Date:	March 21, 2007
Contact:	Ellen Averill, OSU Center for Health Sciences (918) 561-8215

OSU Center for Health Sciences provides free colonoscopy exams

TULSA, Okla. — A new Colorectal Cancer Screening Project provides free colonoscopies to qualifying individuals.  The program is a collaborative effort between the Oklahoma State University Center for Rural Health in Tulsa and the Oklahoma State Department of Health.

Dr. Doug Foster, Senator Johnnie Crutchfield, colonoscopy patient Clotee Nabors,
Senator Debbie Leftwich, Dr. Leah Dill, Dr. Bill Pettit

Oklahoma Senators Johnnie Crutchfield and Debbie Leftwich were instrumental in bringing this program to fruition.  They secured funding from the state legislature to fund the free colonoscopies.  Their goal is to make colonoscopy screening available to Oklahomans regardless of their ability to pay.  Senator Crutchfield is a survivor of colon cancer.

Tulsan Clotee Nabors was excited to learn about the free colonoscopy screening.  “I had a friend die from colon cancer, so when I heard about this program I wanted to participate,” Nabors said.

The colonoscopies are performed by the OSU Center for Health Sciences Department of Surgery at the OSU Medical Center in Tulsa.  To qualify for the free procedure, individuals must be between the ages of 50 and 64, be considered low-income, not be covered by health insurance and be an Oklahoma resident.  Individuals who are younger with a high risk of colon cancer and who meet all the other guidelines may also be eligible.

To see if you qualify and to make a consultation appointment, call (918) 747-5322.  For more information about the Colorectal Cancer Screening Project, contact the Chronic Disease Service at the Oklahoma State Department of Health at (405) 271-4072.

March is National Colon/Rectal Screening month.

About OSU Medicine
Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences in Tulsa, Okla., offers programs in osteopathic medicine, biomedical sciences and forensic sciences, with an emphasis on preparing physicians for rural and under-served Oklahoma. The OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine has been nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top medical schools in the nation for the past six years. OSU operates six clinics, five in Tulsa and one in Enid.