3 KEY QUESTIONS | Collaborating with Community Health Centers to Promote Colorectal Cancer Screening
Published 3/28/2025
Three Key Questions
1. Can you tell us a little about your role and how community engagement and collaboration are integrated into your work?
Community collaboration and partnership are ingrained in all of the work that I do. I am a practicing gastroenterologist and implementation science researcher working to increase colorectal cancer (CRC) screening in community health centers across Massachusetts.
In my work, I collaborate directly with community health centers. I do part of my clinical time at a community health center, and I partner with some health centers under the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers (Mass League) in my research efforts around CRC screening.
My community partners are involved in the research every step of the way, from the development of the research problem to address, through every phase of the research project, to authorship on posters and manuscripts. Their feedback and preferences are prioritized, and the work is adjusted as needed. I couldn’t do any of what I’m doing now without the support of our Mass League and community health center partners. I am also fortunate to have a mentor who has conducted community-engaged work for years and has taught me how to do the work ethically and always center the voices of our partners.
2. What are some key challenges or opportunities in addressing colorectal cancer, particularly in your work with community health centers?
Some of the challenges include resource constraints, particularly around staffing, as well as staff turnover. When staff leave and new staff or providers start, it takes time to get them up to speed on all of the workflows, including CRC screening work.
Another challenge has been sustainability of programs, which is also tied to resource constraints. When new grants start and new programs are initiated, it can be very challenging to keep the programs afloat after the grant funds end. Part of what I try to do in my research is to develop strategies that can be incorporated into usual health center workflows to increase sustainability and prevent program deterioration when the grant money is done.
Adjoa Anyane-Yeboa, MD, MPH
Assistant Professor
Division of Gastroenterology
Massachusetts General Hospital
Harvard Medical School
There are also challenges that centers face specific to CRC screening with colonoscopy. Most pressing is difficulty accessing GI providers due to local capacity challenges, concerns around cost and coverage, as well as logistical barriers, including completion of the bowel preparation and needing an escort home from the procedure. In a recent study, we looked into how the revised screening guidelines, which lowered the age of CRC screening, presented both opportunities to reach populations that need screening, but also challenges in the need for additional resources to meet the increased demand.
There are also a multitude of opportunities around CRC screening at Massachusetts community health centers. Community health centers are very committed to their patients, especially populations generally at risk and those at high risk from developing and dying from CRC, and are always addressing impediments to care. Many providers and staff come from the same communities as the patients whom they serve, speak the same language, and care deeply about them.
The good news is that many health centers are already doing the work around CRC screening. They are committed to increasing CRC screening, as they are committed to working on hypertension, diabetes, and other clinical issues. Many already have programs around CRC screening that are active and participate in CRC collaboratives and learning communities. It has been a true pleasure to learn from my health center partners, to learn how health centers function, and to work together in partnership to increase CRC screening. It’s not just community partners that I have gained, but friends.
3. We are excited to have you as part of the DF/HCC’s new working group initiative that brings together academic and community partners to address the cancer burden in Massachusetts. As a member of the Colorectal Cancer Working Group, where do you see opportunities for DF/HCC researchers and community partners to work together?
Through the DF/HCC Colorectal Cancer Working Group, launched in February 2025, researchers and community partners are able to learn from each other and bring their unique experience, expertise, and assets to advance cancer prevention and improve CRC outcomes in Massachusetts. We’re exploring ways we can leverage existing initiatives to expand work already underway to better address community needs.
While the working group is for a finite period of time, it acts as a bridge between community partners and researchers that can continue to grow and develop, to advance cancer prevention and improve CRC outcomes across Massachusetts. The goal and hope is that the relationships, connection, and collaboration will continue to sustain efforts to advance cancer prevention and improve health outcomes across the state.
If you are doing collaborative work in the community and are interested in connecting with the Center for Cancer Equity and Engagement on community outreach and engagement activities, please email Jenny Reiner (Jennifer_Reiner@dfci.harvard.edu) or Center for Cancer Equity and Engagement (CCEE@partners.org).