Middlesex Hospital accepts research grant

MIDDLETOWN » Middlesex Hospital has been awarded a $32,000 grant from the Connecticut Breast Health Initiative. The money will be used to fund radiologist Dr. Ravi Jain’s study on the use of molecular breast imaging for diagnostic purposes, according to a hospital statement.

Middlesex Hospital is the only hospital in New England to offer molecular breast imaging, and it has done so since 2015. Molecular breast imaging uses a radioactive tracer to better detect breast cancer cells. Once injected with the radioactive substance, a special camera scans a patient’s breasts, looking for areas where the substance is concentrated. This technique is often used in conjunction with other techniques, such as mammograms, to give patients the best possible chance at early detection. The advanced technology of Middlesex’s molecular breast imaging scanner results in patients being exposed to a very low dose of radiation.

As with any type of cancer, early detection of breast cancer is important. Early detection helps reduce the number of deaths due to breast cancer and can allow surgeons to save more of a breast during surgery.

The role of molecular breast imaging as a screening test for breast cancer is well established. Other reputable hospitals have shown that molecular breast imaging and mammograms together detect four times more incidents of breast cancer than mammograms alone. Middlesex Hospital’s study will further this research, concentrating on the use of molecular breast imaging as a diagnostic test.

The hospital will specifically look at what kind of inconclusive mammogram and ultrasound findings can be safely watched instead of biopsied, if molecular breast imaging scans are negative. Ultimately, the goal is reduce the rate of negative biopsies without reducing the rate of cancer detection. This will save patients from physical and psychological harm and may also reduce health care costs.

The Connecticut Breast Health Initiative is a statewide nonprofit formed in 2004 to support leading edge breast cancer education and research. Visit www.ctbhi.org.

Church welcomes new youth director

BERLIN » Bethany Covenant Church welcomed its new youth director, Alli Corriveau, who arrived at Bethany in March. Her role includes organizing the middle school and high school youth programs within the church and building relationships with students and families both in the church and in the community.

Corriveau served as fulltime youth director at a church in Massachusetts for two years, and has additional ministry experience from serving in Christian camping and missions organizations prior to that. She graduated from Gordon College in Wenham, MA with majors in Youth Ministry and Outdoor Education. She is a New Hampshire native with a bit of a travel bug and has spent time in countries like India and Romania.

Under her leadership, the Youth Ministry at Bethany Covenant Church is ramping up for the new school year. The Youth Program includes Sunday morning Life Together classes for middle and high school students from 9:45-10:45 a.m. Middle school students meet regularly for fun and fellowship on Sunday afternoons from 4:305:45 p.m. High school students meet weekly on Sunday evenings from 6-8 p.m. All interested students are welcome for fellowship at Bethany Covenant Church.

Bank announces non-profit donations

ESSEX » Gregory R. Shook, President & CEO of Essex Savings Bank announced the distribution of the Directors’ portion of the Community Investment Fund. Total distributions for the year will amount to $120,000. Mr. Shook shared the sentiment of the Board, “For over twenty years, Essex Savings Bank has committed up to 10% of after tax net income to nonprofit organizations in our area. Many organizations have faced reductions in funding due to the economic climate so we are doubly proud that we are able to continue to support these groups and the work they do for our community.”

The 2017 Board Community Investment Program donations have been allocated to these nonprofit organizations: Bare Necessities, Inc.; Camp Hazen YMCA; The Chester Historical Society, Inc.; Cappella Cantorum, Inc.; Community Foundation of Middlesex County; Connecticut River Museum at Steamboat Dock; Ivoryton Village Alliance; Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center & Theatre; Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts; Lyme Land Conservation Trust, Inc.; Lymes’ Youth Service Bureau; MacCurdy Salisbury Educational Foundation, Inc.; Middlesex Hospital; Rotary Club of Essex Foundation; Tri-Town Youth Service Bureau, Inc.; Valley Shore YMCA; Visiting Nurses of the Lower River Valley, Inc.; and Vista Life Innovations.