PASE Program

Maximizing Thoracic Oncology Care and Outcomes: Breaking Barriers to Lung Cancer Screening and Care

This project investigates barriers to lung cancer screening and care among underserved populations, with a focus on improving access, early detection and continuity of care across the screening-to-treatment continuum.

Project Leads

  • UCLA Faculty PI: Sha’Shonda Revels, MD, MS
  • Program Manager: Daniela Salinas, MPH

Staff

  • Fabiola Ochoa, MD – Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine, Olive View Medical Center; Internist
  • Patricia Nwajuaku, MD, MPH – Assistant Clinical Professor, MLK Community Healthcare; Co-Medical Director, Anesthesiology
  • Ellis Gao – MD Candidate, UCLA
  • Doris Gonzalez – MD Candidate, UCLA; PASE Research Trainee
  • Nneoma “Ezi” Okoro – MD Candidate, UCLA
  • Timothy Gutierrez – MD Candidate, UCLA; PASE Research Trainee
  • Ky’Tavia Stafford-Carreker – MD Candidate, UCLA
  • Meagan Suen, MA – UCLA; Manager, Population Health Research Core
  • Guillermo Castro – UCLA; Administrative Specialist
  • Daniel Velazquez – UCLA; Population Health Research Assistant
  • Jibril Osumanu – UCLA; Administrative Specialist

Approach

This project uses qualitative, community-engaged research methods to identify multilevel barriers to lung cancer screening and care. Semistructured interviews are conducted with patients, cancer navigators and healthcare providers involved in screening and care delivery.

The study explores knowledge of lung cancer screening, barriers and facilitators to access, and potential solutions across the continuum of care from screening and diagnosis to treatment. By incorporating perspectives from patients, navigators and providers, the project captures structural, behavioral and health system-level challenges that influence screening uptake and follow-through.

Findings from this work inform the development of targeted interventions and support an iterative, human-centered approach to improving lung cancer screening and care delivery.

Impact

This work generates critical evidence to inform equitable, patient-centered approaches to lung cancer screening and care. By identifying barriers across multiple levels — including patient, provider and system factors — the project supports the development of targeted interventions to improve screening uptake, navigation and continuity of care.

The study is particularly relevant in the context of evolving screening guidelines, which have expanded eligibility but have not fully addressed disparities in access and utilization.

Findings contribute to health system redesign efforts aimed at improving early detection and reducing disparities in lung cancer outcomes, especially among populations disproportionately affected by late-stage diagnosis. This work also supports future implementation research, policy-relevant strategies and scalable models to improve cancer screening in safety-net and underserved settings.