Expanding Free Screenings at MSRC

TTUHSC El Paso Medical Student Run Clinic Receives $7,500 Grant to Expand Free Breast Cancer Screenings

Funding from the American Breast Cancer Foundation will help underserved communities

Helping to bridge health care gaps, the American Breast Cancer Foundation (ABCF) announced a $7,500 grant to the Medical Student Run Clinic (MSRC), a part of Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso’s Foster School of Medicine.

The funds will provide free comprehensive breast cancer screenings to forty residents in the Sparks colonia, a historically underserved community of our Borderplex region, while expanding health care access in a region often overlooked in the public health landscape.

"The Medical Student Run Clinic has always been at the forefront of addressing the unmet health needs of our community," said Maureen Francis, M.D., MACP, associate dean and professor for medical education. “We’ll employ these funds to conduct vital breast cancer screenings for women residing in Sparks and other nearby colonias. Early detection is crucial in breast cancer management and, unfortunately, access to these screenings has historically been a challenge in these underserved communities. We're hopeful this initiative will significantly improve preventive care for many women.”

The issue is not just medical but social, calling for an urgent, comprehensive and empathetic response that addresses these intersecting problems.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cancer is the second leading cause of death among Hispanic women in the United States. For these women, the outlook is more specific and fraught, with a higher risk of mortality from breast cancer compared to their non-Hispanic white counterparts. This disparity, as reported by the American Cancer Society, is starkly evident in survival rates; the five-year survival rate is significantly lower for Hispanic women, at 80%, in contrast to the 88% survival rate for non-Hispanic white women.

Breast examinations are critical, life-saving procedures, especially for Hispanic patients in underserved communities. These patients are more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer at a later stage, due to limited access to health care. This, along with other factors such as socioeconomic issues, contributes to disparities in survival rates among Hispanic patients with breast cancer.

The MSRC, through a partnership with Desert Imaging, will use the grant to offer comprehensive screening services in these neglected areas. This initiative is more than just an effort to equalize health services; it is an attempt to battle health disparities causing high cancer mortality rates among Hispanics. The clinic, staffed by Foster School of Medicine students, aims to reduce late-stage diagnoses that affect these communities. If successful, the students’ efforts could improve the survival rates for breast cancer among Hispanic women.

Founded in October 2013 by Foster School of Medicine students, the MSRC is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. The clinic provides the only access to health care for many local residents in Sparks, and is open twice a month. Over 13,000 volunteer hours have been put in by students over the past 10 years to treat 3,500 patients.

Located far from El Paso’s Urban center, Sparks and surrounding colonias often lack necessities such as paved roads and public transportation. Residents of these areas typically lack access to health care services, however, the MSRC also operates a Mobile Care Unit, which has helped to address community needs. Together, the clinic and Mobile Care Unit are breaking down barriers and empowering residents to take charge of their health.

"Connecting with the Sparks community has been one of the most fulfilling aspects of my time here,” said Rashaun Rashid, a Foster School of Medicine student and member of the clinic’s leadership team. “Serving the residents of Sparks has given me valuable insights into the type of physician I want to be in the future. Working at the clinic has honed my patient-serving skills and taught me how to navigate fast-paced environments and communicate effectively with patients."

Since 2019, the ABCF has provided $30,000 in grants, representing 40% of the total grants received by the clinic. These funds have been instrumental in enabling the MSRC to administer mammograms and other breast cancer screenings to 138 women. Future free mammogram sessions hosted by the MSRC will take place on Sept. 16 and Nov. 18, 2023.

About Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso

TTUHSC El Paso is the only health sciences center on the U.S.-Mexico border and serves 108 counties in West Texas that have been historically underserved. It’s a designated Title V Hispanic-Serving Institution, preparing the next generation of health care heroes, 48% of whom identify as Hispanic and are often first-generation students.

Established as an independent university in the Texas Tech University System in 2013, TTUHSC El Paso is celebrating 10 years as a proudly diverse and uniquely innovative destination for education and research. According to a 2022 analysis, TTUHSC El Paso contributes $634.4 million annually to our Borderplex region’s economy.

With a mission of eliminating health care barriers and creating life-changing educational opportunities for Borderplex residents, TTUHSC El Paso has graduated over 2,000 doctors, nurses and researchers over the past decade, and will add dentists to its alumni beginning in 2025. For more information, visit ttuhscepimpact.org.

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