AUC hosted its first breast awareness and community screening event of 2019 this past Saturday, March 23. Nearly 30 women came out to Philipsburg’s Vineyard Building to receive a free breast exam and speak with AUC faculty and students about breast abnormalities, including cancer risk factors.
The screening was part of AUC’s collaboration with the Sint Maarten Positive Foundation and Ministry of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor to study the prevalence of breast abnormalities in local women. In 2017, the three organizations came together to establish a breast abnormalities program designed to increase awareness of breast cancer risk factors and drive local screening policies and protocols.
The event was also an opportunity for 15 AUC medical students to put their studies into practice. After undergoing training earlier this month, the students were able to join Dr. Naira Chobanyan, Professor of Clinical Medicine at AUC, and Clinical Medicine Fellows, Dr. Crystal Golding and Dr. Dominik Dabrowski, in conducting health assessments. They also sat with attendees to discuss breast health management and risk factors for cancer and other abnormalities.
Mr. Emil Lee, Sint Maarten Minister of Health, and Mrs. Aida Holman, Head of the Public Health Department, were also in attendance on Saturday. Additional screening events have been planned for Saturday, April 6 and Saturday, April 13.
Students interested in participating in the breast abnormalities research project can contact Dr. Crystal Golding at [email protected] for more information.