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An Eastern Progress staff writer got the opportunity to interview Dr. Alfred Ashford, American Cancer Society board member, and chairperson of the Diversities and Disparities Council, about National Minority Cancer Awareness Month. Dr Ashford is also the director of the Department of Medicine Harlem Hospital Center and professor of Clinical Medicine at Columbia University.
Q: Have you always wanted to be a doctor, and if so why?
A: I think I set my sights a couple of years before high school. I was affected by my surroundings and imagined that being a doctor would help me understand and help address some of the things that plagued my community: poor health, fear of hospitals, pessimism, alcohol, and drug addiction. I could provide an important service to people and would be part of a respected profession. And I wouldn't be poor.
As a doctor I find it gratifying to help patients of any background. To be in position to help minority populations has been a dream come true for me. The cancer burden shared by all Americans is even more virulent in the African-American and other minority communities.
Q: What do you feel is the biggest barrier to cancer care?
A: Adequate health coverage. At least 45 million Americans are at risk of unnecessarily losing their lives to cancer.
Q: What do you think has been the greatest accomplishment in medicine, specifically cancer?
A: The discovery of drugs that can affect the growth of cancer cells allowing us to prolong the course or cure diseases that are beyond the scope of surgery or radiation therapy. Research is providing us the opportunity to become increasingly specific and tailored in our treatments of different cancers and individual patients.
Q: When you think of the disease 25 years down the road, what do you see?
A: First, I see our national smoking control efforts coming to fruition. That translates to 400 thousand fewer deaths due to cancer and other diseases per year. Second, I see all Americans having access to high quality cancer prevention, screening and treatment services. And third, I see research defining targeted and tailored treatments for cancer patients allowing for greater effectiveness and less toxicity.
Q: I know you serve as co-chair of the Diversity and Disparities Council. Can you explain what it is?
A: The Council is made up of volunteers of diverse ethnic, cultural and professional backgrounds all of whom are dedicated to the war against cancer, as well as ACS senior staff. The Council reflects our understanding that cancer does not discriminate and that our ability to value differences in others is as vital as any other attribute of the organization. Volunteers are the backbone of the American Cancer Society, and we welcome new volunteers of all cultures who can help patients in many languages.
Q: What is the purpose of this council? What do you hope to accomplish?
A: Diversity and disparities are important underpinnings of every specific activity and initiative of ACS. One goal of the Council is to assure ACS has a professional and volunteer staff as diverse as the millions affected by cancer. Another is to promote activities complimentary to those of other ACS committees and workgroups to insure that disparities in cancer incidence, mortality and access to care are diminished.
Q: What is the single most important initiative the American Cancer Society has done, and why?
A: As would be the case for any organization with a history of accomplishment, this is a challenging question. I would say the American Cancer Society initiative revealing the relationship between poverty and cancer incidence, mortality and disparities was unique and revolutionary. It set the stage for thinking, planning, research and policy capable of addressing the problem of cancer in a diverse population.
Dr. Ashford has been the recipient of ACS grants including dissemination of cancer screening and prevention guidelines among urban community physicians as well as dissemination of colorectal cancer screening to primary care physicians. He is a member of several professional organizations and societies and has authored numerous articles on cancer and cancer-related issues. He served as the Eastern Division’s Chief Medical Officer from 2004-2006, and is a recipient of the National St. George Award.
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