Shore Health System has been awarded two grants from the Maryland Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure for the 2011-2012 grant period.
Komen Maryland allocated $67,500 to Shore Regional Breast Center for the “Expanding Breast Health Services on the Mid-Shore” program. The objective of the grant is to improve and expand access to breast cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment for medically underserved and minority women in the Mid-Shore region. The program also provides these services to women who are uninsured or underinsured and not covered by the Breast and Cervical Cancer Program offered by the State of Maryland.
The Komen grant enables Shore Regional Breast Center to continue to conduct community outreach programs to African American, Latina, and uninsured and limited income women in Talbot, Dorchester, Queen Anne’s and Caroline counties. A nurse practitioner provides clinical breast exams and screening mammograms. Case management for women needing diagnosis and treatment is also provided.
Komen Maryland also awarded Shore Regional Cancer Center $52,004, the second installment in a two-year grant for Clinical Trials Enrollment (CTE). The CTE grant focuses on enhancing support and accrual to National Cancer Institute sponsored breast cancer clinical trials. The project director for the grant is Sharon Richter, BSN, RN, CCRC, clinical research nurse for Shore Regional Cancer Center. Richter educates physicians, members of the community and potential candidates about clinical trials and the benefits of participation. She also helps to identify potential research participants and oversees the enrollment process and data management.
The Komen CTE grant funds a part-time clinical research assistant, Dorney Brown, who assists with managing data for the 53 women who are enrolled in breast cancer clinical trials. The Shore Health System cancer program currently has eight breast cancer clinical treatment trials open for enrollment. The CTE grant is also used to increase participation of all eligible women, with a continuing focus on educating members of the African American community about clinical research and the need for involvement.
For more information about Shore Regional Cancer Center’s clinical trials and the CTE grant, contact Sharon Richter at 410-822-1000, ext. 2300, srichter@shorehealth.org. For information about Shore Regional Breast Center services, contact Mary Jane Flynn, RN, 410-822-1000, ext. 5411, mjflynn@shorehealth.org.
Learn more about Shore Regional Cancer Center services at www.shorehealth.org/services/rcc.shtml.