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Komen grant to expand Upstate Cancer Center's breast cancer screening program

Komen grant to expand Upstate Cancer Center's breast cancer screening program

SYRACUSE, N.Y.-- The Upstate Cancer Center will use a $48,200 grant from the Susan G. Komen CNY Affiliate to expand its mammography screening and resident health advocacy program to underserved women living in Almus Olver Towers and Toomey Abbott Towers.

About 175 women over the age of 40, the target demographic for annual mammograms, live in Almus Olver and Toomey Abbott Towers. Both properties are part of the Syracuse Housing Authority (SHA).

In addition to extending this program to other SHA properties, the Komen grant continues the program at Pioneer Homes, which began last year, also funded by Komen.

“We’re delighted to continue support for She Matters as it expands its outreach efforts, health advocacy and mammography screening,” said Kate Flannery, executive director of Komen CNY Affiliate. “Making mammograms accessible and providing women with support and guidance in the screening process helps save lives.”

“It’s rewarding to work with Susan G. Komen CNY in obtaining the financial support that makes it possible for Upstate to implement meaningful programs, such as She Matters, that address health care disparities in our community,” said Terry Toscano Shenfeld, development officer at The Upstate Foundation.

Since the program launched at Pioneer Homes last July, 88 women over the age of 40 received mammograms. Of those women who had mammograms, one was diagnosed with breast cancer and is currently receiving treatment.

Many more women, 262, enrolled in She Matters and participated in ongoing health programming throughout the year.

Linda Veit, MPH, director of She Matters and special projects manager at the Upstate Cancer Center, said the program’s success is not only measured by the mammogram screenings offered, but by the increase in health education for all residents of Pioneer Homes.

“This program has mobilized a community to start conversations about good health and how each individual can be empowered when it comes to their health care decision making and advocating on behalf of others, not just their families, but neighbors, too,” Veit said.

Another success of the program, Veit said, are the Upstate-trained Resident Health Advocates, Pioneer Home residents who serve as community resources on health-related issues. They lead discussion groups and offer support for women during mammogram screenings.

Syracuse Housing Authority Executive Director William Simmons said the ongoing support of Komen and Upstate is helping to create a healthier community.

“The continued commitment of Komen and the ongoing partnership with Upstate with the Syracuse Housing Authority brings community engagement to a new level,” he said. “Saving lives, imparting sound medical information and enabling our residents to be a part of the program’s success is what makes this work.”

Ongoing support for She Matters comes from the Syracuse Housing Authority, Pioneer Homes Tenant Association, Healthy Neighbors Partnership Advisory Committee, Upstate Medical University’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion, and Upstate’s President’s Office. Additional support comes from Upstate’s departments of Public Health and Preventive Medicine and Radiology, the Multidisciplinary Breast Cancer Program, the College of Medicine, the Upstate Cancer Center and The Upstate Foundation, which is administering the grant.

Caption: Displaying the recent Komen grant are, back row from left, Maxine Thompson, assistant vice president for diversity and inclusion; Upstate Interim President Gregory L Eastwood, MD; William Simmons, executive director of the Syracuse Housing Authority; and Lawrence Diamond-Wells. Front row from left are Martha Chavis-Bonner, Lisa Bigelow and Mary Harris. Diamond-Wells, Chavis-Bonner, Bigelow and Harris are residential health advocates at Pioneer Homes.

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