“How Disparities and Workforce Diversity Impact Cancer Patients and Caregivers”

“How Disparities and Workforce Diversity Impact Cancer Patients and Caregivers” (Eugene Manley, PhD) [#111] Brad Power and Emily Kim August 28, 2024 “The mission of SCHEQ is to increase some workforce diversity and improve outcomes for underrepresented, underserved, and marginalized populations navigating the cancer care continuum.

The vision long term is to have a trained workforce that reflects the populations having the greatest disparities, and to have increased cancer awareness and survivorship for all.

” – Eugene Manley, PhD Meeting Summary Black and Hispanic patients face all of the challenges that other cancer patients face: emotional distress and anxiety, lack of knowledge about their disease and testing and treatment options, access to information and therapies, and the complex and dis-integrated medical and payment system.

People of color face added challenges: a medical system with doctors who don't look like them and understand their issues, medical databases that don't include a representative sample of people of their background, a history of mistreatment by the medical system which has created a culture of skepticism and avoidance, and a culture of not openly discussing health issues.

Eugene Manley, PhD, the Founder and CEO of the STEMM & Cancer Health Equity (SCHEQ) Foundation, is uniquely qualified to explore these challenges and offer solutions. The mission of SCHEQ is to increase STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, and Medicine) workforce diversity and improve outcomes for underserved populations navigating the cancer care continuum.

By training, he is a mechanical engineer, biomedical engineer, and cell and molecular biologist with expertise in musculoskeletal biology, cancer biology, and biomechanics. He also happens to be a first generation scholar from inner city Detroit, so he has seen and overcome many barriers along the way.

He transitioned to the nonprofit space and worked for the American Association for Cancer Research and two lung cancer patient advocacy organizations in roles spanning fundraising, grant administration, mentorship and training program development, career development award creation, health equity, and advocacy for underserved patients navigating the lung cancer care continuum.

He still partners with institutions to publish studies on the lack of diversity in lung cancer cell lines and the experiences of black patients navigating lung cancer screening. He serves on local, national, and international organizations offering his unique insights. He is a member of the National Lung Cancer Roundtable Stigma & Nihilism and Health Equity Task Forces.

He also is a member of the PCORI (Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute) Healthcare Delivery and Disparities Research (HDDR) Advisory Panel, and serves as a Patient Grant Reviewer.

and Health Equity Task Forces. He also is a member of the PCORI (Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute) Healthcare Delivery and Disparities Research (HDDR) Advisory Panel, and serves as a Patient Grant Reviewer. At a local level he is a member of the Stony Brook Medical Center Community Advisory Council and sits on the Advisory Board for Philly Student Doctors. What are the unique challenges that Black and Hispanic cancer patients face?

“How Disparities and Workforce Diversity Impact Cancer Patients and Caregivers” (Eugene Manley, PhD) [#111] ●Low representation in clinical trials (often less than 4% participation) ●Limited access to comprehensive biomarker testing ●Higher likelihood of being underinsured or uninsured; “Financial toxicity” of cancer treatments ●Lack of diverse healthcare providers and medical staff ●Systemic bias and racism in healthcare delivery ●Limited information and resources in their communities ●Digital divide preventing access to health information ●Cultural barriers that discourage discussing health issues What can Black and Hispanic patients and their loved ones do to overcome their unique challenges in navigating cancer care?

●Be an active advocate for yourself by seeking second opinions, asking about all available treatment options, requesting comprehensive biomarker testing, and understanding your full range of healthcare choices.

●Join supportive communities like the new "Shades of Color" Facebook group for black and Latino lung cancer patients, advocacy groups focused on specific cancer types, and patient support networks that provide information and resources; share your experiences to help other patients.

●Educate yourself by attending health equity summits and webinars, using digital health tools and resources, learning about clinical trials and screening guidelines, and understanding your specific cancer's biomarkers and treatment options. ●Seek out healthcare providers who understand your community's needs. ●Investigate financial support for treatments, e.g.

, sliding scale or community health center options. What are the core areas that need to be addressed at a systems level to make change for people of color? ●Increase STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, and Medicine) access and exposure for diverse scholars at early ages so they know they can go into STEMM fields.

●Develop and implement comprehensive mentorship, training, professional development, workshops, and wrap-around skills to help diverse scholars from undergrad through early career faculty navigate their degrees, career transitions, and set them up to be more successful professionally.

●Create infographics with diverse representation to break down basic medical information and then cancer information. ●Have patients advocate for the care they should get versus what they do get. How can you learn more about racial disparities in cancer care and how to improve outcomes for people of color?

e PCORI (Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute) Healthcare Delivery and Disparities Research (HDDR) Advisory Panel, and serves as a Patient Grant Reviewer. At a local level he is a member of the Stony Brook Medical Center Community Advisory Council and sits on the Advisory Board for Philly Student Doctors. What are the unique challenges that Black and Hispanic cancer patients face?

“How Disparities and Workforce Diversity Impact Cancer Patients and Caregivers” (Eugene Manley, PhD) [#111] ●Low representation in clinical trials (often less than 4% participation) ●Limited access to comprehensive biomarker testing ●Higher likelihood of being underinsured or uninsured; “Financial toxicity” of cancer treatments ●Lack of diverse healthcare providers and medical staff ●Systemic bias and racism in healthcare delivery ●Limited information and resources in their communities ●Digital divide preventing access to health information ●Cultural barriers that discourage discussing health issues What can Black and Hispanic patients and their loved ones do to overcome their unique challenges in navigating cancer care?

●Be an active advocate for yourself by seeking second opinions, asking about all available treatment options, requesting comprehensive biomarker testing, and understanding your full range of healthcare choices.

●Join supportive communities like the new "Shades of Color" Facebook group for black and Latino lung cancer patients, advocacy groups focused on specific cancer types, and patient support networks that provide information and resources; share your experiences to help other patients.

●Educate yourself by attending health equity summits and webinars, using digital health tools and resources, learning about clinical trials and screening guidelines, and understanding your specific cancer's biomarkers and treatment options. ●Seek out healthcare providers who understand your community's needs. ●Investigate financial support for treatments, e.g.

, sliding scale or community health center options. What are the core areas that need to be addressed at a systems level to make change for people of color? ●Increase STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, and Medicine) access and exposure for diverse scholars at early ages so they know they can go into STEMM fields.

●Develop and implement comprehensive mentorship, training, professional development, workshops, and wrap-around skills to help diverse scholars from undergrad through early career faculty navigate their degrees, career transitions, and set them up to be more successful professionally.

●Create infographics with diverse representation to break down basic medical information and then cancer information. ●Have patients advocate for the care they should get versus what they do get. How can you learn more about racial disparities in cancer care and how to improve outcomes for people of color?

tion and then cancer information. ●Have patients advocate for the care they should get versus what they do get. How can you learn more about racial disparities in cancer care and how to improve outcomes for people of color? ●See the work of SCHEQ (STEMM and Cancer Health Equity) to increase STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, and Medicine) workforce diversity and

“How Disparities and Workforce Diversity Impact Cancer Patients and Caregivers” (Eugene Manley, PhD) [#111] improve outcomes for underrepresented, underserved, and marginalized populations across the cancer care continuum ●Contact Dr. Manley at EManley@scheq.

org ●Research Rabble Health which is using digital tools and partnerships with pharmaceutical companies to improve access to care for underserved communities The information and opinions expressed on this website or platform, or during discussions and presentations (both verbal and written) are not intended as health care recommendations or medical advice by Cancer Patient Lab, its principals, presenters, participants, or representatives for any medical treatment, product, or course of action.

You should always consult a doctor about your specific situation before pursuing any health care program, treatment, product or other course of action that might affect your health.

“How Disparities and Workforce Diversity Impact Cancer Patients and Caregivers” (Eugene Manley, PhD) [#111] Meeting Notes KEYWORDS patients, eugene, talk, cancer, lung cancer, people, work, trials, rochelle, black, community, screening, care, issues, disparities, representation, populations, sarcomas, health, prostate cancer SPEAKERS Eugene Manley (47%), Brad Power (24%), Rochelle Prosser (10%), Tucker Herbert (5%), Frank Nothaft (5%), Chris Apfel (3%), Ryan Moon (2%), Rebecca Driscoll (2%), Brian McCloskey (1%) SUMMARY Eugene Manley is the founder of the STEMM & Cancer Health Equity (SCHEQ) Foundation.

Its mission is to increase STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, and Medicine) workforce diversity and improve outcomes for underserved populations navigating the cancer care continuum. Health inequities cost $320 billion annually and lead to $42 billion in lost productivity. There is a lack of diversity in clinical trials, with only 3-4% black participation in lung cancer trials.

Minorities are underrepresented in STEMM fields and need better mentorship. Digital tools and community outreach can improve access and advocacy. COVID-19 reduced cancer screening rates. Underserved communities need financial and informational support. OUTLINE Introductions ●Dr.

Eugene Manley, the founder and CEO of the STEMM and Cancer Health Equity Foundation, talked about equity in cancer care. ●He trained as a mechanical engineer, biomedical engineer, and cell and molecular biologist. ●He has worked in musculoskeletal biology, biomechanics, and cancer biology, specifically lung and breast cancer.

ity Foundation, talked about equity in cancer care. ●He trained as a mechanical engineer, biomedical engineer, and cell and molecular biologist. ●He has worked in musculoskeletal biology, biomechanics, and cancer biology, specifically lung and breast cancer. ●He transitioned to the nonprofit space, working at the AACR, Lung Cancer Research Foundation, and Lungevity.

●Diverse scholars in academic fields face challenges, including a lack of diversity in leadership and mentorship. Health Inequities and Clinical Trial Diversity ●Dr. Manley discussed the economic impact of health inequities, citing $320 billion annually and $42 billion in lost productivity due to racial and ethnic disparities.

●He mentioned the lack of diversity in clinical trials, with the Acute View report showing the lowest trial diversity in a decade. ●He pointed out the bias and racism in care delivery, affecting underserved communities and patients who do not speak English. ●He emphasizes the need for diverse teams and accurate representation in clinical trials to improve outcomes for all populations.

“How Disparities and Workforce Diversity Impact Cancer Patients and Caregivers” (Eugene Manley, PhD) [#111] Mission and Objectives of the STEMM and Cancer Health Equity Foundation ●Dr. Manley outlined the mission of the foundation: to increase workforce diversity, improve outcomes for underserved populations, and enhance research impact.

●The foundation aims to support diverse scholars from K-12 through academic training, providing exposure, access, and mentorship. ●The foundation also focuses on improving outcomes for underserved populations by providing information and resources.

●He highlighted the importance of enhancing research that impacts these populations and the need for a trained workforce that reflects the communities they serve. Data on Representation in STEM and Clinical Trials ●Dr. Manley presented data from the NSF, showing the lack of representation of American Indian or Alaskan Native, African Americans, and Hispanics in biology degrees and PhDs.

●He discussed the underrepresentation of these groups in the medical workforce and clinical trials. ●He shared data from lung cancer trials, showing low participation rates of black and Hispanic populations. ●He emphasized the need for more targeted clinical trials to address disparities and improve outcomes for all populations. Challenges in Lung Cancer Research and Cell Line Diversity ●Dr.

Manley discussed the lack of racial and ethnic diversity and gender representation in lung cancer cell lines. ●He highlighted the significant male-to-female ratio in cell lines and the need for more diverse representation. ●He mentioned the importance of using cell lines that reflect the populations with the greatest disparities.

●He emphasized the need for more inclusive and representative research to address health inequities. Building Trust and Representation in Cancer Communities ●Brad Power and Dr.