Podcast

The American Cancer Society excels by smoothly combining research, patient support, and advocacy worldwide, focusing on the needs of people at risk or diagnosed with cancer, as well as their caregivers and families.

In this episode, Dr. Bonny Morris, Senior Director for Patient Navigation at the American Cancer Society (ACS), shares her personal journey from a rural background to her role in healthcare innovation. Bonny emphasizes the disparities in cancer care in underserved areas and explains how ACS is addressing those disparities by combining research, patient support, and advocacy on a national and global scale. The focus shifts to the ACS CARES app, a groundbreaking initiative aiming to personalize cancer care support by providing users with a digital platform to navigate cancer information and connect with trained specialists 24/7. Dr. Morris extends an invitation for collaboration, stressing the importance of conversations to optimize cancer care delivery. 

Tune in, learn, and become a part of the movement to shape a brighter and more compassionate future in cancer care!

About Bonny Morris:

Bonny Morris is currently the Senior Director for Patient Navigation at the American Cancer Society (ACS). Specifically, she is leading the development and implementation of ACS CARES, the first national cancer navigation support program. She’s also in charge of developing ACS LION, their new nonclinical navigation credentialing program, and the enterprise strategy for patient navigation at the American Cancer Society. 

Bonny uses her diverse skills to approach program development and research from different angles. As an epidemiologist, she focuses on designing and analyzing studies meticulously. Additionally, she embraces the perspective of a social and behavioral scientist, recognizing the impact of community-level social factors and individual-level factors on the cancer experience.

Things You’ll Learn:

• The American Cancer Society excels by smoothly combining research, patient support, and advocacy worldwide, focusing on the needs of people at risk or diagnosed with cancer, as well as their caregivers and families.
• The ACS has successfully influenced policymakers to recognize the importance of patient navigation, with a recent win in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid.
• The ACS CARES app, available on iOS and Android, offers personalized cancer support, including a 24/7 helpline and a volunteer component for peer support.
• The ACS CARES app has already surpassed first-quarter goals, reaching users with over 60 different cancer types and demonstrating its effectiveness in catering to a diverse range of people with unique needs.
• In January, a Spanish version of the ACS CARES app will be launched to support Spanish-speaking individuals facing cancer.
• Dr. Morris emphasizes the importance of collaboration, inviting partners to engage in conversations to optimize cancer care delivery, and keeping programs cutting edge and relevant to the population served.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Bonny Morris on LinkedIn.
• Follow the American Cancer Society on LinkedIn and visit their website.
• Learn more about the ACS CARES App here!
• Download the ACS CARES App on the App Store here or on the Google Play Store here.