Mobile Mammography Vans Planned for Washington, DC, Area

WASHINGTON--The George Washington University Medical Center willsoon be providing mobile mammog-raphy services in Washington,DC. Allan B. Weingold, MD, vice president for medical affairs,announced the project at the Fifth Annual Jo Oberstar MemorialLecture, delivered by Tipper Gore, wife of Vice President Al Gore(see box below).

The first mammography van is scheduled to begin serving DC areaneighborhoods and business districts by July, 1996. "Thisis further evidence of our commitment to improving access to healthcare for the citizens of the Washington metropolitan area,"Dr. Weingold said.

The Cancer Research Foundation of America has provided a $400,000grant to help support the project. Other sponsors and benefactorsof the project include NationsBank (the lead sponsor), Black EntertainmentTelevision, Bristol-Myers Squibb, The Johnson & Johnson Familyof Companies, Merck & Co, Inc, Pfizer, Inc., and Zeneca Pharmaceuticals.

"Given that Washington, DC, has the highest breast cancerrate in the nation, I know the mobile mammography van will bea valuable public service in the years to come," said CarolynAldigé, president of the Cancer Research Foundation.

The mobile unit will bring service to communities of women whoare currently underserved, Ms. Aldigé said in an interviewwith Oncology News International. An extensive education programis planned, she said, depending on the strength of peer-basedrecruitment. The resources of neighborhood public health clinics,churches, and other community organizations will provide communityoutreach. In some cases, the service will be provided free ofcharge.

The mobile unit can serve more than 30 women a day, making itpossible for one van to serve 8,000 women a year. The van willbe available in residential areas and in places where women work,during hours that will be convenient for them.

The Jo Oberstar Memorial Lectures

The Jo Oberstar Memorial Lecture was established as a memorialto the wife of Minnesota Congressman James L. Oberstar after Mrs.Oberstar died of breast cancer in 1991. She had battled the diseasefor 8 years.

Supported by a fund contributed by family and friends, The GeorgeWashington University Cancer Center inaugurated the lecture series,to promote public awareness of breast cancer.

At the Fifth Annual lecture given by Tipper Gore (see story above),Rep. Oberstar asked that his wife Jo be remembered for her dedicationto education and public awareness on a variety of issues.

Mrs. Gore, who serves as co-chair with Vice President Gore, ofSearch for the Cure, a project dedicated to finding treatmentsfor breast cancer, shared memories of Mrs. Oberstar, with whomshe worked in the service of many women's issues.