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Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah (the U) hosted a ribbon cutting for its second mobile screening clinic in collaboration with the Utah County Health Department. This state-of-the-art clinic will bring cancer prevention services to more Utahns and improve access to crucial screenings. The event was held today in Payson, Utah, as a symbol of bringing services closer to the communities we serve.
“At Huntsman Cancer Institute, we want to expand access to world-class cancer care, and better access to screening is an important part of that objective. Our second mobile cancer screening clinic includes digital mammography services and will enable us to reach underserved populations throughout Utah and better serve the health needs of our community.“
Mary Beckerle, PhD
CEO of Huntsman Cancer Institute
Lynette Phillips, manager of community cancer screening at Huntsman Cancer Institute, says the need for a second mobile clinic became clear after the introduction of the first unit in 2019.
“Once communities realized that we had the ability to take our mobile clinic to underserved people, we received many requests that had us booked out for months at a time,” says Phillips. “Many in our historically underserved communities don’t have insurance and can’t afford services like a breast cancer screening mammogram. They don’t have paid time off to go to a doctor’s office. Our second mobile clinic will help us provide access to those people who need it.”
The ribbon cutting event was held at the Wasatch Behavioral Health building in Payson, home to both the Utah County Health Department and Mountainlands Community Health Center. These organizations provide medical, dental, and mental health services for low-income, uninsured, and underinsured members of the community.
Utah County is also the future site of Huntsman Cancer Institute’s second comprehensive cancer center campus. Site work on the future cancer campus is already underway in the city of Vineyard.
Don Milligan, MBA, executive director of the cancer hospital at Huntsman Cancer Institute, opened the event by discussing how the second mobile cancer screening clinic unit will expand screening access throughout Utah. Peter Huntsman, chairman and CEO of Huntsman Cancer Foundation, spoke about the foundation and how the mobile clinic is a promise to improve access to cancer care. Karen Huntsman, co-founder of Huntsman Cancer Institute, stressed the importance of early detection. Utah County Commissioner Amelia Gardner addressed how communities can work together to advance cancer prevention. The final speaker was Sonia Dale, wellness clinic bureau director for Utah County, who explained why screening services are important for historically underserved populations.
Milligan also introduced a patient, Liz Loo, who received a free mammogram, ultrasound, and biopsy services through the Utah Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention Program. The mammogram discovered Loo’s early-stage breast cancer. After a treatment regimen of hormone therapy, she is healthy and cancer-free today. Loo was uninsured at the time of her diagnosis.
According to the Public Health Indicator Based Information System (IBIS), a state database, 63.8% of Utah women 40 years or older reported having a mammogram within the past two years. This is below the national average of 67%. Utah ranks in the bottom tenth of screening nationwide.
Since 2019, Huntsman Cancer Institute’s first mobile cancer screening clinic and its staff have traveled across the state to deliver needed care to underserved populations—including both metropolitan communities and rural and frontier populations that live far from medical centers. Over the past five years, the clinic has served an average of 1,465 patients per year. As of July 2024, the mobile screening clinic has visited 20 out of Utah’s 29 counties.
“I grew up in a rural area and have seen firsthand how distance can affect health care options for women. Programs like the mobile mammography clinics from Huntsman Cancer Institute are critical in showing up for rural and underserved urban communities in our state. These mobile mammography units will help women access screenings where and when they are needed most,” says Abby Cox, Utah First Lady. “As First Lady, I support all efforts made to ensure that every woman in our state has access to life-saving health care, including early cancer detection.”
Phillips says that in addition to mobile mammography, the new mobile clinic has also been outfitted to provide colorectal cancer screening, skin cancer checks, self-collection for HPV testing, and blood-based cancer screening.
“We’re taking a broader view of what’s on the horizon for patients,” says Phillips.
The funds for the $1.6 million mobile unit were raised by Huntsman Cancer Foundation during the 2023 annual gala, demonstrating a groundswell of support from the donor community.
“The Huntsman Family, along with the many other donors who joined us in funding this second mobile screening clinic, are thrilled to expand Huntsman Cancer Institute's ability to bring lifesaving screenings to the communities that need them,” says Peter Huntsman. “The work of ending cancer begins with prevention and we are grateful for all those who helped make this possible.”
The staff of the mobile clinic will start offering mammography services to the community on January 16. Learn more about the mobile screening program.
Media Contact
Heather Simonsen
Public Affairs Senior Manager
Huntsman Cancer Institute
801 581-3194
public.affairs@hci.utah.edu
About Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah
Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah is the National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center for Utah, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, and Wyoming. With a legacy of innovative cancer research, groundbreaking discoveries, and world-class patient care, we are transforming the way cancer is understood, prevented, diagnosed, treated, and survived. Huntsman Cancer Institute focuses on delivering the most advanced cancer healing and prevention through scientific breakthroughs and cutting-edge technology to advance cancer treatments of the future beyond the standard of care today. We have more than 300 open clinical trials and 250 research teams studying cancer. More genes for inherited cancers have been discovered at Huntsman Cancer Institute than at any other cancer center. Our scientists are world-renowned for understanding how cancer begins and using that knowledge to develop innovative approaches to treat each patient’s unique disease. Huntsman Cancer Institute was founded by Jon M. and Karen Huntsman.
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Over the past five years, the clinic has served an average of 1,465 patients per year.