On November 26, AUC, in collaboration with the Positive Foundation and The Ministry of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor, hosted a third successful free breast screening event in Philipsburg. The November 26 event was the final of three events this year. To date, more than 500 women have received free screenings through the breast abnormalities screening program, which also provides educational information about breast cancer symptoms and risk factors.
Dr. Naira Chobanyan, oncologist and professor of clinical medicine at AUC, her team of clinical medicine fellows—Dr. Arie Szeinfeld, Dr. Noemi Jubaer, Dr. Brittany Thompson, and Dr. David Jetha—and 13 students under supervision provided 43 women with free breast screenings, as well as general health assessments, a breast cancer screening questionnaire, and education about recognizing breast abnormalities and cancer risk factors. This information is vital to understand the prevalence of breast abnormalities within the population of Sint Maarten, and all results will be reported to the Ministry of Public Health to help establish policies for the screening of breast abnormalities and cancer.
The initiative first began in 2017 as a way to educate the community about breast cancer while empowering women with strategies to proactively monitor their health. The program was paused during the COVID-19 pandemic and Saturday’s event was the third since the relaunch of the project. Planning is underway for screening dates in 2023.
In addition to the benefits this research brings to the community of Sint Maarten regarding breast awareness and education, clinical fellows and medical students are afforded an opportunity to gain real-world clinical experience. By working with real patients, conducting interviews, and performing an overall health assessment, medical students have the opportunity to enhance their preparedness for clinical rotations.