SPHERE Committee

CME

Advancing Equity: From Root Causes to Real Change

Moderator(s)

• 

  Vivian Bea, MD, MBA, MS, MBS, FACS

  Regional Director of the Breast Program, Chief of Breast Surgery
  New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, New Jersey, United States

  Slides
• 

  Alliric Willis, MD, MSPH (he/him/his)

  Professor of Surgery, Vice Chair of Faculty Affairs, Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs
  Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University
  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

This session provides surgical oncologists and advanced practice providers with foundational data, tools, and frameworks to take the next step in addressing healthcare disparities—moving from gap identification to actionable, measurable change. Anchored in the theme Learning Together, this session reflects on the evolution of disparities work in surgical oncology and makes the case that now is the time to implement interventions that improve equity in cancer care delivery.

Speakers will highlight practical strategies across five key domains: developing patient and community advisory boards, applying qualitative research methods to uncover root causes, leveraging implementation science to guide intervention design, driving clinical and system-level change, and integrating patient-reported outcomes to inform care. The session will also address anticipated challenges—such as sustainability, staffing, and funding—and emphasize the long-term commitment required from all stakeholders, including funders, systems, and patients. Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of how to transform insights into real change, supported by tools and frameworks applicable across diverse practice settings.

Presentations:

• 1:00 PM - 1:05 PM MST

  Introduction
  

  Faculty: Alliric I. Willis, MD, MSPH (he/him/his) – Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University
• 1:05 PM - 1:17 PM MST

  Surgical Oncology Health Disparities Work Over the Years & Patient/Advisory Boards
  

  Faculty: Chandler S. Cortina, MD, MS (he/him/his) – Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin
• 1:17 PM - 1:29 PM MST

  The Role of Qualitative Research
  

  Faculty: George Molina, MD, MPH (he/him/his) – Brigham and Women’s Hospital
• 1:29 PM - 1:41 PM MST

  Making Clinical and System Changes & Measuring Outcomes
  

  Faculty: Vivian Bea, MD, MBA, MS, MBS, FACS – New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital
• 1:41 PM - 1:53 PM MST

  The Role of Patient-Reported Outcomes (PROs)
  

  Faculty: Tammy Ju, MD FACS (she/her/hers) – Weill Cornell Medicine New York Presbyterian Queens
• 1:53 PM - 2:05 PM MST

  National Policy Levers to Advance Health Equity
  

  Faculty: Winta T. Mehtsun, MD, MPH (she/her/hers) – University of California San Diego
• 2:05 PM - 2:17 PM MST

  Anticipated Challenges
  

  Faculty: Nadege T. Fackche, MD – Wellspan health
• 2:17 PM - 2:30 PM MST

  Panel Discussion and Q&A
  

  Moderator: Vivian Bea, MD, MBA, MS, MBS, FACS – New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital

  Moderator: Alliric I. Willis, MD, MSPH (he/him/his) – Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University

  Faculty: Chandler S. Cortina, MD, MS (he/him/his) – Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin

  Faculty: Aeryn Kangas-Dick, MD (she/her/hers) – Homer Stryker School of Medicine at Western Michigan University

  Faculty: Nadege T. Fackche, MD – Wellspan health

  Faculty: Tammy Ju, MD FACS (she/her/hers) – Weill Cornell Medicine New York Presbyterian Queens

  Faculty: Winta T. Mehtsun, MD, MPH (she/her/hers) – University of California San Diego

  Faculty: George Molina, MD, MPH (he/him/his) – Brigham and Women’s Hospital