Closing the gap

Action for Equity in Breast Cancer Screening

Wednesday, February 26, 2025
11:00–16:00 (EST)
Virtual

This event will use focused presentations and breakout sessions to explore innovative and scalable solutions to overcome barriers to screening for populations facing structural inequities with implementation examples drawn from across Canada and internationally. For each of the three themes, expert presentations will be followed by breakout group discussions, including a report back from each breakout group highlighting one or two key points to the entire group. Pre-event reading materials related to the thematic discussions will be provided to participants.

Objectives

Share knowledge and best practices that highlight evidence-based approaches, research findings and case studies of successful breast cancer screening programs and tools that have effectively improved access to screening and early detection, especially for individuals and communities facing structural inequities (e.g., racial/ethnic minorities, low-income populations, rural residents, etc.).
Foster collaboration by creating an opportunity for dialogue between researchers, healthcare professionals, community leaders and affected individuals to explore solutions that address disparities in breast cancer screening.

Expected Outcome

To raise awareness and drive action and engagement through the sharing of information on best practices, resources and tools to promote implementation of equitable breast cancer screening services, with a specific focus on those who are traditionally underserved by the healthcare system.

AGENDA

All times are Eastern Standard Time

11:00–12:00	Welcome Julie Demarais, Event Facilitator Monique Manatch, Algonquin Knowledge Keeper Opening & Context Setting Update on the Minister of Health’s Breast Cancer Screening and Prevention Action Plan The Honorable Ya’ara Saks, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions; Associate Minister of Health Context Setting Dr. Theresa Tam, Chief Public Health Officer of Canada, Public Health Agency of Canada Provincial/Territorial considerations for the implementation of equitable and inclusive breast cancer screening services and a discussion of the gaps in current data collection Kelly Bunzeluk, Director of Prevention & Screening, CancerCare Manitoba
12:00–15:50	Thematic Discussion Sessions For each of three themes, expert presentations will be followed by breakout group discussions with a report back from each breakout group highlighting one or two key points to the entire group.
12:00–13:15	Theme 1: Equity in implementation of breast screening: Understanding equity and Identifying key players Designing inclusive and culturally safe breast cancer screening strategies Breakout group questions What groups or organizations do you see as key for implementation of equitable breast screening practices and why? Are there any non-traditional partners that should be engaged? How can different groups work together to improve implementation of breast cancer screening services? Do you have specific examples of successful collaborative efforts? Why do you think they were successful? Do you have examples of efforts that were not successful or not sustained? Why do you think they were not successful? What are the top 3 actions that can be taken to ensure inclusive and culturally safe breast cancer screening initiatives?
13:15–13:20	Break
13:20–14:35	Theme 2: What works and how can we scale it? Exploring the benefits of community-based outreach Dr. Aisha Lofters, Family Physician; Scientist, Women’s College Hospital Research and Innovation Institute; Chair in Implementation Science, Peter Gilgan Centre for Women’s Cancers, Women’s College Hospital; Associate Professor, Department of Family & Community Medicine, University of Toronto Scaling up and sustaining effective community outreach projects or tools Dr. Michelle Nadler, Assistant Professor, Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto; Breast Medical Oncologist, UHN-Princess Margaret Cancer Centre Utilizing mobile breast cancer screening units in reaching underserved individuals Rableen Nagra, Operations Director, Breast and Lung Screening, BC Cancer Agency Breakout group questions What experiences with implementation have you led or observed? Were there opportunities to scale them? What do you see as enablers and barriers to scalability? What measures have been used to measure progress? What are the top 3 actions that can support the scale and sustainability of initiatives?
14:35–14:40	Break
14:40–15:50	Theme 3: Data drives equity Leveraging data for targeted interventions in breast cancer screening Dr. Jennifer Brooks, Executive Director, Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow's Health (CanPath); Associate Professor, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto Dr. Donna Turner, Chief of Population Oncology, CancerCare Manitoba; Associate Professor, Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba Natalie Fitzgerald, Director System Performance and Analytics, Canadian Partnership Against Cancer (CPAC) and Jennifer Gillis, Director, Surveillance, Canadian Cancer Society Breakout group questions What types of data do you use to support cancer screening implementation efforts? What data is required to better address critical data gaps needed to support cancer screening implementation efforts and who should be collecting this data? How are current initiatives helping to address this need? What else can be done? What are the top 3 actions that will further address current data gaps that will lead to a better understanding of breast screening in Canada?
15:50–16:00	Event wrap-up Nancy Hamzawi, Executive Vice President, Public Health Agency of Canada Closing Monique Manatch, Algonquin Knowledge Keeper