AUC School of Medicine in collaboration with the Positive Foundation and The Ministry of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor, hosted a successful breast screening event on Saturday, October 1 at the Vineyard Building in Philipsburg, Sint Maarten.
Dr. Naira Chobanyan, a clinical oncologist and professor of clinical medicine at AUC; her team of clinical fellows: Dr. Arie Szeinfeld, Dr. Noemi Jubaer, Dr. Brittany Thompson, and Dr. David Jetha; and 19 AUC students under supervision screened 30 women for breast abnormalities. In addition, the team conducted overall health assessments, administered breast cancer screening questionnaires, and provided education about recognizing breast abnormalities and cancer risk factors.
First launched in 2017, this program started as a way to educate the community about breast cancer while empowering women with strategies to proactively monitor their health. The free screenings provide vital information to better understand the prevalence of breast abnormalities within the population of Sint Maarten. All results will be reported to the Ministry of Health to help establish policies for the screening of breast abnormalities and cancer.
Saturday’s event was the first screening since the program was put on pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The program’s relaunch was spearheaded by Dr. Szeinfeld in coordination with Dr. Chobanyan, reflecting the “learners as educators” model that sits at the heart of this program. To date, Dr. Chobanyan has screened 430 women in Sint Maarten.
In addition to raising awareness and providing education about breast health for the community of Sint Maarten, the program offers an opportunity for clinical fellows and medical students 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.
Saturday’s event was the first of three screening sessions this semester. We look forward to the additional screening events planned for this year, which will take place on Saturday, October 22 and Saturday, November 26.
