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MammoVan Brings Breast Cancer Screenings to Texarkana with Community Support
MammoVan Brings Breast Cancer Screenings to Texarkana with Community Support
| August 5, 2026 | The UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute MammoVan recently visited the UAMS Health Family Medical Center in Texarkana, bringing breast cancer screenings closer to home for the local community.
For more than 16 years, the MammoVan mobile mammography unit has traveled across Arkansas to offer efficient and quick screening mammogram services. These low dose X-rays of the breasts can often detect changes that could be cancerous before any symptoms arise.
Screening is crucial for identifying breast cancers early, when it’s small and has not spread. Women ages 40 years and above at average risk for breast cancer should begin mammography screening annually. Women at high risk for breast cancer should typically begin annual screening mammography and breast MRI at age 30 but may need earlier screening depending on additional risks. All patients should have their risk assessed by a mathematical model by age 25 years of age.
“At the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, we are committed to reducing the impact of cancer across Arkansas,” said Michael Birrer, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Cancer Institute and UAMS vice chancellor. “By bringing screening services directly into communities, the MammoVan plays a critical role in helping us identify cancers earlier and improve outcomes for Arkansans.”
With the MammoVan program, UAMS aims to eliminate barriers related to cost, time, travel, and convenience, making screening services more accessible.
Working with organizations across the state, the MammoVan team counts on local hosts to coordinate screening events and share the opportunity with residents. Thanks to such local hosts as private medical practices, Arkansas Department of Health local health units, employers and community health fairs, the MammoVan can bring breast cancer screenings almost anywhere.
When an event is scheduled, Cancer Institute patient navigators in the region are notified to help promote the event and connect patients to these screenings.
“Our community partners and the support we receive at the local level is the reason we’re able to reach women across Arkansas with these lifesaving screenings,” said Susan Henry, clinical program director for the Cancer Institute. “They know their communities, help connect us with patients, and work alongside us to make these events successful.”
The MammoVan team supports patients every step of the way, from scheduling an appointment to navigating any needed follow-up care. Before each visit, staff answer questions, explain what to expect, and verify insurance coverage. For those without coverage, staff can connect patients with the Arkansas BreastCare program.
“A screening mammogram can sometimes be the beginning of a patient’s journey,” said Gwendolyn Bryant-Smith, M.D., FACR, director of Mobile Mammography and the UAMS Health Breast Center. “When additional testing or treatment is needed, our team is dedicated to coordinating follow-up care for patients and ensuring they don’t have to navigate this process alone.”
With each event, the MammoVan can provide 22 screenings. In fiscal year 2026, the program provided over 1,900 screenings at 140 events. To date, 173 cancers have been found since the program started in 2010.
Because annual screenings are so important for early detection, many event hosts work with UAMS to bring the MammoVan back year after year.
“Early on in the program, we were identifying more advanced cancers in women who had never been screened,” said Heather Kindy, mobile MammoVan manager. “Because we return to sites annually, we are finding cancers earlier, and it really demonstrates the importance of an annual mammogram.”
Ultimately, community support is key to maintaining and expanding access to these services. For every event, the MammoVan team invites community leaders and local legislators to learn more about the program and the benefit of improving access to breast cancer screening and care.
Arkansas Rep. Carol Dalby attended the Texarkana screening event on July 16 to show support for the program’s efforts to bring breast cancer screening services to the southwest Arkansas community.
Today, the bright pink van is a recognizable sight as it travels the state, with people calling the phone number on the side to schedule events or register for a screening.