PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Dr. Rosa Nouvini, Medical Oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
1:32:25
·
145 sec
Dr. Rosa Nouvini, a medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), testifies about MSK's efforts to reduce disparities in cancer care for medically underserved communities. She discusses her work at MSK Ralph Lauren Center in Harlem and Medisys Jamaica Hospital Medical Center in Queens, highlighting the challenges faced by these communities in accessing cancer care.
- Dr. Nouvini emphasizes MSK's focus on addressing social determinants of health to improve patient outcomes
- She mentions high cancer incidence rates in Harlem and healthcare barriers in Queens
- The testimony was cut short due to time constraints, with Dr. Nouvini offering to submit the rest of her testimony in writing
Rosa Nouvini
1:32:25
Okay.
1:32:26
Dear McKimedy members, my name is Rosa Newbini, and I am a medical oncologist at MSK.
1:32:32
I care for patients at MSK Ralph Lauren Center, which is located in Harlem, and also at Medisys Jamaica Hospital Medical Center in Queens, where I'm site director for the cancer program.
1:32:44
I see patients with blood cancer, solid tumors, such as breast cancer, colon cancer, and lung cancers.
1:32:50
At MSK, we are working to reduce disparities in cancer care for medically underserved communities.
1:32:55
I am passionate about equalizing access and outcomes, and I'm proud that I get to do this work every day.
1:33:02
People living in Harlem have among the highest cancer incidents rates for lung cancer, and men living in Central Harlem have the highest cancer rates for colorectal cancer.
1:33:13
MSK's Ralph Lauren Center has been serving this community for more than 20 years.
1:33:17
Screening, educating, and treating cancer in thousands of people.
1:33:22
Additionally, many people living in Queens face significant healthcare barriers, including socioeconomic, language, and educational disparities.
1:33:30
That have a profound impact on their ability to access care, particularly cancer care.
1:33:36
The work we do with the Medisys Jamaica Hospital Medical Center helps increase access to high quality cancer care in the comfort of their own neighborhood.
1:33:46
My colleagues and I regularly see that many of our patients have faced some sort of delay in their care or knowledge gap about their disease before they come to us at MSK.
1:33:55
Along with providing cancer treatment, We therefore also work to educate our patients to make sure that they understand what type of cancer they have, the stage, and what that means.
1:34:05
And we work with patients to explain what treatments are available and how their family members can be involved.
1:34:11
Our work addresses the social determinants of health, also known as the SDOH, where which are the lifestyle, economic, and sociocultural factors that impact access to healthcare and optimal outcomes.
1:34:23
By addressing the SDOH, we are able to better understand our patients and unearth the barriers that patients face to timely and effective care, such as transportation, food, and security, and lack of technology.
1:34:36
In working to expand our services closer to
Rosanna Mah
1:34:39
home to
Kevin C. Riley
1:34:39
wrap it up now, Rose.
Rosa Nouvini
1:34:40
Thank you.
1:34:40
Oh, Sorry.
1:34:41
Okay.
1:34:43
I have so much to say about this, but we are doing amazing work.
Kevin C. Riley
1:34:46
You can also present the rest of your testimony.
Rosa Nouvini
1:34:48
Sure.
1:34:49
I'll I'll send it over.
Kevin C. Riley
1:34:50
Thank you so much.