Varick Memorial AME Zion Church in New Haven hosted the Prostate Health Education Network (PHEN) Community Rally, in collaboration with the AME Zion church cultural ambassadors, Yale Cancer Center's Community Outreach and Engagement team, and a dozen health care organizations and community partners. The event recorded 110 registrants across Connecticut from New Haven, Bridgeport, Waterbury, Middletown, and Hartford in mid-December.
During the rally, 54 participants were screened for prostate cancer through on-site PSA testing sponsored by LabCorp. Also, there were information tables by the Yale Cancer Center’s Clinical Trials Office, the PREVAIL study by Veda Giri, MD; and Yale Center for Clinical Investigation (YCCI). The PHEN moderators were Keith Crawford, MD, and Rev. Adrian Backus.
Welcoming remarks by Eric Winer, MD, director of YCC and president and physician-in-chief of Smilow Cancer Hospital, opened the rally which included presentations and talks from three prostate cancer experts from the Yale School of Medicine (YSM). Isaac Kim, MD, PhD, spoke on prostate screening and diagnosis; Michael Leapman, MD, MHS, addressed treatment for prostate cancers; and Daniel Petrylak, MD, spoke on clinical trials as did Anne Caldwell, RN, an oncology research nurse. Other speakers included Tracy Battaglia, MD, MPH, leader of COE's effort and Jose DeJesus, a member of COE’s Community Advisory Board.
COE is working with YSM’s Urology department and PHEN to ensure adequate follow-up with screened participants whose results show an elevated risk of prostate cancer.