Kenneth Swaringer Addresses Barriers Associated with Lung Cancer Screening for At-Risk Individuals

Kenneth Swaringer was pursuing a Master of Public Health degree with a concentration in Disease Prevention and Health Promotion at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) when he served as a Region IV PHTC Pathways to Practice Scholar in the Fall of 2023. He chose to intern with the MUSC Hollings Cancer Center, where he created a continuing medical education (CME) course focused on the common barriers that prevent at-risk individuals from getting screened for lung cancer. During his field placement, Kenneth researched the process of lung cancer screening and associated disparities and interviewed key stakeholders to aid him in the creation of the CME course. Upon completion of the course, Kenneth recruited a group of oncology healthcare providers to attend a pilot launch and provide feedback on the CME course.

According to Kenneth, this experience helped him to become more culturally competent and highlighted the importance of promoting health equity in healthcare.

“After the completion of my Master’s program, I intend to apply to medical school. I aspire to be the first doctor in my family to specialize in medicine… I am extremely grateful for this experience because my research has shown me how to be a more culturally competent healthcare provider… I intend to hone my skills in order to be the best physician that I can be. I also intend to share my knowledge with others to decrease disparities in the field of healthcare and promote health equity for all individuals.”