Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Phoebe Health System, & Morehouse School of Medicine partner together for Project Elevation offering men’s health screenings

ALBANY, Ga. – After only a couple of years, a partnership between Mount Zion Baptist Church, the Phoebe Health System, and Morehouse School of Medicine is expanding its reach in southwest Georgia.

And, they’ll be able top expand that reach thanks to a half a million dollar grant from Morehouse for what’s known as Project Elevation.

Phoebe Clinical Research Manager, Kisa Mansfield says they’re planning to expand to help people in more than half a dozen additional counties.

“…So, we’re looking to expand in Worth county, Mitchell county, Sumter county, Grady county, and some of the others. So, we’re looking to expand and duplicate what we’ve been doing here in Dougherty county,” said Kisa Mansfield, Clinical Research Manager, Phoebe Health System.

Mt. Zion’s Pastor, Daniel Simmons says that what they’ve been able to do in Dougherty county for the last couple of years is amazing….

But, being able to expand that scope is a golden opportunity.

“Mt. Zion and the other 20 plus churches that are involved; this partnership, this grant gives us the opportunity to reach people we would never reach and in a way we would never reach,” said Pastor Daniel Simmons, Pastor, Mt. Zion Baptist Church.

But, it’s not just examining older men for signs of prostate cancer that this expansion to Project Elevation…

As the health system will be able to help families through any irregularities.

“Another important part of it is that when we get the results back to each participant, they’re navigated through the health system. If there are abnormal PSA results, we have a navigator that calls each patient to discuss those abnormal results and what the next step looks like for them,” said Mansfield.

And, for Pastor Simmons, being able to do right by his fellow man is what every pastor dreams of.

“So, if you can imagine how fulfilling it is, to know that you were part of the solution to a problem. A man’s cancer was detected early. And, as a result, he now gets to live and live a better quality life…” said Pastor Simmons.

As Project Elevation gets set to expand its reach to more remote areas, the impact it will have on the health of rural families is one that will be anything but remote.

Mansfield says that Phoebe will not charge for these screenings or the help that is needed.

Brian Roche reporting.

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