Five Questions With: Dr. Abdul Saied Calvino

Dr. Abdul Saied Calvino, a surgical oncologist at the Roger Williams Cancer Cancer, has a special interest in disparities in cancer care. / RAY DAVEY/ROGER WILLIAMS MEDICAL CENTER
Dr. Abdul Saied Calvino, a surgical oncologist at the Roger Williams Cancer Cancer, has a special interest in disparities in cancer care. / RAY DAVEY/ROGER WILLIAMS MEDICAL CENTER

Dr. Abdul Saied Calvino is a surgical oncologist at the Roger Williams Cancer Center whose practice expertise includes minimally invasive colon and rectal surgery, hepato-biliary and pancreatic surgery. He also treats the full spectrum of general surgery conditions.

Calvino received his medical degree from the University of Panama School of Medicine and completed his surgical internship and residency at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and a two-year ACGME-accredited fellowship program in complex surgical oncology at Roger Williams Medical Center. He is a board-certified general surgeon and one of a select group of surgeons who is board-eligible in complex surgical oncology.

An assistant professor of surgery at Boston University School of Medicine, Calvino focuses his research on clinical outcomes and disparities in cancer care. A member of the American College of Surgery, the Society of Surgical Oncology and the Americas Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association, Calvino talked with Providence Business News about health disparities and inequities that Rhode Island’s Latinos experience.

PBN: Cancer is the leading cause of death among Latinos in Rhode Island. Why is that and how does their cancer rates compare to those of other ethnic groups in the state?

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CALVINO: The Latino population is similar to other underserved ethnic groups, not just in Rhode Island, but nationally. They have less access to health care. The disparities in access occur for a number of reasons, including socio-economic, language, cultural and educational barriers. Limited access to health services results in diminished potential benefits from standardized cancer prevention and early detection strategies, which are available. The result is, that for these patients, cancer diagnoses are often made at a later stage, which can result in increased morbidity and mortality.

PBN: What kinds of cancer are most prevalent in the Latino community, and how are men and women affected differently?

CALVINO: In Rhode Island, the most common cancers in the Latino population are colorectal overall, prostate in men and breast and thyroid cancer in women. Some cancers are gender-specific like prostate and uterine cancer, but some – like colorectal cancer – affect both men and women. Colorectal cancer is the third-leading cause of cancer mortality in both men and women, which is why we are focusing our community outreach efforts toward this specific cancer. Unlike almost all other cancers, colorectal cancer, if identified early by a test like a routine colonoscopy, is often entirely curable.

PBN: Can you explain the outreach you’ve done to educate members of the community?

CALVINO: Education is one of the most important tools to overcome care disparities. We have started a community education and outreach program to the Latino community. Our goal is to provide culturally appropriate information about the importance of routine surveillance and the identification of individuals at higher risk for colorectal cancer. We provide information about screening methods like colonoscopy to prevent and detect colorectal cancer, while educating the public about the importance of timely colonoscopies and how modifying behaviors can lower your risk.

PBN: Are you witnessing any success through earlier diagnosis, more rapid treatment, etc.?

CALVINO: The response of the community to our program as measured by participation has been incredible, not only by creating awareness, but actively helping the Latino community get screened and be proactive in their health care. We have recently started a dedicated patient navigator program for colonoscopy that will assist primary care providers and patients with the coordination, language support and completion of this important screening test at the correct age.

PBN: What are the most significant obstacles to outreach to and treatment of this population?

CALVINO: Language and cultural barriers are very difficult to overcome. Our success is leveraged on having a close collaboration with community groups and our continued focus on building a team of Spanish-speaking surgeons, primary care providers, nurses and allied staff that understand the culture of the community. We have also created a Spanish language website with information about cancer care, where individuals also can ask questions and request an appointment. Patients with an interest in doing either or learning more may visit www.sabemosdecancer.org or call (401) 223-5358.

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