Written by Jennifer Saueressig, Clinical Quality Manager
Jennifer Saueressig, Clinical Quality Manager at CHAD, attended the North Dakota Cancer Coalition (NDCC) Annual Meeting on June 24 and the ND Colorectal Cancer Roundtable (NDCCRT) on June 25 at the Heritage Center and State Museum in Bismarck, ND. The two-day event brought together health care professionals, public health leaders, and advocates to share strategies, data, and success stories focused on reducing the burden of cancer across the state.
Highlights from the NDCC meeting included updates on the 2025–2035 North Dakota Cancer Plan, recognition of new coalition officers, and powerful presentations focused on cancer survivorship, rural cancer care, and legislative advocacy. The coalition also celebrated a milestone in its growth as a newly established 501(c)(3), which will allow for greater engagement in policy development and grant funding opportunities to support community projects.
The NDCCRT meeting featured impactful discussions on early-onset colorectal cancer, the importance of follow-up colonoscopy after stool-based testing, and new tools to support screening access, especially in rural and underserved areas. Attendees participated in breakout sessions to identify actionable strategies for improving screening completion rates and reducing barriers to care.
The event highlighted innovative strategies, collaborative efforts, and the use of data to improve cancer screening and outcomes across North Dakota. CHAD continues to support this work through statewide collaboration, resource sharing, and partnerships with health centers to advance early detection and preventive care.
To further support this work, the American Cancer Society National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable (ACS NCCRT) will release a new guidebook on rural colorectal cancer (CRC) screening best practices next month. This resource will help communities tackle the unique barriers rural residents face and share five recommended steps to increase screening rates. A free webinar on July 28 at 2 pm CT/1 pm MT will share an overview of the guidebook, new data on rural CRC burden, and case studies highlighting real-world best practices. Register for the webinar here.
Colonoscopy Capacity Map – North Dakota Cancer Coalition
Colorectal Cancer Screening Improvement Toolkit – North Dakota Cancer Coalition
