Clinician's Roundtable

Guest: Deborah Clegg, PhD For decades, potassium restriction has been a cornerstone of dietary management in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), but is it always necessary? Here to answer that exact question is Dr. Deborah Clegg. Since many patients may already be consuming potassium at restricted levels, she emphasizes the importance of individualized dietary assessment before imposing fu...

Host: Ryan Quigley Guest: Mallik Greene, PhD A recent study showed that tailored Spanish-language navigation paired with the multi-target stool DNA (mt-sDNA) test can significantly improve colorectal cancer re-screening adherence among Spanish-speaking patients. Hear Ryan Quigley speak with Dr. Mallik Greene, a coauthor of the study, about how these findings could shape the future of colorectal ca...

Host: John Russell, MD Guest: Richard Wender, MD From oncologists to primary care, physicians are witnessing an alarming trend in younger patients: the rising risk of colorectal cancer. To investigate this growing threat, Dr. John Russell speaks with Dr. Rich Wender, Chief Cancer Control Officer at the American Cancer Society. Dr. Wender discusses the new colorectal cancer screening guidelines set...

Guest: Aasma Shaukat, MD, MPH Despite available options like stool-based testing and colonoscopy, colorectal cancer screening rates remain low. Blood-based testing, however, has the potential to improve adherence by offering a convenient alternative. Join Dr. Aasma Shaukat as she discusses the clinical performance of blood-based testing, its limitations, and its role in real-world settings. Dr. Sh...

Host: Charles Turck, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP Guest: Gloria Coronado, PhD Guest: Amanda Petrik, PhD The SMARTER CRC trial evaluated mailed fecal immunochemical (FIT) outreach and patient navigation strategies across rural clinics, analyzing how implementation factors like clinic-sent letters, consistent FIT usage, and active participation in health plan meetings impacted screening outcomes. Two authors...

Guest: Mallik Greene, PhD A recent retrospective study evaluated how combining shared decision making and EHR-enabled workflow optimization impacted colorectal cancer (CRC) screening adherence among patients aged 45 and older. Learn more as Dr. Mallik Greene dives into the details and explains how this approach could improve patient engagement. Dr. Greene's background includes a PhD and a Postdoct...

Guest: Harish Gagneja, MD Colorectal cancer often develops without symptoms, making proactive screening essential for early detection and prevention. Tune in to hear Dr. Harish K. Gagneja, a board-certified gastroenterologist in Austin, Texas, explain how patient risk, test selection, and follow-up care influence smart and effective screening strategies.

Host: Peter Buch, MD, FACG, AGAF, FACP Guest: A. Mark Fendrick, MD Colorectal cancer screening saves lives—but how do common methods like colonoscopy and non-invasive screening methods compare in their environmental effects? With the healthcare sector being responsible for over four percent of the global carbon footprint, researchers are looking into more environmentally friendly options that can...

Guest: Pedro Nascimento de Lima, PhD Conflicting colorectal cancer screening (CRC) guidelines have sometimes led to confusion over optimal starting ages and strategies. Join Dr. Pedro Nascimento de Lima as he walks through a comprehensive modeling study that tested 26 different strategies over 4,000 scenarios to test how and when it is most effective to screen. Dr. Nascimento de Lima is an Enginee...

Guest: Christopher Cann, MD Delayed colorectal cancer screening can significantly impact not only clinical outcomes, but also patients’ long-term quality of life. Tune in to hear Dr. Christopher Cann share his insights on these lasting consequences, including the need for more extensive surgery and systemic therapies, the burden of chemotherapy-related toxicities, and the broader implications for...

Guest: Theodore Levin, MD For younger adults needing to get screened for colorectal cancer, fecal immunochemical testing (FIT) may help with initiation and adherence because of its speed, ease, and noninvasiveness. Hear Dr. Theodore Levin discuss FIT and its potential benefits, particularly in younger adults. Dr. Levin is a Professor of Health System Science at the Kaiser Permanente School of Medi...

Host: Ashley Baker, MSN, PMHNP Guest: Heather Allen, PhD Guest: Ran Li, PhD Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is emerging as a powerful tool for distinguishing cancerous from noncancerous tissue during colorectal cancer surgery. In a recent study, Drs. Heather Allen and Ran Li leveraged a broad dataset from multiple sources to identify and validate biomarkers—most notably B1—that demo...

Guest: Mallik Greene, PhD Colorectal cancer screening (CRC) rates remain below national targets, particularly among younger eligible women and underserved populations. Join Dr. Mallik Greene as he discusses the role that OB/GYNs can play in expanding access to screening and improving follow-through in clinical practice. Dr. Greene’s background includes a PhD and a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Health...

Guest: Jemel Bingham, MD Integrating colorectal cancer screening into OB/GYN care expands preventive services and supports comprehensive patient health. Tune in to hear Dr. Jemel Bingham discuss practical workflow strategies, EHR integration, and patient-centered approaches to streamline screening and follow-up care. Dr. Bingham is a board-certified OB/GYN at Hartford Hospital and other affiliated...

Host: Charles Turck, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP Guest: Jane McElroy, PhD Guest: Jean Wang, MD, PhD Guest: Nuha Wareg, MPH, MBBS Colorectal cancer screening remains underutilized across several underserved populations, including racial minorities and rural communities. That’s why Dr. Charles Turck speaks with Drs. Jane McElroy, Jean Wang, and Nuha Wareg to learn about practical, evidence-based strategies...

Guest: Mallik Greene, PhD Real-world data from a recent study show strong adherence to OB/GYN-ordered colorectal cancer (CRC) screening, including both stool DNA testing and follow-up colonoscopy. Tune in to hear Dr. Mallik Greene, an author of the study, discuss its key findings, demographic disparities, and implications for expanding screening in clinical practice. Dr. Greene's background includ...

Host: Charles Turck, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP Guest: Gloria Coronado, PhD Colorectal cancer screening saw significant disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic, a challenge that has also been reflected during natural disasters such as hurricanes and wildfires. Dr. Gloria Coronado joins Dr. Charles Turck to discuss how these kinds of crises impact screening rates and how a focus on community-based care,...

Guest: Theodore Levin, MD In light of guidelines for the starting age of colorectal cancer screening shifting, a recent study explored how screening outcomes compare in adults age 45 to 49 and adults over 50. Across metrics like initiation, adherence, adenoma detection, and colonoscopy yield, the evidence shows support for earlier screening. Tune in to hear Dr. Theodore Levin, Professor of Health...

Host: Peter Buch, MD, FACG, AGAF, FACP Guest: Michael Dougherty, MD Rural populations face unique challenges in accessing colorectal cancer screening, leaving many patients in these communities unscreened. However, mailed fecal immunochemical testing (FIT) may help address these barriers and improve adherence. Joining Dr. Peter Buch to discuss the benefits and limitations associated with FIT and i...

Guest: Reid Ness, MD The NCCN Guidelines for Colorectal Cancer Screening recently provided updates for patients at average and increased risk—most notably, lowering the recommended starting age from 50 to 45. Hear Dr. Reid Ness walk through the updates in depth, providing insight on screening protocols for different patient populations. Dr. Ness is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Vanderbilt...

Guest: Harish Gagneja, MD Colorectal cancer is highly preventable, but many eligible patients remain unscreened due to common barriers and misconceptions. Tune in to hear Dr. Harish K. Gagneja share practical, patient-centered strategies to improve screening rates through education, choice, and reducing obstacles to care. Dr. Gagneja is a board-certified gastroenterologist in Austin, Texas.

Guest: Jeanette Andrade, PhD, RDN, LDN, FAND Food and nutrition insecurity in chronic kidney disease (CKD) can be difficult to detect, even when patients appear clinically stable. To help highlight this challenge, Dr. Jeanette Andrade presents a case from her research illustrating how social and financial stressors affected a dialysis patient’s dietary intake and food access. Dr. Andrade is an Ass...

Guest: Reid Ness, MD According to the NCCN Guidelines for Colorectal Cancer Screening, there is mixed evidence around the impact of vitamin D, calcium, folate, and aspirin on colorectal cancer risk. Join Dr. Reid Ness as he discusses considerations for recommending these supplements based on patient-specific factors. Dr. Ness is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical C...

Guest: Aasma Shaukat, MD, MPH As fecal immunochemical testing (FIT) becomes more common in colorectal cancer screening, questions remain about post-FIT follow-up, especially when colonoscopies yield negative results. To explore this further, a recent review looked at the risk of colorectal cancer postcolonoscopy and analyzed the most common reasons it may occur. Hear Dr. Aasma Shaukat, a coauthor...

Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP Guest: Carolyn Rutter, PhD Guest: Gloria Coronado, PhD Colorectal cancer screening strategies have significantly evolved in recent years, with noninvasive options like stool and blood-based tests explored for their potential to boost adherence. Drs. Gloria Coronado and Carolyn Rutter join Dr. Brian McDonough to evaluate how these methods compare to traditional c...