Project HOPE Launches Initiative to Expand Prostate Cancer Screening and Follow-Up Care in Wisconsin
With support from The Labcorp Charitable Foundation, Project HOPE will partner with local clinics to expand prostate cancer screening, diagnostic follow-up and specialty care services in Madison, Wisconsin
Project HOPE, with funding from The Labcorp Charitable Foundation and in partnership with two local free and charitable clinics, today announced a two-year initiative in Madison, Wisconsin, to expand prostate cancer screening, diagnostic follow-up, care coordination and treatment for men in the Madison area who are uninsured or face barriers to accessing care.
Early detection significantly improves prostate cancer outcomes, yet disparities in screening and care persist in the Madison area. The Dane County Community Health Needs Assessment reports that prostate cancer mortality rates in Dane County exceed both state and national averages, with Black men experiencing the highest age-adjusted death rate.
“This initiative is about strengthening local resources so more men can access the information, screening and follow-up care they need,” says Anna Tate, Director of Domestic Programs at Project HOPE. “By supporting trusted community partners and creating clearer referral pathways, we can help reduce barriers for men who are uninsured or face challenges accessing care and make care easier to navigate.”
Through the initiative, the Perry Family Free Clinic and the Specialty Care Free Clinic in Madison will work together to provide the following services:
- Expanded community-based screening and education by partnering with trusted local barbers to reach men who may not typically engage with the healthcare system. The Perry Family Free Clinic will help train barbers to provide education on prostate cancer risk and screening and refer men to the clinic for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screenings.
- Increase access to free specialty care by expanding the Specialty Care Free Clinic’s capacity to provide urology services through its network of volunteer urologists.
- Provide hands-on patient navigation and care coordination through the Specialty Care Free Clinic, helping patients access diagnostic testing, treatment and follow-up care, including connections to specialty providers across the Madison area when services cannot be performed at the clinic.
By bringing these services together, the partnership will create a continuum of care from education and screening to diagnosis and specialty care, helping men access needed follow-up care.
“For patients with prostate cancer, early detection can save lives, yet too many men face barriers that keep them from the screening and follow-up care they need,” said Kathryn Kyle, president and secretary of The Labcorp Charitable Foundation. “We’re proud to support Project HOPE and these local clinics in expanding access to screening, care coordination and treatment, helping men receive the timely care that can make all the difference.”
For media inquiries, please reach out to media@projecthope.org.
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About Project HOPE
Project HOPE is a global health and humanitarian organization with 65+ years of experience strengthening access to health care and responding to crises around the world. They work hand-in-hand with local health systems and provide health workers with the tools and training they need to save lives, while driving long-term transformation. For more information on Project HOPE, visit www.ProjectHOPE.org.
