PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Linda Thompson, Health Ministry Leader at Abyssinian Baptist Church, on MSK's Pavilion Project
1:34:56
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142 sec
Linda Thompson, representing Abyssinian Baptist Church, expresses strong support for Memorial Sloan Kettering's (MSK) Pavilion Project. She highlights the church's partnership with MSK in addressing health disparities and providing community health services, particularly in Harlem.
- Emphasizes high cancer incidence rates in Central Harlem, especially for lung, bronchus, and colorectal cancers
- Describes collaborative efforts with MSK, including COVID-19 vaccination and educational programs on multiple myeloma
- Stresses the importance of MSK's expansion to meet the healthcare needs of New Yorkers, including those in Harlem
Linda Thompson
1:34:56
Hello.
1:34:57
My name is Linda Thompson, and I'm the health ministry leader at the Abyssinian Baptist Church in the City of New York.
1:35:03
Our church is one of the oldest African American Baptist Church's in the United States, and we serve both the greater Harlem community, and New Yorkers citywide.
1:35:13
MSK is a treasured and strong partner in our efforts to educating our congregation and the community and work to overcome the health disparities they experience.
1:35:24
Cancer is significantly impacting our community.
1:35:27
According to a 9 2019 report by the American Cancer Society, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, and the New York City Neighborhoods, men and women living in Central Harlem have the approximate highest cancer incidents, right among lung and bronchus cancer, and men living in Central Harlem have the approximate highest cancer incidents for colorectal cancer.
1:35:55
We began working with MSK in 2021 and and when we partnered with the New York City Department of Health And Mental Hygiene to establish a COVID COVID 19 vaccine site at our church in Harlem.
1:36:08
MSK administered over 12,000 doses of the vaccine to the church and community members.
1:36:15
Since then, our collaboration with MSK, Ralph Lauren Center in Harlem has blossomed.
1:36:20
Together, we offer a various programming, and support the Harlem community.
1:36:25
In this past June, we cohosted an educational dinner with multiple myeloma about multiple myeloma, the most common blood cancer in the in African Americans.
1:36:37
We also have participated in MSK's TriNet community health needs assessment to provide insight and to the health of the needs of our community, and we will continue to do so.
1:36:48
The application from MSK are essential to MSK's ability to deliver high quality, efficient patient care to all who seek it, including people living in Harlem and the surrounding area.
1:37:00
The Abyssinian Baptist Church is grateful for our partnership with the with MSK, and we'll we'll work with them in the community.
1:37:09
That is why we offer our strong support for MSK's Pavilion.
1:37:13
Project to ensure MSK is important to meet the needs of the new Yorkers here.
1:37:17
Thank you.
Kevin C. Riley
1:37:18
Thank you so much.
