P R E S S R E L E A S E
For Immediate Release: August 28, 2007
Contact: Christi Sheffield, 229- 312-1703
Baker County Cancer Screening and Navigation Study Declared a Success
Albany, GA, August 28, 2007 - On Friday, August 17, 2007 the Southwest Georgia Cancer Coalition and the Community Advisory Board for the Baker County Cancer Screening and Navigation Project celebrated the conclusion of the project. The project was a one year pilot study using a Community Health Navigator who worked with local citizens to promote cancer screening awareness and recruit uninsured patients for free screenings.
Community leaders and medical providers were honored for their commitment to the project and to reducing the burden of cancer in Baker County and Southwest Georgia. Baker County resident, Karl E. Peace, PhD, received distinguished honors for his support of the project. Dr. Peace is a Georgia Cancer Coalition Distinguished Cancer Scholar, Senior Research Scientist and Professor of Biostatistics in the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health at Georgia Southern University, and Scientific Advisor to the Southwest Georgia Cancer Coalition.
"Dr. Peace was instrumental to the success of this project," stated Diane Fletcher, CEO of the Southwest Georgia Cancer Coalition. His desire to see Baker County have the highest cancer screening rate in the nation inspired the community leaders and medical providers to educate and screen as many people as they could. "We were able to provide 90 screenings in one year for breast, cervical, prostate, and colorectal cancer, which is an amazing accomplishment for a pilot study,” Fletcher explained. She added that Dr. Peace donated $20,000 to help fund the program.
Also honored was general surgeon Dr. Craig Murray of Albany General Surgery for his commitment to providing services for the colon cancer component of the project. According to Denise Ballard, Disparities Center Director for the Cancer Coalition, Dr. Murray was the sole provider of colonoscopies for the program and donated endless hours of surgical services. "Dr. Murray provided such respectful and compassionate care for patients, and most importantly he helped prevent many cancers by removing polyps. He is not only an outstanding surgeon but a great humanitarian, and we were so blessed to have him on our team" Ballard said.
The project, which was initiated and coordinated by the Southwest Georgia Cancer Coalition, was made possible in part through a grant from the Georgia Department of Community Health. Other partners who donated services include Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital, Albany Pathology, Albany Area Primary Health Care, and the Baker County Health Department.
To learn more about cancer screening resources in Baker County, contact the Baker County Primary Health Care Center at 229-734-5250.
Contact:
Christi Sheffield, Communications / Project Coordinator
Southwest Georgia Cancer Coalition
229-312-1703
email Christi Sheffield