DETROIT – This week, Community Health and Social Services (CHASS) Center, Inc., in Southwest Detroit, unveiled CHASS Center’s new Mammography Services that will help to ensure thousands of women in the metro Detroit community receive critical life-saving breast cancer screenings each year. Felix Valbuena Jr., MD, CEO, CHASS Center was joined by Senator Debbie Stabenow, Congressman Shri Thanedar, Detroit Deputy Mayor Todd Bettison, stakeholders and community leaders at a ribbon cutting ceremony this morning.
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“The expansion of the our mammogram services will provide CHASS Center with the resources, equipment and technology available to continue to provide the most advanced care to our patients,” said Felix Valbuena Jr., MD, CEO, CHASS Center. “Mammograms remain the best way to detect early signs of breast cancer. We are thrilled to be able to offer this life-saving screening to the community and further our mission of providing high quality, affordable care to underserved populations in Detroit.”
In 2020, CHASS began a fundraising campaign with the vision to ensure every women of age served at CHASS receives an annual mammogram regardless of their ability to pay. This goal was made possible through the support of generous donors including Empowerment Foundation, DMC Foundation, Meadowbrook Country Club Rally For the Cure and a public donation drive. With a projection of screening 180 women between the ages of 40-74 per month, CHASS’ Mammography Center estimates screening over 2,100 women annually.
“Since 1970, CHASS has been ensuring that people have access to quality, affordable health care in Detroit. And now with their new mammography service, they will be able to help people live long, healthy lives. I will continue to lead the fight to ensure that community health centers have the funding they need so clinics like CHASS can keep providing their patients excellent care,” said Senator Stabenow.
“I applaud the CHASS Center’s relentless dedication to delivering comprehensive healthcare services to Detroit’s underprivileged individuals and families,” said Congressman Shri Thanedar. “It is an honor to have taken part in the ribbon-cutting event that expanded CHASS’s mammography services which will provide countless women with life-saving breast cancer screenings each year. I look forward to working with them further to promote access to healthcare for all Detroiters.”
“Thank you to the team at CHASS for the amazing work they’re doing, removing barriers, and ensuring access to essential health care for Detroiters who need it most,” said Deputy Mayor Todd Bettison. “With the addition of this new mammogram machine, CHASS aims to make sure every woman who needs this potentially life-saving test will have access, regardless of their ability to pay.”
A trusted health resource in the community for over 50 years, CHASS Center is a federally qualified health center formed to develop, promote, and provide comprehensive, accessible, and affordable quality primary health care and support services to all residents of the community, with emphasis on the underserved African American and Latino populations in Detroit. Since 1970, CHASS has served as a one-stop-shop for care, helping patients overcome environmental factors that prevent them from achieving, or maintaining, good health.
Treating nearly 12,000 patients annually, CHASS offers a full spectrum of ongoing services including primary and preventative health care, as well as dental and behavioral health services for individuals of all ages.
CHASS Center offers linguistically and culturally proficient care. The Center accepts patients of all ages and insurance status from uninsured to insured, including Medicaid and Medicare.
ABOUT CHASS CENTER
The Community Health and Social Services (CHASS) Center, Inc. is a community-based, not for profit organization formed to develop, promote, and provide comprehensive, accessible and affordable quality primary health care and support services to all, with special emphasis on the underserved African-American and Latino populations. CHASS is committed to the overall well-being of the community.
(Courtesy: CHASS Communications and Marketing; photo provided)