Faculty Bibliography

Background: Gastric cancer is the third most common cause of cancer death worldwide. In the US, gastric cancer incidence for Chinese Americans is nearly twice that for non-Hispanic whites. Cancer is the leading cause of death among Chinese New Yorkers who experience higher mortality for gastric cancer than other New Yorkers overall. The bacterium Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is the strongest risk factor for gastric cancer, and eradication of H. pylori through triple antibiotic therapy is the most effective prevention strategy for gastric cancer. Despite the elevated burden, there are no culturally and linguistically tailored evidence-based intervention strategies to address H. pylori medication adherence and gastric cancer prevention for Chinese Americans in NYC, a largely foreign-born (72%), limited English proficient (61%), and low-income (21% living in poverty) population.
Objective(s): The study objective was to develop and pilot a community health worker (CHW)-delivered linguistically and culturally adapted gastric cancer prevention intervention to improve H. pylori treatment adherence and address modifiable cancer prevention risk factors, including improved nutrition for low-income, LEP, Chinese American immigrants.
Method(s): We used a mixed methods and community-engaged research approach to develop and pilot the intervention curriculum and materials. Methods included: 1) a comprehensive scoping review of the peer-reviewed and grey literature on gastric cancer prevention programs and strategies targeting Chinese Americans; 2) 15 key informant interviews with gatekeepers and stakeholders serving the New York Chinese immigrant community to assess the knowledge and perception of H. pylori infection and gastric cancer among Chinese New Yorkers; and 3) pilot implementation of the collaboratively developed intervention with H. pylori-infected LEP Chinese immigrant participants (n=7).
Result(s): Study process findings and pilot results will be presented. Preliminary results indicate high patient- and community-level need and acceptability for the intervention. Baseline and 1-month post-treatment outcomes and survey data, qualitative data analysis of the CHW session notes, and key informant interviews will be presented.
Conclusion(s): Findings suggest that a CHW-delivered culturally adapted gastric cancer prevention intervention can result in meaningful health information and treatment adherence for at-risk, low-income Chinese immigrant communities. Study findings are being applied to inform a randomized controlled trial being implemented in safety net hospital settings

Introduction:Hispanics are the largest minority group in the US at 18% of the population, of which Puerto Ricans are the second largest subgroup. Puerto Ricans have poorer health status than other US Hispanic and non-Hispanic populations. Thus, health care providers need to know about and distinguish the health care problems of Puerto Ricans to improve their health. Although there are some published curricula addressing how to provide health care to Hispanic populations, none address the specific needs of Puerto Ricans. Methods:We developed a 60-minute interactive workshop consisting of a PowerPoint presentation and case discussion aimed at increasing health care providers' knowledge and understanding of the historical perspective that led to Puerto Rican identity, health issues and disparities, and the health care access problems of mainland and islander Puerto Ricans. Evaluation consisted of pre- and postworkshop questionnaires. Results:There were a total of 64 participants with diverse ethnoracial identities including medical students, residents, faculty, physicians, researchers, administrators, and students/faculty from nursing, occupational therapy, genetic counseling, biomedical sciences, and social work programs. A comparison of pre- and postworkshop data showed a statistically significant increase in participants' confidence in meeting all learning objectives. Participants positively commented on the interactive nature of the workshop, the case discussion, and the historical perspective provided. Discussion:With the increasing migration of Puerto Ricans to the US mainland this module can uniquely improve the preparation of current and future health care providers to provide competent care to Puerto Rican patients.

Introduction/UNASSIGNED:As global travel becomes more prevalent, medical students may be asked to care for patients with unforeseen exposures. We developed a simulation where clerkship medical students interviewed and examined a patient with recent travel who presented with bloody diarrhea and abdominal pain and was diagnosed with amebic colitis. The students had the opportunity to develop a differential diagnosis and discuss the workup of the patient. Methods/UNASSIGNED:We divided students into two groups. Each group took a turn participating in the simulation while the other group observed. Students were expected to interview and examine the patient as well as treat any urgent findings and develop a differential diagnosis. After each simulation, we reconvened with both groups for a faculty-led debriefing session to discuss the learning objectives, including approaches to caring for a patient with diarrhea and the differential diagnosis and workup of bloody diarrhea. Results/UNASSIGNED:To date, five different groups of six to 12 students have completed this simulation. The module has been well received, and 100% of survey respondents have agreed that after completing the activity, they had a better understanding of how to approach a recent traveler with diarrhea and abdominal pain. Discussion/UNASSIGNED:While most medical students will not travel abroad for traditional global health experiences, many will encounter patients with recent travel or immigration and must therefore be prepared to treat diseases typically categorized as global health. We developed this simulation and successfully incorporated workup of a returning traveler into the medical school curriculum for clerkship students.

BACKGROUND:System based practice (SBP) milestones require trainees to effectively navigate the larger health care system for optimal patient care. In gastroenterology training programs, the assessment of SBP is difficult due to high volume, high acuity inpatient care, as well as inconsistent direct supervision. Nevertheless, structured assessment is required for training programs. We hypothesized that objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) would be an effective tool for assessment of SBP. AIM/OBJECTIVE:To develop a novel method for SBP milestone assessment of gastroenterology fellows using the OSCE. METHODS:For this observational study, we created 4 OSCE stations: Counseling an impaired colleague, handoff after overnight call, a feeding tube placement discussion, and giving feedback to a medical student on a progress note. Twenty-six first year fellows from 7 programs participated. All fellows encountered identical case presentations. Checklists were completed by trained standardized patients who interacted with each fellow participant. A report with individual and composite scores was generated and forwarded to program directors to utilize in formative assessment. Fellows also received immediate feedback from a faculty observer and completed a post-session program evaluation survey. RESULTS:." One hundred percent of the fellows stated they would incorporate OSCE learning into their clinical practice. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:OSCEs may be used for standardized evaluation of SBP milestones. Trainees scored lower on SBP milestones than other more concrete milestones. Training programs should consider OSCEs for assessment of SBP.

INTRODUCTION: Immunosuppressed patients such as those with malignancies are susceptible to reactivation of tuberculosis (TB), which can affect the gut. CMV should also be considered as a cause of colitis in these patients. CASE DESCRIPTION/METHODS: A 68-year-old man with a history of T-cell lymphoma of the kidney and nasal cavity and latent TB presented with weight loss and cough. He was cachectic and had diffuse rhonchi in the lung bases. CT of the chest showed areas of cavitation. Multiple sputum cultures positive for acid-fast bacilli (AFB) and a positive mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) PCR confirmed active TB infection. The patient developed repeated episodes of melena with a hemoglobin level of 5.0 g/dL, MCV of 71.5 fL, iron of 4.5 ug/dL, transferrin saturation of 1%. Colonoscopy revealed extensive diverticulosis in the sigmoid colon and evidence of a prior cecectomy with ulceration of the ileocolonic anastomosis. Biopsies showed dense mature lymphocytic infiltrate and granulation tissue with no evidence of T-cell lymphoma. A CT revealed a 4 cm segment of terminal ileum with mild wall thickening, mucosal hyperenhancement and thickened folds of a distal loop of jejunum. Stool AFB culture and MTB PCR were both positive, indicating a probable diagnosis of TB enteritis. A push enteroscopy showed a 60 mm infiltrative lesion with ulcerated bases and three smaller lesions of similar appearance on the anterior wall of the stomach along with jejunal ulceration. Ulcer biopsies revealed large cells with inclusions consistent with CMV enteritis. Stains for AFB were also positive. Biopsies of the stomach lesions revealed an ulcerative oxyntic mucosa with dense atypical lymphoid infiltrate. Markers were consistent with a diagnosis of Burkitt's Lymphoma (BL). The patient was treated with TB therapy, ganciclovir, and R-CHOP. DISCUSSION: Immunosuppression due to this patient's BL likely led to dissemination and reactivation of latent TB and susceptibility to infection with CMV. The stomach and bowel are the most common sites of extranodal involvement in BL. The incidence of TB in malignancy is highest in non- Hodgkin's lymphoma like BL. Bowel involvement in TB is seen in less than 5% of cases in the United States. Common endoscopic findings include ileal or ileocecal disease, non-confluent involvement of the colon, and nodular mucosa with areas of ulceration. The diagnosis can be made by biopsy showing caseating granulomas, a positive TB culture or PCR result, or by clinical suspicion with improvement following treatment. (Figure Presented)