May Lab

Focusing on improving outcomes for patients with digestive diseases

Arrows point upwards

Dr. May joined other national health experts at White House Cancer Moonshot Colorectal Cancer Forum

She was an invited member for a panel at this event to discuss equitable access to high-quality cancer care and the need to invest in research to enable us to determine how to deliver the best care and perform effective outreach to underserved communities. 

Dr. May Whitehouse
Dr. May Grant

$2 million NIH R01 grant awarded

Dr. May and a multidisciplinary UCLA team that includes informatics, health services, pathology and health economics have been awarded an NIH grant to evaluate a multilevel health system intervention to increase guideline-concordant surveillance colonoscopy for UCLA Health patients with high-risk colorectal polyps. 

The May Lab was strongly represented at Digestive Disease Week 2023

Digestive Disease Week was held May 5-9 in Chicago, IL and the May Lab represented with 6 abstract lectures, 3 invited talks, and 10 poster presentations. Matthew Zhao (DGSOM MS4) received an AGA Abstract Award for Health Disparities Research. Artin Galoosian, MD, MS, (prior QI fellow; current Loma Linda GI fellow) had the honor of presenting 1 of only 6 abstracts selected out of 145 submitted for the late-breaking abstract session. His abstract titled, Comparison of Four Population Health Interventions to Increase Colorectal Cancer Screening in Young Adults: Results of a Randomized Trial, was well-received and was covered in multiple media outlets. Media also highlighted presentations by Megan McLeod, MD, MSCR, (IM resident). Additional attendees and presenters were Jamie O. Yang, MD, (IM resident), Jessica Tuan, MPH (Center for Health Equity), Camille Soroudi, MD (GI fellow), Yvonne Lei (DGSOM MS4), Olivia Jordan, MD, (IM resident), Shailavi Jain, MD, (IM resident), Sadie De Silva, MD, (QI fellow), and Aileen Bui, MD, (GI fellow). Statistical support was provided by Jayraan Badiee, MPH, and Sitaram Vangala, and the lab would also like to acknowledge collaborators at UCLA Medical Imaging and Informatics, UCLA Population Health, VA Department of Medicine, and the North East Valley Health Corporation. Work presented at the conference is supported by the National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, Stand up to Cancer, Broad Ablon Scholar Program, and Melvin and Bren Simon.

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Latest News

Dr. Fola May - Healio Distruptive Innovator - 2023

Dr. May received Healio Disruptive Innovator Award for Health Equity

Healio presented their sixth annual Disruptive Innovators Awards at the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) Annual Meeting on October 22, 2023. The awards recognized individuals who have changed the face of the specialty and pushed the status quo toward betterment of the field. Dr. May received the Health Equity Award, which recognizes a physician who has brought about meaningful change to overcome the social determinants of health in gastroenterology.

 

Dr. Fola May outdoors

 Dr. May interviewed by ABC News on the troubling increase in colon and breast cancer in younger adults

Death rates from cancer have declined by 33% since 1991, averting 4.1 million deaths. However, more people are being diagnosed with cancer than ever before, and at earlier ages, according to a major new report from the American Cancer Society. Especially concerning is the rising number of deaths of young people from colon cancer. Environmental factors, such as exposure to chemicals in foods and in the air, and other currently unidentified factors, such as the recent legalization of cannabis and increased cannabis use, can't be ruled out as risk factors. 

Stand Up 2 Cancer Health Equity Video - Fola May

Stand Up to Cancer (SU2C) is a charitable program of the Entertainment Industry Foundation that brings together celebrities and scientists to raise awareness and funds for groundbreaking cancer research. The 2023 telecast highlighted the importance of research to understand and address cancer care disparities. Folasade P. May, MD, PhD, MPhil, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA; and Robert Winn, MD, VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, helped develop and provided narration for a short, animated video explaining the importance of health equity research. The video was introduced by Jimmy Smits, actor and SU2C ambassador.

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$8M Grant Received to Help Address Colorectal Cancer Disparities

Dr. May, selected as part of the Stand Up to Cancer Health Equity Dream Team, will help coordinate an innovative and comprehensive approach that will bring together leading researchers, patient advocates, community leaders, and clinicians to accomplish several goals, including improving colorectal cancer screening in medically underserved communities.