"DIRECT CONNECTION" IS MADE BY MPT TO SERVE ALL OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

LIVE FROM MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, THIS IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" WITH JEFF SALKIN.

>> Jeff: GRAND JURY WELCOME TO YOUR "DIRECT CONNECTION".

WE BEGIN TONIGHT WITH OLD PIPES, SPECIFICALLY LEAD PIPES, THAT MAY AFFECT THE QUALITY OF DRINKING WATER FOR THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS.

JOINING US TONIGHT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS IS RICHARD LUNA INTERIM DIRECTOR OF THE BALTIMORE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS, SIR, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Jeff: WHAT ARE YOU ASKING RESIDENTS TO DO AND WHY?

>> SO LET'S START OFF WITH THE BIGGER PICTURE WHICH IS THIS ALL STEMS FROM THE LEAD AND COPPER ROLLER VERSIONS RELEASED BY THE EPA IN 2021.

SO FEDERAL GUIDELINES FOR ALL WATER SYSTEMS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY TO GO AND COMPLETE A SERVICE LINE INVENTORY SO ALL PUBLIC UTILITIES KNOW WHAT SERVICE LINE MATERIALS ARE GOING INTO PEOPLE'S HOMES.

AND THE GOAL HERE IS TO IDENTIFY ANY LEAD MATERIAL SO THAT WE CAN DEVELOP A PLAN TO REPLACE THOSE MATERIALS.

>> Jeff: AND LEAD IN THE WATER CAN BE HARMFUL FOR ADULTS, IT CAN BE REALLY BAD FOR KIDS.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

SO THAT IS THE GOAL FROM THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION IS TO IDENTIFY ALL OF THOSE MATERIALS AND CREATE PLANS FOR HOW WE ARE GOING TO REPLACE THAT SO THERE'S LEAD FREE THROUGHOUT THE PIPES THROUGHOUT THE SERVICE.

>> Jeff: DO YOU THINK THIS INITIATIVE THEYS BOOK TO WHAT HAPPENED IN FLINT, MICHIGAN IS THAT THE IMPETUS THAT CALLED ATTENTION TO THE PROBLEM?

>> I THINK THAT COULD BE ONE OF THEM.

BUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY PUT OUT GOOD GUIDANCE TO PUBLIC UTILITIES WHICH IS GOING THROUGH OUR INVENTORY AND ALL OF OUR SERVICES AND IDENTIFYING ANY MATERIALS THAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT SO WE CAN'T IDENTIFY WHAT THEY ARE.

IF THEY ARE LEAD OR IF WE FIND LEAD WITHIN OUR WATER SYSTEM THAT WE PUT PROPER PLANS IN PLACE TO REMOVE THAT FROM OUR WATER SYSTEM OVER THE NEXT DECADE.

>> Jeff: BEFORE WE SHOW PEOPLE AND TELL PEOPLE WHAT NAY NEED TO DO, IS THAT YOU CAN HAVE A LEAD PIPE AND YOUR WATER CAN TEST NEGATIVE FOR LEAD.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> HOW?

>> IT'S BECAUSE OF THE DIFFERENT TESTING MATERIALS.

SO WHAT WE DO WITHIN OUR WATER SYSTEM HERE IN BALTIMORE CITY WHICH SERVICES BALTIMORE COUNTY, IS WE HAVE A CHEMISTRY THAT'S ANTICORROSIVE AS WATER IS GOING OUT INTO THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM IF THERE IS LEAD WITHIN THE PERSON'S HOME, THAT IT'S NOT CORRODING WHICH MEANS IT'S NOT LEECHING INTO THE WATER SYSTEM THAT YOU ARE DRINKING.

>> Jeff: SORT OF IS LIKE A COATING INSIDE THE PIPE?

>> THE PIPES THEMSELVES HAVE DIFFERENT MATERIALS THAT COULD BE CORRODED OVER TIME BUT THE CHEMISTRY IS DESIGNED SHOULD THERE BE LEAD WITHIN THE WATER SERVICE INVENTORY THAT IT'S NOT CORRODING AND NOT GETTING INTO THE WATER SYSTEM.

>> Jeff: YOU GUYS HAVE A HELPFUL GRAPHIC THAT SHOWS WHAT IS UNDER THE AVERAGE STREET.

AND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET IS THE WATERMAN AND OFF THE WATERMAIN IS A PIPE THAT GOES TO THE METER.

AND ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS THERE IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE UTILITY.

WHICH IS YOU GUYS.

>> CORRECT.

SO BALTIMORE CITY WE DO MAINTAIN ALL OF THE WATERMAINS THROUGHOUT THE WATER SYSTEM IN BALTIMORE CITY AND BALTIMORE COUNTY.

WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANYTHING FROM THE WATER METER UP UNTIL THE WATERMAIN UP UNTIL THE WATER METER.

WE ARE GOING THROUGH THAT PROCESS OURSELVES MAKING SURE THAT ANY OF OUR MATERIALS WITHIN OUR DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM ARE LEAD-FREE.

HERE IN THE DIAGRAM THAT YOU ARE SEEING, FROM THE WATER METER UP TO THE PERSON'S HOME OR THE PRIVATE PROPERTY'S HOME THAT IS THE LINE WE ARE MOST CONCERNED ABOUT AND IT'S MOSTLY BECAUSE PRIOR TO 1972, DEVELOPERS COULD USE POTENTIALLY USE LEAD PIPE WHEN THEY WERE BUILDING THOSE HOMES.

AND THOSE INVENTORIES.

FOR HOMES THAT ARE BUILT PRIOR TO 1972 THIS IS MORE APPLICABLE TO YOU.

THAT IS THE INFORMATION WE'RE TRYING TO GET OUT.

>> Jeff: YOU ARE ASKING RESIDENTS TO CHECK IN THIS DIAGRAM, WHERE DO YOU CHECK?

WE SEE THE PIPE IT'S UNDERGROUND UNDER THE SIDEWALK AND IT COMES INTO YOUR BASEMENT GENERALLY?

>> MOST HOMES WOULD HAVE IT COMING INTO THE BASEMENT.

WE WANT TO FIND THAT FIRST ENTRY INTO THE PERSON'S HOME.

EITHER THROUGH A BASEMENT OR A CRAWL SPACE.

THAT'S THE SPOT WHERE WE WANT RESIDENTS TO FOCUS ON AND TO DO A TEST.

THE TEST IS SIMPLE AND WE HAVE INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE.

BUT IT TAKES A FEW MATERIALS, KEYER COIN TO SCRATCH THE MATERIAL AND TO TAP IT SO YOU CAN REGISTER WHAT SOUND IS COMING FROM IT.

AND A MAGNET TOO AND THAT HELPS US DETERMINE WHAT KIND OF MATERIAL IT IS.

WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOLKS IS TO TAKE PHOTOS OF THAT INFORMATION, SUBMIT IT THROUGH OUR WEBSITE AND THAT INFORMATION GOES BACK TO EXPERTS AND THEY REVIEW THE INFORMATION TO BE ABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT TYPE OF MATERIAL IT IS.

>> Jeff: CAN IT BE AS SIMPLE AS SOMEBODY WALKS OVER TO THE THING AND IF IT'S NOT COVERED IN THE BASEMENT YOU LOOK AT IT IF IT'S COPPER, YOU'RE COOL.

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

BUT LIKE I SAID WE'RE TRYING TO DETERMINE WHAT ARE ALL THOSE MATERIALS.

THEY COULD BE DIFFERENT TYPES OF MATERIALS.

BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THAT FULL INVENTORY FOR HOMES BUILT PRIOR TO THE 1990s WE ARE ASKING THE PUBLIC'S HELP AND HELP DETERMINE WHAT THAT INFORMATION IS.

>> Jeff: LET ME REMIND OUR VIEWERS IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT LEAD PIPES CALL THE NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN OR SEND US AN E-MAIL AT... WHAT IS THE POINT OF TAKING THE COIN OR THE KEY AND SCRATCHING IT?

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

>> WE'RE TRYING TO LOOK AND SEE WHAT COLOR THAT MATERIAL OF PIPE TURNS INTO.

SO THAT DOES HELP OUR EXPERTS GO AND LOOK AT THAT INFORMATION AND CROSS-CHECK IT WITH OUR RECORDS TO DETERMINE HELP DETERMINE WHAT KIND OF MATERIAL IT IS.

>> Jeff: IF IT'S NOT COPPER COLOR WHAT MIGHT IT BE?

>> IT COULD BE SILVER.

IT COULD BE A SILVER COLOR OR A PLASTIC MATERIAL.

ALL OF THAT INFORMATION THEN GETS REPORTED BACK.

THERE ARE ON-LINE SURVEY AS LONG AS WITH TAPPING THE MATERIALS.

WE HAVE DEMONSTRATION VIDEOS ON OUR WEBSITE IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH IT'S BEST TO GO TO THE PUBLIC WORKS WEBSITE WE HAVE A LINK THAT WILL TAKE YOU TO THE INFORMATION YOU NEED.

>> Jeff: THERE WAS SOMETHING ABOUT A MAGNET ALSO.

>> YES.

>> >> Jeff: THAT IS PART OF THE TEST?

>> THE MAGNET IF IT STICKS TO THE PIPE OR DOESN'T, THAT DID LEAD US TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT MATERIALS THEY ARE.

>> >> Jeff: WHAT WHAT HAPPENS SOMEBODY IS LIVING IN A AN OLDER HOUSE AND THEY DO THIS AND IT TURNS OUT IT MAY BE A LEAD PIPE.

DO YOU NEED TO HAVE IT REPLACED?

IF YOU DO, WHO IS PAYING FOR THAT?

>> THAT'S THE BIG OUTSTANDING QUESTION.

WHAT WE'RE ASKING THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO DO IS TO GO AND DLEK THAT INFORMATION AND REPORT IT BACK TO US.

ALL OF THAT INFORMATION THEN GOES OVER TO THE STATE.

SO THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT IS COLLECTING THAT INFORMATION.

ONCE WE CAN DETERMINE HOW MUCH LEAD PIPE IF ANY THERE IS IN THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM WE CAN PLAN TO FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH IT'S GOING TO COST FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO REPLACE THOSE MATERIALS AND IF THERE'S GOING TO BE ASSISTANCE MADE AVAILABLE TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO GET THOSE DONE.

>> Jeff: IF I DETERMINED THAT IT WAS LEAD PIPE COMING INTO MY HOUSE, I WOULD WANT TO DO SOMETHING.

I WOULDN'T WANT TO WAIT FOR A DETERMINATION ON THAT.

DO YOU RECOMMEND IN THAT SITUATION, SHOULD PEOPLE GET THE WATER TESTED?

SHOULD THEY GET A BRITA PITCHER OR FILTRATION?

>> THOSE ARE HELPFUL TIPS WE HAVE THAT SAME INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE WHICH IS DOING THE AT HOME TESTING AND THE BRITA FILTERS.

BUT THE MAIN THING FOR THE FOLKS TO REMEMBER IS OUR WATER CONNECT INDUSTRY IS DESIGNED IF THERE IS LEAD WITHIN THAT SERVICE LINE THAT THAT MATERIAL PARTICIPANT PIPE MATERIAL IS NOT CORRODING.

WE DO A GOOD JOB THROUGH OUR CHEMISTRY AND LABORATORY SCIENTISTS THAT WORK ON THE WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM TO ENSURE OUR WATER IS AS CLEAN AND LEAD-FREE AS POSSIBLE.

>> Jeff: THE THE BALTIMORE WATER SYSTEM IS KNOWN FOR HIGH QUALITY WATER AND HUGE.

I MEAN IT REACHES US HERE IN OWINGS MILLS AND GOES FARTHER, SOUTH, GOES WEST.

IS THE ADVICE SIMILAR IN THE OUTLYING COUNTIES?

>> EACH PUBLIC UTILITY HAS THEIR OWN PROCESS FOR HOUSE THEY ARE COLLECTING INFORMATION.

FOR THOSE MEMBERS THAT ARE WATCHING THAT ARE NOT PART OF THE BALTIMORE CITY'S DISTRIBUTION CENTER WHICH YOU ARE RIGHT INCLUDES BALTIMORE CITY AND BALTIMORE COUNTY THE BEST THING IS TO CHECK WITH YOUR LOCAL UTILITY AND SEE WHAT INFORMATION THEY ARE REQUESTING FROM YOU.

EACH ONE IS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT HOW THEY ARE COLLECTING THAT INFORMATION.

>> Jeff: LAST QUESTION ON PIPES AND WE CAN TALK RECYCLING.

I REMEMBER AS A KID BEING TAUGHT TO LET THE WATER RUN FOR NOT LONG, A FEW SECONDS BEFORE YOU FILL UP A CUP AND BRUSH YOUR TEETH IS THERE ANYTHING TO THAT?

I SORT OF REMEMBER IT HAVING TO DO WITH LIKE LEAD SOLDER.

>> THAT IS ALWAYS A GOOD PRACTICE IF YOU DO IDENTIFY THROUGH THE SURVEY THAT YOU DO HAVE LEAD IN YOUR HOME IS LET THAT FLUSH THROUGH.

THIS ALLOWS THE WATER THAT YOU ARE THEN USING TO DRINK OR TO BATHE OR COOK, THAT THAT WATER IS COMING DIRECTLY FROM THE MAIN.

YOU DON'T WANT TO USE THE WATER SITTING THERE COULD BE SITTING THERE FOR SEVERAL HOURS DEPENDING ON THE LAST TIME YOU USED THE FAUCET.

>> Jeff: RECYCLING FOR A SECOND.

YOU ARE GOING BACK TO WEEKLY PICK UPS IN BALTIMORE CITY.

WHAT DO YOU WANT RESIDENTS TO KNOW?

>> WE'RE EXCITED.

WE'VE DONE TREMENDOUS WORK OVER THE PAST YEAR TO GET US TO WEEKLY RECYCLING.

SO UNDER MAYOR SCOTT'S LEADERSHIP WE'VE INVESTED IN OUR FLEET SO WE'VE ORDERED 80 NEW TRUCKS IN ORDER TO RETURN TO WEEKLY RECYCLING.

WE ADDED 60 NEW STAFF.

AND WE'VE HIRED ALL THE POSITIONS TO ROLL OUT THE SERVICE.

AND WE'VE REDESIGNED OUR ROUTES.

WHAT WE FOUND WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AND STUDYING THIS ISSUE IS OUR CREWS WERE SPENDING TOO MUCH TIME ON THE ROUTES THAT IS BECAUSE THEY HAD DOUBLE THE INDUSTRY STANDARDS IN TERMS OF STOPS PER CREW.

WE HAVE INCREASED THE NUMBER OF ROUTES TO REDUCE THE NUMBER AND STARTING NEXT WEEK ON MARCH FIFTH WE WILL BE INSTITUTING WEEKLY RECYCLING.

YOUR RECYCLING DAY WILL NOT CHANGE.

IF I WAS RECYCLING ON TUESDAYS YOU WILL STILL RECYCLE ON TUESDAYS IT WILL BE PICKING UP THE MATERIALS EVERY WEEK.

>> Jeff: AND WE HAVE THE GRAPHIC ON WHAT GOES IN GLASS BOTTLES, PLASTIC BOTTLES, NEWSPAPERS, ONE POINT OF CONFUSION IS PIZZA BOXES.

DO YOU TAKE PIZZA BOXES?

>> UNFORTUNATELY, THE PIZZA BOX BECOMES CONTAMINATED WITH THAT GREASE MATERIAL IT SHOULD BE GOING INTO YOUR TRASH BIN.

ONE THING THAT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE LAST WEEK THE MAYOR AND I WERE ACTUALLY WORKING OUT WITH ONE OF OUR CREWS AND WE DID NOTICE THERE WERE SEVERAL PLASTIC BAGS WITHIN THE RECYCLING BINS.

PLEASE, KEEP THE PLASTIC BAGS OUT.

>> RICHARD LUNA WITH DPW WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> APPRECIATE IT, THANK YOU.

>> Jeff: NOW, JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT YOUR HEALTH IS DR. SHANA NTIRI, SHE IS MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF THE BALTIMORE CITY CANCER PROGRAM.

AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND GREENBAUM COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER AND ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SCHOOL OF MEDICINE.

DOCTOR, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> Jeff: IT IS CANCER PREVENTION AWARENESS MONTH.

SO LET'S START THERE.

WHAT DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO BE ACARE OF WHEN IT WOMS TO CANCER PREVENTION.

PEOPLE MAY THINK IT'S MOSTLY ABOUT FAITH?

>> THAT'S A GOOD POINT.

THAT'S WHAT WE WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW IT'S NOT MOSTLY ABOUT FATE.

CANCER CAN BE PREVENTED IT DIFFERENT WAYS IN TERMS OF MODIFYING YOUR LIFESTYLE AND THE THINGS YOU DO TO STAY HEALTHY.

IT CAN BE PREVENTED IN DOING CANCER SCREENING AND OTHER THINGS AND COORDINATING WITH YOUR DOCTOR.

THAT IS THE MESSAGE WE WANT TO GET OUT TO FOLKS.

>> Jeff: THERE ARE A NUMBER OF CANCERS WHERE THE INCIDENCE IS ON THE RISE, AND IS IT POSSIBLE THAT IT'S CONNECTED TO INCREASED SCREENINGS AND EARLY DETECTION WHICH IS A GOOD THING, BUT MAYBE CHANGES THE NUMBERS?

>> SURE THAT IS A GOOD, IMPORTANT QUESTION.

I THINK THERE ARE CANCERS THAT ARE GOING UP RIGHT NOW WE DON'T THINK THE NUMBER OF CANCERS GOING UP ARE A REFLECTION OF INCREASED SCREENINGS BUT AN IMPORTANT THING TO POINT OUT.

REALLY IT IS A MATTER OF MULTIPLE THINGS INCLUDING THE FACT THAT WE'RE STILL FEELING THE TAIL END OF COVID.

WHEN PEOPLE WERE NOT COMPLETING CANCER SCREENINGS.

AND ALTHOUGH WE HAVE THIS KNOWLEDGE PEOPLE ARE NOT FULLY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF IT, OUR POPULATION IN GENERAL IS GETTING OLDER.

SO PEOPLE ARE LIVING LONGER WHICH IS A GOOD THING BUT GETTING ODDER IS A RISK FACTOR FOR A NUMBER OF CANCERS.

AND THERE'S MORE PEOPLE IN OUR COUNTRY AS WELL.

THERE ARE MYRIAD OF REASONS WE'RE SEEING AN INCREASE IN CANCERS.

>> Jeff: AND NOBODY WANTS TO GET BAD NEWS.

BUT TELL US WHAT YOU'VE SEEN IN YOUR MEDICAL CAREER ABOUT THE ADVANTAGES OF GETTING AN EARLY DIAGNOSIS OF SOMETHING?

>> YEAH.

I HAVE SEEN PEOPLE WHO SURVIVED THEIR CANCERS.

WHICH I THINK IT'S AN ENJOYABLE WALK TO HAVE WITH A PATIENT.

AFTER GETTING SUCH A SERIOUS DIAGNOSIS FOR PEOPLE TO REALIZE THERE IS ABSOLUTELY HOPE.

THERE IS ABSOLUTELY LIFE AFTER A DIAGNOSIS WITH CANCER AND THAT IS WHY CANCER SCREEN SOMETHING SO IMPORTANT.

IF WE GET THE INFORMATION THE EARLY HE WE GET IT EARLY DETECTION SAVES LIVES THE BETTER THE OUTCOMES ARE GOING TO BE.

I CAN THINK OF A NUMBER OF PATIENTS RIGHT NOW DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER WITH COLORECTAL CANCER WHEN THEY GOT THE DIAGNOSIS WERE FRIGHTENED.

BUT ARE NOW CANCER SURVIVORS.

AND I WORK WITH BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR GROUP AND WE HAVE WOMEN WHO HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH CAN SOCIAL SECURITY 30 YEARS AGO.

THEY ARE 30 YEAR SURVIVORS.

ABSOLUTELY I THINK SCREENING IS ESSENTIAL TO PEOPLE LIVING QUALITY LIVES AFTER A DECISION SIX OF -- ASSOCIATION SIS OF CANCER.

>> Jeff: WHAT ARE THE SCREENINGS YOU WANT PEOPLE TO FOCUS ON WOULD BE.

BUT I IMAGINE BREAST AND COLORECTAL CANCERS ARE AT THE TOP OF THE LIST.

>> SURE.

THERE ARE FIVE CANCERS WE CAN SCREEN.

BREAST IS AT THE TOP OF THAT LIST FOR WOMEN AND WE SCREEN MY MAMMOGRAM AND PAP AND HPV SCREENING WE DO FOR WOMEN TO LOOK FOR CERVICAL CANCER.

AND COLORECTAL CANCER.

WE CAN SCREEN USING A COLONOSCOPY AND LUNG CANCER WHICH ALSO AFFECTS BOTH MEN AND WOMEN.

WE USE THE LOW DOSE CAT SCAN OR CT SCREEN FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE A HISTORY OF SMOKING.

AND THERE'S PROSTATE CANCER SCREENING USING THE PSA AND THAT IS AT BLOOD TEST.

LOTS OF WAY TO SCREEN.

DIFFERENT CRITERIA FOR WHEN AND WHY PEOPLE SHOULD SCREEN AND THAT IS A CONVERSATION TO HAVE WITH YOUR PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR OR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IN ORDER TO DETERMINE WHEN YOU SHOULD START TO SCREEN.

>> Jeff: IT'S TOO BAD THERE IS NOT A SIMPLE ANSWER TO THAT.

YOU CAN'T TELL EVERYBODY YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THIS UNTIL YOU ARE 50 AND COME SEE US.

ALL THE CANCERS ARE DIFFERENT.

EVERYBODY'S HISTORY IS DIFFERENT.

AND YOUR PHYSICIAN MAY HAVE DIFFERENT RECOMMENDATIONS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THERE ARE GUIDELINES THAT ARE AGE-BASED.

AND I THINK I WOULD PUSH AS A PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR A FAMILY PHYSICIAN THAT IS WHY YOU WANT TO HAVE A FAMILY PHYSICIAN THAT THOSE ARE CONVERSATIONS THAT YOU HAVE OVER TIME.

AND THE MORE YOU HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS THE BETTER UNDERSTANDING YOU HAVE IN TERMS OF WHEN AND WHY YOU WOULD WANT TO SCREEN.

IT'S NO SURPRIE.

>> Jeff: FEBRUARY, OF COURSE, IS ALSO BLACK HISTORY MON WE WANT TO FOCUS A BIT ON THE DISPARITIES WE CONTINUE TO SEE IN THE DIAGNOSIS AND THE TREATMENT [AUDIO INTERRUPTION] AND THE OUTCOMES OF CAB CANCERS WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO FIGHT THAT?

>> I LIKE THAT QUESTION IT'S AN IMPORTANT ONE.

THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT INEQUITIES IN TERMS OF OUTCOMES SPECIFICALLY FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND OTHER RACIAL AND ETHNIC GROUPS.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUTCOMES IN TERMS OF SURVIVORSHIP FOR BLACK MEN THE DEATH RATES ARE UP TO 20% HIGHER COMPARISON TO OTHER GROUPS.

AND LOOKING FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN YOU WILL SEE SIMILAR THINGS ESPECIALLY WHEN LOOKING AT BREAST CANCER.

ONE OF THE THINGS I DO I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH THE BALTIMORE CITY CANCER PROGRAM THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR FOR THAT PROGRAM AND THAT PROGRAM TARGETS SERVICES AT INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE UNDERSERVED, WHO DO NOT HAVE INSURANCE AND DON'T HAVE REGULAR ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE.

WHICH IS A KEY COMPONENT IN TERMS OF DISPARITIES THAT WE SEE IN GROUPS.

HAVING ACCESS TO QUALITY CARE THAT IS DELIVERED WITHOUT BIAS THAT HELPS TO BREAKDOWN SOME OF THE WALLS AROUND MISTRUST HELPS PEOPLE TO GET ACCESS TO CARE AND IMPROVES OUTCOMES.

THAT PROGRAM WE'RE GOING INTO 23 YEARS AS OF AUGUST THIS YEAR.

AND I'VE DONE 38,000 CANCER SCREENINGS FOR INDIVIDUALS IN BALTIMORE.

>> Jeff: YOU MENTIONED MISTRUST AND A NUMBER OF REASONS FOR THAT.

HOW DO YOU ADDRESS IT?

HOW DO YOU TRY TO BREAKTHROUGH ANY WALLS ANY BARRIERS THAT MIGHT BE OUT THERE?

>> GOOD QUESTION.

I MEAN, I THINK MISTRUST IS WASTED ON A -- BASED ON A NUMBER OF THINGS.

AS PHYSICIANS WE ARE TRAINED ON IMPLICIT BIAS HOW YOUR LIVED EXPERIENCE SHAPES HOW YOU SEE THE WORLD AND HOW THAT MAY IMPACT YOUR PATIENTS.

TRY TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTAND WHAT AN INDIVIDUAL'S BIASES ARE IS KEY TO THAT.

AND ALSO BEING OPEN AND WILLING TO ALLOW THE CONVERSATION AROUND HEALTHCARE WITH THE PATIENT TO BE ONE THAT IS SHARED.

TO BE ONE WHERE YOU ARE OPEN AND HONEST AND WHERE PATIENTS ARE ABLE TO ASK QUESTIONS AS MUCH AS I'M ABLE TO ASK QUESTIONS AND WE GIVE HONEST ANSWERS WHERE PEOPLE CAN DEVELOP TRUST OVER TIME.

THAT IS ANOTHER IMPORTANT THING NOT EXPECTING WHEN A PERSON WALKS IN THE DOOR AND MEETS ME FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT I WILL HAVE 100% OF THEIR TRUST.

THAT IS NOT A REASONABLE EXPECTATION.

AS A FAMILY PHYSICIAN WE HAVE THE BENEFIT OF LONGEVITY OF RELATIONSHIPS WITH PATIENTS AND BEING ABLE TO DEVELOP THOSE RELATIONSHIPS OVER TIME.

>> Jeff: IN OUR REMAINING TIME LET'S FOCUS IN ON THE IDEA OF CANCER PREVENTION.

WHAT SORT OF THING CAN PEOPLE DO TO LOWER THEIR RISK?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

I THINK I SPOKE TO A COLLEAGUE WHO SAID WE CAN SAY HAPPY NEW YEAR IF WE HAVE NOT SEEN A PERSON THROUGH JUNE AND A LOT OF FOLKS ARE WORKING ON NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS.

THINGS WE WOULD TALK ABOUT ARE THINGS THAT MAYBE ON THAT LISTEN CREASING PHYSICAL ACTIVITY.

QUITTING SMOKE.

DECREASING WEIGHT.

EATING A HEALTHIER DIET.

DECREASING THE AMOUNT OF ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

AND OF COURSE, SCHEDULING YOUR CANCER SCREENINGS AND GETTING THOSE DONE F THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS FOLLOW-UP WITH RECOMMENDED FOLLOW-UP TESTING.

>> Jeff: I READ IN YOUR BIOTHAT YOU DIVIDE YOUR TIME BETWEEN DIRECT PATIENT CARE, TEACHING, COMMUNITY-BASED CANCER CONTROL AND RESEARCH.

I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU HAVE TIME FOR RESEARCH.

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR RESEARCH WORK?

>> YEAH, SO I DO A LOT OF WORK THAT IS FOCUSED ON INEQUITIES IN TERMS OF CANCER OUTCOMES.

INTERESTED IN INTERVENTIONS THAT CAN BE DONE IN THE PRIMARY CARE SETTING TO HELP AROUND CANCER.

THINKING ABOUT USING TEXT MESSAGES TO REMIND INDIVIDUALS TO GET THEIR MAMMOGRAMS DONE.

PROGRAMMING OR COMMUNICATION FOR PARENTS TO INCREASE HPV VACCINATION WHICH IS ASSOCIATED WITH A NUMBER OF CANCERS.

AND THEN ALSO LOOKING AT THINGS SUCH AS THE IMPACT OF FINANCES AROUND CANCER TREATMENT AND HOW THAT MIGHT CHANGE A PERSON'S COURSE IN TERMS WHAT THEY WANT TO DO WITH CANCER CARE.

>> Jeff: VERY GOOD.

DR. SHANA NTIRI WITH THE BALTIMORE CITY CANCER PROGRAM AND THE GREENBAUM COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANKS SO MUCH FOR HAVING HE MOVEMENT.

>> Jeff: THE CIAA TOURNAMENT IS TIPPING OFF WITH EVENTS SHOWCASING BALTIMORE.

CHARLES ROBINSON WILL TAKE US TO THE YOUTH SPORTS CLINIC.

FIRST, SUE COPPIN IS ON A SCAVENGER HUNDRED.

>> THIS IS A REPLICA OF THE STATUE THAT IS ATOP THE DOME OF THE NATION'S CAPITOL.

AND THE NAME OF THE STATUE IS FREEDOM.

>> TERRY FREEMAN IS PRESIDENT OF THE REGINALD LEWIS MUSEUM OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE.

>> IT WAS CREATED, HAND CRAFTED BY ENSLAVED ARTISANS IN MARYLAND WHICH IS IN PRINCE GEORGE'S.

AND GIFTED IF YOU WILL TO THE NATION'S CAPITOL.

AND IT WAS NAMED FREEDOM IN HOPES THAT, IN FACT, THOSE ENSLAVED WOULD BE FREED ONE DAY BY THOSE PEOPLE WHO RESIDED IN THE CAPITOL.

>> THE REGINALD LEWIS MUSEUM IS ONE OF SEVERAL LOCAL SITES INCLUDED IN THE CIAA'S SECOND ANNUAL SCAVENGER HUNT.

IT WAS A NATURAL FIT FOR THE MUSEUM WHICH IS A PART OF VISIT BALTIMORE AND A MEMBER OF THE CITY'S CIAA PLANNING COMMITTEE.

>> WHEN THEY SAID THEY WERE HAVING A SCAVENGER HUNT WE THOUGHT THIS WAS PERFECT.

NOT ONLY ARE WE AN INCREASE ABLED AFRICAN-AMERICAN INSTITUTION, BUT THE PERSON THE INSTITUTION IS NAMED AFTER, REGINALD F. LEWIS ATTENDED A CIAA SCHOOL ON A SCHOLARSHIP AN ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIP.

SO IT IS A PERFECT FIT.

>> OTHER PARTICIPANTS INCLUDED AN ON-LINE GOURMET CHOCOLATE SHOP, A BOOK SHOP, AND ALL VEGAN ICE CREAM STORE.

AND THE MORNING CAFE IN LITTLE ITALY A VETERAN OWNED AND OPERATED RESTAURANT.

NATIVE AND CIAA AMBASSADOR OF COMMUNITY, TAYLOR CAME UP WITH THE IDEA FOR THE SCAVENGER HUNT TO SHINE A LIGHT ON BALTIMORE'S HISTORY, CULTURE AND BUSINESSES.

>> YOU ARE BEING MARKETED WITH THE CIAA.

THIS IS THE NATION'S LONGEST AFRICAN-AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE.

IT HAS ROOTS.

IT HAS A WHOLE LIKE LEGACY.

AND I THINK OF A SMALL BUSINESS WHEN YOU THINK MARKETING AND BUDGET, WOULD I BE ABLE TO PROMOTE MY BUSINESS ON THIS SCALE?

PROBABLY NOT.

>> AND TAYLOR SAYS THEY ARE MAKING PLANS FOR A BIGGER AND BETTER SCAVENGER HUNT NEXT YEAR.

>> THE HUNT HAS GROWN BECAUSE OF COMMUNITY.

AND CIAA FANS.

WHEN WE LOOK AT NEXT YEAR WE'VE HAD THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS ENTER THE SCAVENGER HUNT.

HOW CAN WE DOUBLE UP THE DIGITS TRIPLE UP THE NUMBERS AND WE'RE GOING TO ALLOW THE COMMUNITY TO LEAD US AS WE HAVE.

>> AND TERRY FREEMAN SAYS YOU CAN COUNT THEM IN.

>> I THINK THAT THE CIAA CONFERENCE BEING HERE IN BALTIMORE IS A HUGE WIN FOR THE CITY.

AND OUR HOPE IS THAT IT WILL LAST EVEN LONGER THAN ITS CURRENT ANTICIPATED TIMELINE.

AS LONG AS IT'S HERE, WE WILL BE A A PART TO HAVE.

>> IN BALTIMORE I'M SUE COPPIN.

>> THE DRILLS BEING BARKED OUT BY COACH BRAD ROBINS ARE NO JOKE.

HE REMINDS THE HIGH SCHOOLERS OF THE INTENSITY THEY CAN EXPECT AT THE NEXT LEVEL.

>> I COACH OVER AT INDIAN CREEK SCHOOL K-12 AND WE ARE HERE ENOUGH SUPPORT IN A NEW GROUP TO SHOW SUPPORT.

>> WELCOME TO THE NEXT GENERATION OF BASKETBALL PLAYERS FROM THE DMV.

THEY ARE ALL HERE TO SHOWCASE THEIR TALENTS BEFORE A WAITING AUDIENCE.

THE YOUNG PLAYERS ARE BEING GROOMED UNDER THE YOUTH SPORTS CLINIC SPONSORED BY THE CIAA.

THEY GET HANDS ON INSTRUCTION FROM FITNESS TO BASKETBALL AND GET TO HONE IN ON OPPORTUNITIES TO ATTEND AND GET AN EDUCATION AT ITS MEMBER INSTITUTIONS.

>> I GOT TO THINK OF SOMETHING IN OUR DNA IN THE CULTURE, SOMETHING IN THE FOOD WE EAT.

WE GROW UP FROM THE LITTLE AGES THAT WE GROW UP WE'RE OUTSIDE PLAYING WITH A BASKETBALL.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE GROW UP.

EVEN IF YOU DON'T PLAY YOU HAVE A BASKETBALL SKILL.

>> IN ADDITION TO PRACTICING, THEY WILL BE COURTSIDE AT THE ARENA WATCHING AND OBSERVING HOW IT'S DONE AT THE CIAA MEMBER INSTITUTIONS.

IN BALTIMORE, I'M CHARLES ROBINSON.

>> Jeff: FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT TO... AND THAT IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" FOR THIS WEEK.

WE'RE BACK FRIDAY WITH "STATE CIRCLE" AND THE LATEST ON MARYLAND POLITICS.

JOINS TRUE DAY EVENING AT 7:00 P.M.

REMEMBER YOU WITH FIND PAST EDITIONS OF OUR PROGRAMS AT VIDEO.MPT.TV.

FOR ALL OF US AT MPT I'M JEFF SALKIN.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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