STORY

Driving Toward a Cure

July 21, 2017

In the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, it's hard to miss the Mammo-A-Go-Go mobile unit on the highways. Bright pink and the size of a moving truck, the mobile mammography unit makes quite a statement – and not just because of its hot pink color.

Developed by the Park Nicollet Jane Brattain Breast Center and supported in part by a $500,000 partnership grant from United Health Foundation, the Mammo-A-Go-Go Community Outreach Fund dedicates a portion of the mobile unit's time on the road to local communities, providing mammograms and translation services to women in underserved areas.   

This year, Mammo-A-Go-Go reached a key milestone: Over 2,500 mammography screenings have been provided to women at 123 screening events since the program began in 2014. These events focus on addressing health disparities, improving access to care, serving high risk populations and providing culturally competent care to women. Of the 2,500 screenings, an additional 383 diagnostic tests were completed and 9 cancers were subsequently diagnosed that could have gone undetected.

"We are incredibly grateful for this support from United Health Foundation that helps us serve women in-need in our local community," says Beth Warner, senior major gifts officer, Park Nicollet Foundation.