Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall partners up with Monroe-Woodbury Students for Breathe Easy Initiative

Newburgh, NY – Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall (MSLC) partnered with local students Jeevat Sethi, an eighth-grade student at Monroe-Woodbury Middle School, and Arsheen Sethi, a sophomore at Monroe-Woodbury High School, through the American Lung Cancer Screening Initiative (ALCSI). On July 11, the students participated in the ALCSI Lung Cancer Innovation Challenge, a national competition focused on advancing lung cancer screening awareness and access.

During the three-day summit, Jeevat and Arsheen presented their Breathe Easy Initiative, a project designed to connect eligible adults with low-dose CT lung cancer screenings through community outreach in partnership with Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall’s Lung Cancer Screening Program. Their innovative approach earned them first place in the national challenge.

The students spent countless hours attending community events, PTA meetings, and visiting local businesses to raise awareness about lung cancer screening. Through a QR code linked to an eligibility survey, community members could determine whether they qualified for a low-dose CT scan. Individuals who met the criteria were then connected with Montefiore St. Luke's Cornwall patient navigators, who guided them through the next steps in the screening process.

To expand their outreach efforts throughout Orange County, Jeevat and Arsheen collaborated with Danielle Moser and the Orange County Cancer Collaborative. In addition to promoting lung cancer screenings, they also educated community members about the dangers of radon exposure.

"Radon is an odorless gas, and many people may be exposed to it without even realizing it," said Arsheen Sethi. "That's why it's important to test your home and increase awareness about its potential health risks."

Montefiore St. Luke's Cornwall provides a wide range of oncology services, including infusion therapy, radiation oncology, palliative care, and more. At MSLC's Littman Cancer Center, a multidisciplinary team of professionals works closely with patients throughout diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship. MSLC offers an Early Lung Cancer Screening Program designed to detect lung cancer in high-risk individuals at its earliest and most treatable stages, helping to improve outcomes and increase survival rates.

"Even if you have a family member who has never smoked, it's still valuable to learn about screening and risk factors," said Jeevat Sethi. "We hope people will continue spreading the word so that awareness grows throughout the community and encourages more individuals to take advantage of these potentially life-saving screenings."

Montefiore St. Luke's Cornwall's JCM Center for Patient Navigation team consists of clinical professionals, including nurses, care coordinators, and support staff, who help guide patients through the healthcare system. The team assists with appointment scheduling, follow-up care, resource referrals, patient advocacy, and care plan management, ensuring patients receive the support they need throughout their healthcare journey. For more information and to begin your health journey, please visit www.montefioreslc.org or call the JCM Center for Patient Navigation at (845) 458-4444.