Montefiore Einstein’s Urology Department was on hand at a late-season New York Yankees-Toronto Blue Jays game to conduct free, blood-test-based prostate cancer screenings for men ages 40 and older. An elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA), as determined via a simple blood test, is a potential indication of prostate cancer.
“The inaugural Prostate Cancer Screening event was a great success, thanks to wonderful collaboration,” said Kelly Bottger, Director, Urology, Montefiore Einstein.
“The Montefiore Einstein-Yankee prostate cancer screening event was a tremendous success due to the efforts of a large team of dedicated individuals. This event is a wonderful example of Montefiore Einstein’s mission to deliver care to patients in need and to raise awareness of important health issues, such as prostate cancer, in the Bronx and surrounding communities,” said Kara L. Watts, MD, Director, Quality Improvement and Assurance, Attending Physician, Urology, Montefiore Einstein, and Associate Professor, Urology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
The event was conducted in partnership with Bronx Oncology Living Daily (BOLD), Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center’s wellness program, Montefiore Einstein Pathology, Montefiore Epic/IT, and Fans for the Cure, a nonprofit that seeks to promote men’s health by advocating for the early detection of prostate cancer and best practices in treatment through events like these.
The first 250 men who signed up for the test were given two free tickets to a 2024 Yankees home game. Montefiore Einstein screened 175 patients, including about 20 police officers, several members of the Yankees organization and fans who signed up at the game.
“Our dedicated phlebotomy team did what they do best—go above and beyond to create a seamless and comfortable experience for the patients,” added Nancy Giannola, Director, Pathology Customer Service, Montefiore Einstein. “You could feel the excitement from the smile on the faces of every person who contributed to this event,” she said. “We’re grateful for the collaboration among Montefiore departments, working together to educate men about prostate cancer and potentially save lives.”
The day’s screening determined 11 men were found to have had an elevated PSA level and were referred for next steps toward diagnosis and treatment. All participants received information about prostate cancer and information on Montefiore Einstein resources. But the reach of the event extended beyond the stadium. “We educated thousands of men on the importance of, and ease of, screening via the television and the radio airwaves before, during and after the game,” said Bottger.
This event is part of Montefiore Einstein’s dedication to exceptional care for prostate cancer. Our guidance and cutting-edge treatment options contributed to our ranking in the top 1% of all U.S. hospitals for cancer care. Our team of world-class specialists uses a unique approach to prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment that’s designed to help men get from uncertainty to a diagnosis quickly and provide them with an individualized care plan.
To learn more about our Urology Department, please visit https://www.montefiore.org/urology.
