Community Outreach

The Office of Community Engagement, whose mission is to engage local community members in facilitating access to cancer early detection and appropriate treatment, is directed by Lina Jandorf.  Our focus is on developing and implementing community-based culturally relevant educational programs across the Mount Sinai Health Care System to increase cancer screening among vulnerable groups.

For example, the Witness Project of Harlem conducts culturally targeted breast and cervical education, including compelling testimony for African American breast cancer survivors about the importance of breast health and annual mammograms for women over 40 years of age.  Esperanza y Vida, with a similar focus, is conducted in both Spanish and English, reaching our Latina communities.  We continue to work with both community-based and faith-based organizations to collaborate on needs related to their specific members.  Finally, we have recently been awarded a grant from NYS to purchase and operate a Mobile Mammography Van (in collaboration with the Department of Radiology) and have begun outreach into several new communities, including Asian Americans, African-born Immigrants and Muslim women to develop culturally and linguistically education programs and to bring the van to their sites. We continue to work with community volunteers and our Community Advisory Board to ensure the cultural relevance of our outreach and research efforts.

Mobile Mammography Program

The Mount Sinai Health System (MSHS) Mobile Mammography Program functions as a distinctive model of mobile breast screening outreach and education, coupled with screening events and services (such as patient navigation) throughout the five boroughs of New York City. The program couples group-based, culturally targeted education and outreach with (1) digital breast tomosynthesis full field mammography; (2) the newest Mammography Information System, which makes our intake and follow-up communications available in the many languages of our target populations; and (3) provides continuous quality monitoring software. The Mobile Mammography Program coordinates efforts closely with the TCI Cancer Community Outreach Program as well as work with internal partners across MSHS, which includes 300 community clinics and numerous outreach programs and initiatives within our target populations conducted through multiple departments and programs. Van locations include community and faith-based organizations, centers, health clinics, and storefronts. To learn more, call 1844-EZ Mammo (1844-396-2666) or visit our website

The Witness Project® of Harlem

The Witness Project® of Harlem (WPH) represents a culturally sensitive educational effort that requires collaboration with the church, a powerful and far-reaching institution in the African American community.  This program has been modeled after the Witness Project® developed by Dr. Deborah Erwin and her associates (then) at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.  The Witness Project® is a culturally competent breast and cervical cancer education program for African American women designed to increase adherence to recommended screening guidelines.  The Project trains breast cancer survivors (Witness Role Models (WRMs), to share their own experience of cancer diagnosis and treatment.  Additionally, Lay Health Advisors (LHAs) are trained to work with the WRMs in the education component of the program.  Evaluation of the Witness Project® has revealed that participants report significant increases in breast cancer screening from pre-to post intervention as compared to a control group.

We are actively looking for sites to conduct programs, such as churches, schools, senior centers, or homes. We are actively looking for African American women who have been touched by Breast or Cervical Cancer to work as program volunteers. Please contact Brittney Henry at (212) 824-7081 or email brittney.henry@mssm.edu for more information.

Esperanza y Vida® – The Latina Witness Project of Harlem

Esperanza y Vida® (EyV) represents a culturally sensitive health educational program that works collaboratively with many different community and faith-based organizations within the Hispanic/Latino community.  This program has been modeled after the Witness Project®.  The program uses creative and innovative technology in order to educate the communities about breast and cervical cancer.  The program was designed not only to increase knowledge about the topic, but also to improve adherence to recommended screening guidelines. The Project trains breast cancer survivors (Sobrevivientes), to share their own experience of cancer diagnosis and treatment.  Additionally, Lay Health Advisors (LHAs) are trained to work with the sobrevivientes in the educational component of the program.  The research component of Esperanza y Vida® has shown that those participants who were navigated after the educational component of the program, report significant increases in breast and cervical cancer screening.

We are actively looking for sites to conduct programs, such as churches, schools, senior centers, or homes.  We are also looking for Spanish-speaking Hispanic/Latina women who have been touched by breast or cervical cancer to work as program volunteers. Programs are conducted in both English and Spanish. For more information please

contact Jennifer Ulloa (212) 824-7802 or email jennifer.ulloa@mssm.edu