Volume 3.4 | July 1, 2019
Southern Illinois University School of Medicine's Population Science and Policy (PSP) is excited to bring you The Pioneer Pulse, a monthly supplement to our larger quarterly newsletter, The Pioneer .
Cancer and Population Health
Cancer is a major concern for those studying population health and understanding cancer prevention and treatment options is an important aspect. As PSP serves a mostly rural region of central and southern Illinois, much of our focus on cancer outcomes, treatment and prevention revolves around how it affects rural residents. According to the CDC, people in rural America are diagnosed with cancer less often but die from it at higher rates. While cancer deaths have decreased nationwide, there is a slower reduction in cancer death rates in rural America compared to urban areas. The CDC states that geography alone can’t predict cancer risk, but it can impact prevention, diagnosis and treatment opportunities.

The primary drivers of rural/urban cancer disparities are related to differences in prevention, screening, treatment for cancer patients and cancer survivorship. The CDC states rural residents are more likely than urban residents to have important risk factors for cancer and less likely to have access to preventative care and programs that reduce them – consider, for instance, resources for quitting smoking, physical activity and healthy eating. Rural residents may also have reduced access to cancer-preventing vaccines, such as the HPV vaccine. Finally, the CDC notes that rural cultural values may also play a role. An “I’m fine” mentality may make it less likely for someone to seek preventative care.

The CDC offers a few recommendations to prevent and treat cancer in rural America, including partnering with faith-based organizations to provide evidence-based smoking cessation resources, offering HPV vaccinations at lower out-of-pocket cost, promoting the option of colorectal cancer stool tests in traditional and nontraditional settings, and expanding patient transportation options.

There’s still plenty of work to do.

The American Cancer Society recently released the Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer . The report states, for all cancer sites combined, cancer death rates continued to decline in men, women and children in the United States from 1999 to 2016. That’s the good news. The report also found a greater cancer burden among women than men in the 20-49 age group and shows continuing racial and ethnic disparities in cancer mortality and incidence. Black men and black women had the highest cancer death rates, both for all cancer sites combined and for about half of the most common cancers in men and women.

PSP is currently focused on a few cancer-related projects:
  • PSP is working with Hillsboro Area Hospital in Montgomery County to survey residents to determine the barriers of low dose computed tomography (LDCT) as a method for lung cancer screening. The survey also asks general questions about cancer screening, insurance and health. Additionally, PSP will educate providers about the importance of recommending lung cancer screening to their patients.
  • PSP has also developed a comparative study of open, laparoscopic and robotic-assisted surgery for colorectal cancer at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield. This study is sponsored in part by a grant from Memorial Medical Center Foundation. Learn more about this project below.
PSP Spotlight: Min Jee Lee
The Department of Population Science and Policy is fortunate to have a multidisciplinary staff to design projects and research to improve population health. Min Jee Lee , PhD, MPH, is a Research Assistant Professor and her expertise in public health and cancer research adds a valuable component to PSP's efforts.
 
Why did you choose to work at PSP?
I want to be a NIH-funded cancer disparities researcher to continue the work I have done and the work I wish to perform in the future. I believe my current work and future efforts will complement PSP, Simmons Cancer Institute, and SIU School of Medicine. I also wanted to collaborate with Dr. Wiley Jenkins, PSP's Epidemiology and Biostatistics Division Director.

What are some of your research priorities?
My research interest is cancer health disparities. My research over the last ten years has focused on understanding how racial and socioeconomic disparities in access to care lead to suboptimal health outcomes. Currently, I am focusing on issues related to colorectal cancer screening and treatment and how system-wide factors and financial barriers differently affect the utilization of services and health outcomes.
 
What is your academic background?
I received my PhD in Health Services Policy and Management from the University of South Carolina, and my Master of Public Health in Health Policy from Yonsei University.

What are your research goals?
I hope to inform both policy and practice in ways that improve the delivery of healthcare to vulnerable populations in order to reduce health disparities.

Explain some of your current research:
First, I am working on NIH Research Enhancement Award grant resubmission. This project focuses on the Mississippi Delta Region, which has been identified as one of the key regions for colorectal cancer interventions. We will provide colorectal cancer screening education and reminders using Faith Community Nurses to reduce colorectal screening disparities.

Second, I recently received a Memorial Medical Center Foundation grant to explore outcomes of different surgical treatments for colorectal cancer at Memorial Medical Center. Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, and is most commonly treated with surgery. There are three types of surgery for colorectal cancer: open, laparoscopic, and robotic-assisted surgery. Memorial Medical Center started the robotic-assisted surgery using Da Vinci Xi platform in 2017. I proposed a retrospective comparative study of open, laparoscopic, and robotic-assisted surgery for colorectal cancer at Memorial Medical Center. I will compare the clinical outcomes of the three types of surgery for colorectal cancer as well as financial outcomes of these procedures.

Third, I am working on cancer screening disparities among rural individuals who are in the sexual minority. The compounding affects of rural health care disparities along with the disparities faced by sexual minorities who are living in rural areas are expected to be significant. Yet, this issue is largely unexplored. This study will assess how cancer screening utilization may vary by residence and sexual orientation.
Rural Health Leadership Radio
PSP Chair Dr. Sameer Vohra was recently interviewed for the Rural Health Leadership Radio podcast. Listen to his thoughts on the future of rural health, how he became involved in population health and policy, and how PSP is working to solve health challenges faced by rural residents. Listen here.
Community Health Improvement Recognition
PSP’s “ Little Leaps ” program, a partnership with Hillsboro Area Hospital to enhance child/caregiver interaction to improve children’s brain development, was recently featured as a “ story from the field ” by the American Hospital Association and Association for Community Health Improvement. PSP is honored to be recognized by AHA and looks forward to finding new ways to improve health in Illinois communities.
Consider PSP in your Charitable Giving
As we enter the second half of the year, we urge you to consider the Department of Population Science and Policy in your charitable giving plans. Our Department relies on grants and donations to achieve our goal of improving health in central and southern Illinois. Your contribution helps sustain our efforts and expand our outreach to new communities in Illinois.

Donate now or learn more about supporting our work.
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