WVU Cancer Institute to host second annual Lung Cancer Conference

“Catalyzing Change to Address Lung Cancer” to be held Nov. 1-2

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The WVU Cancer Institute and its partners, the Mountains of Hope Cancer Coalition and the Patient Advocate Foundation, will present the Second Annual Lung Cancer Conference, titled “Catalyzing Change to Address Lung Cancer,” on Nov. 1 and 2 at the WVU Erickson Alumni Center.

The free event is designed to heighten awareness about the impact of lung cancer across West Virginia. It will engage healthcare providers, healthcare delivery systems, community-based organizations, payers, advocates, public health educators, and policymakers to improve lung cancer screening, early detection, treatment, and survivorship.

Camara Jones, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., senior fellow at the Morehouse School of Medicine and past president of the American Public Health Association, will present on both days. Dr. Jones is a family physician and epidemiologist whose work focuses on broadening the national health debate to include universal access to high-quality healthcare with a focus on the social determinants of health, including poverty. Jones is a recognized expert in the public health community and is well-known for her creative allegories on race and racism.

In addition to faculty and clinicians from WVU, conference presenters also include Del. Amy Summers, M.S.N., vice chair of the West Virginia House of Representatives Health and Human Resources Committee, and Sarah Downer, J.D., clinical instructor at the Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation of Harvard Law School who directs the Center’s Whole Person Care Initiative, which seeks to improve care for underserved individuals at every point of interaction with the healthcare system. Downer will facilitate a discussion on the policy implications related to lung cancer in West Virginia.

Conference attendees will also participate in an interactive experience creating a unique graphic art installation based on discussions held during the meeting.

Scholarships are available for 20 health professionals, allied health professionals, community educators, or advocates to attend the conference. The award covers lodging for two nights and mileage reimbursement up to 250 miles.

For additional information, to apply for scholarships, and to register for the conference visit http://bit.ly/2NhyuzK.