The American Lung Cancer Screening Initiative at the University of Pennsylvania (PALCSI) is a chapter of a national 501(c)3 non-profit organization designed to help community members better understand lung cancer and lung cancer screening. We are committed to helping individuals in the Philadelphia community who are at high risk of developing lung cancer navigate the urban healthcare system in order to get lung cancer screening and to making our events free and open to all the people we serve.

PALCSI has closely partnered with local community leaders within the areas we serve to directly reach out to individuals and their families who are at high risk of developing lung cancer. Since our inception, we have organized monthly community events focused on raising awareness and debunking any misconceptions about lung cancer and lung cancer screening. We aim to make information about lung cancer screening accessible and relevant to the needs and concerns of the community. Our hope is to empower members in communities so that they feel comfortable discussing the next steps for screening with their primary care physicians.

Activities include advocating for Congress members to support a lung cancer bill, reforming lung cancer screening curriculum at local medical schools, presenting lung cancer to community audiences, and working with local health departments to bring actionable change to the local communities. The University of Pennsylvania chapter of ALCSI aims to inspire students about the power of advocacy and outreach and, within the next several academic years, revolutionize lung cancer screening in the larger Philadelphia community.