Dr. Holladay has served as ASCP Chief Executive Officer since 2010, focusing on globalization initiatives for the medical laboratory community that include significant contributions to the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) funded through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; strategic partnerships in laboratory medicine; corporate reorganization and management activities; international outreach; health services research and delivery; and establishing the gold standard of certification for individuals domestically and internationally. ASCP has been funded for approximately $100 million to support patient-centered care.
Session:
Cancer Diagnostics in Africa: Leapfrog Technology and Volunteers Transform Care 12 April 2024, 0845 - 0930hrs
Cancer is a bigger problem in developing African countries than human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). It emerged as a leading cause of death in Sub Saharan Africa, with a population close to one billion people. Moving cancer treatment to global health settings was seen as costly, challenging, or close to impossible. In Sub-Saharan Africa, 80% of breast cancers are diagnosed at late stages, compared with 15% in High-Income Countries. Early detection through expanded screening and access to advanced diagnostic care can overcome global healthcare disparities for cancer and lead to affordable and effective cancer treatment. Unfortunately, the pathology and laboratory medicine workforce is strained, particularly in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). To bridge the cancer care gap, innovative solutions are required to ensure rapid, accurate, and reliable pathology for primary diagnosis of cancer. Sub Saharan Africa faces immense challenges in providing adequate coverage, along with the unique obstacles of each region, country, and district when meeting their population's health needs. The American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), in partnership with the Obama White House Office of Science, Technology & Policy and the Clinton Global Initiative, launched a 150-million-dollar multi-year initiative to identify countries in the greatest need for pathology infrastructure and create a replicable model for rapid cancer diagnostics in under-resourced settings. With the support of ASCP’s membership, and in collaboration with key stakeholders, country-specific plans were designed to build capacity and strengthen diagnostic and treatment programs. Working in parallel and together, steering committees for diagnostics and technology, care and treatment, in-country medical education, bioethics, and monitoring & evaluation determined each potential country’s specific needs to optimize success. The optimal solution includes the deployment of automated histopathology and integrated whole slide imaging systems, which connects local pathologists with dedicated teams of pathology subspecialists from U.S. medical centers. Since this program launched, telepathology has been introduced to 24 sites in 16 countries.
