Cancer Won’t Wait for COVID
This year, there has been a 32% decline in new colorectal cancer diagnoses. However, this isn’t actually good news. A closer look at the data reveals a 90% decline in colonoscopies, as patients delay essential screenings during the pandemic. COVID-19 has created a dangerous new normal where delayed preventative care, skipped well visits, and postponed procedures have become commonplace. We know cancer won’t wait for the virus to go away, so how can we use the power of data to monitor these gaps in care and inform the development of patient outreach programs, especially among at-risk populations, in order to get back on-track and ultimately save lives?
Join Aspen Ideas: Health on Wednesday, September 23 (3:00-3:30 pm ET) to hear Web Sun, president and co-founder of Komodo Health, in discussion with Dr. John Torres, medical correspondent at NBC News, about the critical role of data science in better understanding patient behaviors and accurately identifying equity gaps in the U.S. health care system.
Speaker Bios:
Web Sun
Co-Founder and President, Komodo Health
Web Sun is Co-Founder and President at Komodo Health where he oversees operations including business development, sales and marketing, and people. Prior to founding Komodo Health, Web was a Managing Director at Zephyr Health, a leading life sciences data and insights solution provider, running all non-engineering functions. He spent nearly eight years as vice president at Campbell Alliance (now Syneos Health) where he advised enterprise life sciences companies across corporate development, brand management and marketing, commercial effectiveness and medical affairs initiatives. Web also serves as an Executive Advisor to Reify Health, Heads Up Health and other healthcare/healthtech startups focused on Big Data, SaaS, Healthcare IT, and Predictive Analytics to improve patient outcomes.
Dr. John Torres
Medical Correspondent, NBC News/MSNBC
Dr. John Torres is an NBC News/MSNBC medical correspondent and an emergency room physician. His reporting covers a wide range of health-related issues across all of NBC’s broadcast, cable and digital platforms. Dr. Torres is a self-described “Air Force Brat” who graduated from the Air Force Academy. He is a veteran of the United States Air Force including a tour of duty in Iraq in 2004. Dr. Torres also has contributed to rescue efforts out of the South Pole and, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. Utilizing his combined medical and military experience, Dr. Torres also teaches NATO Special Forces. Additionally, throughout his career, Dr. Torres has made numerous humanitarian trips to Central and South America, providing medical care to children in need. Dr. Torres graduated from University of New Mexico School of Medicine.