BROOKLYN, N.Y., March 31, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Communities
of color are disproportionately affected by colorectal cancer, with
Black men and women 20 percent more likely to get the disease than
other groups and 40 percent more likely to die from it, according
to the American Cancer Society. Now, thanks to a $2.2 million grant from the Steven &
Alexandra Cohen Foundation, NYU Langone Health is expanding its
program to address this disparity in Brooklyn.
"Early screening is a proven way to prevent colorectal cancer,"
says Mark B. Pochapin, MD, the
Sholtz/Leeds Professor of Gastroenterology and director of the
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology in NYU Langone's
Department of Medicine. "Even young, and seemingly healthy people
can be victims of colorectal cancer, and we truly hope to build
awareness around the importance of screening within at-risk
communities while providing additional opportunities for early
detection."
The Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation gift will support an
early intervention program in Brooklyn that can lead to better outcomes for
gastrointestinal diseases and cancers. To detect colorectal cancer
early, experts at NYU Langone recommend all adults with average
risk, regardless of race, start screening at age 45-50. Screening
is recommended for all Black men and women beginning at age 45,
regardless of risk profile, because of the higher incidence of
disease and death. Through seamless integration with NYU Langone's
Perlmutter Cancer Center, a National Cancer Institute-designated
Comprehensive Cancer Center, suspicious findings can be diagnosed
and treated quickly and closer to home at Perlmutter Cancer
Center–Sunset Park.
The gift will support increased screening capacity at NYU
Langone Hospital–Brooklyn and the Brooklyn Endoscopy and Ambulatory
Surgery Center, with a specific focus on reaching underserved
communities. Additionally, a portion of the funds will expand
screening for liver disease with support from Saikiran Kilaru, MD, clinical assistant
professor in NYU Langone's Department of Medicine Division of
Gastroenterology and Hepatology, and backs the recruitment of an
epidemiology expert to research efforts on risk factors, screening,
quality indicators, and prevention of colorectal cancer.
"Colorectal cancer disparities are of critical concern, so we
are eager to support NYU Langone's efforts to increase cancer
screenings and expand care in these underserved communities," says
Alex Cohen, president, Steven &
Alexandra Cohen Foundation.
To learn more about colorectal cancer screening visit
nyulangone.org, or call 646-929-7800 to make an appointment.
About the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation
The Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation is committed to
inspiring philanthropy and community service by creating awareness,
offering guidance, and leading by example to show the world what
giving can do. The Foundation's grants support nonprofit
organizations based in the United
States that either help people in need or solve complex
problems. The Foundation also spearheads grassroots campaigns to
encourage others to give. For more information, visit
www.steveandalex.org.
About NYU Langone Health
NYU Langone Health is a world-class, patient-centered,
integrated academic medical center, known for its excellence in
clinical care, research, and education. Included in its 350+
locations throughout the New York
area are six inpatient locations: Tisch Hospital, its flagship
acute-care facility; Kimmel Pavilion, its state-of-the-art
healthcare facility, opened in 2018; NYU Langone Orthopedic
Hospital, a dedicated inpatient orthopedic hospital with all
musculoskeletal specialties ranked top 10 in the
country; Hassenfeld Children's Hospital at NYU Langone, a
comprehensive pediatric hospital supporting a full array of
children's health services; NYU Langone Hospital—Brooklyn, a
full-service teaching hospital and level 1 trauma center located in
Sunset Park, Brooklyn;
and NYU Langone Hospital—Long Island, a 591-bed hospital and
level 1 trauma center located in Mineola, Long
Island. Also part of NYU Langone
Health is the Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer
Center, a National Cancer Institute–designated
Comprehensive Cancer Center, and NYU Grossman School
of Medicine, which since 1841 has trained thousands of physicians
and scientists who have helped to shape the course of medical
history; and NYU Long Island School of Medicine, on the
campus of NYU Langone Hospital—Long Island, which offers
full-tuition scholarships with an innovative, accelerated
three-year curriculum exclusively devoted to training primary care
physicians. For more information, go to nyulangone.org,
and interact with us
on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.
Media Inquiries
Colin DeVries
Phone: 718-630-7414
colin.devries@nyulangone.org
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SOURCE NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn
