FAST FACTS

• In 2003 founded the Colon Cancer Prevention Project, a leading Colorectal Cancer (CRC) information and advocacy organization focused on innovation and acceleration of evidence-based screening.

• Supports St. John Center for the for homeless and the Gravy Cup, the #1 Biscuit and Gravy competition in the United States, for the Boys and Girls Haven.

• Enjoys tennis (a former NCAA division 1 tennis player for University of Louisville) and “not so great, but fast” golf.

• Enjoys spending time with two sons, hiking, traveling, fossil collecting, reading and working on his Shelby County farm.

• 2019 Hosparus Health Leadership in Healthcare MediStar Nominee

Medical News: What leadership qualities do you possess?

Whitney Jones: One of my most important leadership qualities is my ability to act. I chose never to reinvent the wheel, and more importantly in public health, restudy for the tenth time what is already known but not yet done. I approach cancer prevention much more like a Silicon Valley startup than like the CDC: innovation, creativity and a sense of urgency translate into action. Action is too often the missing piece of the get something done supply chain in public health.

I have shown boots on the ground commitment by not only providing financial support, but also dedicating one a day per week – at least – over the past 16 years to the success of the organization, but more importantly, the success of the mission.

MN: How have you made a difference in our healthcare community?

WJ: My largest impact in our healthcare community is certainly, and most prominently, the mission to increase Kentucky CRC screening rates a proven, high return public heath intervention clearly lacking in our state.

When the ‘Project” began in 2003 out of my home office, Kentucky was 49^th in CRC screening and number one in both incidence and mortality. Only 33 percent of eligible adults were receiving CRC screenings.

Today, we currently rank 16^th best state in the nation, screening 71 percent of the eligible population. The most improved screening rate of any state over the last 15 years!

MN: Describe a specific result driven by your work.

WJ: In 2008, the “project” sought to get off the ‘F’ rating of the American Cancer Society (ACS) for state-based CRC commercial insurance coverage laws.

Inspired also by other states CRC screening programs for the poor, we decided to engage in the unique role of an independent (not state or federally funded), 501c3 entity and lobby for change. In 2009, we passed Kentucky’s first preventative insurance CRC screening coverage mandate.

More importantly in retrospect, we initiated the development of a program to deliver CRC screening access for low income, age and guideline eligible individuals. Eleven years later, we have The Kentucky Colon Cancer Screening Program (KCCSP), a statewide funded safety net CRC screening program delivering low cost screenings to thousands.

Through the Project’s leadership, several other policies passed into law through the legislative process reduce financial barriers to screening and more accurately define the complete screening process. These include coverage of powerful new biotech and DNA based strategies.

MN: Looking back over the past year, how has the healthcare system changed and what is the physician community doing to adapt?

WJ: Consolidation of health systems, coupled with the push to close or severely referrals outside of their employed physician networks, continue to challenge small or single physician practices ability to remain independent. As a result, most will be driven into either hospital employment, choose to become part of larger super groups, or sadly, to withdraw from practice and the workforce for those near the end of their practice career.

My current practice, Gastroenterology Health Partners, and other physician owned super groups are investing in and incorporating ancillary services (endoscopy or surgery centers, pathology, infusion services, research) to offset the dramatic reductions in reimbursements in payment models. These vertically integrated systems provide high quality, lower patient costs and deliver the value proposition to the healthcare consumer.

MN: What is the biggest challenge your organization in the upcoming year?

WJ: Despite moving from 49^th to 17^th rank in the nation for screening the at-risk population, Kentucky remains the number one state in the nation for CRC incidence. We also lead the nation in the incidence of early age onset CRC (EAO CRC) under the age of 50.

These two are undoubtedly linked to both our environment and predispositions based on family/genetic history. We are expanding our messaging beyond the average risk population to try and better identify the ~20 percent with increased family-based risk requiring screening at age 40 or sooner. Goals include:

• First, and with our many statewide partners, pushing broad awareness around the change in screening age from 50 to 45, per our ACS screening guidelines for normal risk individuals.

• Second, disseminate an early messaging package to be delivered statewide to people starting in in their 20s.

• Third, we will be partnering with groups across Kentucky to consolidate awareness of and compliance with our nation leading state policies around colon cancer screening coding.

• Finally, “The Access to Genetic Testing Act” goes into effect in January 1, 2020.

Our goal is to set the national standard for using evidence based genetic testing in prevention for these deadly diseases.