For Immediate Release: April 15, 2013                                                
For More Information, Contact: Nicolle Racey (614) 297-8155 ext. 203                                                       

OU-HCOM Community Health Programs Awarded Funding from Komen Columbus

By Caroline Dreyer

(COLUMBUS, OH) –The Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine (OU-HCOM) Community Health Programs (CHP) was recently awarded $80,309 from the Columbus Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure to provide breast cancer screenings to women in 15 counties of Southeastern Ohio.  CHP was one of 20 breast health programs to receive more than $1.4 million in funding from Komen Columbus.  

“The need is great in our community and we are happy to partner with twenty programs in our 30-county area to help provide vital breast health services to thousands of women and men in our communities,” said Katie Carter, executive director of Komen Columbus. “It’s exciting to see the potential impact that these grantees will have in delivering life-saving breast health services to the uninsured and underinsured in our area.”

In 2011, all Komen Columbus funded programs provided nearly 20,000 women in our 30-county service area with life-saving breast cancer screenings, treatment and education.  From the mammograms funded by Komen Columbus last year alone, breast cancer was detected in more than 92 women. Early detection is the key to reducing breast cancer mortality in Ohio- which ranks fourth in the nation in breast cancer mortality.  When treated early, the five-year survival rate is 98 percent.

CHP plans to use the Komen funds to continue breast cancer screenings for uninsured and underinsured women at Ohio University’s Heritage Community Clinic in Athens, Ohio. A mobile clinic also serves Athens, Hocking, Perry, Vinton, Meigs, Morgan, Washington, Jackson, Lawrence, Gallia, Ross, Scioto, Pike, Noble and Monroe Counties.

"Community Health Programs Healthy Adult Project: Breast Screening Program is very appreciative of receiving grant funding from the Columbus Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure for the  thirteenth consecutive year,” said Missy Kemper,  assistant director of Community Health Programs. “This funding has made it possible for thousands of Southeastern Ohio women to have access to clinical breast exams, screening mammograms and other breast health related services.   Over the past year, we have been able to assist  542 Southeastern Ohio women with breast screening services because of our 2012 Susan G. Komen grant award.  These screenings are crucial in breast cancer detection and prevention."

The funds that make the breast screening program possible are due to the generosity of Komen Columbus supporters – notably the more than 45,000 people who participated in the 2012 Komen Columbus Race for the Cure last May. Komen Columbus has raised more than $25 million since it began in 1993; 75 percent of that money stays in its 30-county service area and is used to conduct breast cancer education, screening and treatment programs. The other 25 percent goes to Susan G. Komen for the Cure ® to fund global breast cancer research programs. For more information, please visit www.komencolumbus.org or call the Komen Columbus office at (614) 297-8155.