EAST LANSING, Mich. — Michigan State University will provide breast diagnostic and surgical services for underserved and underinsured women thanks to a $45,438 grant from the Mid-Michigan Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
The grant, awarded to MSU’s Department of Surgery in the College of Human Medicine, will focus on women under 40. It supports The Breast Care of Women of Mid-Michigan, an initiative to provide care for up to 50 new patients this year. The program includes evaluations, mammograms, ultrasounds, biopsies and surgery for those patients who qualify.
“The Susan G. Komen Mid-Michigan Affiliate has significantly impacted many women in the area by providing the funds to provide essential breast services to uninsured, low-income women,” said Mary Smania, project manager for the grant and a nurse practitioner in the Department of Surgery and the College of Nursing.
“Without their support, many women would not have had access to important care.”
Susan G. Komen for the Cure is the world’s largest breast cancer organization, and the Mid-Michigan affiliate is one of 123 dedicated to ending breast cancer in their communities. Komen affiliates fund programs that help women and men overcome the cultural, social, educational and financial barriers to breast cancer screening and treatment.
“The work of Komen Mid-Michigan would not be able to fill critical gaps in breast health services in the communities we serve without strong community partners,” said Chris Pearson, executive director of the local affiliate. “This program is designed to truly make a difference in lives of low-income and uninsured women, providing access to critical, potentially lifesaving screening.”
For more information on the local affiliate, visit www.komenmidmichigan.org or call (517) 886-4901.
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