A UCF-HCA Healthcare resident received international honors for his research showing that southern U.S. states \u2014 which also have the nation\u2019s highest obesity rates \u2014 also have the highest incidence of colon cancer.<\/p>\n
Raghav Bassi, chief internal medicine resident at the UCF-HCA residency at HCA Florida North Florida Hospital in Gainesville, Florida, found the correlation using HCA\u2019s expansive, nationwide research data base of its patients. An analysis of 289,196 HCA colon cancer patients across the United States found that those living in southern states had a higher incidence of the disease than those living in the Midwest or Northeast. And states with the highest incidence of colon cancer also had the nation\u2019s highest obesity rates.<\/p>\n
Raghav Bassi’s findings are especially alarming as obesity rates continue to increase, with estimates that 50% of the U.S. population may be obese by 2030.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
The American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) honored Bassi with its Presidential Award for his poster presentation at the ACG\u2019s annual meeting in Vancouver, Canada. He also received a second award for outstanding poster presentation.<\/p>\n
While at the conference, he discussed his findings with University of Tennessee researchers, who have found that colon cancer rates are increasing in young people \u2014 and again attributed the increases to obesity and America\u2019s heavy consumption of highly processed, high-fat, high-sugar and fast foods. These findings, Bassi says, are especially alarming as obesity rates continue to increase, with estimates that 50% of the U.S. population may be obese by 2030.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s alarming is that colon cancer rates are going up \u2014 including in young people \u2014 because of lifestyle choices,\u201d he says. \u201cWe are all looking for food that\u2019s fast and easy. But just because it\u2019s fast and easy doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s not doing real harm to your health.\u201d<\/p>\n
The World Health Organization estimates 1.8 million new cases of colon cancer a year. Risk factors include age, obesity, diets high in red and processed meats, smoking, excessive drinking and physical inactivity.<\/p>\n
In examining state-by-state colon cancer rates, Bassi\u2019s study found the exception to the obesity-colon cancer connection was Colorado, which leads the nation in colon cancer rates. Bassi and his HCA research colleagues aim to do further studies to identify what factors other than obesity may be influencing Colorado\u2019s numbers. Mississippi and Missouri were second and third nationally in colon cancer rates. The study noted that obesity rates in Mississippi are the second highest in the nation, with 37.3% of the state\u2019s population diagnosed as obese. Missouri\u2019s obesity rate is similar \u2014 37.3% according to the study.<\/p>\n
The UCF-HCA Graduate Medical Education (GME) consortium is one of the fastest-growing in Florida, training almost 600 residents and fellows in programs from Greater Orlando to Pensacola to help address the physician shortage. UCF began its first residency in internal medicine in 2014 with HCA Healthcare and the Orlando VA Medical Center. Today, it has programs in high-need specialties including surgery, psychiatry, OB-GYN, geriatrics, emergency medicine, rheumatology and endocrinology.<\/p>\n
The UCF-HCA Graduate Medical Education consortium is one of the fastest-growing in Florida, training almost 600 residents and fellows to help address the physician shortage.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
The UCF-HCA programs emphasize research as an integral part of training young physicians. Matthew Calestino, a UCF-HCA residency attending physician and mentor, participated in the colon cancer study and calls research by residents \u201ca game changer.\u201d Scientific studies allow residents and fellows to advance medical knowledge, Calestino and Bassi says, helping them stay current on the latest findings that can help their patients. Understanding and conducting research also trains young physicians to better critically analyze new discoveries and data, according to them.<\/p>\n
As one of the nation\u2019s leading providers of healthcare services, HCA Healthcare has 182 hospitals and approximately 2,300 sites of care, including surgery centers, freestanding emergency rooms, urgent care centers and physician clinics in 20 states and the United Kingdom. HCA Healthcare provides 37 million patient encounters a year in those facilities. Data from that care provides extensive opportunities for research into the most successful care protocols. As the UCF-HCA GME consortium has grown, so has the infrastructure to support resident and fellow research efforts, and Calestino applauded the leadership of Katy Robinson, division director of GME Research for HCA\u2019s North Florida Division, in increasing opportunities and support for such scientific studies.<\/p>\n
Bassi became interested in gastroenterology as a medical student at St. George\u2019s University School of Medicine as he watched a classmate struggle with ulcerative colitis. He was selected as one of the medical school\u2019s global scholars, which allowed him to study and conduct research in the United Kingdom, Grenada and New York City. He hopes to enter a gastroenterology fellowship after he completes his year as chief resident. Bassi says the field offers opportunities to develop and use new therapies, and provide both clinical care and surgical interventions. He says his research experience has allowed him to meet other physician scientists and expand his knowledge to help his patients. It has also allowed him to spread the word about UCF-HCA\u2019s young GME programs.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a young program we aren\u2019t as well known,\u201d he says. \u201cThis experience shows we can compete with the bigger programs. Research allows me to connect with other members of the scientific community, get life-changing lessons and bring those lessons back with me when I return to UCF Gainesville.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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