CHICAGO, IL – October 10, 2016 – In support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, The Loretto Hospital, in collaboration with local Austin-area businesses, launched its”Paint Austin Pink!” Breast Cancer Initiative during its after work networking for a cause event, “Paint Austin Pink Kick-Off Reception” on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2016, in the hospital’s 6th floor auditorium. The purpose of the program is to increase the mammography screening rates among women in the Austin community, as well as to bring attention to the huge disparity deaths on the west side of Chicago.
The first program of its kind at Loretto, “Paint Austin Pink!” will serve as an education and outreach initiative to raise awareness about breast cancer, its impact on women in the African American community, and the importance of early detection. In addition, the program will run concurrently with Loretto’s signature $50 Mammogram Program. Speakers at the kick-off event included: The Loretto Hospital’s President, CEO and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Sonia Mehta; Lydia Wilson, Metropolitan Chicago Breast Cancer Task Force; Amara Enyia, JD, PhD, public consultant, Austin Chamber of Commerce; Mary Rinder, director of diagnostic imaging, Loretto Hospital; and Angela K. Waller, community relations manager, Loretto Hospital.
Waller is a 10-year breast cancer survivor and will head up the outreach for “Paint Austin Pink!” in the community. She said, “The goal of the program is to increase awareness of breast cancer screening in the Austin community and the additional services available in the Women’s Imaging Program at The Loretto Hospital.”
Breast cancer is a disease in which malignant cells form in the tissue of the breast and is the second leading cause of death among women. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc., 1 in 8 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. Each year, it is estimated that more than 246,660 women in the Unites States will be diagnosed and more than 40,000 will die. According to the Metropolitan Chicago Breast Cancer Task Force, the Austin community has one of the highest breast cancer mortality rates in Chicago.
“It’s important for The Loretto Hospital to create initiatives such as Paint Austin Pink specifically because of the disparities that exist in the African American community, which makes up a significant part of our patient population. We know that limited access to quality screening and treatment, in addition to the larger number of late stage diagnosis contribute to the disparities,” Waller said.
For more information about The Loretto Hospital’s “Paint Austin Pink!” Initiative, contact Angela K. Waller, community relations manager, at 773-854-5275 or via email at angela.waller@lorettohospital.org. To learn more about The Loretto Hospital’s $50 Mammogram Program or to schedule an appointment, call 773-854-5233.
About The Loretto Hospital
The Loretto Hospital is a not-for-profit hospital, community-based hospital located in Austin, the largest community in Chicago. Loretto is the only hospital in the Austin community and is the largest nongovernment employer in the Austin community. The hospital has more than 600 staff, comprising of 170 physicians and 300 nursing professionals. Although the largest percentage of the hospital’s patients resides in Austin and Garfield Park, neighboring suburban communities also utilize Loretto as a healthcare resource. For more information, please visit www.lorettohospital.org.