Western North Carolina Colorectal Cancer Screening Initiative Wins the Prevent Cancer Community Exchange Partnership Award
Asheville, NC – Western Carolina Medical Society (WCMS) is thrilled to announce that the Western North Carolina Colorectal Cancer Screening Initiative (WNC-CRCSI) has received the Prevent Cancer Community Exchange Partnership Award. Partnership Awards support critical cancer screening, vaccination, and risk reduction efforts in high-need communities across the United States. WNC-CRCSI offers essential colorectal cancer screenings to average-risk individuals across Western North Carolina. This award will be used to support patient navigation services, screening costs, incentives, and transportation for patients.
Mike Newcomer, MD, the WNC-CRCSI Medical Director, stated, “The Western North Carolina Colorectal Cancer Screening Initiative is deeply grateful for this award and our long-standing partnership with the Prevent Cancer Foundation®. This award will directly support the mission of expanding access to life-saving colon cancer screening in Western North Carolina, allowing us to reach rural patients and provide vital screening services. Early detection should be available to every community, and this award supports that work.”
About the WNC Colorectal Cancer Screening Initiative
The WNC Colorectal Cancer Screening Initiative (WNC-CRCSI) currently provides vital colorectal cancer screening to average-risk, uninsured, low-income patients between the ages of 45 and 75 in Buncombe, Henderson, Madison, Mitchell, Yancey, Transylvania, McDowell, Haywood, Rutherford, and Polk Counties. The program is run by Digestive Health Partners (a gastroenterology practice in Asheville) in collaboration with local federally qualified community health centers, WCMS’ Project Access, independent primary care offices, and the American Cancer Society. The program was founded by local physician, Dr. Michael Newcomer of Digestive Health Partners, who remains the Medical Director of the program. Started in 2016, the WNC-CRCSI is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) housed within WCMS.
About the Prevent Cancer Foundation®
The Prevent Cancer Foundation® is the only U.S.-based nonprofit organization solely dedicated to cancer prevention and early detection. Through research, education, outreach and advocacy, we have helped countless people avoid a cancer diagnosis or detect their cancer early enough to be successfully treated. We are driven by a vision of a world where cancer is preventable, detectable and beatable for all.
The Foundation is rising to meet the challenge of reducing cancer deaths by 40% by 2035. To achieve this, we are committed to investing $20 million for innovative technologies to detect cancer early and advance multi-cancer screening, $10 million to expand cancer screening and vaccination access to medically underserved communities, and $10 million to educate the public about screening and vaccination options.
For more information, please visit www.preventcancer.org.
About The Western Carolina Medical Society
The Western Carolina Medical Society’s mission is to advocate for healthy communities, increase access to affordable healthcare, and promote wellness in WNC. Founded in 1885, WCMS is one of Western North Carolina’s oldest nonprofits. WCMS is respected for its leadership and innovation in addressing issues of access to affordable health care, disparities in health, and wellness promotion. Throughout its history, WCMS has been at the forefront of working collaboratively with area organizations to address health challenges facing our community’s residents. In 2026, WCMS will celebrate 30 years of Project Access, which provides free specialty care to uninsured individuals.
For more information about the Western Carolina Medical Society, contact Niki Duff, Director of Development & Communications at niki@mywcms.org or visit www.mywcms.org.
