October 8, 2004
The Dana-Farber Blum Family Resource Center Van hits the road to educate Massachusetts communities about cancer
Tuesday, October 12 marks the launch of The Dana-Farber Blum Family Resource Center Van, a mobile education center that will travel to underserved communities throughout Greater Boston to spread the word about cancer prevention and early detection and offer cancer screenings.
With the slogan On the Road to Better Health gracing the side of the 39-foot van, Dana-Farber will bring its oncology expertise to schools, businesses, faith-based organizations and health fairs in the community, focusing on underserved citizens who have significantly higher cancer mortality rates.
"This van is an opportunity for Dana-Farber to help minimize health disparities among various communities," says James Wall, special assistant to the president for diversity. "Through this program we will promote understanding of the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer, and let our neighbors know that we care and offer a full array of services."
One large room inside the van can hold 15 people, and is equipped with a VCR/DVD, a 25-inch flat screen TV, and a projector screen, while a smaller, private room can be used for interviews, conversation, or physical exams. A third room offers visitors computer links to the Internet. Funding for the van comes from the Blum Family, Ortho Biotech and the Gillette Company.
Residents of Boston neighborhoods and surrounding communities will find up-to-date, comprehensive cancer information on the van, and will have access to screenings for prostate and skin cancer. They can also hear physicians and other health-care professionals speak on various cancer-related topics in an informal, comfortable atmosphere, and learn about donating bone marrow or stem cells. In addition, community residents can learn about Dana-Farber as an employer when the van participates in job fairs.
"The van will bring a classroom to the community, enabling residents to empower themselves by learning about early detection, prevention, and other cancer information," says Susan DeCristofaro, RN, MS, OCN, director of Patient Family Education. "We received so many requests for information from the community in the past," adds DeCristofaro, "that bringing our resources to them was the next logical step."
For more information on The Dana-Farber Blum Family Resource Center Van, please call (617) 632-5819.
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is a principal teaching affiliate of the Harvard Medical School and is among the leading cancer research and care centers in the United States. It is a founding member of the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center (DF/HCC), designated a comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute.
