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C O LO R E C TA L C A N C E R I S the second leading cause of cancer death among men and women, claiming more than 50,000 lives each year. Unlike many other cancer killers, it can be detected early and, often, prevented with screenings. But, according to gastroenterologists affiliated with University Hospitals (UH) Digestive Health Institute's Community Gastroenterology & Quality Center, fewer than half of the people who should be screened for colorectal cancer actually are. Whether that disparity is the result of fear, lack of access, or a lack of awareness, these physicians are devoted to addressing it. One of UH Digestive Health Institute's seven Centers of Excellence, the Community Gastroenterology & Quality Center was established in 2007 to bring the highest qual- ity gastrointestinal (GI) screening, diagnosis and treatment services to patients across Northeast Ohio. Today, residency-trained, board-certified GI specialists offer care at 17 convenient outpatient centers located throughout the Greater Cleveland area. In addition, they provide 24/7 coverage for both inpatient consultation and emergency GI care at UH Case Medical Center and six UH Medical Centers: UH Ahuja in Beachwood, UH Conneaut, UH Geauga in Chardon and UH Geneva; and at UH Bedford and UH Richmond Medical Centers, campuses of UH Regional Hospitals. "We offer the gamut of general GI ser- vices, including endoscopy (looking into the stomach), colonoscopy, and enteroscopy (looking further into the small intestine)," says Michael Koehler, MD, Director of the UH Community Gastroenterology & Quality Center. A gastroenterologist, Dr. Koehler is the Ronald Raymond Master Clinician in Gastroenterology and Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) School of Medicine. Community services include: + management of acute and chronic GI conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease, constipation, vomiting, and incontinence; + treatment and management of inflam- matory bowel disease (IBD), such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis; + evaluation and direct referral for acute and chronic liver disease; and + gastrointestinal cancer screening and prevention via colonoscopies. "In years past, most people thought they had to go to Cleveland to UH Case Medical Center for these services. Instead, we have taken a team of highly qualified and board- certified GI specialists into the community so patients can have access to this care close to home," Dr. Koehler explains. "Patients UH Digestive Health Institute's Community Gastroenterology: Qualified, Certified, Experienced By Alex Strauss The UH Community Gastroenterology & Quality Center includes residency-trained, board-certified GI specialists who offer care at 17 convenient outpatient centers in Northeast Ohio. Shown here are seven of the GI team (L–R): Drs. Rami Abbass, Raymond Rozman, Kevin Geraci, Nadia Mansour, Eric Shapiro, R. Bruce Cameron, and Michael Koehler, the Center's Director. PHOTO COURTESY OF UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS CASE MEDICAL CENTER 1 4 | Cleveland/Akron/Canton MD NEWS ■ M D N E W S . CO M ■ M A R C H /A P R I L 2 0 1 4