Jefferson has received a $2.8 million grant from the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation. The money will pay for wider lung cancer screening in vulnerable neighborhoods of Philadelphia.
In practice, the grant launches a citywide effort run by two Jefferson centers. One is the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, and the other is the Jane and Leonard Korman Respiratory Institute. Both also carry a designation from the National Cancer Institute.
First, the program will reach out to low-income, high-risk communities. Teams will raise awareness of lung cancer, teach prevention and work to reduce the stigma around the disease. They will also offer screenings and help improve care.
The foundation chose Philadelphia for clear reasons. The city has a high poverty rate compared with other large U.S. cities, and a relatively large share of its residents smoke. Across the country, fewer than 4 percent of people who qualify for lung cancer screening actually get it, even though new guidelines exist and insurance broadly covers the test.
Stephen K. Klasko, president and CEO of Jefferson, said the gaps in cancer deaths across Philadelphia are unacceptable. Closing them, he said, will take more teamwork among patients, clinicians and community partners. He also thanked Bristol-Myers Squibb for its support.
Gregory Kane, chair of the Department of Medicine at Jefferson, noted that the health system runs hospitals in the neighborhoods hit hardest by lung cancer. Because of that, it can reach at-risk minority groups through a model built on prevention and control.
Meanwhile, John Damonti, president of the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation, said the foundation supports Jefferson’s inclusive approach to high-risk residents. The goal, he added, is to leave no patient behind and to improve outcomes for vulnerable groups.
