Cynthia M. Yoshida, MD, is one of six winners of a national award recognizing health-care providers and institutions for their work to increase colorectal cancer screening rates. Dr. Yoshida, a gastroenterologist and medical leader of the University of Virginia (UVA) Cancer Center’s Colorectal Cancer Screening Program, received the 2021 80% In Every Community National Achievement Award from the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable. Founded by the American Cancer Society and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the awards are part of the roundtable’s efforts to reach 80% colorectal cancer screening rates nationally among adults aged 50 and older.
“I am honored to receive this recognition,” Dr. Yoshida said. “This work is a team effort—I am incredibly fortunate to collaborate with amazing colleagues from the UVA Cancer Center, the Virginia Colorectal Cancer Round Table, and the American Cancer Society who are ‘all in’ committed to improving colorectal cancer screening rates and saving lives in Virginia.”
Cynthia M. Yoshida, MD
Community Outreach Activities
In honoring Dr. Yoshida, the roundtable cited her work in improving access to quality colorectal cancer screening for UVA Health team members, patients, and underresourced communities across Virginia. For example, Dr. Yoshida and her colleagues have helped establish a free colorectal cancer screening program, which has served more than 400 uninsured patients in rural Virginia. This program is partnering with Central Virginia Community Health Services to ensure timely follow-up to positive fecal immunochemical tests with free or discounted colonoscopies.
Dr. Yoshida also co-chairs the Virginia Colorectal Cancer Roundtable, has served on several committees for the American Gastroenterological Association, and is active in the American College of Gastroenterology and American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.
She will receive a $1,000 prize to support her work to increase colorectal cancer screening rates.
