By Shanada Monestime, PharmD, BCOP, Director, Community Engaged Research, GO2 for Lung Cancer

When you hear the words, “You have lung cancer,” life changes instantly. That diagnosis can bring fear, uncertainty, and questions, no matter who you are: “Why wasn’t this caught sooner? What are my options? Who can help me through this?” The answers aren’t always clear. In many Black communities, long-standing barriers—like limited access to screening, lack of awareness about eligibility, transportation challenges, and mistrust in the healthcare system—make early detection harder.

That’s why GO2 for Lung Cancer created Program CONNECT: A community-driven initiative designed to bring lung cancer education, screening guidance, and navigation support to the people who need it most. This 6-month pilot program engaged historically underserved neighborhoods through a simple but powerful model: meet people where they are—with trusted messengers who look like them, speak their language, and understand their needs.

GO2 started Program CONNECT in partnership with 2 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs): Howard University College of Pharmacy and Southern University and A&M College School of Nursing. In both cities, we worked through trusted community spaces—such as independent pharmacies, nonprofit organizations, and a mobile health clinic—to engage residents where they already seek care and information. Pharmacy students and nursing staff from these HBCUs were trained to serve as community navigators. Their role was to hold one-on-one conversations about lung health, identify people who may be eligible for screening, and guide them through the next steps—including connection to local screening centers and follow-up support.

Across both regions, our navigators engaged with over 400 people, many of whom shared that they had never previously discussed lung health or lung cancer screening with a healthcare provider. Meeting people where they are, with people they trust, had a powerful impact.

Program CONNECT’s hybrid model made it unique. Pairing outreach in communities with one-on-one support helped ensure no one slipped through the cracks. From education and appointment scheduling to transportation assistance, participants had someone walking alongside them every step of the way.

A future publication will detail our outcomes and lessons learned. But what we know now is this: community navigation works. When we invest in trusted relationships and remove barriers to care, we move closer to a future where no community is left behind when it comes to lung cancer.

Are you interested in partnering, scaling, or supporting this work? We’d love to hear from you. Together, we can bridge the gap and bring early detection within reach for all.