A Practical Approach to Hereditary Risk Assessment in Gastroenterology Practices with Swati Patel, MD, MS

This presentation will review the prevalence and cancer risks associated with hereditary cancer syndromes. Attendees will learn how common these conditions are and the significant impact we can have in decreasing cancer risk if patients are appropriately identified. The presentation will highlight how outpatient gastroenterology clinic and endoscopy practices are the perfect setting to identify these patients and outline evidence-based ways to do so in busy clinical practices. Finally, this presentation will review challenges in diagnosing hereditary cancer syndrome patients and approaches to overcoming these challenges.

Level of Instruction: Intermediate

Swati Patel, MD, MS | Presenter

Associate Professor of Medicine and Director, Gastrointestinal Hereditary Cancer Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

Staff Physician, Rocky Mountain Regional Veterans Affairs Hospital

Dr. Patel is an Associate Professor at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Center where she is the Director of the Gastrointestinal Hereditary Cancer Program. Her clinical and research interests are in improving identification of individuals with hereditary cancer syndromes and early-age onset colorectal cancer. She is the President of the Collaborative Group of the Americas on Inherited Gastrointestinal Cancers, a premiere professional society dedicated to advancing research and clinical care for patients with hereditary GI cancer syndromes. She is also a member of the United States Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer, which represents the American College of Gastroenterology, the American Gastroenterological Association and the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, and recently led the updated colorectal cancer screening guidelines from the MSTF.

Rachel Bluebond, CGC, CGC, MS | Presenter

Genomic Science Liaison, Ambry Genetics

Rachel Bluebond joined Ambry in 2020 as the Oncology Genomic Science Liaison for the South Central Region. In her current role she serves as a clinical liaison for the field team to educate health care providers and key opinion leaders on genetic testing and genomic medicine. Rachel previously worked as a clinical oncology genetic counselor at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas for 7 years and has worked with PWNHealth providing telehealth genetic counseling for 4 years. Rachel has been involved in graduate education at the UT MD Anderson UT Houston School of Biomedical Sciences. She is a member of the National Society of Genetic Counselors and the chair of the Billing Workgroup of the Access and Service Delivery Committee. Rachel received her Master of Medical Science degree in Human Genetics and Genetic Counseling from Emory University, and is certified by the American Board of Genetic Counseling.