New mammography coach brings early detection tools to Alaska’s rural communities
Providence Alaska Medical Center
Anchorage, Ala.
This fall, Providence Alaska Medical Center launched a new mobile mammography coach designed to bring high-quality breast cancer screening directly to rural communities across the state. The unit, which carries the same advanced 3D imaging technology used in its Anchorage imaging center, is intended to reach areas where long travel distances, limited transportation options or other barriers often prevent women from getting screened.
“People in rural areas may be less likely to seek out surveillance because they don’t have access,” said Maggie Miller, certified genetic counselor with Providence Alaska Medical Center. “So, when they hear the coach is coming to their community — maybe their doctor’s office calls, or maybe it’s at their employment — they get access to that screening that might not be present. And they don’t have to fly here.”
The 3D technology used in screenings can detect earlier lesions, including in dense breast tissue, and clinicians say early detection often means less intensive treatment. By delivering hospital‑level screening directly to Alaskans, the mobile coach aims to catch cancer sooner and improve outcomes across the state.