Radiology Residents Drive Cancer Screening Awareness 

To connect with the St. Louis community and encourage preventive health care, WashU Medicine and Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology trainees, residents and faculty joined forces to support the Communities Crushing Cancer (CCC) initiative. This resident-led movement, championed by the Radiology Health Equity Coalition, aims to raise awareness and drive up screening rates for breast, lung and colon cancers.

By educating communities and ensuring access to vital resources and preventive care, CCC hopes to demystify the screening process and encourage wider participation. A key aspect of the initiative is its focus on bridging gaps between the medical community and the public. For radiology trainees, CCC offers a meaningful way to connect with the communities they serve, fostering empathy and dedication to public service, renewing their sense of purpose and underscoring the human side of their profession.

Chief resident Katherine R. Walter, MD, and diagnostic radiology residents Justin T. Dumrongkulraksa, MD, Farzaneh Rahmani, MD, and Risha R. Shah, MD, worked alongside WashU Medicine student Sam Meiselman. MIR Director Pamela K. Woodard, MD; Elizabeth G. McFarland, MD, professor of radiology; and Arianna C. Buckley, MD, associate director of the diagnostic radiology residency program, supported the team and also met with community members at Barnes-Jewish Hospital.