervical cancer education program for African American women designed to increase adherence to recommended screening guidelines. The Project trains breast cancer survivors (Witness Role Models (WRMs)), to share their own experience of cancer diagnosis and treatment. Additionally, Lay Health Advisors (LHAs) are trained to work with the WRMs in the education component of the program. Evaluation of the Witness Project® has revealed that participants report significant increases in breast cancer screening from pre-to post-intervention as compared to a control group.
We are actively looking for sites to conduct programs, such as churches, schools, senior centers, or homes. We are actively looking for African American women who have been touched by Breast or Cervical Cancer to work as program volunteers.
Contact Information:
Brittney Henry
(212) 824-7081
brittney.henry@mssm.edu
https://witnessproject.wordpress.com
Esperanza y Vida® – The Latina Witness Project of Harlem
Principal Investigator: Lina Jandorf, MA
Department(s) or Division(s)
Population Health Science and Policy
Center for Behavioral Oncology
Description
Esperanza y Vida® (EyV) represents a culturally sensitive health education program that works collaboratively with different community and faith-based organizations within the Hispanic/Latino community. This program has been modeled after the Witness Project®. The program uses creative and innovative technology in order to educate the communities about breast and cervical cancer. The program was designed not only to increase knowledge about the topic but also to improve adherence to recommended screening guidelines. The Project trains breast cancer survivors (Sobrevivientes), to share their own experience of cancer diagnosis and treatment. Additionally, Lay Health Advisors (LHAs) are trained to work with the sobrevivientes in the educational component of the program. The research component of Esperanza y Vida® has shown that those participants who were navigated after the educational component of the program, report significant increases in breast and cervical cancer screening.
We are actively looking for sites to conduct programs, such as churches, schools, senior centers, or homes. We are actively looking for Spanish-speaking Hispanic/Latina women who have been touched by Breast or Cervical Cancer to work as program volunteers. Programs are conducted in both English and Spanish.
Contact Information:
Lyshsae M. Otarola
Lyshsae.Otarola@mountsinai.org
https://esperanzayvida.wordpress.com/
Principal Investigator: Sarah Miller, Psy.D
Department(s) or Division(s)
Population Health Science and Policy
Center for Behavioral Oncology
Description
Compared to other racial groups, African Americans have the highest colorectal cancer (CRC) morbidity and mortality rates. Although colonoscopies can detect and prevent CRC, nearly one-third of African Americans have not received a screening colonoscopy within the recommended time frame (one colonoscopy per ten years). It is critical to increasing African Americans’ screening colonoscopy rates in order to reduce racial inequities in CRC morbidity and mortality. This research project will first develop an app, called e-motivate, to help improve African Americans participation in screening colonoscopies. The tablet/iPad app will be given to African Americans in the primary care clinic after they receive a referral for a screening colonoscopy. The first two years of the project will be dedicated to building the app and gathering feedback about the utility and acceptability of the app. That feedback will be used to modify and finalize the app. Then, the final three years of the project will be dedicated to testing the efficacy of the app, to determine whether it can help African Americans improve their screening colonoscopy uptake.
Contact Information
Sarah Miller, Psy.D., Principal Investigator
212-824-7783
Sarah.miller@mssm.edu
Electronic Navigator Project
Principal Investigator: Sarah Miller, Psy.D
Department(s) or Division(s)
Population Health Science and Policy
Center for Behavioral Oncology
Description
Research has proven that patient navigation, with professional or peer navigators, can significantly improve a patient’s likelihood of completing a screening colonoscopy. It is unknown whether patients would be interested in using electronic forms of patients’ navigation (e.g., smartphone app, website, text, MyChart). We are interviewing patients who are referred or scheduled to have a colonoscopy to determine their interest in using electronic patient navigation. The results from this study will help guide the potential development of an electronic patient navigation platform.
Contact Information:
Sarah Miller, Principal Investigator
212-824-7783
Sarah.miller@mssm.edu
Exploring Social Networks and Social Capital for Cancer Screening among Minorities in Public Housing
Principal Investigator: Jamilia Sly, PhD
Department(s) or Division(s)
Population Health Science and Policy
Center for Behavioral Oncology
Description
The New York City Public Housing Authority (NYCHA) provides affordable housing to more than 400,000 residents in 328 public housing developments. These residents represent all races, several ethnicities and varying socio-demographic backgrounds, including the baby boomer generation. As the baby boomer generation continues to get older, there will be a need for greater understanding regarding how people “age in place” and for interventions to support healthy aging in place, especially among the most vulnerable members of our society. Leveraging the positive benefits of their social networks in these groups may be useful in the promotion of cancer screening interventions, but little research has examined and tested this hypothesis. One of the first steps in this line of research is to assess the social networks and preventive health needs of older adult (50-64 years old) NYCHA residents. Over the next couple of years, we will be conducting surveys of approximately 300 NYCHA residents in at least five East and Central Harlem NYCHA developments and develop testing an intervention to address the needs identified in the surveys.
Contact Information:
Jamilia Sly, Principal Investigator
212-824-7813
Jamilia.sly@mssm.edu
M.I.C.A.H. Project HEAL
Co-Investigator: Lina Jandorf, MA
Department(s) or Division(s)
Population Health Science and Policy
Center for Behavioral Oncology
The Health through Early Awareness and Learning (HEAL) Project was designed to work with churches and health ministries to educate their communities about early prevention of diseases and promote self-health advocacy. M.I.C.A.H. Project HEAL works with churches and health ministries to motivate, empower, and connect people with resources they need to access health care. M.I.C.A.H. Project HEAL provides training materials so that leaders in the churches (Community Health Advisors; CHAs) learn to teach education workshops to their members. We focus on prostate cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, smoking cessation and mental health. We train CHAs to become certified to teach the workshops to their church congregants, using a group session format. CHAs use scripture and religious/ spiritual themes to teach the health message. We provide M.I.C.A.H. Project HEAL handouts and resources for use in the workshops.
Contact Information:
Britney Henry
212-824-7081
Britney.henry@mssm.edu
Hepatitis Outreach Network (HONE)
Co-Investigator: Lina Jandorf, MA
Department(s) or Division(s)
Population Health Science and Policy
Center for Behavioral Oncology
Description
This is a community viral hepatitis prevention, screening, and link to case study focused on adult, minority groups in New York City who are at high risk for chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) and chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV). HONE is raising awareness and providing education in minority communities (such as the African Immigrant community) in the New York City area. It aims to create a comprehensive hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and screening project in minority communities at high risk in the New York City area. It also looks to establish a link between screening efforts and appropriate healthcare, including vaccination and access to treatment for chronic hepatitis B and chronic hepatitis C patients. HONE offers combined HBV and HCV screening at no-cost at a variety of health fairs and other events throughout New York City. If found positive for Hepatitis B or C, we also offer a free initial visit at Mount Sinai Hospital for further tests and treatment options, as well as linkage to care at a facility convenient to the patients. This study is a collaboration between members of The Mount Sinai Health System Division of Liver Diseases, the Tisch Cancer Institute and community physicians who care for minority patients at high risk for chronic HBV and HCV.
Contact Information:
Ponni Perumalswami, MD
Principal Investigator
212-241-7270
ponni.perumalswami@mountsinai.org