The Ochsner Xavier Institute for Health Equity and Research (OXIHER) is partnering with Franklin Avenue Baptist Church and Genentech, a biotechnology company and member of the Roche Group, to host a symposium aimed at addressing cancer disparities in medically underserved populations.
The Giving Thanks Health Fest will be held at Franklin Avenue Baptist Church on 8282 I-10 Service Rd. in New Orleans East on Nov. 4 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The faith-based symposium will explore community solutions for cancer health equity.
Physician, survivor, and advocate community panel sessions will include:
-Breast cancer: Erica Broussard, MD, senior physician and site lead, radiology, Ochsner Baptist
-Prostate cancer: Zoe Larned, MD, system chair of hematology/oncology and director of inpatient hematology/oncology, Ochsner MD Anderson Cancer Center
-Lung cancer: Brian L. Pettiford, MD, MBA, MMM, FACS, section head of general thoracic surgery, Ochsner MD Anderson Cancer Center
-Colorectal cancer: Jonathan Mizrahi, MD, hematology oncologist, Ochsner MD Anderson Cancer Center
Xavier University Health and Wellness Center will provide screenings for blood pressure, BMI, glucose and lung capacity, as well as education on nutrition, tobacco cessation, and prostate cancer. Ochsner Health will provide education and resources to address lung, colorectal, and breast cancer. Clinical professionals from Ochsner Community Health Brees Family Center, the Ochsner Clinical Simulation and Patient Safety Center and Ochsner MD Anderson Cancer Center at The Gayle and Tom Benson Cancer Center will be onsite providing education resources, referrals, CPR demonstrations, and research and clinical trials information.
The Louisiana’s Department of Health and Department of Child Services will provide opportunities to enroll in Medicare and SNAP services. Other partnering organizations supporting the Giving Thanks Health Fest activities include the American Cancer Society, National Bone Marrow – Be the Match Foundation, Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF), All of Us Research Group, Alopecia Foundation, Links Inc., and Genentech.