Faina Shtern, MD
President and CEO, AdMeTech Foundation, Chair, Prostate Cancer Action Council
Lovo Koliego
MSN, RN, Founder/CEO, Community Health Awareness Network Grows Equity (C.H.A.N.G.E)
Dalton Skerritt
President and CEO, Center for the Elimination of Health and Social Inequities and Disparities (CEHSID)
Marc Hymovitz
Massachusetts Government Relations Director, American Cancer Society, Cancer Action Network
Milagros Abreu, MD
President/CEO and Founder, The Latino Health Insurance Program, Inc. (LHIP)
Lamont Scott
Coordinator, Men of Color Health Awareness (MOCHA)
Kathy Ann Reddick
President and CEO, Live Thru It
Foundation
Multiple NAACP Branches, Located Across Massachusetts
Overview
In 2015, AdMeTech Foundation initiated a Massachusetts-wide prostate cancer awareness campaign and established Massachusetts’ Prostate Cancer Action Council (PCAC) and the Independent “Blue Ribbon” Expert Panel.
PCAC has brought together state’s leading organizations in education, advocacy, and grass roots campaigns, including but not limited to, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), Center for Elimination of Health and Social Inequities and Disparities (CEHSID), Community Health Awareness Grows Equity (CHANGE), Men of Color Health Awareness (MOCHA), Latino Health Insurance Program, and multiple branches of the NAACP. PCAC is integrated with and guided bv the Independent “Blue Ribbon” Expert Panel.
Mission
To create a Massachusetts model of national leadership in increasing public awareness, improving patient care for all men and reducing health disparities in Black, Hispanic and Latino men.
Specific Aims
- To create and expand a state program in research, education, and awareness in order to expedite transfer of cutting-edge advances in screening, diagnosis, and treatment from the leading hospitals to all men.
- To increase benefits, improve outcomes and equity, reduce risks and costs of patient care.
Priority Focus
Men at high risk of prostate cancer, their caregivers, and physicians. The risk of having prostate cancer increases:
- As a man’s age increases above 50
- In Black men with African or Hispanic roots
- In men with family history of this disease (e.g., brother or father)
- If a firm lump in the prostate is found during a digital rectal exam
- If screening shows blood PSA level above normal for a man’s age and/or increasing over time.
Approach
- Top-to-Bottom: Development and implementation of data-driven, consensus-based strategies for research, education, awareness, and advocacy;
- Bottom-Up: Ongoing community workshops and programs that bring world-leading experts to the most vulnerable and under-served men, and combine education with counseling (individual, families, groups). Read More
Formed in 2015 and consisting of the key experts in prostate cancer clinical care and research, the Panel serves as an advisory board and represents the state’s leading academic and clinical institutions. The Panel provides guidance on the most recent advances in patient care for the education and awareness campaign. In March 2016, the Panel developed consensus-based educational information about screening and related options with specific focus on men at high risk of life-threatening (aggressive) prostate cancer. The Panel members have been also participating in the ongoing public awareness programs, community workshops and the Prostate Cancer Equity Resource Project. Learn more