Public Health

Host: Ryan Quigley

Guest: Hallie Blevins, PhD.

Guest: Marlene Mimi Maeusli, PhD.

With one in three eligible Americans still unscreened for colorectal cancer (CRC), there’s an urgent need for noninvasive and affordable alternatives to colonoscopy. A 2025 study published in ACS Sensors introduces a novel aptamer-based colorimetric assay that targets Parvimonas micra—a gut microbe linked to CRC. To learn more, Mr. Ryan Quigley speaks with Drs. Hallie Blevins and Mimi Maeusli about how this technology works, what sets it apart from current testing methods, and why it could play a role in improving early CRC detection.

Reference:

Feng S, Zhang P, Chen H, et al. Au@Fe3O4 nanoparticle-based colorimetric aptasensor for noninvasive screening of colorectal cancer via detection of Parvimonas micra. ACS Sens. 2025;10(2):1053-1062.

Host: Charles Turck, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP

Guest: Jacqueline Wong, MD, MSCR, FACOG

For patients with endometriosis, treatment delays can profoundly impact both quality of life and clinical outcomes. Proactive strategies that address logistical barriers—such as prior authorizations—combined with education and multidisciplinary support are essential in improving care. Join Dr. Charles Turck and Dr. Jacqueline Wong as they explore practical approaches for managing this complex condition and navigating potential hurdles. Dr. Wong is a minimally invasive gynecologic surgeon and an Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology in the School of Medicine at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland.

Host: Jennifer Caudle, DO

Guest: Blen Girmay, MD

Because standard-dose vaccines usually produce only modest immunogenic responses in people age 65 years and older, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, as of June 2022, recommended this age group receive either an adjuvanted or higher-dose seasonal influenza vaccine.1,2,3 A pragmatic, head-to-head randomized study compared FLUAD and the high-dose influenza vaccine over the course of two influenza seasons.2 Joining Dr. Jennifer Caudle to discuss this study and its findings from the first season (2023-2024) is Dr. Blen Girmay, a Johns Hopkins fellowship-trained primary care geriatrician at Inova Health System in Fairfax, Virginia.

References:

1. Coleman BL, Sanderson R, Haag MDM, McGovern I. Effectiveness of the MF59-adjuvanted trivalent or quadrivalent seasonal influenza vaccine among adults 65 years of age or older, a systematic review and meta-analysis. Influenza Other Respir Viruses. 2021;15(6):813-823.
2. Klein N. Oral presentation presented at: IDWeek 2024 Meeting; October 16-19, 2024. Los Angeles, CA.
3. Grohskopf LA, Ferdinands JM, Blanton LH, Broder KR, Loehr J. Prevention and Control of Seasonal Influenza with Vaccines: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices - United States, 2024-25 Influenza Season. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2024;73(5):1-25.

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 System Science at the Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine, the Associate Director at the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research, and the Clinical Lead for Colorectal Cancer Screening for the Permanente Medical Group, break down the research.

Immune imprinting refers to how the immune system's first encounter with a virus, such as influenza, leaves a lasting imprint that shapes future immune responses.1,2 However, influenza vaccines may affect this process—particularly when egg-based ones are used. Tune in to learn about the impact of immune imprinting, the role that vaccines play in this process, and how switching to non-egg-based vaccines could help redirect immune responses and possibly create more effective defenses in people of all ages.3,4

References:

1. King SM, Bryan SP, Hilchey SP, Wang J, Zand MS. First impressions matter: Immune imprinting and antibody cross-reactivity in influenza and SARS-CoV-2. Pathogens. 2023;12(2):169. doi:10.3390/pathogens12020169
2. Zhang A, Stacey HD, Mullarkey CE, Miller MS. Original antigenic sin: How first exposure shapes lifelong anti-influenza virus immune responses. J Immunol. 2019;202(2):335–340. doi:10.4049/jimmunol.1801149
3. Rockman S, Laurie K, Ong C, et al. Cell-based manufacturing technology increases antigenic match of influenza vaccine and results in improved effectiveness. Vaccines (Basel). 2022;11(1):52. doi:10.3390/vaccines11010052
4. Liu F, Gross FL, Jefferson SN, et al. Age-specific effects of vaccine egg adaptation and immune priming on A(H3N2) antibody responses following influenza vaccination. J Clin Invest. 2021;131(8):e146138. doi:10.1172/JCI146138

USA-CRP-24-0038 July 2025

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 Medicine, the Associate Director at the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research, and the Clinical Lead for Colorectal Cancer Screening for the Permanente Medical Group.

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 cancer screening in Spanish-speaking populations. Dr. Greene’s educational background includes a Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy, a PhD and a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Health Economics and Outcomes Research, and a Doctorate in Business Administration.

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 Engineer at RAND, a Professor at the RAND School of Public Policy, and an investigator with the colorectal modeling group of the Cancer Intervention and Surveillance Modeling Network.

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, telehealth and home-based testing, and targeted efforts for underserved populations can strengthen resilience and ensure continuity of care during future disasters. Dr. Coronado is a Professor of Epidemiology and the Associate Director of Population Science for the University of Arizona Cancer Center in Tucson.

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 of the study, Dr. Gloria Coronado and Dr. Amanda Petrik, join Dr. Charles Turck to discuss their findings and how these results may help guide effective, scalable screening interventions for underserved populations. Dr. Coronado is a Professor of Epidemiology and the Associate Director of Population Science for the University of Arizona Cancer Center in Tucson, and Dr. Petrik is an investigator at the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research in Portland, Oregon, where she focuses on cancer screening and prevention in real-world settings.