Women's Wellness Archives

October 19, 2026

Samaritan Medical Center and Saint Agatha Foundation Celebrate New Breast Cancer Screening Technology with Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

New Technology Expands Access to Advanced Breast Cancer Detection in Upstate New York

Watertown, NY – Samaritan Medical Center and Saint Agatha Foundation have unveiled a state-of-the art Contrast-Enhanced Mammography (CEM) diagnostic system for Samaritan’s Women’s Wellness and Breast Care (WWBC). The installation was commemorated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on October 15.

The new CEM system, made possible by a $575,000 grant from Saint Agatha Foundation in July, will considerably expand access to advanced breast cancer diagnostics for Northern New York patients. As a next-generation imaging tool, CEM machines can highlight areas of increased blood flow, a common characteristic of cancer. This allows physicians to more accurately detect early signs of the disease.

“At Saint Agatha Foundation, we believe that everyone deserves the right to advanced breast cancer care, no matter where they live,” said Saint Agatha Foundation’s Board President Kathleen Mezzalingua. “Today, we helped further that cause by bringing CEM to Samaritan, giving patients in the North Country greater access to advanced breast cancer care closer to home.”

In addition to cancer detection, CEM can also help monitor tumor response to chemotherapy, tracking if a tumor shrinks, remains stable, or progresses. These readings provide critical information to help guide patient treatment decisions. While CEM provides a comparable sensitivity to MRI, it also offers greater specificity, reducing the need for unnecessary biopsies.

“For people facing a potential breast cancer diagnosis, timely access to advanced imaging can make all the difference,” said Samaritan Breast Radiologist Dr. Kelly McAlarney. “This technology will allow us to detect breast cancer more accurately and make more informed treatment decisions. Thanks to Saint Agatha Foundation’s generosity, we can now offer this level of care right here in Watertown, reducing the need for patients to travel long distances and ensuring more people across the region can access the care they need, when they need it.”

The installation could not come at a more critical time for Northern New York. Although breast cancer is one of the most prevalent forms of the disease for women in the state, access to advanced imaging in the North County is limited. Travel to medical centers can create significant barriers to care, including transportation costs, weather-related challenges, and insurance limitations.

“Previously, the nearest CEM systems were located in major metropolitan areas like Syracuse, Rochester, and New York City,” shared Dr. Stephen Montgomery, Director Emeritus of Crouse Hospital’s breast imaging program, who attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “Patients unable to undergo or tolerate a breast MRI can now access alternatives directly in their county, never too far from the places and people they love. Saint Agatha Foundation makes these changes possible, helping healthcare become more equitable for all.”

With the WWBC performing nearly 55 mammograms every day, the new CEM system will help meet the demand for advanced breast cancer imaging in an underserved region. This installation not only strengthens Samaritan’s exceptional care options but advances equitable access to quality breast cancer care for rural communities across New York.

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Samaritan Medical Center President & CEO Thomas Carman.

About Saint Agatha Foundation
Saint Agatha Foundation was founded in 2004 to provide support, comfort and care to breast cancer patients. We help individuals, particularly the under-insured and uninsured, in the Central New York area by providing financial assistance to cover a range of costs for treatment and recovery. Learn more about Saint Agatha Foundation’s resources for patients and funding opportunities for providers: www.saintagathafoundation.org

About Samaritan Medical Center
Samaritan Medical Center is a 290-bed not-for-profit community medical center, offering a full spectrum of inpatient and outpatient healthcare services. From primary and emergency care to highly specialized medical and surgical services, such as cancer treatment, neonatal intensive care, behavioral health and addiction services, and imaging services, Samaritan Medical Center and its team of healthcare professionals proudly serves the medical needs of our civilian and military community. Quality, compassion, and safety are the basic principles by which exceptional care is delivered at Samaritan.

August 18, 2026August 18, 2026

Samaritan Medical Center Foundation Awarded $575,000 Grant to Bring Expanded Breast Imaging Technology to the North Country

Photo of a tech with a mammogram patient at Women's Wellness and Breast Care

Contrast-Enhanced Mammography system expected to be installed by the end of the year

WATERTOWN, NY — Samaritan Medical Center Foundation was recently awarded a $575,000 grant from the Saint Agatha Foundation to purchase a state-of-the-art Contrast-Enhanced Mammography (CEM) diagnostic system for the Samaritan Women’s Wellness and Breast Care Center (WWBC). The new equipment, which is expected to be installed by the end of the year, will significantly expand access to advanced breast cancer diagnostics for patients throughout Northern New York.

The award is part of the Saint Agatha Foundation’s record-breaking $2.3 million investment announced last week, providing funding to eight healthcare partners to improve breast cancer care across Central New York, including Broome, Cayuga, Chenango, Cortland, Jefferson, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, Otsego, Oswego, St. Lawrence, and Tompkins counties.

“The donation from Saint Agatha Foundation enables Samaritan to continue to lead local breast care with the purchase of our first Contrast-Enhanced Mammography equipment,” said Thomas H. Carman, President and CEO of Samaritan Medical Center. “This important diagnostic tool is another way we can find breast cancer faster and lead to treatment more effectively. There are so many medical advancements in early cancer detection, and Saint Agatha Foundation has removed a huge barrier of cost for Samaritan to continue to build our equipment, strengthen our breast care team, and help our patients.”

The CEM system is a next-generation imaging technology that improves cancer detection by highlighting areas of increased blood flow, a common characteristic of breast cancer. The technology offers sensitivity comparable to breast MRI while providing higher specificity, helping reduce unnecessary biopsies. It also serves as an important alternative for patients who cannot undergo or tolerate a breast MRI. In addition to improving cancer detection, CEM allows physicians to monitor how tumors respond to chemotherapy by showing whether a tumor is shrinking, remaining stable, or progressing, which is critical information for guiding treatment decisions and improving patient outcomes.

The investment comes at an important time for the North Country. Breast cancer remains one of the most common cancers among women in New York State, with approximately 16,700 women diagnosed and 2,500 deaths each year, according to the New York State Department of Health. Several counties within Samaritan’s service area experience breast cancer incidence rates above the state average. Between 2018 and 2022, Hamilton County recorded the highest incidence rate in New York State at 168.2 cases per 100,000 residents, while Lewis County and Jefferson County also exceeded the statewide average of 135.5 cases per 100,000 residents.

Despite this need, access to contrast-enhanced mammography remains extremely limited across Northern New York, with the nearest systems primarily located in metropolitan areas such as Syracuse, Rochester, and New York City. For many North Country residents, traveling for advanced imaging presents significant challenges due to distance, winter weather, transportation limitations, and potential insurance barriers. These obstacles can delay diagnosis and treatment.

The Samaritan Women’s Wellness and Breast Care Center provides a comprehensive range of women’s health services, including specialized pregnancy care, gynecologic services, breast imaging, same-day diagnostic interpretations, and breast cancer care. The center’s multidisciplinary team includes a fellowship-trained breast radiologist and Dr. Michael Peyser, the region’s only breast surgical oncologist, who joined Samaritan in February 2025.

Currently, WWBC performs approximately 55 mammograms each day using three mammography units. The center is also the only facility in Jefferson County offering breast MRI services. The addition of CEM technology will further strengthen Samaritan’s ability to provide comprehensive breast cancer care close to home, reducing the need for patients to travel outside the region for advanced diagnostic imaging while supporting faster diagnoses and more coordinated treatment.

November 21, 2023November 24, 2023

At Samaritan, women’s wellness remains a top priority

In 2020, nearly 2.3 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer, surpassing lung cancer as the most common cancer endured by American women.

These are staggering numbers to consider, as is the statistic that, according to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, a woman somewhere in the world is diagnosed with the disease every 14 seconds. This makes the task of breast care across the globe significant, and the vital need for this medical focus is growing by the day.

That’s one reason why Samaritan has continued to invest in equipment, facilities, and services in the realm of women’s wellness to support its local patients.

“At Samaritan, we’ve developed a medical destination to meet women’s wellness needs,” says Tom Carman, president and CEO of Samaritan Medical Center. “With our tandem of effective treatments and skilled medical staff, patients can come here and feel confident they’ll receive the best care.”

New facility enables enhanced care

Opened in 2019, Samaritan’s Women’s Wellness and Breast Care consolidated services previously offered across multiple locations, while adding amenities and more diversified breast care services to provide the most comprehensive experience for women in need.

“Combining services in this centralized and renovated space has helped us better serve patients and significantly enhance the way we can care for each,” said Dr. Mario Victoria, chief medical officer at Samaritan. “This patient-first approach is critical to what we do and how we can help women lead healthier, more enjoyable lives.”

Located in the Samaritan Health and Wellness Plaza at 1575 Washington Street., Women’s Wellness and Breast Care stands as a beacon for breast care for those in need throughout the North Country.

Treatments, procedures to preserve patient health

Inside Women’s Wellness and Breast Care, patients experience a serene atmosphere within a modern facility during exams, procedures, and treatments.

Our expanded radiology services and online screening mammogram scheduling offer solutions for patients seeking breast imaging and treatments locally, as well as instruction on preventative measures to help patients maintain healthy breast care at home.

“As a dedicated breast radiologist, I help diagnose breast cancer and determine next steps for treatment,” explains Dr. Kelly McAlarney. “We have an excellent team of technicians and equipment that help produce accurate and timely results for patients.”

“One treatment isn’t for everybody,” says Jennifer Zajac, nurse practitioner. “That’s why, at Samaritan, we take time with each patient to determine what works for them, then craft a plan to pursue the healthiest outcome. This is personalized care, and it’s necessary to give our patients the support they deserve.”

Medical specialists, ready to support

But even with new healthcare space and an enhanced list of services, the success of Samaritan still relies on its team of skilled medical professionals, ready to administer care that makes women’s wellness possible.

This team of specialists—including a board-certified breast radiologist—manages patient care through all needed treatments and procedures, making each individual journey as simple as possible. This not only improves the health outcomes of each Samaritan patient; it also encourages others to consult their physicians, stay on top of their wellness concerns, and seek treatments for concerns like breast cancer in their earliest stages.

“Living a healthy life is easier when you have some guidance and help along the way,” says Carman. “That’s what we do here, and there’s nothing more satisfying for us than leading our patients to their best lives.”

To learn more about Samaritan and its Women’s Wellness and Breast Care services, visit https://samaritanhealth.com/service/womens-wellness/.

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New Technology Expands Access to Advanced Breast Cancer Detection in Upstate New York

Contrast-Enhanced Mammography system expected to be installed by the end of the year

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