In a powerful demonstration of community outreach and preventive healthcare, the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF OHNS) recently provided vital cancer screenings to over 100 Bay Area residents. The free event, held on April 29 at the Bakar Precision Cancer Medicine Building at UCSF Medical Center Mission Bay, was made possible through generous support from the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance.
Early-stage head and neck cancer screenings typically have good outcomes, but many patients present to UCSF or Zuckerberg San Francisco General (ZFSG) with late-stage tumors due to obstacles in care, such as language or financial barriers, says UCSF OHNS Medical Student Connie Zhou. "That's why it is so important to increase both accessibility to screening and awareness of these cancers in our San Francisco community to promote earlier detection, prevention, and risk reduction."
The successful event united an impressive team working together to serve the community. Volunteers included the Head and Neck Surgical Oncology medical assistant team, supervised by Jackeline Huizar; medical students Tiffany Husman, Nina Patel, Laura Chen, Stephanie Younan, Pearl Doan, Leyda Marrero Morales, Nicole Reynoso, Nicholas Correia and Connie Zhou; residents Michelle Florentine and Jacqui Callander; and supervising providers Tiffany Ross, PA, and Drs. Patrick Ha, Michael Chow and Mary Xu.
Beyond offering screenings, the team provided educational materials on head and neck cancers. The overwhelming turnout highlights the critical need for accessible cancer screening services and UCSF OHNS's dedication to serving all members of the San Francisco community, regardless of their circumstances.
