Screen Smart

    The Colorectal Cancer Alliance's Screen Smart project empowers stakeholders with data-driven insights for smarter colorectal cancer screening decisions.

    DDW_2024_groupphoto

    Navigating a complex landscape

    The Alliance launched Screen Smart in 2024, serving as a convener and thought leader to provide critical data and insights on data, access, and adherence in colorectal cancer screening. 

    Our progress

    Advancements in colorectal cancer screening have led to a complex landscape, creating confusion for both healthcare professionals and patients in making informed decisions about screening options. ​This challenge is compounded by the lack of head-to-head clinical studies comparing different screening modalities, as well as limited discussions on emerging tests. ​Additionally, barriers to adoption and equitable access continue to pose challenges, especially with newly launched tests.​  

    The Alliance's Screen Smart project logo, which includes the words data, access, and adherence.

    Screen Smart brings together experts and provides important data and insights into screening options, accessibility, and patient follow-through (adherence).

    In 2024, the Colorectal Cancer Alliance (The Alliance) hosted a dinner discussion during Digestive Disease Week, bringing together experts to talk about current and new colorectal cancer screening tests. This meeting was focused on data. 

    First, we gathered all available data. Then, with our co-chairs, we developed a framework to assess different screening options based on that data. Finally, we held a discussion with medical directors from screening test companies to learn more about each test, allowing us to compare the different tests. 

    San Diego skyline from the water

    2025 Screen Smart Dinner

    📅 Sunday, May 4, 2025 
    🕠 5:30 - 8:30 pm
    📍 Hilton Gaslamp, 401 K Street, San Diego, California
    🔹 Email screensmart@ccalliance.org to express interest in attending
    ‼️ Registrations are due by April 25

    Dinner Goals

    This year’s event will leverage insights from 2024. Our discussion will be converted into a paper. Beyond that, we will use learnings to create plain-language tools for patients and education resources for providers. 

    Innovations in colorectal cancer screening

    Reviewing advancements since 2024, including newly approved tests and those under regulatory review. Presenting expanded data using the framework developed in 2024.

    Key challenges in screening access

    The future of screening access and the United States Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) with legal experts, policymakers, policy experts, government representatives, and healthcare leaders. 

    Adherence strategies

    Utilization of modeling studies.  What we know and what we still need to learn from modeling studies.  

    Dinner Agenda

    Time

    Topic

    Speakers

    5:30 - 5:45 pmRegistration and Buffet​ ​  
    5:45 - 6:00 pm​ Welcome and Introduction​ 
    • Remarks by Michael Sapienza, Chief Executive Officer, Colorectal Cancer Alliance ​ ​ 
    6:00 - 6:20 pmUpdate on Screening Tests
    • Michael Sapienza, Chief Executive Officer, Colorectal Cancer Alliance ​ ​
    6:20 - 6:35 pm​ ​Modeling Studies Framework
    • Dr. Uri Ladabaum (Facilitator), Professor of Medicine, Director of the Gastrointestinal Cancer Prevention Program and Head of Clinical Service of the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Stanford University School of Medicine 
    6:35 - 7:25 pm​ Adherence: What Modeling Studies Tell Us and What We Still Need To Learn
    • Dr. Uri Ladabaum (Moderator) 
    7:25 - 8:15 pm​ Access: The Future of Screening Access and the United States Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF)​
    • Eric Waskowicz (Moderator), Senior Policy Manager, US of Care
    8:15 - 8:30 pm​ Closing and Next Steps​ 
    • Remarks by Michael Sapienza, Chief Executive Officer, Colorectal Cancer Alliance ​ ​ 
    8:30 - 9:30 pm​ Cocktail Hour ​ ​ 

    2025 Screen Smart Dinner Advisory Committee

    The advisory committee is comprised of dedicated individuals who are passionate about savings lives by increasing colorectal cancer screening rates.  

    Committee Chair

    Michael Sapienza

    Chief Executive Officer, Colorectal Cancer Alliance

    Co-Chair

    Djenaba Joseph, MD, MPH

    CAPT., U.S. Public Service Centers for Disease Control 

    Co-Chair

    Richard Wender, MD

    Professor and Chair Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Pennsylvania

    Member

    Pam G. Traxel

    Senior Vice President, ACS CAN

    Member

    Lee Dranikoff, BA, MA, JD

    Patient Representative, Chair of the Board of the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, Founder of Practical Strategy