Colorectal Cancer Screening Project

Roxanne Tyroch, MD received her medical degree from the University of Arizona and is an Assistant Professor in the Internal Medicine Department at Texas Tech University HSC. She is the lead contractor and primary endoscopist for the project and served on the Steering Committee titled "Action Plan for Texas", Chaired by Bernard Levin, MD. She also serves on the Colorectal Cancer Committee for the Texas Division of the American Cancer S ociety, and is the chair of the El Paso Colorectal Cancer Screening Steering Committee. Dr. Tyroch attended a national roundtable for leaders in the field of colorectal cancer screening sponsored by the Cancer Research Foundation Center of American and the American Digestive Health Foundation. She has presented abstracts pertaining to the project at the Association of American Medical Colleges Conference in Washington, D.C., the 16th annual Chronic and Disease Control in Atlanta, GA and the Association of Teachers of Preventive Medicine in Washington, D.C. Dr. Tyroch, will have a portion of her salary paid for from project funds as of July 2002

Sheila Elias is the Senior Director and has a degree in Marketing from the University of Texas, El Paso. She has been with the project since 1999. She has had successful experiences with grant writing and fund-raising and has the ability to establish and maintain effective and dynamic working relationships. Sheila has shown the ability to plan, organize and coordinate a series of ongoing project activities. Sheila is the administrator for the project and has supervised clerical/educators, data organizers and volunteers. She has shown many leadership and managerial skills and manages issues relating to the budget. She was primarily responsible for the work performed in the development our brochures, educational video and project website.

Yvette Gomez, CNA, M.A. is the endoscopic nurse specialist who has been with the project since 2000. She is the primary data manager and coordinator for clinical activities. She recruits patients into screening, maintains the database of research information gathered by questionnaires and medical tests and coordinates clinical efforts of the staff. She is bilingual and interfaces with other research organizations and the Institutional Review Board. She provides the patients with the bowel preparation for their procedure and has mastered skills in managing the outpatient endoscopy unit. She is well known for her compassionate approach to dealing with patients.

Victoria Chaffino is a bilingual educator who has been with the project since 1999. She contributes to the project by educating patients, contributing to the research database, performance of stool checks, scheduling patient encounters and resident physician procedural mentoring experiences. She is currently cross-training in order to contribute to management of the endoscopic outpatient unit, management of research data and financial aspects of the project.

Georgina Boznos is a bilingual educator who has been with the project since 1999. She contributes to the project by referring patients to our research coordinator, data entry, fielding patient questions and helping patients overcome barriers that arise from concerned citizens who wish to be screened. Georgina is currently cross-training in order to contribute to the administrative needs of the project, in addition to maintaining her data entry and educational role.