Revolutionizing Cancer Screening: Oatmeal Health’s Mission to Bridge the Healthcare Gap

In a world where cancer remains one of the leading causes of death, early detection can make all the difference. Yet, millions of underserved Americans—particularly those served by Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs)—face systemic barriers to accessing life-saving cancer screenings.

Oatmeal Health aims to change this narrative, ensuring everyone can access advanced, AI-driven cancer screening solutions regardless of background or ZIP code.

The Cancer Screening Crisis

The statistics are alarming:

• Half of all Americans will develop cancer, and one-third will lose their lives to the disease.
• Lung cancer is the deadliest cancer in the United States, yet only 5.8% of eligible patients are screened annually. For minority and low-income populations served by FQHCs, screening rates are even lower.
• Breast cancer screening rates among FQHC patients stand at 45%, compared to 77% nationally, leaving tens of thousands of women at risk of late-stage diagnosis.
• Colorectal cancer is highly preventable, but less than 40% of eligible patients in underserved communities are screened regularly.

When cancer is detected at later stages, survival rates drop dramatically. For instance, 85% of lung cancer cases are diagnosed at advanced stages, and nearly 50% of these patients die within the first year. In contrast, early-stage lung cancer detection can increase 5-year survival rates to over 60%.

These numbers highlight a critical gap in our healthcare system, particularly for underserved and minority populations. At the same time, clinical trials—essential for developing new treatments—fail to include diverse patient populations. Minority groups make up a small fraction of clinical trial participants, limiting the effectiveness and equity of new therapies.

The Oatmeal Health Solution

1. AI-Powered Early Detection:
   Leveraging advanced AI and machine learning algorithms, they identify high-risk patients who qualify for cancer screenings, starting with lung cancer. By analyzing existing Electronic Health Record (EHR) data and aligning it with USPSTF guidelines, Oatmeal Health ensures that every patient is noticed.
2. Patient-Centric Navigation:
   Oatmeal Health partners directly with FQHCs to remove barriers to care. The nurse navigators and practitioners provide culturally tailored education, schedule screening appointments, and manage follow-ups. Importantly, they handle the process end-to-end, ensuring zero operational burden for FQHC clinical staff.
3. Improving Data Diversity in Clinical Research:
   By working with underserved and minority populations, Oatmeal Health generates high-quality, real-world data that bridges diversity gaps in clinical trials. This data helps advance therapies and diagnostics that are effective for all populations—not just a select few.

Goals and Impact of Oatmeal Health

At Oatmeal Health, we are driven by a single mission: to deliver life-saving cancer screenings to underserved populations while addressing systemic inequities in healthcare and research.

They aim to:

• Increase lung cancer screening rates among underserved populations, where current participation hovers below 6%.
• Close the gap in breast and colorectal cancer screenings in FQHCs by delivering streamlined, patient-first solutions.
• Ensure diverse representation in clinical trials by partnering with research organizations and pharmaceutical companies to include minority and underserved communities.

Why This Matters

Early cancer detection can save lives and significantly reduce healthcare costs. According to the American Cancer Society, early detection increases survival rates for nearly all cancers and reduces the financial burden of late-stage treatments. Yet millions of patients in underserved communities remain invisible to the healthcare system.

Oatmeal Health is committed to solving this crisis. By combining AI-powered technology, compassionate patient navigation, and strategic partnerships with FQHCs, they are redefining how cancer screenings are delivered and ensuring equitable access to care for everyone.

A Path to Health Equity

Healthcare innovation should serve everyone, not just the privileged few. Oatmeal Health’s mission is to make life-saving cancer screenings a reality for underserved populations while ensuring that clinical research reflects the diversity of the communities it aims to help.

“We believe that early detection saves lives—and we’re building the technology, partnerships, and processes to make that belief a reality.

Together, we can close the access, equity, and innovation gap—one screening at a time.”

About the CEO of Oatmeal Health

Jonathan Govette is the Chief Executive Officer of Oatmeal Health. In addition to his role at Oatmeal Health, Jonathan serves as an advisor at Plug and Play Tech Center, where he helps startups grow by connecting them with key industry partners and resources. He is also a mentor for Techstars, a global accelerator program that supports entrepreneurs in building successful businesses. Jonathan is also a member of the Digital Medicine Society (DiMe), where he collaborates with leaders in the field to drive forward the adoption of digital health solutions.