Maine Medical Center Cancer Institute- NCI Community Cancer Centers

ProgramSusan Miesfeldt, MD

Maine Medical Center

NCI Community Cancer Centers Program (NCCCP) Overview

• Started in 2007 with initial funding of 16 sites primarily in rural, small-town and underserved urban areas in 14 states• In April 2010, MMCCI became one of 14

newly-funded sites• MMCCI second site in New England

(Hartford Hospital among initial sites)

NCI Community Cancer Centers Program (NCCCP) Overview II

•Two-year award•Key personnel– Co-PIs: S Miesfeldt MD/N Col MD– Physician Leader: J Hedlund MD– Scientific Administrator: I Emery PhD– Program Administrator: B Grillo MA– Program Manager: K Blackburn MS

Overall Goal:

• To improve access to quality cancer care-- including high-priority clinical trials-- with a focus on rural, poor and immigrant/refugee populations in Maine

NCCCP Pillars/ Pillar Leads Advocacy: S Miesfeldt MD Biospecimens: M Jones MD Clinical Trials: E Larsen MD/ M

Feinberg Communications: D/Deatrick

MPH/L Doxey MPH

Disparities: C Ewan-Whyte PhD Information Technology: B

Blumenfeld MD/ E Andersen Quality: D Salvador MD Survivorship/Palliative Care: P

Han MD

Specific Objectives Reduce cancer-related healthcare disparities among

immigrant/refugee communities, the poor and rural Mainers by improving access to full spectrum of cancer-related care, including access to high-quality clinical trials

Develop partnerships with community-based organizations to support cancer-related care of the underserved

Standardize the collection of tissue and other biospecimens for clinical trials

Improve information technology, including instituting electronic health records

Specific Objectives II Improve quality of care, including access to

multidisciplinary care, genetic counseling and focus on ASCO-QOPI certification

Enhance survivorship and palliative care services Support mechanisms to develop/broadly

disseminate culturally- sensitive health promotion materials and cancer information resources

Communicate effectively with NCCCP stakeholders (i.e., community partners, clinicians, health systems, hospitals, clinics, DHHS, policy makers, advocacy organizations)

Promote patient advocacy as well as programmatic (NCCCP) advocacy