Michael Leapman, MD, MHS, presented “Utilization and Disparity in Prostate Cancer Risk Assessment Tools” at the 8th Global Summit on Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Prostate Cancer on October 8, 2024.
How to cite: Leapman, Michael. “Utilization and Disparity in Prostate Cancer Risk Assessment Tools” October 2024. Accessed Nov 2025. https://grandroundsinurology.com/utilization-and-disparity-in-prostate-cancer-risk-assessment-tools/
Utilization and Disparity in Prostate Cancer Risk Assessment Tools – Summary
Michael Leapman, MD, MHS, delivers a 9-minute presentation on disparities and utilization patterns of prostate cancer risk assessment tools. He underscores the significant advancements in diagnostic modalities, including biomarkers, imaging techniques like prostate MRI and PSMA PET, and gene expression tests. He notes, however, marked regional and sociodemographic disparities in patients, with Black, Hispanic, and Asian patients significantly less likely to access advanced diagnostics compared to white patients.
Dr. Leman emphasizes addressing these disparities to ensure equitable access to life-saving technologies. His talk provides essential insights into the challenges and opportunities in closing gaps in prostate cancer diagnostics, ensuring fair and comprehensive care for all populations.
The Global Summit on Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Prostate Cancer is a unique multi-disciplinary forum organized to inform the key health care stakeholders about the emerging advances in clinical case and research and create a consensus-based vision for the future of precision care and educational and research strategy for its realization. The mission of the Summit is to fill the currently existing gap between the key experts of in vivo imaging, the world authorities in the in vitro fluid- and tissue-based molecular diagnostics, including genomics, and thought leaders in the development of novel observation strategies (e.g., active surveillance, or AS) and therapeutic interventions.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Michael S. Leapman, MD, is an Associate Professor of Urology, an Associate Professor of Chronic Disease Epidemiology, and Vice Chair of Research in the Department of Urology at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. Dr. Leapman also serves as the Clinical Lead for the Prostate and Urologic Cancer Program at the Yale Smilow Cancer Center, where he directs multidisciplinary efforts to improve the care of patients with prostate and other genitourinary cancers. His clinical practice is devoted to the management of prostate and other urologic malignancies, with a particular expertise in robotic and minimally invasive approaches to radical prostatectomy.
Dr. Leapman earned his medical degree from the University of Maryland in Baltimore. He completed an internship in General Surgery and a residency in Urology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, New York. Dr. Leapman then completed a fellowship in Urologic Oncology at the University of California, San Francisco. He earned his Master’s in Health Science from Yale University.
Dr. Leapman’s research focuses on questions related to how advanced imaging, biomarkers, and large-scale data analysis can be applied to improve detection, risk stratification, and management of prostate cancer, and ultimately to improve clinical outcomes. He has authored and co-authored more than 270 articles and book chapters in his field. He has been recognized for his contributions, including the John N. Forrest Jr. Prize for Mentorship in Student Research, Merit Award: Conquer Cancer Foundation of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Best Poster: European School of Oncology Conference on Active Surveillance, and the First Place Essay, History Section: American Urological Association Western Section.
