TidalHealth reaches goal for mobile mammography unit

SALISBURY, Md. — In October 2023, the TidalHealth Foundation launched its Drive for Mobile Mammography campaign with the goal of raising money for a van equipped with breast cancer screening equipment. TidalHealth Vice President and Chief Philanthropy Officer Jessica Hales said the community’s support was essential to reaching the fundraising goal.

“This campaign was meant to be something that everybody could put a dollar in and feel like they were part of something bigger than themselves,” Hales said.

With an initial pledge of $125,000 from TidalHealth team members, the foundation still had quite a way to go to reach its $1 million goal, but the community came through. Katherine Rodgers, Director of Community Health Initiatives at TidalHealth, said they wanted to address transportation barriers and broaden access to breast cancer screenings in hopes of reducing mortality rates.

“We’re making sure we get out to all areas so that everybody has this opportunity. We’ll be serving all of the Lower Eastern Shore and Sussex County, Delaware,” Rodgers said.

Currently, many people must travel to Seaford, Berlin or Salisbury for a mammogram.

“We’ll be going into areas that are historically underserved and building relationships with people in those communities,” Rodgers said.

Many community donations were made in memory of loved ones. Donors who did so can have their loved ones’ names displayed on the back of the unit, symbolizing the community’s role in making the effort possible.

“I couldn’t be more proud of the community that I live in,” Hales said.

TidalHealth plans to publish a schedule of where the van will be visiting, and patients will be able to make appointments online.

The mobile unit is expected to be up and running by the end of fall. Updates will be available at TidalHealth.org/mobilemammography.