Dr. Sumedha Penheiter

We actually use funding mechanisms through the Alliance where we fund our partners and community members to amplify the work around these objectives.

We actually use funding mechanisms through the Alliance where we fund our partners and community members to amplify the work around these objectives.

So we have done significant amounts in each space in terms of we've created a community health worker program where we talk about insurance, again, covering community health worker charges so that they can be navigators within the system to talk about screening and detection and awareness at an early stage with the communities. So it's a multi-pronged approach.

So we have done significant amounts in each space in terms of we've created a community health worker program where we talk about insurance, again, covering community health worker charges so that they can be navigators within the system to talk about screening and detection and awareness at an early stage with the communities. So it's a multi-pronged approach.

And while I do talk about early detection, I want to say that we follow the whole spectrum from detection, but then a lot of people are in the treatment phase and the survivorship phase. So we also support them in that space. But early detection, this is an ever-evolving, innovative space. You have people that can be family or genetically predisposed to cancer that are human for early screening.

And while I do talk about early detection, I want to say that we follow the whole spectrum from detection, but then a lot of people are in the treatment phase and the survivorship phase. So we also support them in that space. But early detection, this is an ever-evolving, innovative space. You have people that can be family or genetically predisposed to cancer that are human for early screening.

But then there's a lot that do not have familial history and yet could develop some of these cancers. Yeah.

But then there's a lot that do not have familial history and yet could develop some of these cancers. Yeah.

The idea is to do early screening based on a variety of techniques, one of which is genetic testing or genetic screening and several others like diagnostics, like breast exams, and just going into communities and removing the hesitation and cultural nuances that are around testing and encouraging them to take care of their health.

The idea is to do early screening based on a variety of techniques, one of which is genetic testing or genetic screening and several others like diagnostics, like breast exams, and just going into communities and removing the hesitation and cultural nuances that are around testing and encouraging them to take care of their health.

Well, I think from what I understand is that There are some common denominators across the board, but there's also unique factors. Starting with urban, I think I can point out that there's a lot more access in the areas of urban clinics. However, I feel that there's still, depending on what city you live in, transportation can still be a barrier.

Well, I think from what I understand is that There are some common denominators across the board, but there's also unique factors. Starting with urban, I think I can point out that there's a lot more access in the areas of urban clinics. However, I feel that there's still, depending on what city you live in, transportation can still be a barrier.

And in urban areas, people are working, you know, some cases around the clock. So making time for health appointments and coming in to get their screening done. And a lot of efforts are in clinical trial space to address and understand cancer and provide state-of-the-art therapeutics to make sure that cancers are cured if they are indeed

And in urban areas, people are working, you know, some cases around the clock. So making time for health appointments and coming in to get their screening done. And a lot of efforts are in clinical trial space to address and understand cancer and provide state-of-the-art therapeutics to make sure that cancers are cured if they are indeed

occurring and there's just that social determinants of health are much more complex in urban areas, although they exist in rural areas as well, but they're different. And so the complexity of the social determinants of health with an additional factors that contribute to risk of cancer, such as environment and pollution, definitely add to that burden.

occurring and there's just that social determinants of health are much more complex in urban areas, although they exist in rural areas as well, but they're different. And so the complexity of the social determinants of health with an additional factors that contribute to risk of cancer, such as environment and pollution, definitely add to that burden.

So I think the strategy has to be different, again, based on the cancer burden, which is different, but also the social determinants of health, which vary between rural and urban areas. And in rural areas, access is a concern. A lot of rural communities have to drive for miles before they can come to a place where they can see a physician or get treatment.

So I think the strategy has to be different, again, based on the cancer burden, which is different, but also the social determinants of health, which vary between rural and urban areas. And in rural areas, access is a concern. A lot of rural communities have to drive for miles before they can come to a place where they can see a physician or get treatment.

And in that, we've worked hard to establish pilot hubs in the rural areas through the Minnesota Clinical Cancer Trial Network. to have some of these clinical trials available in some of the smaller communities within greater Minnesota. So there's different factors and different social determinants of health, although they exist in both.

And in that, we've worked hard to establish pilot hubs in the rural areas through the Minnesota Clinical Cancer Trial Network. to have some of these clinical trials available in some of the smaller communities within greater Minnesota. So there's different factors and different social determinants of health, although they exist in both.