Expanding Access to Cervical Cancer Screenings through HPV Self-Collection with Kathy L. MacLaughlin, MD
In this episode, Kathy L. MacLaughlin, MD, shares clinical insights and practical wisdom as she examines the public health implications of the only FDA-approved self-screening option for cervical cancer screening. After describing the self-screening process, Dr MacLaughlin shows how this option has the potential to expand access, increase the likelihood of early detection, and better meet the needs of patients who face barriers to traditional screening methods. She also addresses concerns about potential false negatives or invalid samples, while highlighting the positive impact self-screening can have on the future of preventative care.
Hosted by Omari A. Hodge, MD, and Jay-Sheree Allen Akambase, MD
Copyright © Society of Teachers of Family Medicine, 2025
- Self-Collected Vaginal Specimens for HPV Testing: Recommendations From the Enduring Consensus Cervical Cancer Screening and Management Guidelines Committee - J Low Genit Tract Dis
- US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)
- The American Cancer Society Guidelines for the Prevention and Early Detection of Cervical Cancer - American Cancer Society
Kathy L. MacLaughlin, MD
Dr. Kathy L. MacLaughlin is an Associate Professor of Family Medicine at the Mayo Clinic and a core faculty member of its Family Medicine Residency Program. A clinician researcher and practicing physician, her work focuses on the prevention and early detection of HPV-related cervical cancer, with particular expertise in HPV vaccination, cervical cancer screening, and clinical decision support (CDS) systems. She has served as a co-investigator and principal investigator on multiple NIH- and institutionally funded studies, including trials to increase HPV vaccination uptake and expand access to cervical cancer screening through self-collection methods. Dr. MacLaughlin has contributed to national initiatives as a subject matter expert for the CDC and HRSA and holds key leadership roles with the American Cancer Society's National Roundtable on Cervical Cancer. She has been recognized for her contributions with multiple teaching and research awards, including Family Medicine Teacher of the Year at Mayo Clinic and the MAFP Innovation & Research Award. Her published research spans HPV vaccination, screening disparities, and implementation of CDS tools. Dr. MacLaughlin earned her BA in Philosophy from Luther College and her MD from the University of Minnesota Medical School, completing residency in Family Medicine at Methodist Hospital. Her work reflects a strong commitment to reducing health disparities and advancing evidence-based practices in women's preventive health.
