In October, to commemorate Breast Cancer Awareness month, Shore Regional Breast Center hosted a dinner to celebrate the many partnerships that make it possible to provide breast health services to women across the Mid-Shore region. The dinner, which was held at The Tidewater Inn in Easton, was funded by a grant from the Maryland Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Mary Jane Flynn, BSN, RN, OCN, CBCN, nurse coordinator for Shore Regional Breast Center, hosted the dinner. Guests at the event included members of the Shore Health System medical staff, nurses, nurse practitioners, mammography technologists and volunteers as well as physician office staff and health department administrators.

In her welcoming comments, Flynn explained that the Wellness for Women program is a collaboration between Shore Regional Breast Center, the health departments of Talbot, Queen Anne’s and Caroline Counties and local referring physicians.

“This program, which is funded by grants from the Maryland Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure and Shore Health System, makes it possible for the Breast Center to offer clinical breast examinations and screening mammograms for women who are uninsured or under-insured with limited income,” Flynn told her guests. “With your help we make great strides to ensure that women get the appropriate care even if they don’t have insurance or the financial resources to pay for these services.”

Flynn thanked the physicians from the local primary care, obstetrics and gynecology practices for supporting the Wellness for Women program by referring their patients to the breast cancer screening program. Eligible women receive free breast examinations and mammograms at Shore Regional Breast Center, which is located at The Memorial Hospital at Easton. Dale Reddish, nurse practitioner for the program, conducts clinical breast exams, provides breast self-examination education, and helps enroll clients in the diagnostic and treatment program available for Maryland women without insurance and limited income.

Flynn acknowledged Breast Center physicians Jerry Batley, MD, and Brooke Buckley, MD. She recognized the work of Jane Escher, RN, Mattie Fountain and Consuelo Carpenter, the Breast Center outreach workers who travel throughout the community to educate women about the importance of breast self-exams and mammograms. Escher, Fountain and Carpenter visit health fairs, physicians offices, hair salons, churches, workplaces and other community gathering places to meet with African American and Latina women and provide them with educational material. Carpenter is also available at the Breast Center to act as a translator when Spanish speaking women come for appointments.

For more information about Shore Regional Breast Center and the Wellness for Women program, call 410-820-9400 or visit www.shorehealth.org/services/breastcenter.shtml