Univera Healthcare Grant to Roswell Park Will Support Colon Cancer Screening and Education Program

Today, Univera Healthcare made a $110,000 grant to Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in support of colon cancer screening and education. Art Wingerter, President of Univera Healthcare, announced the gift at Roswell Park along with Candace S. Johnson, PhD, Roswell Park President and CEO; Mary Reid, MSPH, PhD, Director of Cancer Screening and Survivorship; and Joanne Haefner, Chief Executive Office of Neighborhood Health Center.

The donation is part of Univera Healthcare’s Member and Community Health Improvement Initiative grant program. The funds will support a new navigator position at Neighborhood Health Center in Buffalo. This position provides underserved community members with education about colon cancer as well as assistance in the screening process through Roswell Park’s colon cancer screening and outreach program.

“In New York State, 70% of adults between age 50 and 75 are screened for colon cancer. That’s a good number, but it also means almost a third are not. This is a cancer that doesn’t always show symptoms, so screening is critical to stopping the disease at a stage where it can possibly still be treated and even prevented,” says Dr. Johnson. “We’re so grateful for Univera’s commitment to serving the community by increasing the number of people who get the education and screening they need. This will make an importance difference, especially on a population that is historically underserved.”

“Colon cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death among men and women in our state,” says Wingerter. “Each year in New York state there are about 9,000 new cases diagnosed, and more than 3,000 deaths from the disease.” 

The grant-funded navigator will work closely with clinical providers at Neighborhood Health Center and is expected to serve over 2,000 people in the next three years through colon cancer education and screening.

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Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center is a community united by the drive to eliminate cancer’s grip on humanity by unlocking its secrets through personalized approaches and unleashing the healing power of hope. Founded by Dr. Roswell Park in 1898, it is the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in Upstate New York. Learn more at www.roswellpark.org, or contact us at 1-800-ROSWELL (1-800-767-9355) or ASKRoswell@RoswellPark.org.

Univera Healthcare is a nonprofit health plan that serves members across the eight counties of Western New York. The company’s mission is to help people live healthier and more secure lives through access to high-quality, affordable health care. Its products and services include cost-saving prescription drug discounts, wellness tracking tools and access to telemedicine. To learn more, visit UniveraHealthcare.com.