Achieving Health Equity in Gastric Cancer Among Asian Americans

Gastric cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide and is diagnosed in 27,000 Americans each year. In the United States, this burden falls disproportionately on ethnic minorities and immigrant communities, particularly Asians. There is currently no coherent national strategy for the early detection or risk mitigation of gastric cancer, even among identified high-risk groups. The under-recognition of gastric cancer risk among minority communities may be one of the most significant unaddressed healthcare disparities in the United States.

This presentation will focus on gastric cancer as a leading cancer disparity that adversely affects Asian Americans. It will cover the differences in gastric cancer risk, incidence, stage at presentation, and treatment outcomes among the richly diverse subgroups of Asian Americans. Additionally, we will discuss how to address this health inequity in the U.S. What can we do as members of the physician community? As members of a larger, ethnically diverse society? As researchers promoting science and cures for a not-so-rare cancer with such low NIH funding allocation?

Yanghee Woo, M.D., F.A.C.S., is an internationally recognized surgeon scientist with expertise in robotic surgery and gastric cancer. At City of Hope, she leads a high-volume gastric cancer practice offering advanced surgical treatments, including robotic gastrectomy and D2 lymphadenectomy.

Dr. Woo is a Professor of Surgery, Vice Chair of International Affairs & Community Outreach, and Director of Minimally Invasive Therapies at City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center. She spearheads the transformative Gastric Cancer Program and leads research efforts to eliminate gastric cancer deaths. Her research includes identifying immune biomarkers and integrating novel surgical technologies, supported by funding from NIH, the Department of Defense, SU2C, and the KURE Foundation.

Dr. Woo is a founding member of the G6+ International Gastric Cancer Collaborative Study Group and the U.S. Gastric Cancer Disparities Initiative. She serves on the Executive Committee of the ISSPP and is the immediate past president of KAGMA. She is frequently invited to lecture at international meetings and is an active member of ACS, SSO, SSAT, ASGCT, AACR, ASCO, and IGCC.

Her pioneering spirit has been recognized with the “Illuminator Award” by Hope for Stomach Cancer and the “Community Leader in Medicine Award” by KAFLA. Dr. Woo is celebrated by her patients as a compassionate doctor and advocate for cancer care equity, especially for AANHPI and Hispanic communities. Dr. Woo’s name, which means bright (YANG) hope (HEE), reflects her commitment to a cancer-free society.